In a first for us, we started and ended 2016 at sea. On December 23rd, 2015 we departed Cape Town, South Africa on an 11-night, 1,713-nm passage to St. Helena in the southern Atlantic Ocean. And on December 31st 2016, we left Cape Lookout, NC on a 212-nm, overnight run to Charleston, SC (for details see 2016…
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B&O Railway Museum
Baltimore is considered the birthplace of American railroading. The first regular passenger railway began here in 1830 from Baltimore and Ohio Railroad’s Mount Clare station. That station and its adjacent roundhouse now is the B&O Railway Museum, housing the largest collection of 19th-century locomotives in the country and one of the most significant collections of…
Baltimore Views
The 178ft Washington Monument in Baltimore was completed in 1829 to honor George Washington. A 227-step climb to the top leads to a deck with sweeping city views. And if that isn’t enough, more great views can be had along the inner harbor from the top of Baltimore’s World Trade Center. Trip highlights from December…
National Aquarium
We’d been moored across from the National Aquarium for over a month and had passed the eye-catching facility many times. Part of the multi-story main building is glass-enclosed with waterfalls and jungles visible, and looks especially dramatic from the outside at night. We’d heard many great things about the aquarium, but James has been pretty…
Fort McHenry
During the War of 1812, the British occupied and burned Washington in August of 1814. They next sent a 19-warship fleet to invade Baltimore, a key American trading port. Starting at 6am on September 13th, the fleet pummelled Fort McHenry outside Baltimore with over 1,500 rockets and mortar shells. Twenty-five hours later the British gave…
Baltimore Inner Harbor
We were expecting Baltimore to have more of an industrial feel, but the Inner Harbor at least has been transformed from a commercial working harbor to a vibrant destination popular with locals and tourist alike. Restaurants, museums, parks and pedestrian walkways ring a harbor that is a constant hub of activity. And within walking distance…
Newport to Baltimore
From Newport, RI we made a 350-mile 3-night trip from Newport, Rhode Island to Baltimore, Maryland. This run had more than the usual timing considerations. Frequent weather systems were in play this time of year. A front passed through the day after we arrived in Newport and another was expected 3-4 days later, but we…
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island bills itself as the “Sailing Capitol of the United States” and is where the America’s Cup races were held from 1930 until Australia won the cup in 1983. The area has additional significance to us because it is home to one of our favourite companies, KVH Industries, the supplier of our mini-VSAT…
KVH Industries Factory Tour
Long time readers of mvdirona.com know we love technology. In our around-the-world adventure, we have toured mines, ice breakers, cruise ships, mining truck manufacturers, and even spent time at the helm of a 5,000 hp ship-assist tug. The common thread of each of these adventures are companies applying leading-edge technology to deliver a great product…
Salem
Salem, MA was the center of the Witch Hysteria that led to 20 people being sentenced to death in 1692. In the intervening few centuries, Salem has become considerably more welcoming to witchcraft, goblins and the supernatural. In fact, their month-long Halloween celebration likely is the largest in the nation and includes a parade, costume…
