2026 May: exploring Havre de Grace day 2

 2 May 2026
No boat travel. 

Besides today being "Defenders Day" in Havre de Grace, it was Saturday and the town has a farmers market every Saturday. We had a bit of a debate regarding walk or bike. Clark suggested that it would be better to walk so we wouldn't have to push bicycles through the market. The plan was to shop the farmers market, and then go to a grocery for bread and other sundries we could not find at the market. 

Walking turned out to be a great plan because we got to observe more of the scenery in town on our way there and back. 

Mural: 
Welcome to Havre de Grace Maryland

old home with lighthouse decorations

old piano on this porch

As we walked we found a very friendly cat who came by to rub a hello on my legs and then on Clark's. I wanted so much to pet the cat, but I have cat allergies and I'd be sniffing the rest of the day had I touched her.

Cat at Clark's feet

One house had interesting decorations on their porch.

"Nobody gets in to see the
Wizard
Not Nobody, Not NoHow!"

This was the theme for one of my son's wedding.

Down the street tucked in a corner, I saw a sign for an art studio.

Art Studio along the way

Old building in town
now a doctors' office

Havre de Grace City Hall
Site of the Farmers Market

The farmers market started at 9:00 and went until 12:00. 

We arrived shortly after 9:00 and found people lined up at the first booth. Clark thought it might be where we paid an admission fee, so I checked and the long line was to buy bread from the first vendor in the market. We passed by that line and wandered in to see what else they offered.

Clark got snagged almost immediately at a booth for "Green Space". Here, Clark met some women who engaged him in conversation long enough that I had walked the length of the market.

Numerous booths / tents

Guitarist

I walked back, and he was still talking! He introduced me to a woman who said she is known informally as the "mayor of Havre de Grace". Eventually, I learned that her name was Wendy. Wendy convinced me that I needed to go back to the veggie booth and buy organic carrots from her friend. She said, "They're huge but oh so sweet!" 

She walked with us as we went to that tent, and we both bought some veggies. Besides the carrots, I got broccoli and spinach. I felt like we were old friends by the time we went our separate ways. I could well understand why Clark talked to her for so long and why she is known as the "mayor"!

Our plan for this morning was to check out the farmer's market and then return to the boat for bicycles to make our way to the Weis Market outside of town. Wendy was opposed to this idea as it required crossing a 4-lane highway. She suggested we check the 7-11 in town before venturing across the highway. She gave us directions to 7-11 and we headed off to see what they had to offer. This gave us a chance to see a section of town that we might have overlooked otherwise. 

We passed a jeep along the way with ducks in the windshield. I have seen this frequently but had no idea why jeeps had rubber duckies on their dashboard. My friend Ralph's granddaughter Scarlet let me in on the secret when I saw here in New Bern. She said it's called being "ducked"! If a jeep has a duck in the windshield, then they are interested in "playing the game". If someone sees a duck in the jeep, they are invited to leave another on the door handle or on the windshield. The person returning to their jeep is excited to see that they have been "ducked"! 

He's been "ducked" a few times

We saw a couple of places in town with skeletons. It seemed out of season for Halloween. The town has a ghost tour, and I wondered if the houses with skeletons were part of the tour.

Doll house with skeletons 
on someone's porch

On our walks in Havre de Grace, we found murals all over the place.

Mural at the Vintage Cafe

The houses we passed often had some yard decoration like the ones shown below.

The 7-11 was located near where the railroad crosses the Susquehanna River. After going in the store, and, yes finding bread, we wandered around to check out the railroad history here. At this location in 1838 railroad cars were ferried across the Susquehanna River until 1866 when a bridge replaced the ferry.

yet another Mural

Erected 1904 - 1906

Standing under the railroad trestle 

We saw a park across the road and wandered over for more views on the Susquehanna River.

Tug going up the Susquehanna River

Nearby we found more murals.

Water Street Seafood Restaurant

Eagles in flight

The pipes on the side of this building must have been the inspiration for the mural below.

On the way back to the boat to drop off the items we bought at the farmers market and 7-11, we passed a pastry shop advertising wedding cakes (next to the bridal boutique). Since Clark knew I was hoping to find scones in town, he suggested I go in. I came out with way too many sweet desserts that I plan to spread out over numerous days!

I got the impression the owner might be French. The name "Jaime" supports that supposition since the French word J'aime means "I like / love". Then again, I could be way 'off base'.

We sure picked the right weekend to visit Havre de Grace. Today was Defender's Day!

Back at the boat, I put away the food we bought and made lunch. Then we headed off to find Concord Point Park at the opposite end of town from where we spent yesterday and this morning.

Continued. . .