Cruising the Cheasepeake

August has been a month of company for us...We cruised to colonial Williamsburg with Tom's daughter Carrie, and her young friend, Emily and thoroughly enjoyed the living American history Williamnsburg is known for...Did you know that George Washington was not paid during the American Revolution? After all, when you think about it there was no country, no structure to pay him...but, when the nation was formed, ole George, who kept meticulous records, was reimbursed $100,000 for his efforts...Another little known fact not in the history books.
We were joined in Solomon Island, about half way up Cheasepeake Bay, by my dear friends Jeanne Lauritsen and Karin Cumming...I was so glad to have the "girls" on board...Tom became an honorary girlfriend for the 4 days (when he could get a word in edgewise). We visited Annapolis and the magnificent Naval Academy..truly impressive and the credentials the cadets have is pretty heady. I didn't realize that one of the requirements to be a cadet was success as an athlete. Also didn't know that the Naval Academy trains officers for both the Navy and the Marines.
Next we were off to Baltimore where we were joined by Tommy Weinert and Bob Frech...Baltimore is such a surprise..a city of neighborhoods..the rest of the country could learn from Baltimore and their dollar house program...they literally renovated hundreds of blocks of the inner-city by rewarding urban pioneers who took on remodelling homes...the result is pretty stunning...
With Tommy and Bob we took a "Duck tour" of the inner harbor of Baltimore...this is a vehicle that goes on land and sea...they gave us all little "quackers" which Bob and Tommy turned into musical instruments as they "quacked" their way through the tour...also went to the American Visionary Art museum...this a museum for Non artists, many are autistic or somehow mentally challenged...we saw art made from bits of paper, from bottle caps etc...it was the most amazing museum I've EVER been to...
We were joined for a day by Tari Pasquale and Courtney Tillotson...went to an Italian Festival in Little Italy...
WOW was that neat...the whole festival was put on by a local parish...we played bocchi ball and ate our way through Italy.
Tom and I will remain in Baltimore for another week before we head south down the eastern shore of the Cheasepeake
Stay tuned