Going Home

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

National Arboretum in Washington D.C.

This is our last day in the Washington, D.C. area and we don’t have a lot of time to goof around before our flights leave in the afternoon. The plan had been to split our time between the National Arboretum and Baltimore. The arboretum is somewhat off the beaten path for those visiting our nation’s capital. Our GPS is a trail guide unit, so its clarity in giving details regarding city locations is hit-and-miss. We found the arboretum, but not before we missed our turn and had to double back off the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Once we entered, just behind the visitor center, we encountered this koi pond whipped into a multi-colored feeding frenzy by a group of school children offering treats.

National Arboretum in Washington D.C.

A small corner of the arboretum is dedicated as the National Bonsai Garden where we marvel at this Japanese White Pine in training since 1625. This just blows the mind, considering how many pairs of hands have nurtured this tree for nearly 400 years.

National Arboretum in Washington D.C.

Other than for the school groups that make their way out here, this doesn’t seem to be one of the more popular D.C. stops, kind of like the Washington Cathedral we visited back in May.

National Arboretum in Washington D.C.

Away from the noise, not that there’s a lot of that out here, we are all alone among the Corinthian columns. Not just any columns either; these once supported the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol from 1828 to 1958, when an expansion required their removal. They sat in storage for years until 1984, when they took their place here at the National Arboretum. Like a ruin in ancient Greece, these columns stand proudly on a hill as though they had been here for centuries.

National Arboretum in Washington D.C.

Trails crisscross the arboretum through various terrains with a tremendous assortment of plant life on display. We make our way from a herb garden to a trail that wends its way through Fern Valley. The last area we have time to visit is the Asian Collection.

National Arboretum in Washington D.C.

After studying a map of the Asian Collection we choose to follow yet another path. It doesn’t look possible that we’ll see even a fraction of the garden, but the trails are not as long as we first thought, and soon, we have covered a wide area. One trail takes us to the Anacostia River; our return has us going uphill to Hickey Hill Road, walking along some dense trees and various Asian plants that are most often marked with a plaque imprinted with the plant’s botanical name. My apologies for repeating this so often, but we should have had more time to explore this place. Again, we are visiting a location with much to offer and is of great curiosity to us, but time is not on our side. Yet another reason for a return trip to the Washington, D.C. area.

Jessica Aldridge, Caroline Wise, and John Wise in Baltimore, Maryland

Back on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway we head directly to downtown Baltimore and stop at the visitors center. What can someone do with just a couple of hours to see Baltimore? I loved the answer we were offered, which was, “Take the water taxi across the harbor,” so that’s just what we did as it’s not every day we are on water taxis.

Baltimore, Maryland

“Follow that with a walk through Little Italy, have a bite to eat, see some historic sites related to the Star-Spangled Banner, and then come back someday when you have more time.”

Baltimore, Maryland

That all sounded great, and so that’s just what we did and will do.

Baltimore, Maryland

The paninis and mufalato from Vaccaro’s Pastry Shop were fantastic.

Baltimore, Maryland

This is the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, where in 1813, Mary Pickersgill made the flag that in 1814 was hoisted at nearby Fort McHenry. Francis Scott Key penned the lyrics of the national anthem after seeing that the flag was still waving after a 25-hour attack by the British.

Baltimore, Maryland

We didn’t take a tour of Fort McHenry today, which proved wrongheaded because when we returned a month later, we arrived in poor weather.

Baltimore, Maryland

I wonder if Baltimore’s nickname is the City of Red Brick?

Baltimore, Maryland

Like I said.

Back to the car for the short drive to the airport, dropping Jessica at her terminal with minutes to spare before her flight takes off while we have a few more hours before our departure back to Phoenix.

Washington D.C.

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Caroline Wise, Jessica Aldridge, and John Wise in front of the Washington Monument in Washington D.C.

What promises to be a long day began with Caroline, Jessica, and I walking south on 11th Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, around the Old Post Office, continuing south on 12th Street between the Department of Commerce and the Internal Revenue Service. Right on Constitution Avenue and over to the Washington Monument. On our previous visits to the nation’s capital, tickets for going to the top of the monument had been sold out; this time, I planned well in advance.

View from the Washington Monument in Washington D.C.

We were first in line, and first through security, then we waited with everyone else to ride the elevator to the top. The Washington Monument was constructed between 1848 and 1884. Lack of funds and the Civil War were some of the reasons this 555-foot obelisk took so long to build. Today we are riding to the top of what at one time was the tallest building on earth. Once inside, our first view is looking north to the White House on a beautiful blue sky day.

View from the Washington Monument in Washington D.C.

The small windows looking west are occupied by other tourists, but the south windows are free, offering us a great view of the Jefferson Memorial, the Tidal Basin, and the Potomac flowing to the south. What a thrill to be up here; we take our time to inspect the granite, how the pieces were fitted together, the holes cut through the granite above us, which house the red blinking lights that warn aircraft that the Washington Monument stands here.

View from the Washington Monument in Washington D.C.

On the eastern side of the monument, the scenery is bathed in a blue haze; the sun over the Capitol is stopping me from getting a nice picture with all of the glare that’s over there. Next time in D.C., we’ll reserve a late afternoon tour just so we can see the U.S. Capitol from above, glowing in the golden light of sunset. Looking northeast, I was able to take the photo above with fairly good results. Remember, I am shooting through glass that doesn’t look as if it is cleaned every day. In the photo above, the first building on the left and the massive one with the interesting circle and half-circle next to it belong to the Department of Commerce – a huge agency indeed. If you are familiar with D.C., you’ll notice the Old Post Office with its tower; the building in front of it is the Internal Revenue Service. The two buildings on the right are the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and the National Museum of Natural History.

View from the Washington Monument in Washington D.C.

Now clear of other visitors, the western windows offer us a view of the Lincoln Memorial, the Reflecting Pool, and the National World War II Memorial. The buildings to the right are the Federal Reserve, the National Academy of Engineering, and the State Department. Out of view to the southwest is the Pentagon. I did shoot a number of panoramas while up here, but none of them gave me the results I’d hoped for.

Jessica Aldridge in the Washington Monument in Washington D.C.

At each window is a photographic diagram showing three different views of the same scene across time. For example, on the western view, you see an image from 1901 with what looks like a swamp next to the Potomac with a dotted overlay showing where the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool sit today. The next image is from 1920, with the majority of the monument built, but the entire site is still under construction. The last image is from 1999 and some buildings that had been north of the Reflecting Pool have been replaced by a carp pond. The construction for the World War II Memorial hadn’t been started yet, either. On the ride down, the elevator stops, and the lighting changes, allowing us to see through opaque doors some of the dedications made in granite on the interior of the monument. I may sound like a broken record, but we are thrilled to have had the opportunity to see all of this.

Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.

I have no idea how I had this vantage point above so much, and yet obviously not from the heights of the Washington Monument. By the way, it’s at this point, 13 years after the majority of this blog post was already written up, that I’m adding more photos and a bit more text, starting with this image right here. It’s 2022 when I’m working through these entries, which I believe I pointed out in the previous posts.

Washington Monument in Washington D.C.

Those tiny rectangles up there are the windows we were just looking through on the Washington Monument. While the day could have easily revolved around nothing more than visiting the immediate area right here, we do have other plans.

National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.

East on the National Mall, we walked towards the Capitol until we reached the Natural History Museum.

National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.

In May, when we visited with my mother-in-law, there was an event being held in the museum that cut our visit short. Caroline, in particular, had wanted to return to spend more time at the exhibit titled ‘Written in Bone.’

National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.

We spend two hours here, seeing lots of dinosaur skeletons, fossils, minerals, precious gems, and human bones, but look forward to the day we might be able to dwell from opening to closing, reading and studying the displays.

National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.

A giant nautiloid fossil.

National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.

A Triassic-age relative of the crocodile.

National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.

An example from the Lepidotes species of fish that is now extinct.

National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.

We can all be happy that this line of amphibians didn’t survive very long out of the Paleozoic/Permian periods, as who the hell would want to see a line of frogs descended from these monsters?

National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.

Various soil types from states across America this is just a small sample of them.

National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.

In May when we visited the Jamestown settlement, we had seen that some of their exhibits were on loan to the Smithsonian for the exhibition titled, you guessed it, Written in Bone. This is one of those exhibits.

Smithsonian Castle in Washington D.C.

Across the Mall, we enter the Castle. The Smithsonian Information Center and administrative offices are housed here. The Castle was the first building built for what would, by the time of our visit, encompass a total of sixteen museums and the National Zoo. As you enter the Castle, on your left is the tomb of James Smithson, from whose charitable gift the Smithsonian was established on July 1st, 1836.

National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.

The collection pieces on display in the Castle are taken from the various other museums within D.C.

Smithsonian Castle in Washington D.C.

Sure, there were other things seen and photographed, but I don’t have a lifetime to note the many details of inventory of what we’ve seen, so I must be moving on.

Rose in Washington D.C.

Between the museums, there are other things to see, such as beautiful roses.

National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

On our way to the newest addition to the Smithsonian, we dipped into the National Air and Space Museum. After flying Southwest Airlines so many times over the previous years, I had forgotten how large a 747 is; the front side of one of these trans-continental jumbos is on exhibit, complete with a cockpit, offering us a look into this giant of the skies. Obviously, the Spirit of St. Louis is not a 747.

National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

Seeing the model for the Hubble Telescope was nothing less than amazing; I thought it would have been a lot smaller. The same goes for Skylab; a life-size model is on display, and with a line of visitors snaking around it before reaching inside, you can guess this is a popular display. Skylab crashed back to earth in 1979, all 77.5 tons of it.

National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

On September 21, 2004, the National Museum of the American Indian opened its doors. This is our first visit, and to be honest, I had anticipated this particular museum would be a disappointment. The reason I assumed that is because the American Indian typically gets short-changed, and maybe this effort would appear to be a cheap second thought.

National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

I was wrong – very wrong. The five-story building and water features as you approach are beautiful. Walking through the doors, you can’t help but be impressed with the flow of things. The museum’s architect, Douglas Cardinal, is a Blackfoot Indian; his work is amazing.

National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

On display is part of a collection of more than 800,000 objects as well as a portion of the more than 125,000 images in the archive.

National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

There are many exhibits dedicated to particular tribes, with contemporary and historical pieces presenting these peoples and cultures. And it is not just the North American Indians here; the Native people of South and Central America also find representation.

National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

Guilt and shame are horrible traits of a people that claim to be modern and enlightened.

National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

I think we can see where Walt Disney lifted his inspiration for a famous mouse.

National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

Nope, just a lot of nope. If I ever saw another human being running at me wearing a mask made of a hornet’s nest, I’d be miles away.

National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

The Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe was closing when we were finishing our tour of the museum. The menu changes over the year but has featured buffalo steak, aji amarillo mashed yucca, banana-wrapped bluefish, dried red corn with chili salad, cornmeal crusted fried frog legs, wild-cinnamon-and-juniper-glazed acorn squash – next time; we are in Washington, D.C. we will try to take most of our meals right here.

U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.

Good thing we have so many spectacular photos of this building.

National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C.

The National Portrait Gallery was our next stop. On previous visits, Caroline and I have toured the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and the Supreme Court.

National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C.

We have visited other units within the Smithsonian, the Lincoln, Jefferson, and Roosevelt Memorials, the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials, the National Archives, the Library of Congress, the Holocaust Museum, Ford’s Theater, Washington National Cathedral, and some other places but on this trip, we have been trying to fill in some gaps of a few of the places we have not been.

National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C.

As is usual with our travels, there is never enough time to see and do all we might like to do. It’s barely an hour in the Portrait Gallery before we have to leave; this was planned as our last afternoon stop because the Portrait Gallery is open until 7:00 p.m. daily.

Jessica Aldridge at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington D.C.

For our final destination of the day at the U.S. Naval Observatory, the Metro in the direction of Shady Grove was the subway we needed to board.

Caroline Wise at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington D.C.

Multi-pass.

U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington D.C.

By an incredible stroke of luck with a small window of opportunity, I somehow managed to snag reservations for one of the infrequent Monday-only tours of the U.S. Naval Observatory. You must arrive by 8:00 p.m., but we took no chances and arrived a half-hour early. At 8:00, the security check began, and soon, we were wearing the badges that would have to be worn during our stay at the Observatory.

Caroline Wise at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington D.C.

While we did get the chance to look at Jupiter and its moons, we sadly did not have the same luck in spotting our Vice President Joe Biden – the Vice President’s residence is here on the Observatory grounds. Our tour consisted of learning about the Naval Observatory’s job of being one of the keys to measuring time for the United States – and the world – and how, back before atomic clocks, the observatory was used to fix on particular stars measuring their transit and then syncing clocks so that a recognized source could be established that business and government would accept as being a true measure of accurate time.

U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington D.C.

Finally, a visit to the observatory library and a terrific chance to see one of the world’s greatest collections of books regarding astronomy and mathematics, with one book on display dating from 1611-1612.

U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington D.C.

It was now after 10:00 p.m., we were hungry, and the tour was over. Great, we are quite the distance from a Metro station, there is no taxi stand nearby, and our feet are killing us. Fortunately, it wasn’t long after we started walking down Massachusetts Avenue that we were able to flag down a taxi moving in the opposite direction as us; thanks, unknown taxi man. Dinner was at Harry’s on the ground floor of our hotel; sleep didn’t show up until midnight.

Williamsburg to D.C.

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

The different stages of a piece of silver that is being hammered into a ladle on display at the silversmith in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Oh, the luxury of it all, another day in Colonial Williamsburg. Not quite a full day, but enough that we will accomplish more than we had hoped for. Breakfast was on Duke of Gloucester Street at the Bakery – this is a misnomer and is probably my biggest gripe about Williamsburg if I were to have one. The “Bakery” is a small shop with absolutely nothing freshly baked; there are no ovens on the premises, not even a microwave to warm the cold plastic-wrapped muffins we are about to consider breakfast. Ok, enough complaining; next stop was the apothecary, where we would not find a remedy for our poor first meal of the day but rows and rows of beautiful jars, bottles, and other vessels containing oils, powders, ointments, herbs, pretty much everything that an apothecary-surgeon could have used or prescribed back in the day.

On to the silversmith shop, where we watch a demonstration of how a silver cup is made from a thin flat sheet of silver; pretty cool. The silver ingot on the left above shows how a flat piece of metal was hammered into a ladle.

Silversmith Shop in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

While it may be difficult to make out, the tools needed for forming silver into cups, bowls, and spoons are right in this photo.

Raleigh Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Walking up the street, we stumble upon an open door where a tour is about to begin: the Raleigh Tavern no longer serves food and drink but is still used for special occasions. We join the tour which allows us to visualize the different aspects of an old-style tavern – food, drink, and lodging. I walk away, knowing that the term “Sleep Tight” may have originated from the time prior to the invention of box springs when mattresses were held aloft by ropes woven back and forth across the bed frame. To minimize sag, the ropes would have to be tightened from time to time.

Fine Millinery in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

The Fine Millinery welcomed us and taught us about making hoops and petticoats.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Neither yesterday nor on our trip back in May do I feel I properly represented the exterior of Colonial Williamsburg due to the poor lighting of overcast skies, but today looks to be different.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

There are more than a few buildings here that seem to be acting as nothing more than facades to lend to the sense of authenticity of walking through the village as it would have appeared more than 200 years ago.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Some shops open early while others seem to operate with limited hours and only on certain days, no matter as there is so much to do and see here.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Hey, management of Colonial Williamsburg, how about a behind-the-scenes after-hours tour?

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Should you want to get deeper into the moment, here at Tarpley & Co., on the Duke of Gloucester Street you can find all the 18th-century fashion you desire.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Another one of those moments when modernity was kept at bay.

Blacksmith at work at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

At the blacksmith’s, we were mesmerized watching the smith making nails while another smith worked his hammer and anvil.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Maybe there is too much to see and learn about here in Williamsburg.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

So far, we’ve not encountered a living history presentation, such as this one at the Printing Office, that wasn’t worth the time to visit.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Should we ever have the opportunity to stay in Williamsburg again, our planning will have to be perfect in order to see and hear everything.

Chowning's Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Over at the corners of Queen Street and Duke of Gloucester, you’ll find Chowning’s Tavern.

Chowning's Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Looks like a great place for lunch.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Stopped in here at the Courthouse to watch a presentation; by the way, when a Grand Union Flag is posted outside a historic facility, it means that they are open.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Visited the Magazine where the arms for common defense were stored.

Shoemaker in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

This guy is not only the shoemaker but somehow looks exactly like I’d imagine a shoemaker to look like.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

At the Mary Dickinson Shop, Caroline bought some fabric; it’s the India Garden piece up top.

Update: this shop is no longer a part of Colonial Williamsburg.

Jessica Aldridge in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Armed with an oversized red purse and a rifle, as long as she is tall, Jessica is ready to shop to the death. The gunsmith wasn’t selling, nor was he buying her baloney as he jumped over the counter and wrestled his gun back from her – I swear, I can’t take my kid anywhere. From out of her red bag, she just as quickly pulled a .45 and, putting it to the gunsmith’s head, demanded the rifle back. We left peacefully – with our new souvenir.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

The Governor’s Palace is further away than it looks, but we’ll get there.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

The Bruton Parish Church.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Many of the buildings are unmarked as to their purpose or history, as far as I could tell.

After so much walking around today, it was high time to cool our heels, so we dipped into the Play Booth Theater. We joined the performance midway, and before we knew it, the actors exited the stage, and we, too were exiting the theater.

The Governor's Palace Gardens at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Just around the corner, we made for the Governor’s Palace Gardens – much more beautiful under the light of the sun (it had been a bit cloudy yesterday).

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Time to get out of Dodge, oops, that’s in Kansas, time to get out of Williamsburg.

Roadside Virginia

In our horse-drawn carriage, we obviously won’t be needing any gas here at Grigg’s Store on Route 14 through King and Queen County, Virginia.

Roadside Virginia

We are continuing our trek into American history, and such a journey wouldn’t be complete without at least a small bit of farmland under cultivation.

Roadside Virginia

While not out on the Great Plains, this solitary home surrounded by some kind of crop fits the image.

Roadside Virginia

Add a bit of wetland, and it looks like we are covering all the bases of experiencing early America.

China Town in Washington D.C.

It was dark when we checked into Hotel Harrington, around the corner from the White House, off Pennsylvania Avenue. Sunday evening doesn’t offer much in the way of touristy activities, so we opted for another favorite – eating. Chinatown seemed like a good bet and we almost stopped at a Burmese Restaurant but thought the better of it upon peering in to find a few elderly folks in the mostly empty place and decided to keep looking.

Jessica Aldridge and Caroline Wise in China Town in Washington D.C.

Good thing we did; at first, we didn’t give it a second glance, but then through the steam-covered windows past the hanging ducks, we spot a restaurant full of twenty and thirty-somethings chomping away. This is the place, and with the noodles being made on the spot, we knew where dinner was going to happen.

U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.

Stomachs full, we head out for what will surely amount to too much walking but with a limited amount of time, what’s better, sore feet or a missed experience? Seeing we walked to Chinatown, we had to backtrack, and from H Street and 6th Street, we walked back to 11th Street and then Pennsylvania Avenue for a view up the avenue to the Capitol Building.

World War II Monument in Washington D.C.

Over the Ellipse, we will only make it as far as the National World War II Memorial.

Washington D.C.

It’s now past 10:00 p.m. We’ve been going for more than 14 hours already, and it will be after 11:00 before we finish circling the Washington Monument.

White House in Washington D.C.

After a late-night view of the White House, we finally head back to our hotel.

DelMarVa Peninsula

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Caroline Wise catching the big one with Jessica Aldridge on the hook at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland

Caroline and I went fishing, and she hooked the damned ugliest fish I’ve ever seen. I swear, as that thing jumped out of the water, it was screaming, “Hey, I’m your long-lost daughter; take me home with you!” Stupid me kissed it, remembering the princess-and-frog story and thinking there might be an element of truth to this fish’s story, and instead, all I got was this cold, wet fish mouth of a kiss that smelled, well, like fish. Sure, I, too, was thinking, well, if this is my daughter, what am I doing kissing it on the mouth? Sorry, but there’s no explaining this one. Fairy tales coming true were not in the cards today, only a case for Sigmund Freud to try figuring out.

Jessica Aldridge the killer crab about to pop the head off innocent tourist John Wise at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland

Back on terra firma, I think the nightmare is over when, as I’m innocently walking down the street here in St. Michaels, Maryland, a killer crab scuttles toward me (sideways, of course) and soon has me in its claws ready to pop my head off. Oh My God, this even-uglier-than-the-fish crab garbles with a sinister crab voice, “I’m your daughter, big daddy; come on now, give me a big kiss so I can turn back into your loving daughter!” Just about then, Caroline came to my rescue and, with deft agility, tossed this sea monster into a pot of boiling water. I kept my head and, with a ramekin of drawn butter, sat down to enjoy a lunch of ugly crab.

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland

While we didn’t get to visit an open Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, as we were too early for that kind of stuff, we did have fun with the photo antics, so there was that.

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland

And there was this great blue heron that attracted our admiration, as they always do.

Driving south near the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland

We are driving south over the DelMarVa (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia) peninsula and will be taking our time about it.

Cattails at water's edge at the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge in Maryland

Sorry to disappoint you if you were looking for an incarnation of my daughter materializing in a cattail, but this story isn’t quite that absurd – seriously. This is just a plain old common cattail photographed at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland.

A pond at the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge in Maryland

It’s difficult to comprehend just how big the Chesapeake Bay is as it collects the waters of more than 150 rivers and streams from six states that feed the bay. As the biggest estuary in the United States, it makes sense that its size should be incomprehensible.

Bald eagle at the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge in Maryland

I know that this is not a great or even good photo, but it’s of a bald eagle. For those of us who live in deserts, seeing eagles is not a very common sight, so I have to leave this reminder here that we saw eagles while we were here.

Cranes at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland

The skies are gray, overcast, and dreary, but even with the pallor overhead, we are enjoying the bird watching. We spot cormorants, hawks, buzzards, a dozen small varieties of birds (no bird guide with us), and a lot of cranes. We linger a while, hoping for a break in the sky; we wait on eagles, hoping to see them launch from their perch on high, but under these placid conditions, the scene is a meditative one, inviting us to take a nap in the car within the wetlands we are touring. Sleep will have to wait, though; we have a destination in mind.

Buzzard at Blackwater Wildlife Refuge in Maryland

That buzzard is throwing us some stinkeye as we interrupt its delightful meal of rotting meat on the bone with a side of fur. Before it threw its attention on plucking out our tongues, we moved along.

Oops, I didn’t realize I was shooting this with a shallow depth of field, so maybe you can’t make out the sign behind Caroline and Jessica, but we’ve just entered Virginia.

Some things never seem to change much, and Susan’s Seafood here in New Church, Virginia, is one of those places. Not that we’ve ever been inside this establishment, but nine years ago, when Caroline and I were on our first cross-country road trip, we traveled this exact path, and between this photo and the one just above, you’ll see we are at the same two locations on that trip. Click here to see the old blog post.

Free-range pig?

The shell of this ruin suggests that this was at one time an incredibly beautiful home, at least in my purview. Why it was allowed to fall into disrepair is anyone’s guess, but if I were to venture to offer my 2 cents, it likely would have been due to economic reasons as we are too far off the beaten path, and small farmers are an archaic relic of the past.

I believe we were approaching the bottom of the peninsula at this time, but details are lost.

It sure is flat out here.

The crop that defined a large part of the southeastern United States and a snow-white blemish on our history: cotton.

Jessica Aldridge roadside on the Chesapeake Bay bridge and tunnel in Virginia

Here we are, thinking the third time will be the charm; hmmm, what is it about this Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel that Caroline and I are here either in the dark or on cloudy days? And why didn’t the engineers of this man-made phenomenon known as one of the seven engineering wonders of the modern world not build more pullouts for us tourists who want to stop and take crummy pictures of a bridge under gray skies? I did manage to get this one nice photo of Jessica at one of the two pullouts on this 20-mile-long four-lane bridge and tunnel highway crossing the lower Chesapeake Bay.

Caroline Wise at Christina Campell's Tavern in Williamsburg, Virginia

It’s almost evening as we arrive in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. After checking into the Woodlands Hotel we take aim for the historic district for our reservations at Christina Campell’s Tavern, where we’ll be dining.

Christina Campell's Tavern in Williamsburg, Virginia

There’s such great attention to detail for keeping things as authentic as possible. Hopefully, Williamsburg is never thrown to corporate profit monsters who will reduce this experience into the horror of money above all.

Jessica Aldridge at Christina Campell's Tavern in Williamsburg, Virginia

It’s kind of strange that my daughter has been living out here on the eastern seaboard and has never visited this part of the world.

A gentleman in period costume at Christina Campell's Tavern in Williamsburg, Virginia playing a recorder

The highlight of the evening was the entertainment provided by the gentleman above, who sang a wonderful song titled “Bold William Taylor” while he played his guitar. I do know the difference between a guitar and a tin whistle, but I didn’t have a nice photo of him playing the guitar, so you get this photo of him playing a tin whistle. Caroline really liked his particular rendition, but this version on YouTube comes pretty close (and has bagpipes).

Tilghman Island Maryland

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Flying over the middle of America

Caroline and I landed late in the afternoon at the Baltimore airport, my daughter Jessica arriving a couple of hours earlier. It took another half hour for the three of us to find one another; admittedly, cell phones would have come in handy here.

Tilghman Island, Maryland

Across the Chesapeake Bay, we check into our hotel in St. Michaels and then take a night drive out to Tilghman Island.

Tilghman Island draw bridge in Maryland at night

Back in May, my mother-in-law Jutta and I were here and went sailing on the Lady Patty with Cpt. Chris Richards and his first mate Helen – we had a blast. Tomorrow, just before daybreak, Caroline, Jessica, and I are scheduled to go sailing aboard the Lady Patty for a sunrise tour on the Chesapeake. At 6:15 a.m., our host Cpt. Chris arrives with the bad news that Helen has been injured and that he must cancel our trip due to the emergency situation. Sadly, this will have been the last time we will ever see Cpt. Chris because six days later, on October 1st, he was involved in a tree-felling accident with injuries that would take his life. To see a photo of Cpt. Chris, Helen, and my mother-in-law, click here,

Jessica Aldridge on Tilghman Island, Maryland

A dark night on Tilghman Island, where lives were making changes and taking turns.

Auntie and Grandpa Going to Florida – Day 6

JWise Travels

Herbert Kurchoff, Jessica Wise, and Eleanor Burke at the Pensacola Naval Air-station in Florida

Sunday, though it could be any day, as the road trip has made hay of the necessity of knowing which day of the week it is. Up early to meet Jessica for breakfast in the galley – Navy speak for the mess hall – but upon arrival, we learn that no civilians are allowed, so we are turned away. This means that misinformation was given to us yesterday regarding eating dinner here. Hah, this is from the group responsible for information dominance.

Somewhere near Pensacola, Florida

The last reference is about Jessica’s job in the Navy, where she is being trained in data interpretation. Jessica did her basic training in Chicago, Illinois, and is quickly approaching the end of her first year of a four-year commitment. Here at Corry Station near Pensacola, Florida, she is in her next phase of training. Today, we had the chance to see Jess in her dress uniform; she donned it, especially for Auntie and Grandpa. She is too tired to change into her civilian clothes after hanging out until four in the morning, so we leave the base to get some breakfast.

Herbert Kurchoff at Naval Air Museum in Florida

Without a lot of dining options, we resign ourselves to the only choice in town, Waffle House. Afterward, Pensacola Naval Air Station and the National Museum of Naval Aviation await our visit. The air station couldn’t be better kempt; like any military installation I have ever visited, it is immaculate. With this station here on the Florida coast and its own wide stretch of white sandy beaches, this looks like an ideal assignment for any sailor. Getting on the installation was easy enough; Jessica simply waved her badge; for anyone else, you will only need proof of insurance, vehicle registration, and identification for everyone in the car.

The Museum opened at 9:00 a.m., and we were nearly the first visitors there. Auntie opted for the guided tour, so we got her a wheelchair. She and Jessica headed off on their own while Grandpa and I meandered amongst the more than 100 aircraft on display in this large facility. Our first stop is at a Blue Angels jet and I goad Grandpa into crawling up the ladder and shimmying into the pilot’s seat. Grandpa sends me a wave from the cockpit; I snap it and nearly need a can opener to pry him back out of the cramped quarters.

Herbert Kurchoff at Naval Air Museum in Florida

I asked a staff member if a P-38 might be found here, and while the Navy never used the P-38, the Museum does have one on display anyway. This plane is important to Grandpa as it is the one he was helping build while working for Curtis Aircraft in Buffalo, New York, before the war.

Occasionally, I see Jessica pushing Auntie between aircraft as they take their own path through the museum. After the P-38, we look at amphibious aircraft, a bi-plane, various old and modern fighters, helicopters, fighters brought back from watery graves, some old rare examples from an early flight, along with a good amount of photos that show the times when some of the craft were in service.

After an hour and a half and Grandpa tiring, we leave the museum.

Eleanor Burke on the U.S.S. Alabama Battleship in Alabama

It is a 50-mile drive northwest to the outskirts of Mobile, Alabama, where we head to walk the decks of the World War II-era battleship U.S.S. Alabama. Auntie has never been on a battleship. She had enquired in her more youthful days about the possibility of finding employment doing something on a large seacraft but came up empty-handed. So today, at 93 years old, Auntie has her first opportunity to spend time on a battleship.

Being a great sport, Auntie poses with the big guns on the front of the ship as we are both amazed at the size and weight of everything around us. We read the plaques along the way, and we both wonder out loud what it must have been like out on war-torn waters with guns blazing and aircraft attacking.

Jessica Wise and Herbert Kurchoff at U.S.S. Alabama Battleship in Alabama

Jessica and Grandpa wander off to inspect the decks below and the tower above. An hour passes here at the memorial park before we start on our way back to the car. Grandpa was supposed to take a look at a submarine on display here, but after walking the ship and the air museum, he decided he’d had enough walking and let Jessica go on her own.

Sunset on the Florida coast

By the time we get back to Pensacola, it is already time to drop off Jessica so we can resume our trek southeast. Goodbye is too quick. I gave her some words of encouragement and told her to be determined to maintain pride in herself, her family, and her family name by remaining upstanding and doing the right thing no matter the difficulty. I hug her, telling her how great the short amount of time I have had with her, but regrettably, I forget to tell my daughter how much I love her.

Although I hope she knows just how much I love her as I am here with family just to say hello and spend time with her, I still feel that I lost an opportunity to tell her in person. So, I am taking the time here to let my daughter, Jessica Nicole Wise, know that her father loves her and is happy to see her making the best out of what she has undertaken. Good luck, Jess!

It is later than we planned for in leaving Pensacola, so the drive to Apalachicola is expedient and without fanfare. Maybe two stops for a photo, a bathroom stop or two, a quick snack at McDonald’s, and it’s drive, drive, drive.

Outside of Port St. Joe, we move into Eastern Standard Time, arriving at our Best Western Hotel in Apalachicola near 8:30 p.m. Another unloading of the car, situating the folks in their room, and then running over to my room to do the same. Dinner tonight is fast food from Burger King – our junk food day. The King is the only place opened this late, Apalachicola is a small town.