I was in Baltimore a few years ago for a truck safety event, but I never left the hotel. This visit was different. We began at Fort McHenry, which has been active in some fashion for every war, but is most notable for it’s involvement in the war of 1812.
Fort McHenry.
It’s also known as the fort that flew the flag that inspired the writing of our national anthem. In 1813 General George Armistead requested a “flag so large that the British will have no difficulty seeing it from a distance.”
The back of the barracks.
Mary Pickersgill sewed a flag 25 feet by 17 feet, and it was flown the day after a British bombardment, to show that the Americans’ still held the fort. Francis Scott Key saw the flag and was inspired to write the Star Spangled Banner as the national anthem.
She sewed the famous flag.
We walked along the waterfront below the fort, the sky turning grey with the promised rain. Still, it was a beautiful morning.
Tourists sailing on the river.
Just down the hill a tall ship was moored. The Pride of Baltimore II was getting ready for a summer voyage up the coast and through the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Great Lakes! She’ll be in Lake Huron sometime this summer.
Pride of Baltimore II getting ready to sail the Great Lakes!
We hope to see her near Bay City later this year.
It began to rain as we headed into the city of Baltimore. Wandering the inner harbor area we enjoyed all the shops and sights through a slow drizzle.
Vibrant Inner Harbor; books, bars, boats and more.
The USS Constellation is in the harbor and you can take a tour. It’s under renovation at the moment, and we didn’t take the tour as there was many other things to do. But it’s a beautiful ship.
A piece of history waiting to be explored.
There are a number of towers dominating the Baltimore skyline. Though it was beginning to rain harder we decided to climb several blocks up to the top of the hill to figure out what this tower was.
What is that up there?
Turns out it is the Bromo-Seltzer tower, built by a man named Emerson as an advertisement for his product. In fact originally this tower had a huge Bromo bottle on top!
Bromo-Seltzer?!
Apparently he saw a similar tower in Florence Italy, called his architect and said he wanted something similar, but instead of one clock like the Florence tower he wanted four clocks, and he wanted them to be larger than the clocks in Big Ben in London. No ego there!
An artist rending of what the tower used to look like.
As we were standing outside the building looking up at it in what was becoming a downpour a man opened the door and invited us in out of the rain. He explained that the tower is now being used as artists’ studios, and he was the curator. Though it wasn’t officially open he took us up to the 15th floor in an old manual elevator…
A Bromo collection.
…where there was a Bromo-Seltzer exhibit. And then we were allowed to walk down the 15 flights of stairs where the artists in residence were displaying their work. It was a fun example of the interesting things you might find if you just follow your curiosity.
It was raining harder on our walk back down to the harbor and the car. We noticed another interesting tower of sorts but decided it really was time to get out of the rain.
More interesting architecture.
After our tour of some of downtown Baltimore we headed out of town to visit a friend and his lovely family. I’ll share two of them with you. Griff….
I’m not sure about you yet lady!
..and Scout
All I want to do is PLAY lady!
Our friend has human family members as well. But…you know me and dogs. And I bet you think that the dogs were the sweet part of this post didn’t you. Well. They were sweet.
But this morning we stopped by Hershey Pennsylvania and took a little tour. We learned all about Hershey candy from a sweet little friend…
How do they make all that chocolate?
…and we shopped in the largest candy store in the world. It was almost as though sensible eating for months was thrown out the window. There was so much stuff! And suddenly I wanted it all.
Lots and lots and lots of candy.
But we were good and walked out of there with only $12 spent. It’s still more chocolate than I’ve had anywhere near me in a very long time. In fact tonight it’s out in the car so that I don’t eat it all at one sitting.
It’s calling my name. But it’s not going to win. Yet. I don’t think.
Tomorrow is a new adventure as we work our way home. It’s pretty here in Pennsylvania’s mountains. I don’t know where we’ll be, but I’ll share it with you after we get there.
Susquehanna River.
And of course…there’s still Williamsburg.
It was a little damp downtown.
We left beautiful Virginia Beach this morning as the rain began to fall. I felt sad to be leaving the ocean, but excited for the next adventure…
A cold, rainy run. But the dog doesn’t mind.
…because next on our list of places to explore was Assateague National Park! It’s on a thin strip of land, one of the outer bank islands, and it spans both Virginia and Maryland. It’s where the famous wild horses live.
There’s some youngsters in the herd!
I’ve seen photos Robin, from “breezes at dawn” has taken of the wild horses and I wanted to see them for myself. We visited the southern entrance to the park, in Virginia, and found a herd of them far off in the middle of a marsh.
Way back there is a mom and her little one.
Even after walking way back to an observation platform they were still a long way off, so these images are cropped. A lot. Still, it was very very cool to actually see them.
Robin sent me information about visiting at the northern entrance to the park, in Maryland, but by the time we got up there it was raining harder. Rain and cold temperatures made me decide that what I had seen was enough for this trip, though talking to Robin on the phone makes me want to come back and explore the Maryland end of the park.
We also stopped by the lighthouse. It’s beautiful, back in the woods and on the edge of the marsh…
Would have been fun to climb.
…such a lovely walk back to see it. You can climb the 175 stairs, but it’s only open on weekends right now. Later in the season it will be open all week.
Then we headed out to the beach where I saw several birds that I could not identify.
I have an idea what these are…can anyone confirm?
I told my husband I had to try to get pictures, knowing that some of you would be able to identify them for me.
What are these largish dark birds?
And even though most of these are not great shots, and they’ve been cropped to within an inch of being illegible…I hope you know what all these birds are!
I think there are a couple different kinds of birds here, none of which I recognize.
And as we walked through the forest opening up to the marshes, a huge flock of these swooped overhead:
They are medium sized, white (I think) with hooked beaks. What are they?
Here’s a better shot from directly underneath:
Does this help identify the bird?
We didn’t get up close to much of the wildlife, but we had a great time. It was so nice to be back in nature after spending two days in Virginia Beach and Norfolk with it’s crowds of people.
I did get pretty close to this clump of probable seagulls. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a bird with a mouth that is so red!
What you talkin about lady?
I can’t pronounce the name of this park, but I definitely recommend you all to visit! I hope to be back again someday soon myself! Thank you, Robin, for sparking my interest in this amazing place!
Shining example of a lighthouse.
Hey! Want to join the Navy?
After a stupendous sunrise and a little run/walk along the boardwalk here in Virginia Beach we spent most of today on and around the Norfolk Navy Station, the biggest Navy Station in the world.
Sunrise photo credit goes to my husband.
First we went out to visit a lighthouse that is on the base. The soldiers at the gate were very friendly as they explained the process of allowing us entry. Once on base we stopped to see the lighthouses; one is historic, the other is still a working lighthouse.
We got to climb one of these.
Can you guess which one is which?
We just about sprinted up the older brick lighthouse when we noticed through a window a destroyer (that’s a big ship) heading out to sea when we were part way up the interior steps. I lost count of how many steps up…
View from the top
…but we counted them on the way down…181 steps plus 12 steps up to the door, plus 75 steps up the hill to the base of the lighthouse. All of that equals a lot of steps!
We also went to a viewing platform overlooking the ocean and happened to catch a submarine heading out to see. It went right past a big container ship which was headed into port. Later in the day we saw that same container ship docked and being unloaded. Very cool.
That’s a submarine in front of that ship!
Then we took a bus tour of Norfolk Naval Station, and after that a 2 hour boat tour of the Elizabeth River and the docks and shipyards there. We saw lots of different types of boats on our way out to the Naval docks. One of the most photogenic was a fishing boat headed out to sea.
Heading out to catch some fish.
But there were docked ships that caught our attention too. Here’s a couple at the coal loading docks…
Loading up with coal.
…and many more.
Red tug in front of three ships at a private shipyard.
We eventually got out to the Norfolk Naval Station docks where we saw destroyers and amphibian ships…
Huge. Even the smaller one is huge.
..and learned that the smallest destroyer costs more than $2 billion…
This can carry lots and lots of planes. And soldiers too.
…and the large aircraft carriers cost more than $10 billion. We must have seen dozens of ships and I can’t begin to total up all the money that was represented there. Even the planes on the aircraft carrier cost more than I want to think about.
See that little plane up there? It’s a fighter jet!
Once back ashore we walked over to the USS Wisconsin, which has been turned into a museum. Unfortunately it isn’t open on Mondays, but we walked around the outside anyway. The thing that struck me was how thin it appeared to be from the front.
So skinny it could sneak into any harbor!
But for those of you that want to see what it really looks like…here you go:
From the side it’s very complicated!
After a long day being Naval we headed back to Virginia Beach for our last night spent walking the boardwalk and listening to the ocean waves. I haven’t even shown you the boardwalk, the beach, the ocean.
And there’s still Williamsburg to share with you. Someday, I promise.
So many adventures, so little time.
Coming up or going down?
The ‘epicenter’ of our country, where it all began.
Today we visited Jamestown, where the English landed in 1607, and the location of their first successful settlement. They attempted four other settlements in years prior at other locations, but each of those failed.
Captain Smith faces the James river at what was once the front entrance to the fort.
Jamestown was settled in 1607 as a business venture because the English had heard there were riches to be had in America. The settlers were immediately and continually attacked by the local Indians and by the winter of 1608 were without food in brutal cold. Many died, and by the next spring less than 60 survived.
Archeologists finally found the original fort in 1992 after decades of attempts. They are still digging.
This is the fort where Pocahontas and John Smith met. She did, in fact, save his life, but she did not have a romantic relationship with him, despite what Disney says. She brought food to the fort during the long winter, and ended up marrying John Rolf and moving to London where she died young, and where she is buried.
The brick tower of the church is the only original structure left and dates from the mid 17th century.
Our docent at Jamestown reminded us that if this settlement had not survived England would likely not have tried again. The area would have been settled eventually, but most likely by Spain, or possibly France. Our country would not have existed were it not for these few surviving settlers.
He spent an hour and a half telling us about the history here.
Kind of makes you think doesn’t it.
Later in the day we learned the history, just up the road, of the 1781 battle at Yorktown which ended the American Revolution. The British were camped there, led by a very strong and successful Lieutenant General, Charles Cornwallis. General George Washington, in conjunction with French Allies, had far fewer troops than the British, but beat them at Yorktown, in part because they had larger artillery and cannons.
“FIRE!”
It’s a much longer and more complicated story than that, but it comes down to the fact that we had the bigger guns. We got to watch a 24 pound cannon be fired at the Yorktown Visitor Center. It was pretty impressive.
The ranger says that while the battle of Yorktown didn’t end the war, nothing significant happened after, so essentially it was this surrender of the British that gave The United States independence.
Then we drove a bit to the Moore House where the terms of surrender were worked out between the British and us. It’s a pretty little house with a long lawn down to the James River. It wasn’t open when we were there but I enjoyed walking down to the river to see the view.
Where details of the British surrender were worked out.
Yesterday we were in Colonial Williamsburg, and while we were there we toured a bit of the College of William and Mary. I’ve got lots of photos, and it’s going to be hard to choose which to show you.
Waiting.
Today was Mother’s Day, and I’ve associated mockingbirds with my mom for many years. Oddly, or maybe not so oddly, there were several mockingbirds flitting about most of the day, especially at James Fort.
Hey mom! We had such a pretty day today!
Somehow I think my mom was exploring right along side of us.
Tonight we’re on the ocean at Virginia Beach. I’m listening to the ocean waves as I sort photos. Retirement is good.
Stay tuned.
The British were here.
Gate to the Cemetery and the Robert E Lee house up on the hill.
Turns out we underestimated our time wandering the cemetery grounds.
We spent nearly the entire day exploring, searching for particular grave sites, contemplating, watching. Listening. Listening to taps being played at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, listening to a marching band playing military music off in the distance during the changing of the guard…
Changing the honor guard.
…listening to a mocking bird singing high over the endless rows of white marble markers.
Probably not a mockingbird, but he was pretty.
And toward the end of our visit just when I was commenting about how peacefully quiet it was, how beautiful this particular tree was…
Pretty shade.
…a military flyover came roaring up from the Potomac, right overhead, shattering the peace, but raising the awesome level of our total experience.
We saw Senator Frank Lautenberg’s grave site. He was always so supportive of our safety efforts. We miss him – he was a good man. His stone should have proclaimed his work toward saving people’s lives on our roads.
It doesn’t, but we know.
You did good work Senator.
But the stone that touched me the most was that of Medgar Evers. A simple white stone, like hundreds of thousands of others, set down over a hill below President Taft, it was evident that several people had come to visit and pay their respects.
Remembering Medgar Evers.
He did good work too.
Wandering in Arlington was beautiful, but oh so sad. Because we had to acknowledge that every one of the thousands of headstones represented a person, someone’s child. They all belonged to someone.
Each one an individual.
And now they all belong to us.
Sobering.
On the back of the stone for Oliver Wendell Lewis, a Major General who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam but was only 71 when he died, was this quote:
Good advice.
I like to think that those of us working for truck safety are doing just that – walking in the world for our loved ones. I think the General has it exactly right.
I wish everyone had the opportunity to visit this cemetery, to experience the solemnity, the sense of awe, the feeling of pride. I have to think the country would be in better shape if everyone spent a day exploring this special place.
There’s sadness here, but there’s peace and hope too.
Visit if you can.
Always vigilant.
Katie here. I can’t believe I am saying this…
… but I think my mama should schedule me for a spa day.
Cause this look went out of style in the 80’s.
Just sayin.
When I was looking good.
.
HI!!!!
Mama says I shouldn’t be sad that it’s raining. We haven’t had any in a long time, and besides, she says, it’s not SNOW! Good point mama. Of course I sort of like snow so I guess I wouldn’t have minded if we got some to play in. Mama, on the other hand, does not want to see any more of that white stuff till next Christmas!
Anyway.
I’ve been to lots of parks lately. Mama is home all the time and we get to go go go! I love that. I think mama does too, though maybe not quite as much as me. Cause she doesn’t get treats at the park, not being a princess and all.
I’ve been over to my park quite a bit already this month. It still doesn’t look like spring over there, but at least the snow is gone. There aren’t any leaves yet, but after this rain I bet things begin to bud out!
This is my majestic look.
It’s been a bit wet with all the snow melt, and windy, but I don’t mind. I even walked through a puddle at the back of the park this year! Mama was surprised; she usually has to carry me through that part of the trail every spring. I guess I’m growing up and taking on more responsibility now that I’m almost ten.
Art in my park!
Did you know they are advertising the DIA (Detroit Institute of Arts) at my park? There are these big pictures with notes about the artist there! My mama reads them all to me but she says I can’t go to the DIA because I’m a dog. Seems unfair. I mean, why put art in my park if I can’t go?
One day at my park I didn’t feel like walking all the way around, so I took my mama over to the library and we walked around there. And you know what I accidentally did?
Uh, she’s on to me!
I walked down this long line of stairs! Without thinking! I forgot that I don’t do stairs! Now my mama is sure that I’ve been scamming her all these years when I made her carry me up and down.
And one time, over by one of the ponds mama thought she’d take a photo of the two of us enjoying my park. But she never did get the hang of setting the camera up. Most of the shots looked like this.
Mama doesn’t move fast enough.
I’ve also spent lots of time at home in my own pretty yard. Mama is getting worried that she’s already behind on the weeding, but I think the flowers are beautiful just the way they are.
I look good in blue, don’t you think?
AND…best news of all! Mama and I got to go camping in the back yard two nights in a row! I was very very good and only barked a little (OK a lot the first night and only a little the second night) at the snorting deer that trespassed on our camp site around two a.m. each night. The second night I slept all night and never even moved around on my princess pillow!
This is MY tent and MY stuff. Mama takes care of it for me.
Of course I got mama up at 5:15 a.m. each morning but she doesn’t seem to mind now that she doesn’t have to go to work anymore. I love camping! She says we’re going to a real campground in May and another one somewhere up north in June! I can not wait!
And you know what else? Last night I got to go for a wonderful walk with my pal Deuce and his mom at his park! It’s in a town and there’s a creek that runs through it and there’s ducks and lots of people and oh! The wonderful smells!
Deuce and me at his park!
I could hardly lift my nose from the ground anywhere, it was heaven! I walked a mile and a half and wasn’t even tired. I didn’t want to leave! Deuce was a real good host and showed me all the best spots to sniff. And his mom was so patient and let me sniff as long as I wanted. Even my own mama was pretty indulgent about it all.
I’ve been having the best time this spring so I guess it’s OK there’s one day of rain. I could probably use the rest anyway. I’m sure mama has more adventures up her sleeve, and I need to be ready!
Signing off now,
Katie.
PS: I got a little damp this morning.
The wet dog look.
Change Is Hard 