Baltimore

Thanks to Bossy we made the trip to the Fort Meade area just fine. We left Charleston, W.V., at 7 a.m. on Tuesday morning and headed for Alexandria, Va. to pick up sister Sara. She had spent the last week in Hawai'i, taken the red-eye back to LA (that's where she lives), didn't even leave the airport before catching a flight to D.C. She got there about 6 p.m. Monday. Even thought she made it to D.C., her luggage didn't arrive when she did. She finally got it on Tuesday, an hour before we were to pick her up.

Bossy got us to her hotel in Alexandria, then from there we tasked her with finding our hotel in Hanover, Md., which she did.

My nephew Reese, who is in the Air Force stationed at Ft. Meade, Md., got off work around 3:30 so he, his wife Heather and her sister, Jamie, came to our hotel. We all went to dinner at Famous Dave's BBQ, which was pretty good even if it isn't in Texas.

This morning we went sight seeing in Baltimore. We went to the Inner Harbour and took a Duck Tour. It was very interesting and informative and we really enjoyed it. We wandered around for several hours.

From there we tasked Bossy with getting us to Charm City Cakes, site of one of my favorite TV shows, Ace of Cakes. They never let anyone come in and they were on vacation anyway. But all I wanted to do anyway was get my picture taken in front of it and I did.

Tonight we will go out to dinner with Reese, Heather and Jamie. Tomorrow we will leave to head to New Jersey and on to New York City.

Check later for more pictures to be added to the slide show.

Later!

West Virginia

We arrived in West Virginia on Sunday morning. It took us an extra 10 minutes as we took Becky to Ohio because she hadn't been there before. Just before Huntington, W.V., you can take the Ironton exit, go across the river and you're in Ohio. We did that, flipped a u-turn then, crossed back across the bridge to WV.

After an afternoon spent relaxing, Jenn and the girls fixed a delicious dinner. The we just lounged around the rest of the evening.

This morning we went exploring some of the WV countryside. Becky says she's seen more trees in the last four days than she's seen in her whole life. Anyway we went to Hawks Nest State park and took a tram down to the river and saw some gorgeous views. From there we went to the New River Gorge. Also went over the New River Gorge Bridge which I think is the longest/highest bridge in America. They close the road down once a year and people bungee jump off of it. In fact, I think that a few years ago there was a commercial made there where they dropped a car off the bridge or something like that.

After that we were all hungry so we found a Pizza Hut. Let me just say, all the Bennett girls and their dad will all remember this, it was an experience duplicating a certain trip to the Old Country Buffet in Nebraska. There is a picture that Megan is adding to the slide show that should give you a clue.

Anyway, since I'm a "slideshow dunce" I have to get the pictures to Megan to add to the slideshow so she'll have them up soon. She's just adding to the current one as she gets them from me.

We'll be off to Maryland tomorrow to visit Reese and Heather, stalk Charm City Cakes and tour the Baltimore waterfront. We should be there until Thursday morning , then look out New York City!!!

Later.

Road Trip - Day 1 & 2

Mom, Becky and I left Waco around noon on Friday and drove several hours before stopping in Foster City, Ark., for the night. I know, we broke our cardinal rule on not spending any money in Arkansas but couldn't be helped. Foster City is about 30 miles west of Memphis.

Mom asked us of Friday night what was the earliest she could wake us up n Saturday morning. We told her 6:30 but we were all awake and up by 6. After eating breakfast which was complimentary at the cafe next door, we were on the road by 7.

Our goals for Saturday was to go to Louisville then go on to Lexington and stop for the night.

Let me tell you about our neat toy before I go any further. I bought a GPS for the trip, which after a day of listening to a female voice tell us where to go, we have given the GPS a name, she is now referred to as Bossy. She came in pretty handy today. Between Memphis and Nashville, Mom decided she needed to stop at a Wal Mart. So, Becky told Bossy to find a Wal Mart in Jackson, Ark., and she guided us directly to it. Oh, and remind me next time you talk to or see me, to tell you another story about my gullible sister.

We got to Louisville and went to Churchill Downs. We went to the museum there and also had a tour of the racetrack. It was really cool. We got to see a retired racehorse, the paddock area, then on out to the racetrack to the winners circle then back to the museum and gift shop area. The winners circle we went to wasn't the one they use for the Kentucky Derby that is on the infield and is only used for the KD. I will try to figure out how to post a slide show of our visit there.

After touring Churchill Downs we headed east to Lexington. We there early evening and checked into the hotel. Then climbed back in the car and I took Becky and mom on a tour around Lexington which included, Keeneland Racetrack and a we stumbled upon a scenic driving tour around Keeneland. After that we went to the Kentucky Horse Park and drove around the whole place. Let me just tell you, I'm a sucker for white fences.

We're hunkered down in the hotel for the night and will go on to Jennifer's in the morning. We should be there by mid-morning.

I will try to post to the blog daily, depending on internet access. We plan on staying at Jenn's until Tuesday morning then go on to D.C. and pick up Sara then off to Reese's in Maryland.

That's all for now, catch you later.

PRECIOUS!!!

On July 6 our grandaughter Ashton celebrated her sixth birthday. We weren't able to go up there to help celebrate but did send a card and some money. Yesterday, we received the most precious thank you card, one that we will keep with our important papers!!!!!!!!! I scanned a copy of it and have posted it with this blog, however, I am providing a transcript in case there's a couple of works you can't figure out.

Grammy & Grampy,
Thank yall for the birthday money. I loved the card. Whose idea was it to get the card? I wanted the Ariel nightgown but they were out of them. So I don't know what I am gunna get.
Love, Ashton