Finishes and Starts

My good intentions to complete my recent trip to the east coast somehow were lost in catching up with life back in Chicago. Now I am preparing to leave on another trip which came up rather suddenly. I'll be accompanying my daughter and granddaughter to California, caring for Penelope while Emily attends meetings in the Palo Alto area. Driving back to Illinois from the east, I enjoyed the beautiful reds and yellows particularly in Pennsylvania. It's the first fall colors I've seen in recent years. Coming into Chicago via the Skyway, Dan Ryan, and Lakeshore Drive was easy compared to my Sunday drive through Washington DC. I learned my lesson to look at a map instead of trusting the GPS entirely. It really wasn't a problem as I was able to reacquaint myself with the city I visited so often with Les in the 90's. The trip provided me with three of my favorite activities, dulcimer playing, bicycling, and sailing. The sailing aboard friends Don and Elizabeth's 38' foot sloop ADRIATICA was very special.(Elizabeth at the wheel pictured) The Chesapeake is a wonderful body of water to sail with great anchorages, one of which, Still Pond, where we overnight-ed. The second night we went into a dock at Woonton Marina and had a delicious dinner at the Harbor View restaurant with their friends Fred and Joyce. Both nights featured a rousing domino game, always great fun. Afterwards I was able to have wonderful visits with former neighbor Kathy, cousin Jim and his wife Jane and college classmate Cathy and her husband Bob. I am so fortunate to have these wonderful friends who welcome me into their homes (and boats) as my wanderings take me to their locations.