Our Official Badge into the Congressional building

SWEET WARM ALABAMA!!

The Capital building during the beginning of the confederacy

The Capital Building at night

A Prickly Pear Margarita

The home of Freemasonry in Montgomery

Montgomery Daytime

This is our 'hold over' day - now only 190 miles from our condo that we'll spend the month. Had dinner at a Mexican Cantina and then did the tour bus around Montgomery. Ended up spending much time near and around the capital building and various museums.
Considering this is the birthplace of the civil rights movement, albeit, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, the march from Selma etc. there are many things to see. Also it was the capital of the confederacy when the Civil War began. Jefferson Davis was sworn into the Presidency on the steps we stood on this morning.
Phew - then after all that, we went to Martins for real southern fried chicken, cornbread, fried green tomatoes, lemonade and sweet tea. Unfortunately, there wasn't any room left for the huge pieces of pies they had.

Talk about your super highways - the ride from Charlotte to Montgomery was just that! Perfect roads and little traffic. It if weren't for the sun showers and a couple of gully wasers, it would have been perfect. Looking forward to touring the city in the morning - there is much to see and talk about as this was the capital of the south during the Civil War. many things are still here commemorating those efforts.

They have done a great job in preserving them and tomorrow we will take the in town tour bus that is all of $2 for the day - off and on as often as you'd like.

So where we only have less than 200 miles to get to Orange Beach, our final destination, we will probably spend some extra time exploring! Of course there is always southern hospitality and cooking that I'm especially looking forward to.

Stopped overnight in Charlotte NC and what a wonderful surprise - expected a ho-hum little town and instead got to play in a huge city (nearly 2M people in the metropolitan area) and the home of Bank of America, the Democratic Convention this year, NASCAR and on and on.
Not to slight the Capital Grill (thanks to Whitney's Matt) for 2 of the finast fillet mignon's we've ever had. We had a tough time finding parking (DUH - free valet for patrons of the grill) and talked to Andy police officer and he told us to mention to Petie the bartender that he recommended the place. Got our first 2 drinks comp'd. Everyone was super friendly - definitely on our list of places to return.

Major Bldg last night in Charlotte

Sunset skyline of Charlotte

Had a wonderful day with Whitney/Matt(went to church with them and Matt and I got to sing full voice) then off to a Lebanese restaurant for a great lunch adding Gwen and Tom. Things began to unravel when Terry got an email that her credit card had been 'compromised' and wouldn't work anymore until she got a replacement. She did a great job and after talking to a number of CS reps, got them to extend the life till mid March and they would "Monitor all charges VERY closely". They will send her a new card to Preble Street and Sue will forward it to the rental office in Orange Beach Alabama. (we cannot receive mail at the condo) Go figure! So that solved that problem!
Then we came across the bridge between Maryland and Virginia and all kinds of bells and whistles went off as we went through the EZ pass lane. For a minute I just ignored it but then realized when Cabelas had changed my Visa number, EZ pass never got notified. At this point we were in some little town in southern Virginia so I called EZ pass in Maine and finally have it settled to: the CS put some money into my account to pay for my transgression, emailed me the form to change the credit card number so now I have to find a place to get it printed (obviously Terry will have to do the same when she gets her new card) fill it out and SIGN it (that's the reason for the form) and FAX it back to them.
There just seems to be something about our traveling through Virginia/North Carolina (last time we hit the worst blizzard of my life) but we are now better than half way to Orange Beach.
Exploring Charlotte NC tonight and the Capital Grill that was suggested by Matt.

Pictures from Saturday 25th in Crofton

View from our luncheon table into Anappollis Harbor

Ahhh - Fit for as queen

Or a king

Chesapeake Bay Bridge North Bound

Big Al from Wiscasset

Where else do you go when you need something in St Michael's

Our two lovelies awaiting a table at the Irish Pub

Saturday and Gwen/Tom/Terry and I are off to adventure! Traveled over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (beautiful) to St Michaels town which would have been very enjoyable if it weren't for the 30MPH icy cold winds.
Left to go to a huge outlet mall (Tom bought some shoes) and then on to an Irish Pub for Mulligan stew and chicken pot pies. Some Guiness and Smithwick's were in there also I seem to remember.
Pictures to follow tomorrow

Friday turned out to be a damp, sloggy day - so being the movie addicts that we are, ended up going to see the "Iron Lady" at the local cinema - EXCELLENT! Good day to just kick back and do nothing and plan to play with Gwen and Tom (Whitney and Matt) on the weekend.

Photos of our trip to Crofton

Traffic getting onto the George Washington Bridge

Good Old George Upper Level coming up

Delaware Memorial Bridge

Daffodils already coming up in Crofton

Friday AM in Crofton

Damp and dreary 47 degrees in Crofton but fortunately it's not supposed to last for long - may have to put off going to DC and save it for another day, Today will be adding some photos of our trip down from Maine yesterday. Will have to remember not to try to do 2 things as I'm driving - hint, there is more to that than I'm willing to discuss.

Now in Crofton

1. Arrived in Crofton about 5:30 after fairly uneventful trip.  Went across the Geirge Washington Bridge which is always a thrill.  Tomirrow it's off to DC to explore
   

FINALLY - the van is all packed (we hope) and the rain is only misting so we're not going to be leaving good weather here in Maine. Today we're off to Crofton and visit Gwen and Tom for the weekend. Driving right across NYC as we always go. We have a tradition of stopping at a Chicken place along the NJ turnpike and will do that again today.
Weather in Alabama seems to continue to cooperate with temps in the upper 60's low 70's - BRING IT ON!

Almost loaded and everything fits and I can see out the back of the van - we must be getting good at this month away stuff.

Travel Day minus one

Packing day - perfect weather here in Maine, hoping it stays with us as we travel south. First stop tomorrow night with Gwen and Tom in Crofton Maryland. Will spend the weekend with them. Plan a trip to Washington DC on Friday.

The beginning of the trip

It's Sunday and the bikes and fishing equipment are loaded into the van - DUH!