Aug 30-Sept 9 Edgewater MD
As soon as we arrived to the boat, boat school began. Josephine is taking AP Human Geography, Algebra II, and AP English online through the SCOUT program with University of California. She is taking AP Physics with Nate. Josephine did not want a picture with Nate doing physics and here Nate is trying to contain his laughter.
The boat projects also started immediately. There were still several items that needed to be accomplished for us to set sail. We continue to have a running boat project list and some of these items are STILL on our list two months later. The oil was changed, metal was polished, decks were scrubbed, unpacking, and a washer placed (it is still not in working order as of November). As the photos show, Queso was very involved in supervision.
There was lots of fun to be had between all the hard work. Nate, Queso and I were able to visit Manassas National Battlefield (civil war) while trying to pick up washing machine. Another day Josephine and I took the M train into Washington DC where we walked miles taking in the Ford Theatre, the National Mall, Washington Monument and World War I Memorial.
We took Josephine on on her first college visit to University of Virginia. She loved it!
Another very special visit was with Brian Bennett who both Nate and I went to high school with. He graciously took Nate and Josephine to the White House press room as he is the senior White House correspondent at TIME. They met some fellow reporters, saw Brian’s seat with TIME on plaque, learned about the equipment/etiquette/history and other Press Room stories. In November, Josephine said this is one of her top two experiences so far on our boat trip. After the White House, we all went to Brian’s home to meet the rest of his family and have dinner. We enjoyed our time together so much that it was hard to say goodnight.
We managed to attend a Baltimore Orioles game which they lost but enjoyed people watching and getting a night out together.
Josephine and I got to visit with a friend who moved from Oklahoma to Alexandria, VA with her horse. Josephine and Liz competed and trained together in dressage. Liz’s horse is recovering from injury but Josephine was happy grooming him, touring the farm and we all had lunch together.
Nate left the boat for a few night to head to San Francisco. Every year he does the Alcatraz swim with his sister. He has completed the swim at least four times, Addy has done it twice and Josephine once. The swimmers leave Alcatraz to swim 1.4 miles to the beach in San Francisco near the South End Rowing Club. Nate likes to swim WITHOUT a wetsuit each year. Addy and her friend, Lily, drove 5 hours one way from Humboldt to stay the weekend and cheer on Nate and his sister. A bonus for Nate to spend time with Addy after already missing her so much.
Addy continues to send us photos from college. It must have been so hard for parents before cell phones when their children went to college. The quick texts reassure my heart and help me feel connected. Addy rows every morning (except Sunday) at 5:30am and then lifts four afternoons a week. She has made so many friends from the team. She has already been able to go on local camping trips which include jumping into rivers.
