Thanksgiving Week Vacation Day 2
Today, November 22nd, is the second day of our Thanksgiving week vacation. Breakfast was from 7:00 am-10:00 am today at our hotel — the Best Western North East Inn, located in North East, MD. We went downstairs for breakfast a little after 7:00 am. Because of COVID-19 breakfast wasn’t the hotel’s typical full hot breakfast, served buffet style. Breakfast was still good, though, with selections individually wrapped. I had a hot egg and bacon sandwich, applesauce, a banana, orange juice, a chocolate chip muffin, and a cup of tea. Bob picked up similar selections. We carried our breakfast to our room on a tray and ate there.
We checked out of the hotel around 8:40 am and began the last leg of our drive. Today’s destination is Chincoteague, VA. As was the case yesterday, the GPS is programmed to avoid highways.
We made a bathroom stop in Cambridge MD at the Dorchester County Visitor Center. A monument caught my eye.
This is the “Flying goose” monument fountain.
You can see the “Flying Goose” from several viewpoints or see it up close.
“Flying Goose” monument fountain
Returning to our car from the “Flying Goose” monument, we spotted a lighthouse off in the distance.
View of Choptank River Lighthouse from Dorchester County Visitor Center
We hopped into the car, drove 1 mile to Long Wharf Park and parked the car.
Bob and I with the Choptank River Lighthouse in the background
Choptank River Lighthouse
Choptank River Lighthouse
and one last photograph of the picturesque lighthouse
Choptank River Lighthouse
At 12:15 pm we met Tom and his girlfriend, Ellen, for lunch at Evolution Craft Brewing Company in Salisbury, MD. We sat outside and ate our lunch.
Lunch with friends at EVO Brewery in Salisbury, MD
Bob ordered a pulled pork sandwich with French fries; Tom ordered a brisket sandwich with French fries; and Ellen and I ordered Brioche French Toast with strawberries and whipped cream.
Brioche French Toast with strawberries and whipped cream
A little background … Tom graduated with Bob’s brother, John, who is 9 years older than Bob. When we got together for lunch, I believed that I had never met Tom and that Bob and Tom hadn’t seen each other since high school. During lunch Tom mentioned John’s 50th birthday, and I had a vague recollection of a photograph taken during John’s 50th birthday celebration. I found that photograph, upon our return home.
Photograph Taken on the Occasion of John’s 50th Birthday (October 2000)
Apparently in October 2000 Tom, his wife Anne (who died in May 2019), and Bob and I celebrated John’s 50th birthday together. The four of us are in the back row on the left.
… Fast forward to 2018 …
Bob and Tom became Facebook friends in August 2018. Tom and I became friends on Facebook a few months later, in January 2019. Tom likes photographs that I share on Facebook. He has left many complimentary comments over the years. We message each other occasionally too. It was via Facebook Messenger that we made plans to meet on our way to Chincoteague, VA. Tom, Bob and I believed an outdoor setting would be the safest way to meet, given COVID-19.
… Back to the present …
Our respective lunches were delicious, and we enjoyed our time with both Tom and Ellen (whom we met for the first time today). We hope to meet up again one day.
I think it was 2:30 pm when we left the brewery. We drove to Food Lion in Oak Hall, VA. We picked up a few groceries and then drove to Tranquil Shores, our Airbnb rental in Chincoteague, VA. We arrived at the rental shortly before 4:00 pm and got settled in. Tranquil Shores is home through Saturday, November 28th.
Our Airbnb rental was cleaned to COVID-19 standards. We could smell the disinfectant, when we walked into the house. The house was spotless. When we stayed here before, pre-COVID, the refrigerator wasn’t completely emptied out in between guests. The refrigerator was completely emptied, when we arrived today. The empty refrigerator, in and of itself, gave me that little extra feeling of safety.
Tonight’s dinner was Sloppy Joes, coleslaw and, for dessert, cheesecake. We purchased a small platter that contains 8 slices of cheesecake, four different flavors. We will enjoy cheesecake for a few days this week.
The Beauty Around Us 
6 Responses to “Thanksgiving Week Vacation Day 2”
Love the statue of the flying geese!
Hello, Linda
Your trip sounds wonderful. I love the view of the flying geese monument, the Choptank River and the lighthouse. It was nice your were able to meet up with your friends in Salisbury. Your Airbnb sounds great! Take care, have a happy day!
It’s wonderful that you could catch up with old friends and meet new ones on your trip. I really like that lighthouse that you pictured.
What a great trip and good to meet up with friends.
This is so wonderful to see! The goose monument was sculpted by my late father, George Northup. It was commissioned by the Grand National Waterfowl Hunt Club in Cambridge MD to celebrate the migratory bird population there. There’s a cute story about when they were trying to install the piece – the tall base was put in first while the rest of it went through the sculpting and foundry process. The plan was to install it in the spring of that year, but a pair of Ospreys built a nest on top of it, so they delayed the installation. Before they could knock the nest down, a pair of geese adopted it and hatched a late clutch up there. This happened for two years. They finally installed it and had a great celebration. George Northup passed away in 2017, and it is absolutely on my list of priorities to see it in person. I just love seeing it posted in lovely blogs like this, that come up on Google, so thank you so much for posting it.
Thank you so much for commenting on my blog post. I loved the story about how installation of the goose sculpture was delayed for 2 years.