Jennersville, PA (USA)

Woke up around 0700, packed up, checked out of the NAS JRB Willow Grove Navy Lodge and headed out to see a genealogy friend, Elizabeth H. Took I-276/I-476 down to US-1 and then drove through the scenic hills toward the Brandywine Valley. We were in this area last summer (see AUG 2008) but we never went on this route. I didn't realize how much was on US-1... We had planned to meet at the Brandywine Battlefield (US Revolution) but when we both got there it was closed (for the season - or for lack of funds?). Drove with her over to her friend's farm in rural Chester County. Very pretty! Spent several hours doing genealogy with her - made some good discoveries. It was too bad that it had to end, but I got back in the car for my drive home around 1600. Had several messages when I got back into cell-phone service range - my flight tomorrow was (1) changed; (2) changed again and (3) cancelled altogether... To bad - I was looking forward to another trip. Decided to keep going, though, and just made an adjustment to my route. Instead of the usual way (through Delaware), used back roads (PA-896, MD-213, US-301 and US-50) along the Eastern Maryland shore of the Chesapeake. Stumbled across the birthplace of Thomas McKean (signer of the Declaration of Independence) close to the MD-PA border. Weather was much improved since I came up on Thursday - explored some towns along the coast, including Cambridge. Ate dinner at a place in town called Portside Seafood Restaurant - had "crab imperial" (Chesapeake Blue Crab with shrimp and a tasty sauce). Watched sun set over the Chesapeake - very pretty. Back on US-50 (driving towards Ocean City), I found Harriet Tubman home. [I got gas at Exxon in Cambridge, MD (1920).]  The rest of journey was dark with lots of traffic until I hit the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (paid my toll at 2140). By the time I was back in Virginia Beach, it was nearly 2300. I drove back to Dam Neck Annex and checked into the Navy Gateway Inn again.  No flight tomorrow, though, so it all worked out. Tired from the drive, but really enjoyed the scenic route...