Back on the boat!

Hi kids!

It was nice to get to meet you kids when we stopped at the school last
week. After we left school we went to have Thanksgiving dinner with
family on Spring Hill, where there is a crooked road then it goes
straight, you know the place. Then on Friday we headed back to
Virginia to get back on the boat and continue the trek south.

When we arrived we found the wind blowing WAY hard and cold. We had to
tie more ropes to hold the boat to the dock. We huddled under all the
blankets we had and listened to the ropes creak and groan all night.
We figured creak and groan was good. If we didn't hear that it meant
they had snapped!

Today the wind had stopped, the sun was warm and we began to go down
the intracoastal waterway. That is a system of canals and rivers
created and maintained by your friend, the federal government, so
folks can go up and down the coast without going out into the big
ocean. Thank goodness for the federal government!

Today we went under or through thirteen bridges. Some were high enough
to sail under. Some were lift bridges that lifted themselves way up in
the air to get out of our way. Some were swing bridges that turned
like if you had your arm in front of you and swung it to your side.
Some were 'bascule' bridges that swing up like if you had your arm in
front of you and lifted it over your head.

This is a picture of a bascule bridge opening. Sweet, huh? Big ole
Pirate John, coming through. Get outta the way, bridge!

So, kids, see if you can count to thirteen. It's not hard, if you do
it often enough. Let's see. One, two, thirteen. Is that right?

And remember kids, the teacher is what? That's right. The teacher is
ALWAYS RIGHT. Got it.