Annapolis and Hershey- Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013

We checked out of the hotel after breakfast, and confirmed Julie's reservations for one month from now. Then we went into Annapolis to explore one more time. We found our way to the U.S. Naval Academy. We passed through security, saw the statue of Bill the Goat, and started at the Visitors' Center. We saw a short movie that told about the life of a midshipman at the Academy. After the gift shop we walked across the campus, past the chapel ( the large domed building we had seen two nights ago) to Preble Hall, where the Navy small but fascinating museum. The highlight of the museum for Scott was Oliver Hazard Perry's "Don't Give Up the Ship" flag, which was flown in the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813, 200 years ago this year. It was he main reason he wanted to stop here this morning. We also saw other artifacts owned by Perry, including his sextant and a pistol he used in the battle. There was an exhibit on the Naval War of 1812, with several interesting portraits of Perry and others. The scope of the artifacts was impressive, ranging from a silk lace flag made for Washington's first inauguration, through the Navy's many conflicts, up to astronauts Alan Shepard (of the original Mercury 7) and Jim Lovell (of Apollo XIII) both Naval Academy alumni.

We drove on to Hershey, PA, and Emma lost a tooth along the way. Naturally we rode the Hershey Chocolate World ride. We all laughed at Julie singing along with the cows as we were riding through, but after lunch, she got a free Hershey bar for answering a survey. We did a little shopping, but we've got a ways to go before we get home tonight.