Southeast Tour Stop 4 ~ Maryland

By Travis (2/20/20)

Juan Moore!

Plus 1!

This trip started out with a 10 state game plan. Upon deciding that we would cross the CBBT (more on that in minute), it became an option to add a state because we would only be 70 miles from Maryland. I announced that Kate and I had a surprise for the kids today (Thursday, 20 February) and in perfect fashion they all responded with “oh boy, now what”. I simply answered with “we are adding a state to our trip and going there today”.

What is the CBBT? The Cheasapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is a 17.6 mile architectural phenomenon that is both bridge and tunnel. You should do a little wiki homework and see it from google earth. Lincoln was the most fascinated yet I think all of us will remember driving into a whole in the water in order to be 75 feet underwater. 

This awesome roadway brought us to the eastern shore of Virginia and Maryland. For my geography buffs this is the out of place peninsula that people see on maps and wonder what is really there. I found it unique that it was a combination of Atlantic coast beach/fishing culture with mainland altlantic coast farming culture. There was this strange mesh of tobacco and cotton farms with seafood sold everywhere. The farmer in me also noticed a Tyson, Perdue and Mountaire chicken production plants with naturally an overwhelming amount of chicken houses (just like our turkey houses in MN). 

Our Maryland destination was Crisfield, the self proclaimed crab capital of the world. When in Maryland you seek the blue crab. We unfortunately are here during the off-season so missed on this important part of the little community’s story. We did find a great seafood place to eat and were happy to support a local family. 

(Lincoln’s “This is awesome!” face.)

As we close out this “extra” state it will likely be remembered for the Wilsonisms of strange happenings and for another one of mom and dads great surprises. That is, in fact, one of the rules for our travels - we have to be able to tell an engaging story about our time there. I can already hear each of the kids making comments like - “that bridge/tunnel was so cool,” “of course it is not crabbing season, why would we think any differently,” and “yep it snows wherever we go.” I will remember this day because we really don’t have to do anything extravagant to create memories as a family. 

On to Virginia