Ocean City....

...Maryland, a place that's really crowded,
except in the Winter, when grey skies are clouded,
the population shrinks to just about seven thousand;
in warm weather the beach is crowded, you can't get your toes in.

Not a place I'd like to live, what with summer traffic,
don't like crowds or busy places, they are not teriffic!
Sometimes it's too bad that places get like this,
but folks have to get away, here's vacation bliss.

Top: Ocean City from the air.
Middle: Sunrise, always are great sight.
Bottom: And, the surf is nice too, this is what people come here for.

Annapolis....

...Maryland, Capitol of the state,
on Chesapeake Bay, the location is great;
a very busy city, with a small town feel,
but, no doubt about it, it's the real deal.

The U S Naval Academy is here too,
regimented cadets, learning what to do;
not an easy place, but it's important too,
on graduation, they'll know what to do.

Top: Annapolis, the Capitol dome in the background.
Middle: The U S Navy Blue Angels perform over Annapolis.
Bottom: Athletic field at the Naval Academy.

Tomorrow: The "other" Maryland

Lexington Park....

....Maryland. So why the photo of the planes?
Well, that's Ol Larry.  This was part of his range.
He was stationed here about forty years ago,
and that photo is from Iceland, where they used to go.

From this small town, created for the base,
Naval Air Test Center here keeps us in the race,
this is where test pilots put planes through their paces,
long before they can fly in any other places.

Top: The "Woodpecker" aircraft sit for a photo in Keflavik Iceland, they are U S Navy P3C
Middle: The contrails show two planes being put through a rigorous test.
Bottom:  The "patch" for the VP-49 (Patrol Squadron) Woodpeckers.

Scotland & Point Lookout...

.....Maryland, way down on the tip,
where Ol' Larry used to take a dip,
on the beach where the ocean meet Chesapeake Bay;
not far from his base, he could stay for the day.

Point Lookout is now a Maryland State Park,
a much brighter time and a past that was dark,
once a prison camp for Confederate prisoners of war,
in a period in history, as dark as anyone saw.

Top: Point Lookout Light
Middle(1): The beach in Scotland, Maryland
Middle(2): A map so you can get an idea of where we are
Bottom: A monument to Confederate soldiers who died in the prison camp (4000 out of 50,000 men)
NOTE: Remember - click on a photo to enlarge

Prince Frederick....

....Maryland, home of Recorded Books,
there a lot more to this town, than looks;
it's not just some out of the way place,
a County Seat, a pleasant place, and out of the rat race.

Home to Battle Creek Nature Preserve,
most northeast place for bald cypress, it can serve...
...as an example or how life should be,
here in Maryland, land of the free.

Top: Downtown Prince Frederick
Middle: Bald Cypress, see the knees? They're part of the root system
Bottom: Prince Frederick's brand new Public Library, lots of light!

Chesapeake Beach....

....Maryland. July Fouth, right at the beach,
in this town, one of Maryland's lands that reach...
...into the Bay, and oh!, what a sight;
it looks nice in the daytime and at night.

Built by the railroad as a vacation spot,
brought the folks from DC, when the weather was hot;
that was before the automobile caught on,
buts that's how this town was born.

Top: Sunrise and fog on Chesapeake Bay.
Middle: A small passenger cruise, sightseeing.
Bottom: Chesapeake Beach from the air.

Silver Spring....

...Maryland, there are a lot of people here,
but we have to pass through, to get where we can hear;
we'll be back in the country quick enough,
staying in cities is, in a word, tough.

There is a real 'silver spring', over in Acorn Park,
it's flecked with mica, it appears silver, even in the dark,
the City itself is a busy place, but there's time to slow down,
there are parks, and trails, so folks don't wear a frown.

Top: A row of townhouses waiting for buyers.
Middle: The "real" Silver Spring, under ground near that small arch, in the rocks.
Bottom: Just in case you're wondering how I get around so fast!  Whoops, I've been caught!

Frederick...

....Maryland, home of Francis Scott Keys,
and his namesake ball team the Frederick Keys.
It's an historic city with lots on it's plate,
and history proves it didn't get here late.

From the Civil War to the C&O Canal,
it has been through Frederick, if you allow;
restored buildings and new ones with taste,
if you come here, you can't leave in haste.

Top: City Hall

Middle: Baker Park

Bottom: The C&O Canal through town.