May, it seems, is going to be, and has already been, travel month for this spring.

The Southern tour went quite well with no major foul ups and substantially good weather. There was a lot of laughing and a lot of riding and a lot of generally good times. I got home and Charlotte had a pretty good honey do list, most of which I've managed to complete between lawn mowings and car fixings.

Tomorrow, 5/22, I am leaving for a cruise on the Chesapeake Bay with my 2 brothers and "uncle" Bill, who owns a 55' shallow water cruiser. This boat is just about perfectly suited for the water it is in. It only drafts about 3 feet and can be run up on a beach with no damage to the boat. It's great for exploring small inlets and rivers and will easily accommodate the 4 of us for the planned 4 day tour.

I haven't spent this much time in one shot with Tom and Jeff since we all moved away from home and started our own families. That was 45 years ago for me, longer for Tom and Jeff, who are both older. We are all bringing instruments to play in the quiet hours and books to read in the sun. I, and both of them, are looking forward to the experience and I think we'll have a wonderful time. No wimmin along, just the bonding man thing, though I am hoping to avoid drums, feathers, indian dances and the howling of wolves.

Once again, I need to go and pack. The clothing will be different than the last time, but it still needs to be organized. Charlotte will be meeting me, or rather I will be meeting her, at Dulles airport next Thursday and we will spend Memorial Day weekend with Matt and Cate, with Prairie Home Companion at Wolf Trap thrown in for good measure. Also thrown in for good measure will be C's cousin Jane and her husband Robert. We haven't seen them for a while either.

There it is again - Family!