Hey we had eggs for breakfast (YAY) then went into town to the Naval Academy. We've taken a self tour before but decided to take the walking tour this year. It was highly recommended and I'm glad we did. We went into the Phys-ed building and saw some of the cadets taking their swimming tests in uniform. By the end of their sophomore year not only to they have to swim 400 yards in 20 minutes (it gets longer each year with shorter times), but if they don't jump off the high platform (it's high) then they are booted out. I guess that by the time they finish their 4 years here, they're considered "drown proof".

We visited John Paul Jones crypt/memorial - very impressive. They finally were able to find his remains, determine his cause of death (pneumonia) and inter his remains here at the Acadamy.

We watched the noon day procession for the mid-day meal where all 4000 cadets assemble and call off before marching in to have their meal (family style). I cannot imagine 4000 cadets in a mess hall all being served at once, then leaving after 25 minutes. The Assembly was impressive and I guess they go through it every day. Their kitchens are definitely geared to the students better than at JHS... You can tell the seniors from the rest of the cadets - they get to wear khaki uniforms instead of the navy blue.

After the official tour we went to the Officer's Club and had lunch. That was impressive and it was the best clams (huge and tender - cooked to perfection) and crab cakes (all crab, no filler - honest!) I've ever had. It was a very formal looking place and I felt out of place in my Saugatuck Tshirt! I loved seeing the officers in their uniforms and loved the whole area. Very historic and beautiful granite buildings (French Venetian Style). The church dome is what a lot of people think is the state capital but it's the wrong style and the state capital building besides being smaller is less grandeur. Wrong style and materials.

After the tour and lunch walked back into town to the CVS and the bank. The opening day VIP people were at the boat show and it's packed already. We discovered that our dingy was having a huge gathering on the Navy pier and we had to tear it away from it's playmates in order to get back to the boat. The dingies were stacked in tight like a carton of eggs but we managed to weave and push our way out.

The trees are starting to turn and it was just a beautiful fall day!