Back in May of 2003, a quartet calling themselves the Fleetwoods traveled to the Outer Banks of NC and to Point Lookout, Md. For some fishing, crabbing and singing [see the May-June '03 bulletin]. In spite of the experiences of that trip, they had the nerve to venture forth again.

So during the week of June 26, Bill Amos, Tom Koch, Bob Parker and Jim McCarthy packed up Parker's tent camper and a canoe and took off for Point Lookout, Md. You are supposed to learn from past experiences. Last trip Bill Amos took us over a "short cut" through West Virginia that added several hours to the trip, but being slow learners, we allowed Bill to navigate again. After a few circum-navigations of the Washington DC beltway, and the thrill of Bob practicing trailer slalom, we managed to find our way to Point Lookout and set up camp.

We crabbed from the docks and also from the canoe we took along. The foursome managed to catch plenty of crabs (and one turtle). We enjoyed a few meals of steamed crabs. If you are familiar with eating crabs, it takes a lot of work and a lot of crabs to satisfy your appetite. I say "we" even though one member of the party decided he wasn't into crabs. I won't mention his name but his initials are Jim McCarthy.

We did some quartet singing for the other "crabbers" in the campground. You may have noticed that the names above include two baritones so yours truly filled in at bass. Our entertaining included a rendition of "My Wild Irish Crab." At least we didn't get thrown out of the campground and even had neighbors invite us to join them in their steamed crabs and beer.

Bob Parker decided to demonstrate to us the proper method to disembark from a canoe to a dock. Fortunately I was quick and managed to keep him from falling into the bay

The campground is supposedly "haunted" as it is the site of a civil war hospital were many died of their wounds. It is reported that campers sometimes encounter the spirits of these civil war dead. Ask Bob about the spirit that almost got him late one night outside the camper.

Will the "Fleetwoods" dare another trip?