30 Jun 04
Not surprisingly, Oliver is reluctant to meet any more of my friends after our escape from Knoxville. But Bart and Melissa host us in their beautiful Baltimore town house, show us around some fun local shops and tell us about the current cicada invasion. Millions upon millions of 'periodic' locusts cling to trees everywhere, chirping their mating song. They've just emerged from the ground where they've been, literally, holed up for twelve to fourteen years, growing slowly by munching on tree roots. These 'emergences' are some of the loudest natural occurrences on the planet and can be breathtaking at times.
The next day, we swing by to pick up my friend Roger, who has lived in Washington DC as long as I've been alive and is going to act as tour guide. His infectious smile and impish sense of humour reassures us immediately that this too is going to be a fun day. The fun starts by counting how many propaganda billboards and US flag disposal containers we pass en route to Washington...
