SPRING T0UR 2006

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="040f0f21egerdp.jpg"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="041203c0.jpg" border=0 width="32" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#66334C" FACE="Arial" ><B>The Magic of Reading</B></FONT><B>      |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Magic of Reading"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03ff2f02egerdp.jpg"> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14">    <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14">  <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14">    <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="1073bed0.gif" border=0 width="315" height="493" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="042f0f03.jpg"> <div> <I>SPRING T0UR 2006</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Monday, January 9, 2006</B></div> <div> TROY, AL   Left Summerville at 12:45 on Sunday, Jan 8.    This is Ben Franklin's 300<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >TH</FONT> Birthday Tour:  three weeks, including Saturdays, to Georgia, Alabama and Florida.</div> <div> First stop, Moultrie, Georgia.  Two morning programs at Williams Middle School.   Sixth graders were very mature and well behaved.   Nice to have great audiences on a day when I'm just getting back into the swing of things.  Thank you, Williams Middle School.</div> <div> My afternoon program was at Okapilco Elementary, outside of Moultrie.  Boy where those kids ready for Ben Franklin!  They knew the important stuff, they knew the little-known stuff, they knew everything!  I had a wonderful time interacting with the scholars at Okapilco.  </div> <div> I enjoy driving through southern Georgia, and it was a lovely, warm winter day's drive from Moultrie to Troy, Alabama.  I gained an hour crossing into Alabama, but the sun still went down before I made it to the Hampton Inn.</div> <div> Thankfully, the room was very nice and China Town was right across the Highway.  Shrimp and broccoli, sauce on the side-very good!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tuesday, January 10, 2006</B></div> <div> DE FUNIAK SPRINGS, FL    Drove the 20 miles or so from Troy to Luverne, AL.  Nice drive.  Had a great time at Luverne School, then turned back the way I'd come, headed through Troy, and found my way to Ozark, AL.  Spoke at the Ozark Library, then continued down Hwy 231 to Florida.  My travels are becoming quite a whirlwind.  Ended up at the Best Western in De Funiak Springs, a motel I will carefully avoid the rest of the days of my life.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Wednesday, January 11, 2006</B></div> <div> Spoke at Freeport Elementary and received warm thanks afterward.  Thank you, Freeport Elementary!  Everyone did a super job preparing for my visit.  Lively and great audience.</div> <div> Drove down Hwy 20 to Shalimar, FL where I spoke at Longwood Elementary.  Super audience.  Lots of fun.  Wow.  I learned that Ben Franklin provided the very first words to the Declaration of Independence.</div> <div> Stopped off at the Niceville Community Center for a return engagement sponsored by the library.  No library turns out an audience like Niceville!</div> <div> Another huge crowd.  All ages from baby to great granddad and mom.</div> <div> I thought the program absolutely maxed out!  I had great fun and received many nice comments afterwards.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Thursday, January 12, 2006</B></div> <div> PENSACOLA, FL  I wanted to stay close to my morning program in Pensacola, so I arrived at the Comfort Inn near Cory NAS, where I had reservations.  Hey, this is the worst motel I have ever seen!</div> <div> I checked out two rooms, and Mr. Bug in the second room convinced me I had rather sleep in my van than at that particular Comfort Inn.  Shame on the proprietors for turning on their sign and offering weary travelers a place to spend the night.  </div> <div> I headed out into the dark not knowing where I would be sleeping.  Not fun.  Drove across the street and found an okay place called the Ashton Inn and Suites.  Clock didn't work.  Lights by the bed didn't work.  But the room was clean and quiet and I slept soundly, without worrying Mr. Bug and his unsavory friends.</div> <div> Spoke at Redeemer Christian School in the morning (what a nice school and audience!) and performed at the Southwest Branch Library and the Main Library in Pensacola in the afternoon.  Great fun everywhere I went.  Bought books on tape at the Southwest Branch.  Met many nice people at both libraries.</div> <div> My day concluded with an evening program at Swift Elementary in Bon Secour, AL.  A huge turn out for a student recognition program.  Ben was very warmly received.  Lots of fun.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Friday, January 13, 2006</B></div> <div> SPANISH FORT, AL  I spent Thursday night at a Hampton Inn in Foley, AL.  Highly recommended!  A very nice change of pace from the previous two nights, when I actually paid more for much, much worse accommodations.</div> <div> Up early.  Learned that storms were approaching and would likely bring rain, wind, and maybe a tornado or two to the area.  </div> <div> Got to Spanish Fort School just before the storm.  Lively, good audience of 400 + students.  After the program, everyone, including Ben, had to walk through covered breezeways to wherever they needed to be going.  Wind blew the rain horizontally through the breezeways, which made the walk exciting for everyone.</div> <div> Luck had it that my next program was a half mile away.  The students at Chi Alpha Academy were ready and waiting.  I was a little wet and windblown when I arrived, but such an audience was certainly worth the trouble!  </div> <div> Received a wonderful introduction!  Met many students.  Had lots of fun!  Great school!  Two boys at Chi Alpha had the same birthday as Ben Franklin, and one of them, Josia, had the same name as Ben Franklin's father!</div> <div> My final school visit of the week was to Fairhope Elementary, just up the road from Spanish Fort.  I must say, Baldwin County Alabama, of the 1,000+ counties in my travel territory, may just be the best for booking Ben Franklin visits.  I have been to many Baldwin County public and private schools over the years.</div> <div> Fairhope Elementary gave me the impression of being just about the perfect school.  2<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >nd</FONT> and 3<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >rd</FONT> graders only.  The school was well prepared for my visit, and though we had a large audience, the kids were super.  Careful attention to seating helped a lot.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Saturday, January 14, 2006</B></div> <div> Spoke at Fort Walton Beach Library.  I could not have had more fun on a day off than I did speaking at that library.  It was like I had a hand picked audience, only special, wonderful people could attend!  This may have been as close to perfect program as I have ever done.</div> <div> Bought more books on tape; then, at 3:30 PM, began a long drive across the top of Florida.  My destination:  Saint Augustine. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Tuesday, January 17, 2006</B></div> <div> TAVARES, FL   It's not every day you turn 300.  Happy birthday Ben!  Began a busy and eventful day by speaking at Bunnell Elementary School in Flagler County.  Large audiences, good kids.  Thanks Bunnell for helping Ben on his big day!</div> <div> Hopped into the van and drove to Deland, FL where I spoke at Stetson Baptist Christian School.  Warmly received by the students and staff at Stetson.  Lots of fun.</div> <div> My final program of the day was at Tavares Public Library where a cake and drinks were served.  A truly magical event with some very fine and friendly people.  I will remember the night forever.  Special thanks to Bill and Pat who made it all possible by finding Ben wandering the streets of Tavares looking for the site of the party.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Wednesday, January 18, 2006</B></div> <div> ORLANDO, FL   The First Academy arranged for my two programs to be held in a small chapel, a perfect, intimate location.  Spoke to two knowledgeable, well-behaved, respectful audiences.  Kid were wonderful.  All the details and preparation for my visit were handled perfectly. </div> <div> Drove to Leesburg for a 4:00 PM library program.  First thing I saw when I drove up was a parking space reserved for Ben Franklin.  Excellent!  A nice mixture of kids, adults, and seniors in the audience.  A photographer from the Orlando newspaper took many pictures.  Met many nice people and several extra nice ones.  As always, a couple of the kids became stars.  One showed definite Hollywood talent.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Thursday, January 19, 2006</B></div> <div> BRADENTON, FL  Woke up further south than I have ever been in my life.  Kids coming to school in January in shorts and on bicycles.  Green leaves still on trees-I guess they never fall off.  Strange trees I can't identify.</div> <div> Spoke to two friendly audiences at Palma Sola Elementary School.  Very nice people.  Thanks for inviting me to your school!</div> <div> Then it was a mad dash down I-75 to Bonita Springs.  Covered over 100 miles in about an hour-just kidding!-and spoke at Spring Creek Elementary School for an electrifying 35 minute program.  Kids were great.  Nice words afterwards from the media specialist.  Thanks for inviting me!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Friday, January 20, 2006</B></div> <div> FORT MYERS, FL  What an audience of 4<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT>, 5<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT>, and 6<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> graders at Canterbury School!  Friendly, lively, really into the program.  They gave Ben a standing ovation afterwards-which says as much about them as it does me!  Thank You!</div> <div> My afternoon program was at Lakes Regional Library in Fort Myers.  Lots of fun!  A new library is a very, very nice place to be.  Thanks for inviting Ben!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Saturday, January 21, 2006</B></div> <div> VENICE, FL   Spoke at 11:00 AM at Jacaranda Library in Venice.  Met and chatted with many nice people, before, during, and after the program.  A very nice time.</div> <div> Had a long drive south on I-75 to get to my 2:00 PM program at South Regional Library in Estero.  I made it with a couple of minutes to spare.  They had a large audience assembled of seniors with a few kids and parents.  As always, I tried to talk and joke with the seniors and use the kids for props.  A parent after the program thanked me sincerely for allowing her child to become an important part of the program.  </div> <bR> <div> <B>Monday, January 23, 2006</B></div> <div> VENICE, FL   Nice people and large audience at Garden Elementary.  I can still see many smiling faces in the audience, though I'm writing this about 10 days later.</div> <div> An afternoon program at Out-of-Door Academy on Siesta Key in Sarasota.  What a special place!  The school is absolutely unique.  Very friendly staff and students.  Very interesting history of the school.  Lots of fun.</div> <div> Spoke to a wonderful audience of almost 100% seniors at Gulf Gate Library in Sarasota.  We had a large crowd and I spoke right in the middle of the library!  No one told me to shush!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tuesday, January 24, 2006</B></div> <div> SARASOTA, FL  Spoke in the library at Lakeview Elementary School.  Staff was very friendly and helpful.  Students were great!  When we did the electrical experiments, one boy turned quite red!  I think he was a little embarrassed holding the hand of the cute girl next to him.  Nice words sent Ben Franklin striding out of Lakeview Elementary feeling great!  A good morning's work!</div> <div> A lovely drive across the Sunshine Skyway to St. Petersburg.</div> <div> Spoke to an audience of mostly kids at the Largo Library at 1:00 PM.  Returned for an evening program at 7:00 PM.   I enjoyed both shows about as much as I could have.  A very sweet, pretty little girl named Sarah Rose stole Ben's attention a few times during the evening show.  </div> <bR> <div> <B>Wednesday, January 25, 2006</B></div> <div> NEW PORT RICHEY, FL   Spoke at two charter schools in Pasco county.  At Dayspring Charter I visited a classroom and had an intimate performance for about 30 students.  Seldom does Ben have such an opportunity to meet and interact with individual students.</div> <div> The afternoon was spent at Language Arts Charter.  Staff and kids were very friendly.  Lots of fun!  Thank you!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Thursday, January 26, 2006  </B></div> <div> PALM HARBOR, FL   Ozona Elementary School in Palm Harbor is a very attractive school of unique design.  Everyone was super friendly and helpful, and I enjoyed the two programs.  Nice kids!</div> <div> Spoke at the Hudson Regional Library at 6:30 PM.  An audience full of ringers, that is, experts on Ben Franklin!   I had to use all of my brainpower and a few tricks to keep ahead of the group.  Great Fun!!  Nice mix of adults, seniors, and kids.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Friday, January 27, 2006</B></div> <div> BROOKSVILLE, FL   My mammoth 3-week, 46 program 300<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> Birthday Tour is about over!  Spoke in 30 different cities or towns!</div> <div> Hernando Christian Academy was a warm and friendly place for Ben to speak.  Kind words sent me on my way feeling great.</div> <div> Completed my tour by making a repeat visit to Mary Giella Elementary in Spring Hill.  Staff was very helpful.  Thank you!!</div> <div> The 6 ½ hour drive from Spring Hill, FL to Summerville, SC was a bit more challenging than normal.  Since I had a week off, a bug decided it would be a good time to make sure Ben went to bed.  By the time I got home, I was in need of a good nurse, a medicine cabinet full of pills, syrups, etc, and several good nights sleep.  Luckily, all were available!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Monday, February 6, 2006</B></div> <div> EVANS, GA  Up early, drove I-26 to 1-20 in the dark, a trip I could have made blind-folded.  I thought of my February trip to Augusta last year-major ice storm.  This time, the bad weather was about 50 miles north.</div> <div> Very nice kids at Lewiston Elementary in Evans.  Staff was very friendly and helpful.  Thanks!  </div> <div> Then it was cross-country driving through central Georgia.  Took blue highways and enjoyed a leisurely afternoon.  Passed through Harlem (birthplace of Oliver Hardy!), Wrens, Louisville . . . then finally came to Dublin.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tuesday, February 7, 2006</B></div> <div> DUBLIN, GA  Had a great time at Lindsey Elementary in Warner Robins.  Staff the kids were excellent and the staff was very helpful.  Seldom can Ben Franklin carry the day all by his lonesome.</div> <div> Really enjoyed the drive from Dublin to Warner Robins and back.  It was a hundred miles roundtrip, and I listened to an audiobook I had downloaded from the internet called “The History of Music.”</div> <div> My evening program was at the Laurens County Public Library in Dublin.  Met a fifth grade teacher who had encouraged a number of her kids to attend.  What a nice person!</div> <div> We had a large audience of kids, parents, teachers, and seniors-a perfect group!  I had great fun, and I believe the program was as good as it could possibly have been.  </div> <bR> <div> <B>Wednesday, February, 8, 2006</B></div> <div> DUBLIN, GA   Enjoyed the drive back to Warner Robins to speak at Westside Elementary.  Met many individual students and appreciated their respectful questions and comments.  Thanks for inviting Ben to visit your school.</div> <div> After I left Warner Robins, I headed south to Baxley, GA.  I went through half a dozen (or more!) small towns.  Driving was mostly very nice, but occasionally I had stop sign, red light, or town that kept me from making great time.  Still, it was a lot of fun journeying through Rural America.  </div> <bR> <div> <B>Thursday, February 9, 2006</B></div> <div> BAXLEY, GA  This seems to be a booming little town, lots of building and activity.  Holiday Inn Express was very friendly and informal-nothing like the wonderful HI  Express in Dublin.  That motel was perfect; this motel was just charming.</div> <div> The morning program was at Bacon County Elementary in Alma.  I had visited this school eight or ten years earlier, and the people were just as nice now as they were then.  In fact, some remembered me!  A large but very good audience:  lots of fun!</div> <div> Tonight I spoke at the Ohoopee Regional Library in Vidalia.  The librarian had invited me to her library about 10 years ago, and we had had a great time then.  I was happy to return.  Before, during, and after the program I met many nice people of all ages.  A 6<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> grade teacher brought a number of her “gifted” students, several of whom had written prize-winning essays on Ben Franklin.  Just a great, great time!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Friday, February 10, 2006</B></div> <div> WOODBINE, GA  Up early and drove straight into the rising sun for hours it seemed!  I listened to satellite radio and relaxed while dodging trucks, school busses and commuters, all of which appeared to be in a bigger hurry than I was.  Of course, they had five miles to travel, I had a hundred.</div> <div> Spoke at Woodbine Elementary, where I was greeted warmly by the staff.  I was very pleased with the way the program went.  I received nice comments afterwards and left Woodbine feeling just great.</div> <div> My afternoon programs were at Waynesville Elementary in Brantley County, another school I have visited before.  Students were very eager, lively, and enthusiastic.  Lots of fun!!  Waynesville Elementary has a very relaxing, “family” feel to it.  I was made to feel welcome from the moment I entered the front door, until I left about 2 ½ hours later.  Thank you!</div> <div> I stopped off at a service station and fueled up:  15 gallons of gas at $2.30 per, and two Hershey's chocolate bars.  I adjusted my audiobook earphones and pointed the van toward home.  I arrived at 5:57 PM, three minutes ahead of schedule. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Monday, February 13, 2006</B></div> <div> HARTSVILLE, SC   Up early and drove into the dark.  Not my favorite thing to do!  Arrived at West Hartsville Elementary in Darlington County on time for my morning programs.  Nice people.  Enjoyed my visit.  Thanks!</div> <div> Took the back roads to Fayetteville, NC.  I do love a leisurely drive on a beautiful day on country roads!  Stopped at a Burger King for lunch and waited for a long time for someone to take my order at the drive up window-before I realized the restaurant was closed!  Prepared my own lunch from my food duffel bag.  </div> <div> Afternoon program at Cliffdale Branch Library in Fayetteville.  Lots of fun!</div> <div> I drove right by Cliffdale Elementary, a school I had visited twice before.  Images of past programs flooded my mind!</div> <div> Drove to Sanford and checked into the Hampton Inn.  Four free nights this week-rewards pay!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tuesday, February 14, 2006</B></div> <div> SANFORD, NC  A rare day off during the week.  This year, apparently, no one wanted Ben Franklin to be their valentine!  Lovely, leisurely morning at the Hampton Inn.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Wednesday, February 15, 2006</B></div> <div> RALEIGH, NC  Northridge Elementary was well-prepared for Ben Franklin!  Principal was very nice and handled all details of my visit very well.  I was made to feel very comfortable and at ease.  Programs went very well.</div> <div> Drove the 30 miles or so to Louisburg in Franklin County.  Not an easy drive, but the folks at Riverside Elementary were well-worth the little trouble I had getting there.  Ben was treated royally!  Made lots of friends.  Staff and kids-super!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Thursday, February 16, 2006</B></div> <div> RALEIGH, NC  Performed at Brentwood Elementary for two enthusiastic, friendly audiences.  Staffed helped me every step of the way.  Nice people!</div> <div> Drove the 35 or so miles from Raleigh to Sanford, and checked back into the same room I had had Monday night.  What a lovely week it has been in North Carolina!  Birds everywhere.  Blue sky.  Temperature in the 60s.    Saw a flock of Canada Geese from my motel room in Raleigh.  Saw 150 birds on a cedar tree.  Something startled them and they took off through the pines incredibly not bumping into each other, or the pine trees!</div> <div> Saw a couple of flowering quince and a Rose of Sharon or two in bloom.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Friday, February 17, 2006</B></div> <div> Drove to Troy, NC and spoke to a well-behaved, friendly audience at Page Street Elementary.  Nice school!  Thank you!</div> <div> Hopped back on the interstate and headed south toward Hamlet, NC.  Arrived at Fairview Heights Elementary and spoke to two great audiences.  People very friendly.  Kids were GREAT!</div> <div> Traveled Hwy 177 to Hwy 9 to Hwy 52 to I-95 to I-26.  I'd say it took three hours for me to drive from the North Carolina line to Summerville, SC.  Listened to a great John Adams book on tape.  Great fun driving home after another traveling week.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Wednesday, February 22, 2006</B></div> <div> COLUMBIA, SC     Spoke to honor students at Herbert Wood Elementary School in West Columbia.  What a treat for me . . . for them!   Thanks for inviting me back, I believe for the third time, to your school!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Thursday, February 23, 2006</B></div> <div> MAYO, SC    It was cold when I left the motel in shorts, but quite nice by the time I arrived at Mayo Elementary School.  Spring is in the air in South Carolina!  </div> <div> Spoke to K-5 and had a great time at Mayo.  Thanks!</div> <div> Jumped in the van and headed to my evening program at the Anderson Public Library.  Staff and audience were great.  Lots of fun.  Very nice comments afterwards.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Friday, February 24, 2006</B></div> <div> POWDERSVILLE, SC  Spoke at Powdersville Elementary near Easley, SC.  Kids came knowing a lot about Ben Franklin.  Fun!!</div> <div> Drove 30 miles or so toward the mountains.  Lovely day.  My afternoon program was at Six Mile Elementary School.  What a nice place!  The school, the area!</div> <div> Had great fun with 4<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> and 5<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> graders.  They had studied up and were well-prepared for my visit.  This was a very fun day for me, and ended on a high note!  I left Six Mile Elementary feeling great.</div> <div> Three and a half hours later, I drove into my driveway in Summerville.  Listened to books on tape all the way home.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Thursday, March 2, 2006</B></div> <div> FLORENCE, SC  Departed Summerville for an early morning drive to Kingstee, SC.  Got behind a school bus and followed it all the way to Moncks Corner!  Highway 52 from Moncks Corner to Kingstree is very nice!  Lots of signs such as flowering pear trees that spring is here.</div> <div> The 6<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> graders at Kingstree Elementary were just great.  Lots of fun.  I thought I had `em spellbound at times.  The program for 4<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> and 5<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> was also very nice.  Really nice people, students and staff, at Kingstree Elementary.  A special morning.</div> <div> Drove Hwy 527 from Kingstree to Bishopville.  Nice drive.  Temperature in the 70s.  Lovely!</div> <div> Had great fun speaking to the students at Robert E. Lee Academy.  A great audience on a day when everyone would have been forgiven for having spring fever.  Ben certainly had it!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Friday, March 3, 2006</B></div> <div> FLORENCE, SC  Exciting time at Dewey Carter Elementary near Florence, SC.  Students at Dewey Carter love to read.  Thanks for asking me to help you celebrate Read Across America Week.  My pleasure!!</div> <div> Followed Highway 52 to Kingstree and then east to St. Mark Elementary.  Spoke in the gym to a group of friendly students.  Lots of fun!  Flowering trees in the parking lot.  Spring has surely come to South Carolina.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Monday, March 6, 2006</B></div> <div> AUBURN, AL  A long but enjoyable drive to Alabama.  Listened to the World's 100 Greatest Books audio books series.  Very good!  I got 50 cassettes on Ebay for $11.50-now that's a bargain!</div> <div> Spoke to two very knowledgeable and good audiences at Lee-Scott Academy.  Everyone was very kind to Ben Franklin, and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit.  What a fine school!</div> <div> Took an enjoyable two hour tour along Highway 29 from Auburn to Luverne, AL.  The Friendly City certainly lived up to its reputation.  Students at Crenshaw Christian Academy were super.  Lots of fun.  I was concerned because it was such a lovely southern spring day-but the students gave me their full attention.  I left Luverne feeling pretty lazy and mellow.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tuesday, March 7, 2006</B></div> <div> DECATUR, AL   Actually, I spoke in three towns today:  Athens, Huntsville, and Decatur.  A WONDERFUL DAY!  First stop, Johnson Elementary near Athens.  I remembered the school well from a visit a couple of years before and I expected to have another great time.  Turned out the students had been preparing for my visit for several weeks, and they were ready.  They could not have been better.  My visit, from my point of view, was perfect in every way.  I live for programs like these.  The school principal, as she was last time, was very kind to me and had nice words to say afterwards.  Thank you!</div> <div> My afternoon program at Weatherly Heights Elementary in Huntsville was exhilarating.  We had a large audience of I believe preK-5.  They were lively, enthusiastic, and very into my program.  The program, once again from my point of view, was perfect.  At the conclusion I saw a small raised hand of a boy that could not have been more than 4 years old.  Normally, I don't answer questions, but I decided to this time.  He asked:  “Are you really Ben Franklin?”  I brought the boy to the front of the room, introduced him to the audience, and thanked him for his question.  I explained to the audience that I <I>was </I>Ben Franklin when I put on this costume, and they understood perfectly.  What a group!</div> <div> At 6:30 PM I spoke at the Decatur Public Library.  An interesting group of 70% seniors and 30% parents and kids.  Once again, things from my point of view could not have been better.  This was just one of those rare days.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Wednesday, March 8, 2006</B></div> <div> DECATUR, AL   Drove to Decatur Magnet School, a school that has a temporary campus at a large mental health center.  It's very much like a community college campus.  Ben Franklin was picked up in a golf cart and driven to the building where I would speak.</div> <div> Students were bright-really.  You would think it would be tough to speak to a group where everyone was super smart, but it is actually much easier.  They catch on really quickly and don't need much repetition.  Things that would distract the less gifted are not noticed by them. </div> <div> Anyway, I had a great time interacting with the students at Decatur Magnet.  Another lovely spring day, trees flowering out everywhere.  </div> <bR> <div> <B>Thursday, March 9, 2006</B></div> <div> HUNTSVILLE, AL   My morning program was at Blossomwood Elementary.  Lots of flowering trees greeted me.  Another fine day.</div> <div> I would rate the audience at Blossomwood with any group I have ever spoken to.  It's one thing to be a great audience when conditions are perfect; it's another thing to be a great audience when conditions are less than ideal.  We had a couple of things to deal with beyond anyone's control that really proved the quality of students they have at Blossomwood.  Ben takes his hat off to you!  </div> <div> Weather turned cool and it began to blow.  </div> <div> Drove to South Lincoln Elementary in Lincoln County, TN.  Sky was ominous.  Stepped out of the van and the wind blew my wig off.  I scurried to grab it before it flew back to Alabama.</div> <div> A friendly, wonderful group at South Lincoln.  Thank you Eagles!</div> <div> Continued north through Fayetteville and Shelbyville to Unionville, TN.</div> <div> At 5:00 PM a hurricane was blowing outside.  I thought I was going to make Storm Stories on the Weather Channel. I thought my van was going to start rotating, get caught up in a tornado, and be tossed 200 yards into a cow pasture.</div> <div> Ben blew into Community Elementary School with the wind and rain.  They thought I brought the weather!  I thought it was like this all the time in Unionville.  </div> <div> Just about every seat filled for an evening program on the world's worst night.  Great audience!  Lots of fun.  A night we all will remember!!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Friday, March 10, 2006</B></div> <div> COLUMBIA, TN   Two morning programs at J E Woodard Elementary in Columbia.  Excellent school!  Excellent preparation for my visit.  Lively, good audiences.  Friendly, helpful staff.  Lots of fun.  Thank you.</div> <div> It's not often I have a chance to comment about the lunchroom staff, but before the programs one of the ladies asked me to sing a song.  I began with the only one I know:  the theme from the Beverly Hills TV show.  I sang the first few words and two of the lunchroom staff took off with it.  I was astounded they knew word for word a song that hasn't seen regular play since 1965!</div> <div> Oh, what a fun afternoon!  After the storm the weather was lovely again.  I had a 38 mile drive to East Hickman Elementary in Lyles, TN.  My journey carried me along a 7 mile stretch of the Natchez Trace Parkway.</div> <div> I drove slowly with the windows down.  No other cars were around.  I stopped on the side of the road, got out, stretched my legs, and listened.  I could hear nothing but the sounds of nature.</div> <div> For about 10 minutes I stood by my car enjoying the absence of people and noise.  Quiet is so rare.  Finally, I heard a car coming far away and the spell was broken.</div> <div> East Hickman first and second graders were great!  Very enthusiastic.  Very well-behaved.  Everyone at the school was so friendly and helpful.  Lots of fun.  </div> <bR> <div> <B>Monday, March 13, 2006</B></div> <div> MURFREESBORO, TN   Spoke at Hobgood and Bradley Elementary Schools in Murfreesboro.  Staff and students at both schools very nice!</div> <div> Evening program on a stormy night at Linebaugh Library in Murfreesboro.  Ben had a belated birthday cake, my third this year.  I had two pieces.  Very tasty!  Blew out all the candles, but I confess there were not 300!</div> <div> Folks were very nice to me at Linebaugh Library.  Thank you!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tuesday, March 14, 2006</B></div> <div> MURFREESBORO, TN   Up early and off to Scales Elementary School.  Drove by Cason Lane Academy and had fond memories of my visit to that school.  The program at Scales was a lot of fun.  Kids were great and staff very helpful and nice.  Thanks!</div> <div> Drove to Nashville International Academy for a 1:30 PM program.  My van was almost pushed into the side of a gasoline truck by a man on a cell phone.  He never heard the blowing of my horn!  </div> <div> My visit to Nashville International Academy will be one I remember long.  Kids way better than most I see.  So polite.  So friendly.  Everyone at the school treated me like royalty.  </div> <div> A long afternoon drive to McMinnville where I checked into my motel for a few minutes' rest before my evening program at Magness Library.  Oh, we had a great audience for the library program.  Many kind words to Ben afterwards.  Thanks!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Wednesday, March 15, 2006</B></div> <div> MCMINNVILLE, TN   Spoke at Eastside and Morrison Elementary Schools in Warren County.  These programs were courtesy of Magness Library, and I had fun interacting with the kids at both schools.</div> <div> Spring has definitely come to Tennessee!  A lovely driving day in America's prettiest state.  A few small mountains in the distance wherever I drove today.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Friday, March 17, 2006</B></div> <div> WOODSTOCK, GA   Thank you, Boston Elementary!  Enjoyed my visit to your school this afternoon.  My contact person was very kind and helpful, and I met and had fun with many great students.  The principal had had me speak at another school where she had worked, and her inviting me to Boston was a nice compliment.</div> <div> I left Woodstock at 3:00 PM.  Negotiated traffic on I-285 and then I-20.  I arrived home in Summerville at 8:30.  Listening to an audiobook made the time fly.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tuesday, March 28, 2006</B></div> <div> BALTIMORE, MD   First stop, Relay Elementary School.  Everyone was so friendly and polite to old Ben.  Excellent, wonderful students.  Lots of fun.</div> <div> Jumped on I-95 and drove south to DC.  Had a date at Westgate Elementary in Falls Church.  Soon as I rounded the corner and saw the school, I knew I had visited Westgate before.</div> <div> Kids were lively and a lot of fun.  This was <I>their</I> show today, and Ben gave them his best. K-6.  Thanks Westgate!!   </div> <bR> <div> <B>Wednesday, March 29, 2006</B></div> <div> BALTIMORE, MD   Left my motel in Elkridge, MD and headed north.  Arrived at Sparks Elementary in Baltimore County for my two morning programs, the first to begin at 9:00 AM.  What a lovely school!  Everyone was prepared for my visit and the first group, K-2, was superb.  The little kids were very mature for their years-and the program went as good as it possibly could have.  The older kids were also advanced for their years and kept Ben busy trying to make the program interesting and challenging for them.  All in all Sparks Elementary ranks among the best schools Ben will visit all year.</div> <div> Jumped on I-83 South and headed toward Baltimore.  Took a left on the Beltway and arrived at Essex Elementary.  My afternoon program there was great fun and very satisfying.  Teachers and other staff showed great care making sure the children gave my program their full attention.  The result was one of my best performances.  Ben was great, if I must say so myself, but my performance was assisted immeasurably by the care the Essex staff took.  Thank you, Essex Elementary!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Thursday, March 30, 2006</B></div> <div> PASADENA, MD  Drove to Lake Shore Elementary School, a school I'd spoken at 2001.  What a friendly school!  Everyone, including the custodian, were as nice as they could be.  Next year Lake Shore moves to a new building.  Best of luck!</div> <div> Hopped back on Hwy 100, drove to I-97, and headed south to Crownsville.  In no time I was there.  Oh, a lovely spring day.  Lots of people walking around during lunch hour looking at the trees and forsythia.  Spoke at South Shore Elementary-what a nice school!</div> <div>   </div> <div> <B>Friday, March 31, 2006</B></div> <div> GLEN BURNEY, MD  Sulley Elementary gave Ben a warm welcome.  Kids and staff very friendly and nice.  Kids were very mature for their years, and were seated as quickly and quietly as any school I've ever seen.  They came knowing a lot about Ben Franklin, and I had a great time.  Thanks!</div> <div> Had quite a drive to World of Knowledge School in Springfield, VA.  I must say, my visit was worth the drive.  Lots of fun!  Kids very enthusiastic!  Everyone treated Ben kindly and joyfully.  I still have pictures of the kids' smiling faces in my mind.  I am blessed to have such a job, to be able to make kids laugh and smile and have a great time and learn!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Monday, April 3, 2006</B></div> <div> ALEXANDRIA, VA  I thought I would have an adventure with the traffic driving into town on Monday morning, but I didn't.  No problem!  Spoke at Emanuel Lutheran School at 10:00 AM.  Very nice people.  Lovely school in a very quiet setting in town.</div> <div> Navigated the big city highways from Alexandria to Manassas.  No problem finding Sinclair Elementary School.  Lots of fun.  Thanks for inviting me to your school!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tuesday, April 4, 2006</B></div> <div> LEESBURG, VA  First stop, Evergreen Mill Elementary School.  Very nice school.  Kids were wonderful.  A special treat for Ben.</div> <div> The afternoon program was a return visit to Mill Run Elementary in Ashburn.  My previous visit was a couple of years before, and many kids remembered.  This program was very exciting for me and lots of fun.  Kids were very smart and challenged my skill as a presenter.  Left feeling great.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Wednesday, April 5, 2006</B></div> <div> FREDERICKSBURG, VA  Enjoyed my return to this famous Civil War town.  Spoke at Conway Elementary in the morning.  Kids super.  PTA folks very nice and helpful.  Lots of fun.</div> <div> The afternoon program was a return visit to Grafton Village Elementary.  Kids were very lively and excited.  I am always pleased when my return is eagerly anticipated.  Great fun.  Thanks!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Thursday, April 6, 2006</B></div> <div> VIRGINIA BEACH, VA   Making my way south.  Final stop this trip, the Virginia Beach / Chesapeake area.  This is one great places I visit every year.  Lots of interest in my programs here.  This week two of the three schools I will visit, I also visited last year.</div> <div> Shelton Park Elementary has a very nice auditorium!  A special place to perform.  Kids were great.  Spoke to many individually.  Thanks!</div> <div> My afternoon program was at Lynnhaven Elementary, also in Virginia Beach.  Spoke to grades 3-5.  The principal and staff were very nice.  The kids were excited about their upcoming science fair and spring break.  Lively, fun audience.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Friday, April 7, 2006  </B></div> <div> CHESAPEAKE, VA   Drove to Grassfield Elementary, the last stop on my Maryland/Virginia tour this year.  I remembered how friendly and nice everyone was last year, and I looked forward to returning to this excellent school.  This year, on the last day before Spring Break, the kids were lively and excited.  Once again Ben was treated warmly by the staff and had a great time speaking to the Grassfield students.  Thanks!!</div> <div> As always, it was truly wonderful heading home after a long and difficult trip.  Travel to the big cities is always challenging and stressful for me, but the drive home--Nice!  </div> <bR> <div> <B>Monday, April 24, 2006</B></div> <div> GREER, SC  I learned a lot today.  Any day I learn something that I can use from now on, well that is a great day!  A student at Buena Vista Elementary told me that she had visited the Swimming Hall of Fame and that Ben Franklin is in it!  I went onto the internet and typed in “swimming hall of fame.”  Ben Franklin was elected to this group in 1968!</div> <div> Oh, I had fun at Buena Vista Elementary.  Spoke to 4<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> graders and then to 5<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> graders.  Small audiences of super students. Very special.</div> <div> Had afternoon and evening programs at Fletcher and Hendersonville libraries in North Carolina.  Nice driving up into the mountains.  All my programs today were as good as they could have been.  Was quite astounded to see once again my friend Pat from Tavares, Florida who helped Ben find his way to his 300<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> birthday celebration and program.  Without Pat and her husband Bill I might never have made the 1 in 300 years party.  A night I will never forget.</div> <div> The Hendersonville crowd did not seem to want to leave.  I felt I had them enchanted . . . but that may have been grandiose thinking on my part.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tuesday, April 25, 2006</B></div> <div> WELLFORD, SC   Started the day right with a visit to Wellford Elementary School.  Of the thousands of schools I have visited, Wellford ranks at the top of the heap.  Not only is Wellford a very, very good school, but I have visited the school more times than any other.  Thank you Mr. Wood!</div> <div> Drove to Boiling Springs, North Carolina for an afternoon program.  Was very warmly received and guided around the school.  Ben thoroughly enjoyed his visit to Boiling Springs Elementary!  A very nice school in a nice little community.</div> <div> Had a 4:00 PM appointment at Mauney Library in Kings Mountain, NC. The audience was a perfect mix of little kids, bigger kids, adults with a few seniors mixed in.  We had a lot of folks and I got the impression the staff at Mauney Library are really on the ball when it comes to running programs.</div> <div> The librarian knew exactly who was coming and greeted everyone by first name!  That's saying a lot when you have the size crowd they had-50 or 60 people.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Wednesday, April 26, 2006</B></div> <div> CUMMING, GA  Spoke this morning at Vickery Creek Elementary.  Staff was very friendly and made sure Ben had everything he needed for the program.  Actually, we had 3 programs back to back to back!  Little kids.  Medium kids.  Big kids.  Lots of fun!  Thank you!</div> <div> Had a hoot of a time at McGinnis Woods Country Day School!  Afternoon programs tend to be a little less formal than morning programs, but this one was exceptionally laid back.  Kids were a treat to work with.  Staff was very friendly.  Very memorable for Ben!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Thursday, April 27, 2006</B></div> <div> ALPHARETTA, GA   One of the favorite schools I've ever been to is Mill Springs Academy.  I have photos on my web site of my first visit several years ago.  My afternoon program today was just as fun as the first time.</div> <div> I received a special little thrill in finding out that my previous visit had inspired Mill Springs to have students put together a Reading Expert project.  The students selected a topic they wanted to become experts in, read about their topics until they knew more than anyone else, and then wrote a report.  Super idea.  Wonderful!  </div> <bR> <div> <B>Friday, April 28, 2006</B></div> <div> COVINGTON, GA  Spoke at Middle Ridge Elementary.  The school had an intricately planned “special day” that included a number of activities.  I got the feeling of being in a clean, very nice, well-run school.  Staff were very friendly and helpful.  Lots of adult volunteers in school to help with the various activities.  Kids were polite and a lot of fun.  Thank you, Middle Ridge! </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FALL TOUR 2005"><U>FALL TOUR 2005</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bens Travel Journal"><U>Ben's Travel Journal</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PhotoAlbum"><U>PhotoAlbum</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FALL TOUR 2006"><U>FALL TOUR 2006</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>