THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, August 20, 1994              TAG: 9408200016
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   27 lines

FOLLOWING EARL - SORT OF

Staff writer Earl Swift's series ``Around the Bay in 50 Days'' was not only interesting but very informative. I have lived in this area all my life, yet know little about the Chesapeake Bay and the small towns along its shores.

The article sparked my desire to explore. I itch to get out and search for rarely seen sights, to catch a glimpse of the Chesapeake's fury in a severe storm, to follow the rugged trails to ``nowhere'' and to share the same exhilarating feeling Earl and the countless explorers before him must have felt.

I must first get the air-conditioner in my car fixed, buy a good map and pinpoint the motels where I plan to stay.

Hats off and kudos to Mr. Swift, but I share my best friend's idea of roughing it: a motel with a black-and-white TV.

ROBERT B. GREGORY

Knotts Island, N.C., Aug. 15, 1994 by CNB