Monday, October 9, 2017

Off to Virginia

Sunday, October 1, 2017:  On the road again. We got out this morning extremely smoothly by 8:30. Drove as far as Ashland, VA and stopped for a nice breakfast at Cracker Barrel. Then on to The Colonies RV Park. This is a very will kept small RV park on the grounds of what was once Fort Monroe Military Base. Each full hookup site has a state name and we are staying in New York. RV people are great people, but of course it is not unusual to have (or be) an audience to those backing in and setting up their site. Sometimes this is very entertaining.  Today we were the performers. Once in a while things just go right and fortunately today was one of those days. I was able to direct Bruce into our site like I knew what I was doing and our set up went as smooth as possible. Neighbors across the way were watching and commented how well we did. Sometimes you would think we had never been camping, but not today.Yeah us!


Once we were set up we cruised around the area a bit.  Fort Monroe (now a National Monument) is a decommissioned military installation in Hampton Virginia at Old Point Comfort, the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula. Built in 1819-1834  it covered 565 acres.  It was decommissioned September 15, 2011.  We could tell that we had a lot of exploring to do in this area of Virginia.  Stopped at a KFC for a bucket of chicken and had a relaxing evening back at the coach.  Ready to start exploring in the morning.

Monday, October 2:  Well on Monday the Casement Museum hear at Fort Monroe is closed so we decided to drive the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.  This was something I always wanted to do.  What an impressive engineering feat.  The CBBT is a 23 mile fixed link crossing at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. It opened on April 15, 1964 (northbound) and April 19, 1999 (southbound). It has low and high level trestles, tube tunnels, artificial islands, truss bridges. 






We drove up Virginia's Eastern shore as far as Cape Charles.  Along the way we stopped at Kiptopeke State Park.  Did a little hiking along the beach.  Viewed these unusual concrete ships that have been repurposed as a breakwater and a habitat for fish and birds. Drove through the campground for a possible future visit.






Next we went in search of the Custis Tombs. We know of the Custis-Lee Mansion in Arlington (now known as Arlington House) so we thought these would be connected.  It was a long drive down a small road and we basically ended up in someones' back yard.  I guess that's the price you pay when you live next to a historical site.





We drove on into the town of Cape Charles and had lunch at Kelly's Gingernut Pub in a 110 year old building.




We are continuing our search for Roadside Attractions.  This was what we found today.

Neptune


Water tank that looks like a lighthouse

Abandoned dugout.
Another view of abandoned ballfield.


An old abandoned baseball field.

Back home to a cocktail and relaxing evening.  That is if the mosquitoes leave us alone.  They are really bad. 

This campground had the best lounge area.  We were given a lock code and it is available 24/7.  The Skins had a Monday night game so we took some beer and snacks and had the place to ourselves.  Watched the game on the big screen TV. 

Tuesday, October 3:  Today we toured some of Fort Monroe.  We started at the Casemate Museum.  Fort Monroe is an old stone fort surrounded by a water-filled moat.  It guarded the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay.  The casemate is the room underneath the thick stone walls the make up the fort.  Jefferson Davis was briefly imprisoned here after the Civil War.  Edgar Allen Poe spent time here, also briefly, during his time in the army..  The museum traces the site's and the fort's history covering over 400 years.
Entrance gate

Another gate







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After we left the museum we began the tour of the grounds.  This fort was so big it was going to take more then one day to do it all.





The flag is at halaf mast because of the shooting in Las Vegas.









Had a late lunch at a local establishment, Mill Creek Tavern.  We really like to eat local if we can.



Wednesday, October 4:  Today we explored the Hampton area.  We started out at he Hampton Air Power Park featuring jets, missiles and rockets.  Hampton played a vital role in early space exploration and aircraft testing.




Next it was off to the Hampton History Museum.  When we got there the docent informed us that they had a field trip of 85 fifth graders there and she suggested we might like to go next door for a bite to eat and come back.  What a sweetheart.  So we did.  I had coffee and homemade baklava.  Way to wait.  This was a nicely laid out museum. From their brochure "...our Museum illuminates the American experience.  From Native American chiefdoms, English settlement, arrival of the first Africans, revolutionary and civil wars, to the future and space exploration."  We spent several pleasant hours here learning about the area from the 1600's thru WWII.



Next we went to Bull Island Brewing Company where we enjoyed a flight of beers and good local conversation.



This was the neatest bar top.



Thursday, October 5:  Today we continued exploring Fort Monroe.  There are a number of ruins of batteries along the coast.  Though they are off limits, you can still see quite a bit of them.  Unfortunately around these structures grows some kind of weed that has little round burrs.  We were plague with them everywhere.  Maybe these are the plants that the inventor of velcro got his idea from.







During a target practice July 21, 1910 there was a premature
explosion and 11 members of the gun crew were killed and 5 injured.


Had a really nice beach here near our campsite.



Went back to the fort to finish our tour and walk along the ramparts.  Some other campers told us not to miss the pet graves on the top of the ramparts.  This is where cherished pets were buried that lived in the fort.  We couldn't believe how many pet tombstones were up there.  




Our next stop was the Mariner's Museum in Newport News.  This museum has an exhibit focusing on the  "Battle of the Ironclads. Many artifacts from the Monitor are here.  We watched a 3D movie about reefs.  Though we spent quite some time here, we could have spent several more hours here but the day was over.





On the grounds of the fort is the Oozlefinch Craft Brewery.  How cool is that?  Had flights there and a small mishap that we didn't discover until Bruce tried to use his credit card to pay for a beer at Busch Gardens.  The bartender switched our card with someone else.  They looked alike and he didn't notice until the clerk told him it was rejected.  Called them up and they had our card, picked it up and returned the other one on Saturday.




Friday, October 6:  Busch Gardens and Howl-o-scream.  Love amusement parks,  It was a very long day, a lot of fun and by the end if the day my foot (plantar fasciistis) was killing me.  Would do it again anytime.

Saturday October 7:  Today was a chore day.  Did laundry and took it easy.

Sunday, October 8:  Drove to Virginia Beach for the day,  Beach was crowded.  Family Reunion weekend.  Strolled along the boardwalk.  Visited the Surf and Rescue Museum.  Had lunch at Cactus Jacks Southwest Grill.






Back to the coach to prepare for leaving tomorrow morning.

Monday, October 9:  Travel day.  We drove to South of the Border.  The campground is quite nice.  A great place for an overnight stop.  We walked around a bit.  Visited several gift shops and had dinner at The Sombrero Restaurant.







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