We left our friends at Emerald Pointe a couple of days ago and headed for MacDill Air Force Base about 1.5 hours away. MacDill is located between Tampa and St. Petersburg on a penninsula that juts out into Tampa Bay...the campground is on the tip of that penninsula...beautiful spot. We spent two days on the beach solidifying our tans. MacDill has built a restaurant on the beach where residents of the campground (over 300 sites) can get the dinner special for $5...not a misprint. Great stuff.
This morning we are off to Siesta Key and there was some talk of a riverboat ride or something on Longboat Key...we'll see later.
17 March 2012 Emerald Pointe
Now we're in Florida at Emerald Point, a beautiful RV community in Zephyrhills. I call it an RV community because to call in a campground just wouldn't be right. The community or "our park" as most residents refer to it, is a mixture of "modified" park model trailers, class A motorhomes, and fifth wheel campers. They have a common community center and pool with their own board of directors as a form of self-governance. The park is immaculate, quiet, and friendly...and just a very peaceful and friendly place to be.
Our stay here at Emerald Point, has been very enjoyable. Leo and Bev have been our hosts but we have seen many old friends from our Rhode Island camping group...some we have not seen in years. To catch up with some of these old traveling friends has been very gratifying for us. We have sampled the local Chinese buffet and were treated to a trip to John's Pass yesterday. We have a couple of days left here at Emerald Point and intended to enjoy the park and mostly the company.
Of course Harry did a very professional job of showing the snowbirds the joys of pizza on the grill and wouldn't you know it (Sorry Walter) 'Another lousy meal!'
13 March 2012 Retirement
I have not been blogging during the past year...but we have been busy. Pat and I have both retired and plan to take one trip per month. Since last summer we have been true to our word. We took a great trip along Route 7 through Conneticut and Vermont in October to experience the color of the season.
We loaded up the Mustang convertable and set out top do something unique. I had read in a magazine of the author making a trip and not staying at or eating at any chain restaurant or motel...it all had to be local. That became our goal as well. The colors cooperated, the top was down, and we ate lunches and dinners at mom and pop restaurants and stayed at localy owned motels. The experience was great but did present some challenges...trying to find them. the chains of Days Inn, Ramada, Burger King, Olive Garden and the like dominate the landscape...but once found the food at local establishments and the hositality of privately owned motels cannot be beat. It was great fun and a great trip...there was one time where I was getting our bags out of the trunk and Pat was standing at the door of the motel room saying, "You've got to see this!" When I looked, I had to smile...the room was clean and tidy down to a candy on the pillow but it was obviously as we have affectionatly come to know as...The Horse Room. The room was completely dedicated to horses with a centerpiece of a giant stuffed horse on the bed. There were pictures on the wall, stuffed likenesses of horses comming out of the wall, and even framed pictures...but all tastefully done and nice...if you loved horses. Ironically, it was the best night's sleep we got on the trip.
An annual trip in December in a visit to Ogunquit, Maine, for their Christmas by the Sea celebration. The atmosphere was festive and the dinners were great...none better than the evening spent in the bar at the Old Village Inn sharing salad, steak sandwich, and glasses of wine.
After the holidays, we loaded up the car once again and headed to New York City. This was a return trip as we like to take in the Broadway scene every couple of years. We stayed at the Hotel St. James ($99) and again found those out of the way restaurants mostly run by families just working to make a buck...a very friendly group serving great food and reasonable prices...please adjust your resonable to New York City standards. We took in two plays: Perfect Murder...which has been running for over twenty years with the same woman in the lead and a musical called Memphis...both were fabulous in their own way but the music, dancing, and singing in Memphis was definitely a highlight. We bought our tickets for the plays at the ticket booth in Times Square which sells tickets for same day performances for half price...great deal...no lines...took about 15 minutes. And they now take credit cards!
And now were heading south...again. Looking for that warmer weather. As I sit a write this, we are in Kings Bay, Georgia, at Eagle's Nest RV Park on the submarine base...this campground is continually rated as one of the best in the country and know I can see why. It has concrete pads for the RV all the ammenities, flowers blooming, and that sweet smell of summer in the south. We left home a few days ago and stayed at some other military bases on the way down but temperatures were still getting down to 33 deg at night and long pants and jackets were still the norm, so Pat said, "Keep driving." And as we toured Jeckle Island off the coast of Georgia yesterday, the pants went to shorts, the sandles came out, and we walked on the beach.
We are down in Florida for about four weeks. first we will tour down the west coast along the gulf and then move over to the east coast for the return trip.
22 July 2011 Virginia Beach
Wednesday we headed to downtown Virginia Beach. We called a cab and they were there inside a half hour. The cab driver suggested a local restaurant we should try, Tataug’s. We roamed the boardwalk for awhile and then took him up on the suggestion. The cab driver did not steer us wrong. Tataug’s was very good and reasonably priced. I got flounder in a bag…I had never seen or used a cooking bag before. The fish and the stuffing indeed comes in and is cooked in a paper cooking bag. When you rip the bag open, the contents has steamed in its own juices…great idea and great tasting.
We then went to one of the outdoor venues and watched a concert band performance. When we tired of that we roamed Beach Street and watched some of the performers along the way. At one point, two people that were wearing t-shirts depicting them as “in charge” of things told one of the performers we were watching to wrap it up…thunderstorms were 30 minutes away and they were shutting things down for the evening. We again called a cab and they were there within 15 minutes. We drove through a short but heavy shower and were dropped right at our campsite…great service.
Yesterday, we left Fort Story behind. The campground was nice and on Thursday evening we attended an outdoor play depicting the first landing at Cape Henry. This production is given at a park, on base, at an outdoor stage. Civilians are allowed on base to attend this production. All in all, we were very satisfied with Fort Story.
We had a conversation a few days back about how we had never visited or had reason to visit the area of Yorktown and Williamsburg. We were looking at it and realized that our next reservation at Chatem Annex was right outside Colonial Williamsburg. So, on the way to our next campground, we took in Colonial Williamsburg.
In the 1950’s, with the philanthropy of John D. Rockefeller, this area began to be restored to its colonial form. A parkway was built from Yorktown to Jamestown passing through Colonial Williamsburg. Once parked at the visitor’s center. Guests walk through the restored colonial city…bus transportation runs along the outside of the city. We enjoyed the day of roaming the city and talking to those in character. Those of you that familiar know that Pat is the historian in the family but due to her not feeling up to par we refrained from purchasing a multiday pass and left with enough historical exposure after one day. Her disappointment was palpable.
We then made our way to the campground at Cheatum Annex on the York River. A couple of wrong turns later…it seems in Virginia then tell you where you are going after you have taken the wrong turn instead of telling you where turns will lead you…a bit strange. But after a couple of direction reversals, we got to the campground. It is located at the edge of a golf course. Very nice view out the front window. Seems good for walking, biking, and there is a swimming pool. It’s supposed to get warmer…I think that might come in handy.
17 July 2011 King's Creek
King’s Creek at the Cheatum annex was great but we are a bit worn out and have had enough sun for now. Pat has come down with a slight cold and managed to trip in a hole and turned her ankle. This seems to be her injury of choice during vacations…she even managed to get a woman to loan her crutches once in the middle of the Maine wilderness for just such an injury.
Anyway, we have slowed down and rested during our stay at King’s Creek. Nice place for bike riding and it is ery clean and neat…located on hole #9 of a golf course. Maybe I need to take up golf again…especially at the military base prices.
The forecast is for very hot weather over the next few days and our next destination is Lunga Park at Quantico. Beautiful “state park like” atmosphere but you cannot swim in the lake. Something about unexploded ordinance and snakes…I don’t mind the explosions so much but the snakes are another matter! So, we have decided to make our way home from Virginia and have cancelled our stay at Lunga.
The drive home was rather uneventful. The usual “almost killed the guy on the motorcycle passing on the right” and get out of my way you #$%&*^ dope…but other than that we zipped through Richmond, Washington DC, and Baltimore on our first day and stayed in Elkton, Maryland for a night. Then we loaded up for the trek on home.
We stopped at a rest area on I-84 in New York for lunch and this guy with a car was parked in the RV/Truck area blocking the large parking places…he surely had enough room in the “car” area. It just seems that people do whatever they want and the “go ahead and make me attitude” is prevalent wherever you go. We noticed that signs were also stating that the picnic area was closed after dark. After some conversation about kids making trouble, drug deals or some such other concern, we came to the conclusion that the reason for “closing” the picnic area could be concern for wild animals because of the huge surrounding wilderness…I suggested that it would be easier to enforce if added to the sign “Or you will be eaten” might make violators take notice.
13 July 2011 Cape Henry/Virginia Beach
We left Onslow Beach on Monday and headed north. This time we didn’t dally and made good time one the road. Of course we made a stop for provisions ay Walmart. You know: meat, fruit, bread, milk, and a portable DVD player for Pat…seems the one she had dropped on the charging plug and didn’t want to charge anymore…go figure!
Stopped at the visitor’s center in Virginia Beach and picked up the usual library of tourist pamphlets. Got some good advice on avoiding rraffic and made it to Fort Story (Cape Henry) in short order. We were treated well at the gate…got to love that retired military ID..but the crew was thorough as they inspected the camper with mirrors and such as our pass was filled out.
The campground is different from what we have been staying at…it’s in the woods. We were used to the sun beating down on us and now the camper was in the shade and quite a bit cooler but it was also quite a bit hotter outside…all even I guess. We have water and electrical hookups but no sewer and no cable TV…got to rough it with the local channels.
We went to the beach today…surprise…but it was different. The authorized swimming beach on base is two miles away but the “walking beach” is a short ride across the road. But first we had to visit the Cape Henry lighthouse…the first national public works project. There is a newer lighthouse but you can’t climb it…but the old one…all 191 steps of it…you can. Great view…Cape Henry is located on the bend as you enter Chesapeake Bay. That means that all shipping going to Norfork, Hampton, and all the way up to Washington D.C. or Baltimore passes by this corner.
Later, when we were on the “walking beach,” …chairs in the water shaded by our umbrellas…hey we weren’t swimming…we watched as ship after ship passed us not a half-mile from the beach. There was even an old, stripped down freighter being towed by a tug…presumably going to salvage…just thinking about all the places it had sailed and now…. Anyway, we watched the sand crabs dodge the surf and dolphins feeding just 40 or 50 feet off the shore. I was trying to finish my book but there was just too much to watch and after all, I did have to relocate my chair every once in a while as the tide came in…always something to interrupt.
Oh, and then as we were packing up the bikes to ride back, we had a little accident with the bungee cord. We use about 5 bungees to secure two chairs and the umbrellas to the handle bars of my bike. I have to sit on the bike to steady it because of the weight of the chairs as we secure them. The last bungee goes from front to back to keep the chairs from sagging to the front wheel of the bike. Pat secured the last bungee to the front of the chairs and I pulled it tight towards me to secure it to the handle bars and…wham! The front of the bungee let go with all that pressure and the buckle hit me just under the left eye.
A few minutes later after reviewing most of my vocabulary of expletives, I had a nice egg under my eye…it seems in my anger, as I was reviewing my vocabulary, I had thrown the bungee a good distance and it had landed in a tree never to be used again. The chairs were secure enough and we rode back to the motor home. Later I thawed out the vegetables for supper on my face.
11 July 2011 Leaving Onslow
We have been treated to some great shows here at Onslow Beach. The Marines and their V-22B Ospreys have been flying all around us and they are amazing with their tilt rotors...busy...busy Marines. The loggerhead turtles are nesting on the beach every night. The conservation officers have been checking for new nests every morning...they dig to check for eggs, take one egg for DNA smpling, then mark the nest to protect it. There have been a few showers but they didn't stop us from getting substantial beach time. Yesterday (Sunday) the weather was perfect as it is today.
We were out early (Sunrise) checking for new nests yesterday. Pat found two new one's. Not hard to find...the giant turtles crawl up from the surf leaving a trail in the sand...dig a hole to deposit over 100 eggs...then bury the nest and crawl back to the ocean. We watched as the conservation officers uncovered the eggs...they even showed us one...looks like a ping pong ball. Sure would be great to be here in 60 days to watch the little turtles try to make it back into the sea after hatching. Good thing we found nests ( 2 for 2 nests for Pat) or we may have had to have to extend our stay.
Today we will be driving to Virginia Beach to stay at Fort Henry just to the North. This is a new campground for us...hopefully it is all we picture it to be. It is not a long drive in terms of miles but we will be traveling route 17 most of the way. While it is a great route to drive (50-60 mph) it does pass through some towns. I like the route because it is relaxing to drive but you don't make great time. Maybe we'll go out for lunch...I know we'll have a stop at WalMart for supplies.
9 July 2011 Onslow Beach
On July 6th we left Bethany Beach, Delaware, and headed for Camp Lejeune in North Carolina...the home of Onslow Beach. The day of driving was a long one...not in terms of miles but errands to run, heavy thunderstorms, and a general sense of not being in a hurry. That led to us to arriving at about 7:00pm. The moment we set foot on the beach, despite being tired, we remembered why we came.
Onslow Beach campground is situated perpendicular to the intercoastal waterway on one end and the atlantic ocean on the other. The only barrier between you and the ocean is a set of dunes with a wooden boardwalk. The intercoastal waterway is visible from our front window. The temperature is in the 90's and steamy but there is a constant sea breeze that keeps it palatable and oh yeah...the air conditioner when you want to escape.
We are spending our days on the beach. The pages of the novels turn themselves in the sea breeze, the waves continue to roll, and we have met some interesting people. The forecasted rain and showers show up at times but it seems that is just the right moment for a nap and doesn't seem to interfer at all.
On Tuesday we head north to Virginia Beach...but for now another gin & tonic seems in order.
9 July 2011 Bethany Beach
Bethany Beach is a small community along the Delaware shore known as the Delmarva penninsula (Delaware/Maryland/Virginia). Why come 500 miles just to go to the beach? Two reasons: 1. The water is soooo much warmer than Rhode Island, and 2. The Bethany Beach training site belonging to the Delaware National Guard.
The beaches along these shores have been totally redone. While Rhode Island argues about how to save their erroding beaches, the Delmarva has done something about it. In a project that took a few years, that we witnessed...could have been much longer...all of the beaches underwent a transformation. Sand was removed from offshore and deposited on the beaches. This created a shoreline with a steeper angle and high dunes to protect the shoreline structures. Seagrass was planted all along the new dunes to hold them together. This has created a much different beach but a much more stable beach than when we first came here. The waves now crash very close to shore...not good for riding waves...but little errosion takes place.
The Bethany Beach training site is a series of buildings (barracks, dining hall, classrooms) and a large field with a running/walking track (1/4 mile). This creates a large field which is used for helecopter landings and other training activities. They also have about 20 campsites with water/electric/sewer hookups. The sites cost $22 per night with free wifi. This facility is two blocks from the beach. Pat and I ride our bikes laden with our beach stuff and park them at one ofthe many beach entrances...no beach fee by the way.
We have met a Dutch couple and their two children that are vacationing in the campsite next to us. They rented a trailer from MWR at Dover and are here for a week. The gentleman is stationed in the U.S. for two years as a member of The Neatherlands military. He and his family are trying to see as much of America as they can during his stay. One of his daughters, a third grader, likes to visit us and is educating us about The Neatherlands and her experiences in America.
The weather here has been great with the usual threat of thundershowers in the late afternoon and early evening. We left the beach in the late afternoon yesterday as we heard rumblings in the distance. A couple of hours later it rained for most of the evening. Bethany Beach postponed their fireworks to tomorrow night because of the rain. That is probably good for us because we plan to ride into town (about 6 blocks) and have dinner at one of our favorite spots...maybe we can take in the fireworks as well.
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