Over the last 42 days, Driftwood has traveled to Kyrgyzstan, Santa Fe, Virginia Beach, and Panama. This includes airport stops in Frankfurt, Istanbul, Atlanta, DC, and Chicago. After 6 weeks of almost continual travel, rest is in order and Driftwood performs her “Woman of the Earth” dance. She is accompanied by Vinco. The performance is narrated by Chris, the Master Gardener, and I think part-time Beatnik. If you think you are missing something, come on down to Virginia Beach and hang out awhile. [View Full Entry]

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We had a blast and now we're home buuuuuuuuutttttttttttt we'd like to go again! [View Full Entry]

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Suitcases are packed, boarding passes are printed and tomorrow morning we head out bright and early for our big adventure! The itinerary will have us hopscotching across the USA for 14 days. We'll visit 6 national parks, 1 state park, several national forests and momuments and will cover over 5,500 miles in the process. We'll update you as often as cyberspace is available to us. You keep us posted on what's happening back home. God bless everyone! Karen and David Meads Bill and Patty Bills [View Full Entry]

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Here are some pictures of our recent trip to VA. [View Full Entry]

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Hey everyone. This is my first attempt at keeping a travel blog, and I get the feeling I have alot to learn. I'm down visiting Monika (Washington) Stoker and her family in Virginia Beach. When I was on the COLE (Aug '98 - July '01), she arrived in September of 1998 for a 1.5 or 2 year (can't remember now) tour as Fire Control Officer. Needless to say we spent alot of time together. Today, she is on shore duty and will next attend PXO school as she has screened for command. Woo Hoo!!! She's married to Randy Stoker, also an [View Full Entry]

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The two week haulout took place at Cobbs Marina where Marnie was fully prepared for her 9000 mile journey to New Zealand. [View Full Entry]

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2008 Pacific Voyage January and a new moon are used as depictions of new beginnings. So it was that with a new moon occurring on 9 January 2008, Marnie and her crew of two, Tigs and Walter, left the dock in Rudee Inlet, Virginia Beach with Donna and Mason to wave farewell. Marnie, the 62 foot wooden ketch, was to return home having been commissioned and built in Auckland NZ on 15 April 1985 at the Salthouse Shipyard. The destination to be reached within 10 months of cruising through unexplored waters for those aboard. The first leg of the southward journey [View Full Entry]

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For those of you who travel extensively, or who are planning to utilize hotels in the future, I have begun a new blog called "Get A Room!" to offer advice and tips for travelers based on my ten years of experience in the hotel industry. You are welcome to visit, and if you have suggestions on topics you'd like for me to address, please feel free to leave a comment. I also have another personal blog at "Ramblings of a Single Dad," where I document my life as a sin [View Full Entry]

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One of the things I've enjoyed the most since moving here was going parasailing. My son treated me to this as an early birthday gift, since the parasailing boats don't go out in the fall (my birthday is late October). I'd been telling myself for years that I would go up, but never did. My son saw to it that I went as high as they go. From 1200 feet in the air with a parachute above your head, you can see the boat that's towing you, but you can no longer hear it! At that height, I could clearly see [View Full Entry]

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Today we spent the day on Virginia Beach and had some sushi for dinner tonight. It was my first time having sushi and it was a good experience! We had a drink after dinner. Something I am not used to is smoking allowed in bars and restaurants. It's been a long time since I went into a place and asked if I wanted to sit in a smoking vs. non-smoking section. Tomorrow we are going to golf for the day... the weather has been perfect. Here is a list of things I have seen or done for the first time so [View Full Entry]

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