Blogs from Virginia, United States, North America - page 7

Transitioning from my fourth to my fifth week in Virginia, I made the 50.5-mile drive from Newport News Regional Park Campground in Newport News VA to Holiday Trav-L-Park in Virginia Beach VA. Yes, the drive was short but harrowing as I chose to use I-64 and negotiate the Hampton Roads Bridge–Tunnel. I say harrowing because this is the first tunnel the Bighorn has made with me behind the wheel. The Pilgrim and I had passed through several tunnels, but height was never a concern. Old-fashion arithmetic said I had a foot of clearance. All that having been said, that hole in the end of the tube looked pretty damn small as I approached, but I must say the eighteen-wheeler 200 yards in front of me boosted my confidence. While I was staying at Newport News and ... read more

The drive from Americamps RV Resort in Ashland VA to Newport News Regional Park Campground in Newport News VA was, again, short by Uncle Larry’s standards – 69 miles or 1 hour 9 minutes per Google Maps. Newport News Regional Park is a municipal campground, as you might have guessed, and is embellished with the same amenities as most state parks – spacious, well-dispersed and well-shaded sites. Cell service and my Wi-Fi hot spot worked fine, but satellite television reception was non-existent. Although the American Civil War did impact Williamsburg, this area of Virginia is all about the colonial era and the Revolutionary War, so don your tricorne hat and wig while you’re visiting what I’ll call, “The Historic Triangle.” I found the web sites quite confusing with this package and that bundle so, and due ... read more

The drive on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 from Charlottesville KOA in Charlottesville VA to R & D Family Campground in Milford VA was short, even by Uncle Larry’s standards – 110 miles, especially when compared to the six driving days it took to navigate the 1221 miles to Charlottesville from Apache Junction AZ. R & D Family Campground is 27 miles south of Fredericksburg, the target in my crosshairs. My first order of business on Thursday May 2, 2019 was a stop at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center where I got a few helpful hints and purchased my ticket for the Trolley Tour of Fredericksburg. The familiarization tour wasn’t the best nor the worst I have encountered, but it provided a perspective on the distance and the terrain between attractions. Marathoner I am not, and I forfeited ... read more

Well, of course, everything was very well organized for our departure from the hotel (6 a.m.) and delivery to the airport. The line to check our luggage was a good half-hour (but nothing compared to the Passport line at Dulles). Passport check was quick and easy as was Security until they caught Susan's arsenal on the x-ray. This bag of knitting equipment has been on any number of domestic and international flight (it had to get to Panama somehow) but these agents were extra careful. I think the woman was trying to tell me that I could go and talk to someone at the customer service desk (and maybe they would have found a way to get the items home) but I didn't want to risk another 30+ minute wait. So, they kept it all. Nothing ... read more

Just like we planned. We celebrated an early Christmas with our family yesterday. A joyous time with our dear ones. They came from near (Scio) and far (Rochester). We had enough food to hang a “Golden Corral-aka: The Trough” sign out front. Everyone was welcome. I’m not sure if you all got that word. We’ll do better next time. Lulu was thrilled to be a part of the celebration.....she just loves festive events. There was even a slight coating of snow on the ground that added to the mood. As in the words of Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney: ???“I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.”??? After everyone left, we scurried around like busy chipmunks. The family had all helped in putting some things away. We had our last minute stuff to mark off our departure list...list”S”...somehow ... read more