Make Up Day, May 14, 2011

No, we haven't been fighting and I haven't put on make-up (but Larry did make me buy earrings and put them on). I just want to catch up on the things we have done. So this post may be sort of boring. Not that the others haven't been, but, you know.

Our first adventure at Williamsburg was to traverse the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel. Now you must understand that the way Larry is about bridges is about half of what I am about tunnels. Why then, you ask, did we decide to cross a nearly 20 mile bridge that had two mile-long tunnels? Who knows. Guess we were just testing our nerve again.

Here is the ship I could see to our right as we entered the tunnel.

Here is the entrance to the tunnel.

That same ship was on the other side of the the bridge/tunnel when we came out of the tunnel.

Later that day we visited the Norfolk Naval Base. We took a bus tour of the base. The guide told us that at low tide a ship crossing a tunnel might only be four feet above the tunnel. The tunnel was sometimes shut down because of the vibration from the ship's engines. Sure am glad I didn't know that before we went under or you would be putting me under. Now!

Speaking of touring the naval base we saw this in the tour center and I am putting it here in memory of my dear brother and in honor of his son. It gave me wet eyes to think of them. It's a little hard to read, but I really like the last line.

After the naval station we went to Fort Monroe, an army base that has been in use since before the Civil War. It really was an interesting place. It was a Union base, even during the Civil War. It housed Jefferson Davis after the war when he was charged with treason among other things. We very much enjoyed this place. Thanks to Earl for recommending it. It is still in use. We saw one young soldier walking with his family. He had what must have been a 50-pound backpack on his back. You go, sir.

Over the next couple of days we visited Williamsburg and Jamestown. I have to admit after three days of history, I could leave without going to Yorktown. I had had my fill of history for a while.

We then went to a campground that overlooked an inlet of the Chesapeake Bay. This was one of the prettiest views we have had out the front window. I can't find the picture now.

As I am writing we are drving through Maryland after camping at a place near Colonial Beach, Va., a quaint little town on the banks of the Potomac. While we were in Colonial Beach, we went to visit my aunt Sally's son, Ray Petrie, whom I do not remember meeting before. He owns a campground and winery. We bought a few bottles of wine and learned a great deal about viticulture.

Yippee, I'm up to date, except for one little incident, the pictures for which I still need to download.

We are headed to College Park, Maryland, and Andy and Kelly are joining us to tour DC. Great weekend coming. Can't wait.