New England Odyssey (Days 10 and 11)

Wilmington, NC to Norfolk, VA (7/19/17)

Woke up & started getting ready to go.  I was more than ready to leave Camp Deliverance behind.  Had to stop in the middle of preparations to wait out yet another downpour, but once it was over, we beat feet and got out of there.  I did leave my kitty friend a plate of smoked salmon.  I hope she was able to eat her fill before one of the other cats took it from her!

Heading out of town, we spotted a Trader Joe's and stopped in for a quick look-see.  Then it was back on the road heading for Norfolk, VA to visit my brother and his wife. 

Driving, driving, driving…stopped at a place called Ralph's

 (an outstanding BBQ buffet) somewhere in North Carolina close to the Virginia border for lunch and got a photo with "Rocky" 

the world's largest rock fish, then back in the truck for some more driving, driving, driving.

Arrived in Norfolk, and thank God Noah was steering the covered wagon, because we had to go through the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel:

Chesapeake Bay Tunnel, Norfolk, VA

& I would have been sweating bullets and/or shitting bricks if I'd been behind the wheel.  Found my bro's house & Noah backed the trailer into the (very long driveway).

We had a nice visit, dinner & then sat around and watched TV.  It was great to relax somewhere other than in the trailer for a change.

Norfolk, VA (7/20/17)

Gassed up the truck and my brother took us on a tour of Norfolk today.  It was wicked hot, so we did a lot of our sight-seeing from the car!

First he took us to Norfolk Naval Air Station and showed us the various squad buildings.  We were able to get a good look at a couple of aircraft that were being towed down the middle of the road for maintenance.  Then he drove us along the dock where all the aircraft carriers are tied up, including the USS Ford, which apparently is the newest ship in the fleet.

Then we went to an awesome artisanal bakery and had one of the best sticky buns I've ever tasted in my life.  That was followed by a drive through the historic district where we viewed a number of old buildings including a stop at the church of St. James, the oldest building in Norfolk. 

Buckskin Lily @ St. James Church in Norfolk, VA

We lucked out big time, because as we were looking around in the graveyard at St. James:

Ron asked a man who was walking by a question about something:  turned out the guy was the church's historian & he gave us a great impromptu tour.  He told us the graveyard there was the only one for the first 144 years the town existed.  

He showed us the cannonball that was lodged in the church's walls, fired during the Revolutionary War.  He took us inside and showed us all around in there as well.

Next we went to a pull-out area by the airstrip and watched jet fighters flying over and then went back on base to see the display of old fighting air craft.

We finished up by visiting an outstanding antique mall where I bought three new items to add to my collection:  a mother dog with two pups, another pair of duck salt & pepper shakers, and a set of calico dog salt and pepper shakers.  I could have bought several other items as there were so many high quality pieces at this place, but I had to limit myself.

Back at my bro's, he BBQ'd some elk steaks and burgers we brought for him to try.  His wife made some excellent potato salad and guacamole as well, so we ate very well!  After dinner, we sat around & visited some more, watched TV, then went to bed.

Tomorrow it's off to Williamsburg!  

Later, gators!

Buckskin