Author: Easin' Along

As it usually happens with our extended road trips, we start like lions…hungry, full of energy, on the prowl, ready to go and see and do.  I think that this is probably a carryover from our busy lives at home—particularly Helen (adorable wife) who lives life in a whirlwind. Nevertheless, by the end of a trip, we are so loose and laid back that we resemble little lambs in a field, casually grazing on whatever is in front of us. I’m not suggesting that there is anything wrong with us because that is the way we plan it.  Loose and laid back described our demeanor when we arrived at Ft. Story in Virginia Beach, VA.

Initially, the reservation office at Fort Story canceled our reservations as the threat of Hurricane Florence hung over the east coast.  However, the office restored our reservations when the hurricane moved west and south of us. We were so grateful to them because we had looked forward to this stop from the time we planned our trip.

Three years ago on our journey up the east coast, we made a day trip to Ft. Story and nearby Sandbridge Island where we spent a day on the beach and an evening eating lobster wraps at the Sandbridge Island Restaurant.  We enjoyed that experience so much; we couldn’t wait to return. Furthermore, it appeared as if the weather would be cooperative during our current stay.

Fort Story is a small Military Base and Recreation Area on Cape Henry, VA the site of the first landing of English colonists on their way to Jamestown in 1607. Cape Henry is the site of two historic lighthouses, the first dating to 1792, and another built in 1881. Both lighthouses carry the same name. They came into our view as we drove down Atlantic Avenue from Norfolk.

Once we checked in and established our “home” in the campsite, the lambs inside of us took over. It was time for a little beach-walking, puzzle working, reading, and little else except for finding some fresh oysters as early as the next day. We slept to the roar of the ocean.

We started early the next day with a walk on the beach.  The low sun made for a few good pictures, but by the time we finished our walk, the sun shone high in the sky, and another glorious day greeted us.  We even had a porpoise playing in the surf for entertainment.

After a search on Trip Advisor, Helen found an oyster bar close to our campground that had great ratings and reviews. We did not need much persuading and soon found ourselves sitting on a deck over the water at The Back Deck. We shared a dozen very fresh local oysters and enjoyed some great seafood as well. Since leaving home, this evening was one of the few that we were not in either humid or rainy weather. Being outside in a light salty breeze felt great.

Our plan for the following day included a trip to Sandbridge Island and little else. Helen was ready for some beach time, and I wanted to make sure she got it in early before nap time (remember we’re lambs by now). Unfortunately, construction on the road to Sandbridge Island caused us to change our plans. After several attempts at driving around the construction, we returned to the Virginia Beach Boardwalk and pulled out the towels and beach chairs. With school now in session, the beach had just a few old folks and a few gulls around. They left us alone.

We enjoyed another evening of seafood and oysters.  Fresh seafood is something to treasure. We debated whether we wanted to go out or eat at home, but this would be our last night on the coast, and we couldn’t resist. Soon, we found ourselves at Chick’s Oyster Bar with another dozen in front of us.

There is little else to report about our stay at Ft. Story except that I wanted to share some information about the Recreation Area with our Military friends. Kimberlee, the manager of the facility, gave us a tour of one of the many cabins available for rent by active and retired military personnel.  The cabins are furnished, air-conditioned, and have cable television. There is a children’s playground in front of the cabins, and the beach is a short walk or even shorter drive away. Townhouses on the beach are also available for rent. The campgrounds have both electric and water hookups and a dump station near the exit. Those interested should inquire about reservations at (757) 422-7600.

By the end of our stay here, we completed our puzzle, finished a book, and planned our next trip.  We enjoyed a very pleasant and very relaxing time in the surf and sunshine, and we treated ourselves to some splendid seafood. We weren’t busy, but we sure had fun. I hope you enjoyed the pictures…it’s time to be Easin’ Along.  Baa!

After a wonderful (albeit soggy) visit to Gettysburg, PA, we were ready for some sun, sand, and seafood, so we towed Gracey to Solomon’s Island, MD in the Patuxent River area of the Chesapeake Bay. We visited Solomon’s three years ago on our trip up the East Coast and fell in love with it. We eagerly looked forward to returning.

Originally, we reserved four nights at the Navy Recreation Center on Solomon’s Island, but we received a call that the campground office at Ft. Story, VA, our next stop, canceled our reservations there due to the threat of Hurricane Florence. As a result, we extended our stay at Solomon’s for three additional nights until we could figure out where to go next. We were content to remain…it was time to dry out in the sun, and a few extra days in one spot meant that we could slow the pace a bit (as if we could get any slower).

Once we moved Gracey into her home for the week and got settled, we made the five-minute drive into the charming village of Solomon’s Island and the Dry Dock restaurant. Thankfully, the Dry Dock crowd was light when we arrived so we could sit on the deck overlooking the Marina and the Patuxent River. Immediately, we placed an order for a dozen raw oysters and devoured them as quickly as they arrived at our table.  For dinner, I ordered a creamy fettuccine dish smothered in freshly grilled shrimp that lasted about as long as the oysters. Helen (adorable wife) hit the jackpot with the Signature Scallop And Crab Bake of perfectly seasoned baked crab, dusted with Panko flakes and topped with seared scallops. The dish featured sides of apple arugula slaw, seasonal vegetable and a small cup of caper dill tartar sauce. In plain words, this meal was a bowl full of baked fresh crab and scallops. She still talks about it.

Helen has a cousin stationed at nearby Patuxent River NAS, and we enjoyed a delightful visit with him and his family one evening in their home.  Lt. Commander DB and Bonnie were a big help in providing suggestions for daytime activities and areas to explore. One suggestion was Point Lookout State Park about 35 miles away.  After breakfast one morning, we pointed Bert south to the tip of the peninsula where the Potomac River enters into the Chesapeake Bay. The day was bright and sunny. It was hard to believe that a hurricane was causing a ruckus anywhere near us.

Point Lookout is a very scenic area and features a lighthouse overlooking the Bay.  On this day, we saw no one except for a few folks fishing from the pier.  We watched them reel in a very stubborn Sting Ray. While in the park, Helen and I did some leisurely beach walking then enjoyed a ride back to Gracey through the Maryland coastland.

On another evening, we decided to have drinks and dinner at the Ruddy Duck located just a short drive from the campground.  This restaurant and lounge received the number one spot on Trip Advisor, and we felt obligated to check it out. We happened to arrive on the night that the restaurant chose to observe a six-month countdown to St. Patrick’s Day.  We had a very difficult time procuring seats but finally found two near some over-served Irish guests wearing bright green shirts. In one corner, a one-man band was playing Irish folk songs on a variety of instruments, most notably a lively fiddle. We ordered some pub food, then joined right in and had a great time.

DB and Bonnie also recommended Flag Ponds Nature Park as a great spot to hunt shark’s teeth, a favorite activity of ours.  We arrived on a somewhat cloudy day.  Although the park charges admission, there were no attendants at the gate.  We drove on. From 1905 to 1955, Flag Ponds housed fisherman who lived in three shanties during fishing season. They trapped fish in large nets and sold them in markets as far away as Baltimore.  Once fishing methods became more sophisticated, and labor costs increased, the activity ceased at Flag Ponds.  A replica of a fishing shanty remains on the old site.

Despite giving it our best efforts, we did not find any shark’s teeth on this day.  We observed a group of school children working a small pond to catch small fish and take them to a naturalist to identify.  The children seemed totally engrossed in the activity, and it seemed obvious that learning was taking place.

A couple of days before our Solomon’s stay ended, Helen placed a call to Fort Story to inquire about our reservations. Although Hurricane Florence had wreaked havoc in North Carolina, she spared Virginia, and we felt there was a chance that the campground had reopened. Luck was with us, and we obtained reservations for three nights.

Before we left the Island, I wanted to share some information with our Military friends because this is a great place to enjoy a family vacation. In addition to the campground, NRC Solomon’s Island offers cozy cabins with screen porches, a large marina with boats for rent, as well as several playgrounds and fishing piers. There is plenty to do in the area, and Patuxent River Navy Base features a large Commissary and Exchange. We recommend it highly.

We have traveled a lot in the three years since we retired and visited many interesting and beautiful places. I would put Solomon’s Island in the top five for sure and, given the time to think about it, perhaps even higher. Sun, sand, and seafood is an unbeatable combo, but it’s time to be Easin’ Along.

They came to Gettysburg because the roads led them there. In July 1863 Gettysburg was much like it is today. Rows of houses dotted the hillsides. Farms and fields stood lush green in color. Cows and horses grazed lazily in roadside pastures.  Fences and barns were in good repair.

Confederate General Robert E. Lee led his Army of Northern Virginia with 70,000 men northward after the battle of Chancellorsville. Lee hoped to restock his Army with much-needed food and supplies and perhaps draw some of the Union Forces into the area and away from campaigns in the south. The roads led him to Gettysburg.

Lee’s cavalry, under the command of General J.E.B. Stuart, was on a scouting run. Therefore Lee had no idea that The Army of the Potomac, some 93,000 men strong commanded by General George Meade were nearby. Over the next three days, these two armies collided in the fiercest battle ever fought on the North American continent, and the result ultimately decided whether there would be one nation or two between Canada and the Rio Grande. It all happened because the roads led them to Gettysburg.

Helen (adorable wife) and I came to Gettysburg under much less ominous circumstances. We came from Front Royal, Virginia and, while the road led us to Gettysburg, we intended to go there and spend some time exploring the area as well as the Gettysburg National Military Park. We had a reservation at the Gettysburg Campground for four nights. Robert, the owner of the campground, met us when we arrived. He immediately noticed the University of Tennessee decal on the window of Bert (truck) and proudly introduced himself as an alum of our great university. We knew we liked him.

After getting Gracey (trailer) settled into a cozy campsite with a wide stream to our rear, we drove the short distance into town to pick up our dinner for the evening at Tommy’s Pizza. The drive took us alongside the battlefield.  We couldn’t help but note that this was hallowed ground. Our pizza was extraordinary, and we ate while we watched television inside Gracey–the first and only time we would stay in a campsite with cable television on our trip. Outside our trailer, rain fell in buckets.

The next morning we took advantage of the clean and spacious showers in the campground.  While there, Helen learned from another camper that the overnight rainfall had dumped three and a half inches of rain on us with more on the way. When we returned to Gracey, a gentleman from the campground came to tell us that the campground was closing because of the fear of flooding from the stream behind us. We were forced to move to another campground on Artillery Ridge adjacent to the battlefield and higher ground. We hated to leave because Gettysburg Campground is very, very nice.

The next morning we signed up for a Battlefield tour. The rain continued, but we decided to make the best of it.  I was eager to take the tour.  Many years ago I visited Gettysburg while on duty as an Army Reservist at nearby Indiantown Gap, PA. That visit was short, but I learned enough to know I had to return.

Despite the rain, the Visitor Center and Museum in the National Park was a hub of activity.  Helen and I watched a film that gave an overview of the three days of fighting and visited the cyclorama featuring a huge artistic depiction of day three of the battle. After that, we boarded a bus full of civil war buffs.  The tour guide joined us after everyone was seated and introduced himself.  He appeared to be close to my age and gave a great opening presentation of what we were about to see.  Everyone was asked to tell us what state they called home.  Helen and I were the only Tennesseans. Most of the crowd were Northerners…I immediately let them know I held no grudges.

The bus tour began on Seminary Ridge where General Lee formed his Army to begin the final day’s battle. Although the day was gloomy, we could see Cemetary Hill where the Union Forces gathered a mile away. I took a moment to photograph the monument dedicated to the Army of Tennessee.

Once we left Seminary Ridge, we visited all of the prominent sites of the battlefield including the Peach Orchard, Little Round Top, Devil’s Den, Valley of Death, The Codori Farm, and the Copse of Trees that served as the focal point for Pickett’s Charge. We made our way to Cemetary Hill and the stone wall that was pierced by only one Confederate officer and marked the final moments of the battle.

Our group looked back across the battlefield toward Seminary Ridge as the tour guide narrated the advance of 12,000 men led by Brigadier General George Pickett across the mile-long open field facing withering rifle fire and canister rounds. That march of Confederates cost Lee 5,000 men in an hour. Those who survived were turned back as the Union soldiers yelled out in the victory. Signs near the stone wall noted that, after three days of fighting, the total number of casualties numbered over 50,000 men killed, wounded, or captured. I was exhausted, and all I did was ride on a bus.

The Civil War would go on for almost two years beyond Gettysburg. However, this battle marked the “High Water Mark” for the Confederacy. As everyone knows, the Union would ultimately prevail. Portions of the battlefield at Gettysburg became a National Cemetary dedicated to the brave men that fought and died there and later commemorated by President Lincoln in his historic address.

Our visit to the battlefield on a rain-soaked day added to the somber feel that surrounds it.  Nevertheless, I consider it an honor to walk those hallowed grounds, and I’m grateful that the roads led us there.