20151018 – Richmond, Virginia; Virginia Beach; The Outer Banks

 

Up and out to do the trolley tour around Virginia. Not one of your usual hop on and off tours but the guide narrates some interesting tales of the city and it’s a great way to see it.

Then drive down to Virginia Beach. Our Comfort Suites is supposedly at Virginia beach but is about 10 miles away. Must be some marketing departments magical slight of hand that it has a Virginia beach address.

Apparently our King Bed Suite has been over booked so they apologise and try to put us in a a two Queens suite. I of course kick off. “There’s no excuse for overbooking these days other than corporate greed. Move some one else. I’m not accepting it. Is this how you treat Gold Elite members. What are you going to do about it?”. We get a free nights stay and I accept the twin queens. To be honest I was not even that bothered. It was just the principle of it. If they’d said there’d been a problem and offered a $10 discount up front then I’d have been happy. Turns out to be a nice two room suite.

Drive down to Virginia Beach for dinner. Just like Blackpool without the fun fair and tower, except that there were no “Kiss Me Quick” hats or drunken herds marauding the sidewalks. We pass on dinner in one of the greasy spoon joints down there and resort to a sub (sandwich) from JJ’s near our hotel. A typical over stuffed american sandwich, so much meat that every time you take a bite a pile of meat shoots out somewhere else, like a 42″ DD smothered in oils between two slices of bread. At least Subway know how to make a sandwich that doesn’t try to ejaculate with every bite.

Not impressed with Virginia beach so at least we can have an early start in the morning down to the Outer Banks.

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Drive from Virginia Beach to the Outer Banks. Finally find the Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kitty Hawk, no thanks to the map drawn by a 2 year old with the common sense of a politician and a rampant labelling machine.

Part of my pilgrimage to this awesome birth place. I don’t understand why, but it just seems such an awesome historical moment not to miss.

852 feet, 59 seconds may not seem much but on December 17th 1903 it marks the first powered flight. A giant leap forward for mankind. The birth place of aviation. Can you imagine what life would be like without the ability to fly?

Not only did they build the plane; they built a petrol engine to power it; they even developed a wind tunnel to refine the wing shape. To be fair though it seems that George Cayley was the original father of aerodynamics. His 1804 glider incorporated most design elements of a modern aeroplane, but then who’s ever heard of him – not even a pub quiz fanatic.

We then visit Manteo on Roanoke Island, a charming little town by the sea. Stop for Wendy’s lunch and an Amaretto coffee at a comfy little coffee shop.

Roanoke Island has been known in European-American history for its significance as the site of Sir Walter Raleigh’s establishing of an English settlement with his Roanoke Colony in 1585 and 1587. As the fate of the final group of colonists has never been determined, myths have developed about them. Stories about the “Lost Colony” have circulated for more than 400 years. In the 21st century, as archaeologists, historians and scientists continue to work to resolve the mystery, visitors come to see the second-longest-running outdoor theatre production in America: “The Lost Colony.”

Drive down to Pea Island nature reserve. Don’t really get to see much nature, apparently just missed two Bald Eagles. Visit one of the many light houses.

It’s a really lovely area by the sea and we’re tempted to stay for a second day.

Overnight at a Comfort Inn at a little place called Nags Head. Well in American style not really so little as for such a small population it sprawls like a Gulf Coast oil slick, over 15 miles long and straggly. Lovely little town on the outer banks. Not quite figured out the source of its name. Perhaps it was named by a keen horse race fan or even by some one married to a gobby trollop who needed fitting with a scolds bridle. Walter Raleigh landed in nearby Roanoke Island, of list colony fame, so perhaps it was even named after his domineering wife, Elizabeth Throckmorton, no wonder he spent so much time at sea.

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Up early and off for a 330 mile drive down to our 4th home exchange in Myrtle Beach. After our experience of Virginia Beach we both have some trepidations that it will be another American style Blackpool.

6 hours, 330 miles and not even the whiff of an Interstate and we arrive at our home for the next two weeks. It seems to be well outside the central, high rise mess that we think is Virginia Beach. We’re in the trees by the see on a fairly big time share style gated resort. Our two bedroom condo is on the top floor (5th floor), with balcony and views out over the sea and the trees of an adjoining caravan site. In the distance we can see the high rises of Myrtle Beach. Best of all we seem to have good wifi and the ultimate enlightenment – no password.

Condo’s really brightly and tastefully decorated with Lighthouse and seaside theme. Only one minor downside, common to most American place, no kettle. Instantly feel at home here.

Get settled in with an afternoon tea and then do the weekly shop. Now most American supermarkets are pretty impressive, even by my “why am I here” standards, especially chains like Ingles with their awesome customer service. But alas not the local Food Lion. No Wifi; lousy choice of wine it seems everyone around here needs the giant magnums; as for beer forget it, American pickle water, not a decent German beer to be seen; and to add insult to injury not even a Starbucks to while away the day whilst Wendy savours the labels.

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Lazy day after all that travelling. Time to unpack, get settled in and get the washing done. Time to have a pleasant stroll along the beach. Time to plan our next 10 days here.

Most people on the beach have two things in common. Firstly they’re very sun tanned. Secondly they resemble a cross between the Michelin Man and the Pillsbury Dough Boy. A lot of them are fishing off the beach and yet no evidence of anyone catching a fish.

We’ve enjoyed our 6 days on the road. Seen a lot and visited many awesome places. I think we’ve got these road trips pretty well organised by now, but after living out of hotels, suitcase and great American junk food, it also nice to have a stable home to stay in with Welsh rarebit and simple meals. At least on road trips I get to avoid them pesky greens and vegetables. I suppose the ideal would be 10 days in a home and 4 days on the road, but so far we’ve not done so bad.

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