Charlotte, North Carolina, September 29, 2009

Wow! What a day!

We left Exmore, VA and drove toward the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. Along the way we stopped in Eastville, VA to mail some letters. What a fantastic town. It’s a small town with lots of churches, but the churches all have cemeteries right next to them. We stopped at the African church and looked at some of the grave markers. Some were so worn that we couldn’t read them. Most that we could read were from the early 1800’s. Amazing. Think about it. These people lived and died before the Civil War. One “newer” headstone was for a man that died during the First World War. Makes me think what we worry about is pretty insignificant!







The Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel! Wow! The toll is $12.00 to cross the bridge/tunnel and here are some pics to describe it. A few things we would like to note. There is the light at the end of the tunnel and we’ve never seen so many dead seagulls. Yuck!









We got out of the bridge/tunnel and were dropped into Norfolk VA. We had a problem with the east/west road system. In fact, we got lost in Norfolk trying to get on the freeway to get out of town. I told Bob “I think they want to keep you. They love the work you did here in 1969.” Bob replied similarly about Norfolk as his father commented regarding his experience at Fort Benjamin Harrison” when visiting in 1990. Lou said, “I DIDN’T LIKE THIS PLACE IN 1942 AND I DON'T LIKE IT NOW!” Ok then, how do you really feel! Yikes. My hat is off to BC and LC. Thanks, guys….

We found that Franklin, VA has the Tacoma aroma. (Read a paper mill. Yeuww!)

We stopped at the Peanut Patch in Courtland, VA. It was a very nice place. Bart was happy that we bought soapstones for his drink spots. Sounds silly, but we hate having the fabric thingees I made stuck to the bottom of our special water cups. (And we love to drink our water.)



Oh! Lunch! Well, that was an easy trip. We’ll just get off the road and go to Fort Christanna and eat our picnic. Well, the sheriff’s (helpers) were mowing and making a lot of noise so we drove up along the gravel road. We couldn’t figure out the weird fence and track next to the Fort Christanna. Well it turns out that the property next to Fort Christanna is a dog track. The Lawrenceville Hunt Club.” It was weird. Then the sheriff’s guy’s weren’t done so we took pictures and drove a ways and ate our lunch in Bart on the side of the road. But it was a great experience!









“The Slip –In”. Ok, so I bugged BC about going to the "Slip In." I mean, who could resist that? We needed gas anyway. BC got gas,I went in to use the bathroom. (Never turn down a bathroom.) That place was crazy! It’s a 7-11 type place and you walk in and it’s filled w/smoke. There’s some guy sitting in the back playing slots, 2 guys in front speaking some sort of southern dialect that I can’t figure out. It was like a bad scene from some Southern movie. Oh well. We got gas, peanut M&M’s and a potty break.




P. S. You on the West Coast might note the gas prices!!!

I drove for the afternoon. We had a long day. I must say North Carolinians are mean drivers. Tail your butt, speed like crazy, right past the cops. I don’t get it. Most of those mean drivers are men in trucks. Hmmm…. My thought is something along the lines of peanut envy….. I’ll leave it there.

Tonight for dinner we walked to the Chile’s next door. I thought of Nina and Peggy. (Miss you!) There was a lady in the bar we named “Patsy”. Too many drinks, loud, loud voice. We know all about her issues. Good grief! We were so glad when she left. The noise level dropped incredibly! It was amazing that she could talk so much, drink so much, smoke so much and still be heard non stop. Well, everyone’s got a talent.

But she seemed so happy!!



It was a fun little crowd!!

This evening we received several emails from you all. Thank you! We are glad you are enjoying our travels with us. We miss you and love you, bc and gc.

Exmore, VA, September 28, 2009

We had a very relaxing time in Marlton, NJ with Mike, Jenn and Lisa. It was very good to stay 4 nights in a row. I hope the kids felt the same way!

We pushed off this morning and zipped through 4 states today! Yikes! New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. And, it was an easy drive day.

While in New Jersey driving to the Cape May ferry, we passed through Whitesboro and saw the Whitesboro Historical Foundation. It is on the corner of Love Center Way. To say the historical foundation was odd is an understatement. It was one of those things that you glimpse as you are driving by and say “what?” We turned around to take pictures for you. It was fake people, standing in a 2nd floor glassed in porch (except for the one window that was boarded up with plywood.) With records hanging on the wall. For you “younguns” I mean 33 RPM records. (Go ahead and Google it.) Here, what do you think?



We made the 11am ferry at Cape May. We’ve been on a lot of ferries in Washington, but this was a little different. It was much smaller, the water was very rough and the seating area reminded me of an activity room in a nursing home. Yuck! It had that sad feel and bad smell, but had a bar. Maybe if there was a bar in activity rooms, there wouldn’t be so many resident to resident cases! HA! A little Ombudsman humor…








But the ride was great and the drive down through the beach cities of Delaware and Maryland were typical beach towns. The wind was blowing 100 mph; well at least it felt like it. We had a picnic lunch in Bart at the 30th Street Dune Crossing in Ocean City MD. It wasn’t too pretty…








We will note here that Delaware license plates are the most boring of all.

Bob was excited as we passed through Melfa, VA. He spotted a combination fireworks and breakfast sandwich store. Gee, who’da thought?

We are staying in Exmore, which is a very small town. The weather is nice; Bart is fine, though still no car wash. (All car washes are broken!)

Thanks for Barting along with us! Love, bc and gc.

“Barting” came from my friend, Cindy Tracy. Thanks!

Marlton, New Jersey, September 26, 2009

We left Baltimore, MD on Thursday morning for the drive to Marlton, NJ. We have been so used to very little traffic that driving here on the I-95 Beltway is crazy! Reminds us of I-80! But to see our kiddos, we must press on.




I must say, tolls in this area are plentiful! It cost us $10.40 to get from Baltimore to Marlton. I guess the road construction is nicer. The other thing about the east coast is all the states are so close together. It felt like South Dakota would never end, and driving from Baltimore to Marlton we were in 3 states. Maryland, Delaware and NJ.



Mike and Jenn have a lovely home. Large yard, lots of rooms and the cutest baby room ever! Jenn is 35 weeks along and is eagerly awaiting their baby. (As are all of us!) We visited with Mike, did some work and then Mike beat us at cards. Jenn came home and BC and Mike BBQed and we had a great evening. Their guest room is very nice.





Yesterday, the 4 of us went to Lisa’s home. She lives in a stately old home in Collingswood, which isn’t far from Marlton. We met her little dog and then all 5 of us piled into Bart and off we went to find…..Lucy the huge elephant in Margate. We were feverish with excitement! (Or maybe it was just hot flashes.)



On the way, we paid more tolls, and drove through the Pine Barrens also known as the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve. The Pine Barrens is where Mrs. Leeds horrible 13th child lives. Or so they say. He is known as the New Jersey Devil and is some sort of flying biped. We earnestly searched the Pine Barrens as we drove by, but alas, we didn’t catch a glimpse of him.

But, we did find Lucy! And she is huge! We had a crab sandwich next door to Lucy and then sat on Lucy’s French manicured toes for pictures. Nice. No BBOY, but Lucy is a nice find.








Lucy is right on the beach, so we went to the water and I got to walk in the surf and taste the salt water. The Atlantic isn’t as salty as the Pacific. I love the beach it is so calming. When we get to So Cal to visit Andy, Zina and Kate we’ll walk in the Pacific.





We checked out Atlantic City and the Boardwalk. It reminded me of a cross between Las Vegas and Main Street at Disneyland. We had a Rita ice cream and played the slot machines. I made $7.50 but that wasn’t even enough to cover the parking fee and the tolls to return to Marlton! Yikes! (And we didn’t see the New Jersey Devil on the way home either.)







Saj, Alexis and Amaya Surve, Mike and Jenn’s friends stopped by for a visit. Amaya is so cute and smart!

This morning Mike, Bob and Saj are playing golf. Lisa, Jenn and I are getting pedicures and manicures. Perfect! The weather is very nice; the humidity went away once we got here.

We are half way through our trip. Monday we will turn around and head west.

Thanks for keeping up with us. Hope all is well with you. Love, bc and gc

Baltimore, MD, September 23, 2009
Ruckersville, VA, September 22, 2009

We’ve had a full 2 days! We left Charleston, WV traveling the Midland Trail also known as Highway 60. The scenery was so beautiful. The area reminded us of Kentucky. We followed the Kanawha River through many small towns.





By golly, we stopped at the Gauley Bridge! It was beautiful!





We then continued on, stopping at the Hawk’s Nest State Park. We trekked down to Lover’s Leap and it was also amazingly beautiful. We thought about leaping, but the sign said “Do not throw things over the edge.” Since we didn’t know how to leap without throwing ourselves over the edge, we hiked the 100 steps back up and consoled ourselves with an ice cream bar. (Good decision!)









West Virginia is beautiful and we didn’t see any of the typical commercialism of the other states. People have small homes, work mostly in the coal/mining business and drive trucks. We passed through the Allegheny Mountains into Virginia.







In Virginia we crossed over the “Cow Pasture River” and thought about doing some skinny dipping, then thought again. Nah….

We drove along the Appalachian Trail crossing the Appalachian Mountains. Again, beautiful scenery. (But lousy drivers! They seem to be side magnets. You know how a car will just hang just at your side and never go faster or slower, even after they HAD to pass you?)







We arrived at the Dunstan’s home In Ruckersville, VA around 4:30pm. Joanne Dunstan and I worked together at Farmer’s and Merchants Bank in the late 70’s, early 80’s. They have a lovely home nestled in the woods. They also have the cutest 9 year old son, Andrew! Andrew was the best host ever!





This morning we left the Dunstan’s and headed toward Washington DC. We drove along the James Madison Highway passing the cities of Manassas, Arlington, Fairfax, Bull Run, Centreville, Reston, Falls Church and Leesburg. I thought about the sacrifices of the Civil War and the dichotomy of us now rushing 65 mph down an 8 lane freeway where battles were once fought.

We wanted to see the World War II Memorial. It is breathtaking.





We were honored to be there while a large group of WWII veterans from Wyoming was there. Senator Bob Dole was there the entire time, talking to all the veterans, posing for pictures with them and honoring them.



The veterans wore T-shirts that were printed on the back “If you can read this, thank a teacher. Since you are reading this in English, thank a WWII veteran before it’s too late.”



This memorial was humbling. Both Bob and I missed and honored our dads. When I saw the New Jersey carving I cried. I felt terrible when I looked at the Pacific area and did not even know where in the Pacific my dad served. Sigh, being a bratty kid has its paybacks.





When we saw the Atlantic area we recognized where Bob's dad had said he had been, we have his pictures of those areas.





The 4000 stars, representing the over 400,000 lives lost made me cry. Carved in stone at the bottom of the stars it says “Here is the price of Freedom.”





I have listed our dads in the WWII memorial on line data base. If any of you have a loved one that served in WWII you may want to add their name to this data base. You can do this at www.wwiimemorial.com. This memorial was very moving for us. Thank you to Louis Oran Carroll and Howard Pattison Foote and all the others who served to make our life in this country so wonderful.





We drove to Baltimore Maryland and checked into our hotel. We aren’t used to driving in all that traffic and confusion, so we parked Bart and caught a shuttle to the Inner Harbor. We had a very nice late lunch, walked around a bit and caught a taxi back to the hotel.







We have had a very full 2 days. We have been over 3400 miles so far. Tomorrow we will drive to Marlton New Jersey to spend the weekend with our kids, Lisa, Mike and Jenn. I’m so excited to see them and we are looking forward to several days of rest and catch up!

We love you and hope all is well with you, bc and gc.