Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Vacation Highlights, Part 2

Saturday was a lovely day-- a few clouds to make it interesting, but not too many.  Warm, but with cool breezes.


 



There was an antique car show down on the boardwalk for about 3 hours. They were out their gunning their engines by about 7:30; made me wish we hadn't slept with the doors open, but that was okay.



A friend had suggested we check out the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel/Bridge, one of the original 7 man-made wonders of the world.  So we did.  I didn't get pictures because I was doing the driving, but it was a
beautiful view. It looks a little scary from above, but driving it was only mildly disconcerting.

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Once we crossed over, we decided to stop in a little town named Port Charles.  After we left the hotel, it got cloudy and slightly drizzly, but cleared up quickly.  While driving the streets of Port Charles, we happened upon a block sale, with a library book sale thrown in.  DD and I spent probably half an hour there, while Jack waited patiently in the car.  I spent $12.50 and came home with 10 hardback books and 5 paperbacks--and one of the hardbacks was a $5.00 book.  Not a bad haul.  DD came home with a bagful, too, and only spent $7.00.  We were happy campers, and from the way people were NOT flocking toward the library book sale, I figure they'd probably read most of them, and we were just what the library needed!

Lunch was at a small, locally-owned seafood restaurant up the highway a bit, and then I just kept driving.  It still amazes me how many states can be covered in just a few hours' driving back here in the East, so I decided to keep driving up the Eastern Shore to--Maryland!



Jack was surprised.  He's never touched Maryland ground before.

We turned around and headed back, detouring to Chincoteague, where the wild ponies live. Since the movie, Misty, it is more well known and there were lots of cars driving the wildlife refuge route on Assateague Island. We didn't get a glimpse of the ponies, but got some photos of a snow goose and more marshlands. But it was late, and the mosquitoes were biting, so I only got out of the car once.



I wish I could have gotten more photos.

DD drove back so I could rest, and we dropped a not-hungry Jack off at the hotel and found a Thai food place to eat. It was good to spend time with my daughter.

Sunday dawned bright and pretty, a good day for traveling, though we were sad to part. 



We listened to a suspense crime story book on tape the whole way home.  Those are great for staying awake while driving, and I picked up several at the flea market a couple of years ago.  We scooped Tandi up from the boarder's, who reported she did surprisingly well.  Lori was all prepared to take Tandi home with her, since Tandi has some insecurity issues, but it must have reminded her of the kennels where she used to live or something, because she was perfectly at ease.  I must say, though, we have received lots of snuggles and doggy kisses the last couple of days!

Tonight I return to work, hoping the census isn't too high and the patients aren't too sick. As I told Mightymom, it was so nice to be on the receiving end for a change--to have people smile when I walk up and bring me food and clean up after me.  True, I do tip well, and I'm not whiney and demanding and grumpy so as not to make their jobs harder, but still.  It was nice.

I wish you all a nice relaxing vacation this year, no matter where you go, nor how long you are gone.  We all deserve a break now and then.

7 comments:

AnnieO said...

Sounds like a lovely getaway--not too many things planned, lots of time for stopping and wandering, eating when you feel like it, etc. I think those are often the best vacations! Glad you all got away for some quality time outside of the grind of daily routine :)

Pokey said...

Ah-h, it'll be nice to be home again, too. :-}
We love suspense stories in the car, or long trilogies like Eragon.
Another fun kind to listen to is comedy shows, like Jerry Clower, Bill Cosby, or Bill Engvall. Gee, I guess I dated myself!

Libby said...

Looks like you had a great time . . . . all the better that you got to spend time with your girl *s*

I remember ready those 'Misty' books in elementary school - my heart's desire (at the time) was a horse of my very own.

Cathi said...

Looks like you had a marvelous time. Your photos of the sky are absolutely gorgeous!

Julie Stiles Mills said...

Thanks for all the photos! I've never been there! I do NOT like driving on bridges though, creeps me out big time.

SueR said...

I grew up in that area, and we hated that bridge! Sounds like you had a good tour of the area. Did you get a chance to see Dismal Swamp? We lived in VA Beach for 3 years and never made it to the Swamp.

julieQ said...

Oh, I want to go! Looks so beautiful...that sunset beckons me.