On our way out of Madison County, VA we decided to take it easy and spend the night at a KOA campground on our way to Norfolk, VA to visit family. It was our first stop at a KOA. We hung out, walked around the campsite and Sully found a cool new toy in their gift shop, a toy RV. Now he’s got a cool camper to play with. It’s cute that he has a tiny plastic farmer from another toy set so now this is the farmer’s RV.
We took time to swing and play at the KOA
We also walked the trail around and through the campground. Sully found a toy RV at the KOA store so he used some of his birthday money on it as a present.
Natalie liked rearranging the furniture inside with Sully
On our trip we decided to check out some cheap areas to camp. Camping is only $4 a night at Virginia Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). We pulled off the paved road and found one near the North Carolina Border. It was a hot afternoon stop, but we were surprised to find that the WMA wasn’t just woodland, but an old farm planted with tons of beautiful sunflowers. We decided not to spend the night because it was HOT and we don’t a generator to run the air conditioner.
We stopped at a Virginia Wildlife Management Area (WMA) where the state grew sunflowers on public land for hunting crop cover.
It was a beautiful clear day, but hot and humid
Our trip took us to Big Bend Park and Campground. We wanted to take some time to hang out, go swimming and hiking before Norfolk. The campground is situated right on John H. Kerr resevoir in southern Virginia. We spent two nights camping out, roasting marshmallows on the fire at night and swimming in the lake during the day. The lake was full of freshwater clams and we collected a bunch for Sully to play with.
Every day we make coffee before breakfast in the camper to get our day started. Natalie got some decorations and we’re trying to make the camper feel like home.
-
- Sully takes his camper on adventures around the campsite
-
- During our campout we had the perfect campfire snack. A pretzel thin smeared with peanut butter and a roasted marshmallow. Devine!
-
- We collected tons of tiny freshwater clams
-
- Swimming in the lake. The water was nice and warm for swimming.
-
- Chilling on the dock
On July 17 we arrived at Uncle Tim, Aunt Martha and Tyler’s house in Norfolk. It was great to be back in Norfolk, but it was super hot. We spent about a week there helping with house projects and hanging out. We got lucky and got to go out to the eastern shore of Virginia to a little town called Oyster and ride out through the marsh to tour the outlying islands and collect sea shells. It was great to get out that way on the water because we don’t think our sailing adventure Aboard Astraea will take us all the way to the East Coast of the US.
-
- There’s a shore based oyster hatchery
-
- Back in port at the town of Oyster, VA
-
- On the way back Sully fell asleep again!
-
- Cruising quickly along
-
- Conch, clam, oyster and mussel shells littered the beach of the barrier islands
-
- The smooth ride put Sully to sleep before we hit the first island
-
- We cruised quickly through the shallow marsh to the oulying barrier islands
-
- Cruising fast through the Virginia barrier islands on Bob Roche’s center console Boston Whaler with John Chubb (Rear Admiral, USN Retired) at the helm
-
- An oysterman’s house out in the sea grass marsh a few miles offshore
While we were in Nofolk we planned to meet up with Carolie and her daughter Bess at the JCC swimming pool. It was great to reconnect with an old friend from Japan and Sully got even more comfortable in the water. He and Bess jumped from the edge of the pool and swam all morning.
After seeing Bess jump in the pool Sully had to practice too
-
- Sully and Bess swimming under the shade. The shaded area was great because there’s a spot for the grownups to sit and kids to swim without getting sunburn.
-
- Bess is a good swimmer
-
- Sully and Bess playing in the pool at the Jewish Community Center in Norfolk, VA
We unexpectedly ran in to another old friend from Japan, Ruth. She was an officer on my first ship, the USS Juneau. While Sully was playing at the park we recognized each other and started talking. It was cool because now she has two boys about Sully’s age and a newborn daughter. She invited us to walk to the zoo with her and the boys since they have a season pass. The kids had fun listening to story time at the zoo and got to pet a snake.
-
- Visiting the Norfolk Zoo
-
- The signature Norfolk Mermaid outside the Norfolk Zoo with Ruth and her kids
After a week in Norfolk it was time for us to head farther south to visit with Natalie’s family in Georgia.