Laurens' Dad was still feeling a little sore yesterday so we took in a few of the local sites. We went to the Mariners Museum in Norfolk VA and it was awesome. We went to see the recovered Turret from the USS Monitor, the first Ironclad ship of the Norths Navy during the Civil War. We did not know that there were also artifacts from the CSS Virginia on display.also. The pictures I put up were a small percentage of what we saw and to be able to touch one of the deck plates gives you a real feeling of history. The fact that these items are on display just a few miles from where the Virginia was built and their Historic battle took place is just to ironic. The Museum has many other displays on many different time periods all doing with the use of the oceans for exploration and war and commerce. A quick five hours and didn't see it all. The conservation of the artifacts from the Monitor and Virginia , especially the fibre materials and leather goods is just to cool. As part of the drying out process they freeze dry some of the items. I tried to get good pictures of the turret and gun carriages but the motion in the water tanks won't allow a good picture.                           G

What I woke up to yesterday

Yesterdays Sun Rise From the RV

Just beautiful

Looking out towards the bay from the RV

Where we went

Anchor fron the Monitor

Cannon from the CSS Virginia

Ships Lantern from the Monitor, the last thing anyone saw before the monitor sank off of Cape Hatteras NC

Ships wheel from the CSS Virginia

This tells you that you are going to touch one of the actual deck plates of the Monitor

touched it and it gave me a chill

Just the same way the crew had their pictures taken during the Civil War

Me too

One of the monitors cannons being stabilised

This is the veiw of the reproduction Monitor at the Museum, it is full sized

       Well we have finally left the Outer Banks and have moved up to Virginia Beach. The weather was great and the water was still in the 70's. We are now in the First Landing State Park and it is nice. The site is large and we are once again only one dune away from the Chesapeake Bay and we have a good view of the Bay Bridge and tunnel. It is really something when it is all a glow at night. We will be here until Friday when we will go either west for some leaf peeping or up the coast for some more fishing. We came to Virginia Beach because  Laurens'  Dad will have some minor surgery this week and we can have a little visit without all the activity of the Family time at SeaScape. We will head back to Center Valley the first week in November to vote and do a few upgrades on the RV. Will add more solar panels and a minor repair on one of the front landing legs. Also need to see whats left from the last auction. Hope Less and Ginny are still talking to us. The work shop and the garages had to have been a nightmare to auction off. Thank you two for all your hard work!                G

Corolla Lighthouse in the Outer Banks

Fort Story Lighthouse in Virginia Beach

Original School House in Corolla in the Outer Banks is still in use

Original Light house on Cape Henry in Virginia beach 1792

Cape Henry NP where the first European  Settlers arrived and the British fleet was defeated by the French Fleet during the Rev War

Replica of first Landing Cross placed by the DAR in 1934

Marble relief of French Fleet defeat of the British fleet during the Rev War

Bronze Statue of Admiral DeGrasse placed by the French Government during the Bi Centennial of  our Independence

Hard to see Bay bridge and tunnel on the Chesapeake Bay

       Yesterday was the first day of Sun in three days and the Ocean was just beautiful. The Surfers were out in force and the waves were just right for them. Head high waves and almost warm temps in the low 70's made for a perfect combination. We walked on the beach for almost 2 hours with brief stops to watch the boarders, some were really good and some were just learning with help from friends. All and all a good day.                                                             G

When you can't fish you just walk

And they never get wet

Just another day at the beach

The birds, the ocean ,and Laurens' shadow

Always something to see

And I have a hard time just standing up

         Another dark day on the beach. Was raining in the morning but has let up a bit this afternoon. Did a little driving around this afternoon. Did some grocery shopping and went into the island on the Sound side where we haven't been in about 5 years. What a difference, they have really built up the Collington area and there are some really some nice town houses there now and they are under $200.00 with a boat slip. We also found another new RV Park and they are open all year long. Always a good thing when passing through during the cold weather.                                                                                                           G