Cape Hatteras

After an inauspicious beginning we headed south to go across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel towards Cape Hatteras.  As to our launch, we went to put in the slides like we always do, me outside watching, thank goodness, and Jan inside operating the slides.  It's the exact opposite when we pull into our site.  So in goes the driver's side front slide and just before it is all the way in, a terrible crunch and the slide is tilting like it shouldn't be!  Monaco has a locking system on this slide, our largest one.  It is simple in design, as the bottom of the slide gets near the motorhome wall it pushes on a lever which causes a lock to pop out the top inside the motorhome to lock in the slide.  Well as the lever touched the sidewall, it did not move as designed, instead it bent the lever and caused the bottom of the slide to stop.  NOT GOOD!  Back out it goes so we can evaluate what is happening.  No, I have never seen or heard of this happening before.  Evidently, the mechanism which is covered by a plastic cover has either corroded, or is gummed up by dirt or something, but the bigger problem is the lever is bent so much that the slide would not be able to go in even if we could get the lock to move.  Luckily we are able to bend the lever enough, work and lubricate the locking mechanism enough that we get the slide in and we are off, only took 45 minutes.

On to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.  It is an engineering marvel.  It is a 23 mile bridge with 2, 1 mile tunnels, that goes across the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay.  Sometimes the internet is a blessing and sometimes it is a curse.  We researched the bridge-tunnel to see, number one, can we fit?  It appears so, there is a 13' 6" height restriction and we are below that, but the reports on the internet is that the tunnels are VERY narrow and some have even lost their mirrors from impact with oncoming trucks!  We even contemplate going around, but it would add over 175 miles!  So after the initial impact of a $35 toll, off we go.  It is really something!  To cross 23 miles of ocean is amazing!  Turned out the tunnels weren't that bad, although a little scary, the 4 lanes on the bridge go down to a narrow 2 lane tunnel with no barriers between oncoming traffic, but they are only 1 mile each so not bad.

The toll booth

Initial view of the bridge

The first tunnel

A little narrow! 

We got through okay, worked our way by Norfolk and headed south to Cape Hatteras, specifically, Waves, NC, quite a way south, to a campground, Camp Hatteras.  It had been pretty windy for a few days, so the few glimpses of the ocean showed us the waves were crashing.

Lots of white water

Surf's up!

The sand was infringing on the road in several places.  It really makes you wonder what it all looks like when a big storm hits.

You can see where they plowed the sand.

The campground goes all the way from the ocean on the east side to the sound on the west.  It is windy, blustery, and really sandy, duh!  And nicely quiet since it's off season. We are just taking it easy and will go visit Kitty Hawk and the Wright Brothers memorial, and probably eat a couple crab cakes, and lots of fish.  We already bought and cooked a new fish for us, a tile fish.  It was delicious.  There are lots of kites flying, and lots of folks kite surfing in the blustery conditions.  Pretty cool.

Our beach, 100 feet or so from the motorhome

Kite surfer

Wild Ponies

We left DC mid morning after the traffic had a chance to mellow out.  And actually it wasn't bad at all.  Looking back I have to say the entire visit to our nation's capitol was a non event, easy-peasy.  Cherry Hill campground is definitely the way to go for any of you who are contemplating a visit.  Eastbound we headed for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and according to the internet is one of the scariest bridges in the world, well I don't know about that although the toll at $36.00 was pretty scary!  It is 4.3 miles long and fairly narrow.

The bridge

Looking a little low

It was no big deal as it turned out, now all we have to think about is the upcoming Bay Bridge-Tunnel and that is a bit scary.  More on that later.
We had a nice peaceful drive down the Delmarva peninsula to Temperanceville, VA to the Tall Pines Harbor campground.  It is beautiful and since it is off season we have the place almost to ourselves.  We are right on the Chesapeake and it is gorgeous!

View from the motorhome

View from the dock

Dusk

Not bad, huh?

Jan wanted to see the wild ponies on Chincoteague Island, but first we had to find some crab cakes.  We asked in the office and were told the best were to be found at 2 hole in the walls, of course.  Over to Metompkin Seafood we went, and as we walked in we were warned, "Don't feed the cats!"  It is takeout only, a real dive, and you cannot eat inside even though there is a table or two.  We were told the seafood platter was the way to go, so Jan and I shared a platter of fish, scallops, shrimp, crab cakes, hush puppies, fries, and cole slaw!  It was quite good and pretty unique.  We'll let you know about the other after we go later today.

Metompkin's

Inside at the counter

Half of our feast, yeah we forgot
to take the picture until half done:-)

Then we took the bikes and went to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.  Lots of sand and tidal flats.  We took a nice 5 mile bike ride around a large paved path, saw lots of birds, the lighthouse, a school of dolphin just offshore, and we did find the feral ponies.

Dolphin swimming along the shore

Lighthouse

The ponies!

We had a nice relaxing day.  I'll leave you with a few other photos of sunrises Jan caught at our campsite.  Spectacular!

DC

First off I want to report we survived the Metro, I guess I should say I survived the Metro because it was never an issue for Jan.  I wasn't enthused to say the least, but I will admit now I was completely wrong!  It was easy, inexpensive, no-brainer, best possible way of getting around, and I would not hesitate to use it again or recommend it to anyone.  Now that's off my chest.

We only planned on 2 days here, I know not enough time, and that's true, but we can always come back.  We wanted a taste and we got it.  The first day we spent in the car, down to Mt. Vernon initially.  Got there early on Sunday morning and had the place almost to ourselves, for a little while, then the crowds appeared.  Perfect timing!

Washington had a beautiful place, over 8,000 acres and 10 miles of Potomac riverfront property.  It is privately held now and they do a great job of maintenance and restoration.  We took a tour of the mansion and then walked the grounds for several hours, capped off by a delicious lunch at the Inn.

Walking up to the mansion

The porch side facing the river

Washington's view from the porch 

The Mt Vernon Inn dining room

A smiling lunch companion

Then we drove up to Arlington Cemetery and were quick to realize even on a Sunday why people don't drive around the area!  We made it though.  Took a long walk through hallowed ground and were pleased to observe the respect all the folks we saw visiting gave the place.  We climbed the hill to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, stood and watched the guard for about an hour, and got to see the changing of the guard.  It is a somber and extraordinary experience.  What precision and pride in what they are doing! It was a very moving experience.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
"Here rests in honored glory
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
known but to God"

Changing of the guard

We then walked over to see the Kennedy graves and the "temporary" eternal flame.  The original is being repaired.  

JFK gravesite

After a full day we returned to the campground in advance of our day into downtown.  The weather was fantastic both days, sunny and about 70, perfect for all the walking we did.  We took the Metro to the Archives, right on Pennsylvania Avenue, and proceeded to walk about 6 miles or so.  We went by Ford's Theater and the house across the street where Lincoln died.  Had a great lunch at Old Ebbitt Grill, thanks for the recommendation Rachel!  Walked by the White House, were impressed by the architecture of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, down to the Washington Monument which is still encased in scaffolding while being repaired from the damage incurred in an earthquake in 2011, and back around and down the Mall to the Capitol Building, finally wandering back to the Metro station.  We wanted a little taste of the city and we got it.  Obviously you could spend days and days visiting all that is available, but we accomplished what we came for.

Ford's Theater

The house where Lincoln died

The "back" of the White House

The White House

Eisenhower building

The encased Washington Monument

Capitol Building

Now we're off to Assateague.

Goodbye Maine, hello DC

After Karen left we did a few more things we wanted to accomplish before leaving Maine.  We took a ride back to the town we lived in for 20 years, Deerfield, NH.  It looked pretty good.  They say you should never go back and we've certainly experienced that feeling in Atlanta and the Poconos, but Deerfield looked okay.  We also made a big loop into Bedford and had lunch at a Chinese place we used to frequent all those years ago, Chen Yang Li.  They now have grown into 3 locations.  We enjoyed our lunch with some good chinese food, finally.  Then we looped up into Concord and finally back to Wells.  We had another bowl of seafood chowder sitting on the seawall overlooking the ocean.  It was a gorgeous day and we were joined by at least 6-7 seals playing and eating just off shore, just far enough that even with Jan's big lens it was tough to get a good shot.

Our lunch location

A couple of the seals

We took a wonderful walk along the Marginal Way, a great paved walkway right along the rocky shore in Ogunquit.  Not too many folks and the day was perfect!

The Marginal Way

Along the way

We also got to see 3 more sunrises, took several long walks on the beach, and generally enjoyed ourselves.  We left Friday, visited my brother in PA overnight and then arrived at Cherry Hill Park in College Park, MD.  This is a highly rated campground and a perfect jumping off point to see the sights.  The bus even stops right here in the park.  So the two public transportation neophytes are going to give it a go on the metro.  Hopefully we'll survive :-)

Quick, cool post

I mentioned we were getting another lobster roll before Karen left and we did.  Had a nice little picnic overlooking the inlet to Kennebunkport Harbor.  Last roll and it was yummy!

Lobster roll time!

Then it dawned on me that even though I mentioned Walker's Point, I didn't show any pictures of it, assuming everyone knew what it looked like.  Well I was wrong, a lot of folks don't know what it looks like.  So we went back up the road so Jan could get a few pictures and what a surprise.

Walker's Point and the Bush compound

The main house and who is that in pink?

It's Barbara Bush!

And actually we watched Senior being wheeled inside just before Jan switched lenses.  Pretty cool.

Maine musings

First, the lobster rolls.  You would think that with all I've said about lobster rolls, we were some kind of aficionados, but no, not really.  In fact, over the years we haven't eaten that many of them.  But, of course all that changed this trip.  This time we are doing our very best to completely decimate the lobster population ;-)  I told you about the Lobster Gal who has eaten over 140 different rolls and rated them all.  It piqued our interest for some reason so as I explained she has her number one pick followed closely by a tie at second.  Her second place tie was Boothbay Lobster Wharf and Five Islands Lobster. We went to and enjoyed the BLW roll and decided we should, since we were in the area, try the Five Islands roll as well.  Now in the area means within 60 miles of there.  What complicated it just a bit was Five Islands is now on their off season schedule and is only open on the weekends.  No problem.  Off we went.  Not only is their lobster roll excellent, their onion rings were perhaps the best onion rings any of the 3 of us had ever eaten!  And the beautiful views, sitting on the dock munching down our food was icing on the cake!  

This is it

The menu

The view

And the roll!!

Now you noticed I didn't mention Lobster Gal's numero uno.  Her number one pick, drum roll please, is the Clam Shack in Kennebunkport, just up the road from Wells.  We just HAD to find out if we agreed.  Now lobster rolls in New England are served on unique toasted hot dog rolls called split tops.

Nicely toasted

And every lobster roll we have ever had has been served on this delicious roll, there is something about the buttery toasted split top roll and the lobster meat that combine in a very sublime way.  Well, Numero Uno, The Clam Shack doesn't use these rolls!  They use a special locally baked round roll instead, to say we were skeptical is an understatement.    Well, we all 3 in total agreement, believe as does Lobster Gal, that the round lobster roll at the Clam Shack is the very best.  It was amazing.

The tiny place on the bridge

The view as we ate

The Absolute Winner

Karen is leaving us tomorrow and just to show how crazy we are, we are going back to the Clam Shack and having one more fantastic lobster roll which will be our last for a long, long time.

After we devoured our lunch we took a ride out past the Bush Compound on Walker's Point enjoying the view and the surf.  

As we drove around Ocean Drive we found this beautiful Episcopal church that was built in 1887.

Saint Ann's Episcopal Church

The church and grounds are open to the public so we spent some time walking around enjoying the grounds and admiring the old stone church.

We have had quite a bit of rain, thunderstorms, and wind the last few days, and although it has made sunrise viewing a bit tough, it made for some wild surf on the beach.

Couple surfers taking advantage of conditions

As to sunrise viewing, Jan and I, when we are in Maine enjoy getting up early, sunrise does happen very early here, I can hear the groans from some of you, but as I said the weather has not been cooperating for us.  We have tried and had one little glimmer of the sun one morning out of our first 4 tries.

Just a glimpse of the sun

Still pretty though

So finally, yesterday morning was clear and off we went again, and this time we had success!

Good morning everyone!