Crossing the Chesapeake Bay

September 14 – We agreed last night to leave at 9:30 this morning.  Today’s plan was to drive under the Chesapeake Bay in the tunnel.  Paul was very interested in going so we attempted to include seeing 2 lighthouses and have lunch.

We left on time and traffic was heavy but Paul was driving and all went well in that respect!  It feels like a tight squeeze when you go into those under water tunnels.  The height max is 13’6” and we passed semis that look super close to the roof.

First was to see the lighthouse at Cape Henry.  Turns out it’s on the shore of a navel base and the entrance guard (with his vest of clips to use in his automatic rifle) sadly told us we could not go on the base due to Covid.  He was very nice and walked with us as we turned and was ready for action should we not follow instructions!  We tried getting to the beach area in hopes of seeing the lighthouse but there was no direct access.  We saw a walkway but there was no parking lot so we asked a young guy who was watering plants next to the walkway about parking in their lot and he

2 of the many dolphins

said no just park where you are.  So Bill and Paul stayed in the car while Jean and I hiked out to the beach.  No luck seeing anything from the boardwalk so we went on out on the beach in the direction of the base but no lighthouse in site!  We did get so see lots of dolphins playing in the water pretty close to the shore.  They are hard to catch on film and we both kept trying!  We think there were 10 or more out there.

Entrance to tunnel

So sadly we moved on and could see another lighthouse in the distance but I couldn’t get the photo while we were moving.  We agreed to try to pull over on our way back.  We did see a water access road a bit further up and followed it to a dock area to put boats in but no lighthouse in sight!  Drats!

We were headed into a bay to a seafood place, Shanty, that had great ratings and as we crested on the road there was a lighthouse off to the right.  I quickly got out my camera and snapped a shot.  Then Paul was able to follow the roads to get closer and we ended up right at it.  I got out to take some REAL close ups and decided it was

Inside tunnel

not a lighthouse but a water tower made to look like a lighthouse.  We all got a chuckle out of it!   Lunch was delicious!  Bill and I shared an appetizer of calamari with an orange sauce and an order of clam strips with sides of slaw and fries.  He took the fries and I took the slaw and it was spicy!  Jean had it also and we

Lunch at the Shanty

don’t like heat in our slaw!!  The rest of the meal was great and they enjoyed a lobster roll and fried shrimp!

In front of the restaurant was a miniature lighthouse so I stopped to get a photo of it with the “fake” lighthouse in the background!  There were some nice boats in the marina where the restaurant was and it was a nice day out with just enough sun!

On the ride back as soon as we saw the lighthouse that I missed from

Cape Charles LH

the bridge, Paul was able to pull off and I got out and it tooks some tries, but I got what I hope is a good photo.  There were semis flying by me and my camera would move so I took quite a lot that I haven’t checked yet.  As soon as we got back on the road there was a sign “NO STOPPING”, oops!

The only other stop was at Wal-mart as they wanted a few items and I had a short list as well.  Once we got back we were all pooped and retreated to our respective RV’s.  I didn’t cook any dinner and later Bill had a piece of my leftover brisket and then later I cut up the last of a block of cheese and got our some tiny crackers and we shared that and each has a small Senor Rio rice pudding.

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood with our good friends!!