March 25-27, 2022 Travel, Crossing the Chesapeake, and Family

March 25, 2022

We woke to clear skies – YEA! - and continued our journey north into North Carolina (sorry, missed the sign):

This is I95 in North Carolina.  It was a beautiful road with little traffic:

Now into Virginia:

In Virginia, we turned east on US58 and settled at a Walmart in Franklin, Virginia. 

Arby’s was within walking distance so we headed there for supper.  When we got there, the inside was closed but the drive thru was open and we did a “walk-thru” – LOL!  The worker told us that it was not unusual. She was great with us.  The inside was shut down because of lack of workers – so sad. 

Stats for today;

Routes Traveled:

South Carolina: US301; I95

North Carolina: I-95

Virginia: I95; US58; SR671

Miles Traveled: 229 Miles

March 26-27, 2022

We were up early and on our way.  Today’s journey took us on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel.  On the way to the Bridge:

On our way across the Chesapeake:

A few tidbits about the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, not to be confused with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge further north:

“There are two one-mile tunnels beneath the Thimble Shoals and Chesapeake navigation channels and two pairs of side-by-side high-level bridges over two other navigation channels: North Channel Bridge (75 feet clearance) and Fisherman Inlet Bridge (40 foot clearance). The remaining portion comprises 12 miles of low-level trestle, two miles of causeway, and four man-made islands.

The CBBT is 17.6 miles long from shore to shore, crossing what is essentially an ocean strait. Including land-approach highways, the overall facility is 23 miles long (20 miles from toll plaza to toll plaza) and despite its length, there is a height difference of only six inches from the south to north end of the bridge–tunnel.

Man-made islands, each approximately 5.25 acres in size, are located at each end of the two tunnels. Between North Channel and Fisherman Inlet, the facility crosses at grade over Fisherman Island, a barrier island that is part of the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The columns that support the bridge–tunnel's trestles are called piles. If placed end to end, the piles would stretch for about 100 miles, roughly the distance from New York City to Philadelphia.”

There is a lot of information here as well as history “http://www.cbbt.com/”

We have traveled this bridge quite a few times and it is always amazing to me.  We have never stopped at the scenic overlook nor the restaurant/gift shop but some day we will.  They are currently closed due to building new tunnels.

We are on our way:

It was breezy.  Check out the whitecaps on the water:

The first tunnel under the Thimble Signal Channel:

And we are out:

Second tunnel is between those two islands:

The second tunnel under the Chesapeake Channel:

And we are out again:

Coming to the other side:

Right after we crossed the bridge there was a huge rest area. Since the road we were on was extremely rough and bouncy, we had to stop to put the inside of the MH back in place.  This is what it looked like (lots of stuff on the floor):

We did find out that the rest area allows overnight parking.  We continued north:

Into Maryland:

Then into Delaware:

Our site at the Delaware Seashore State Park:

This is beautiful park but it was so so cold and windy.  We were here about 9 years ago and it was the same.  Some day, we hope to be here when it is sunny and warm and not windy so when I go to the beach, I will not be sandblasted – LOL.

We are here to visit with our daughter, granddaughters, grandson in law, and our five great grandchildren.  Once we set up on 3/26, we went to supper with our daughter and then to a birthday party for our oldest great grandson who is 8.

Sunday was a rest day for us – we needed it from traveling.  Plus it was even windier and colder – BRRRR!

Stats for March 26:

Routes Traveled: 

Virginia:  SR671; US58; I64; US13

Maryland:  US13; US113; SR90; SR528

Delaware: SR1

215 Miles

Stay tuned and enjoy today.

March 24, 2022 Travel to South of the Border

We left our nice little site and headed north thru Georgia on US301:

It is a nice two lane road that goes thru many forests, over swamps and rivers, and thru many small towns.  We noticed that many of the small towns are mostly abandoned.  It is so sad.

Over one of the many swampy areas:

Crossing one of the lakes into South Carolina:

Where we traveled on I95.  I thought it would be a lot busier but as you can see, it was not.

We started seeing these signs – how funny.

When my mom and dad traveled, South of the Border was always a stop for them.  My dad thought it was a hoot.  Since I was never there and they have reasonable camping, well, we just had to stop.  Our campsite:

South of the Border reminds me so much of Wall Drugs in South Dakota only more “touristy”.  The complex has restaurants, gas stations, a video arcade, motel, campground, truck stop, a small amusement park, a mini golf course, shopping, fireworks stores, and a motocross training complex.  It is huge.  

Many of the places were closed or in renovation mode so we took a walk around, stopped in the shops that were open, and had supper at the grill.

There are lots of large statues:

This is Pedro, the mascot:

A Jackalope!  I just love it!.  (This is for my BIL, Bill.)

More information can be found here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_of_the_Border_(attraction)

https://www.sobpedro.com/

Lots of smiles.  I am glad we stopped and understand why my dad enjoyed it. 

Tomorrow we continue north so stay tuned and enjoy today.

 

Stats for today;

Routes Traveled:

Georgia: Magnolia Springs Road; US25; SR21; US301

South Carolina: US301; I95; US301

Miles Traveled: 223 Miles

 

March 23, 2022 Stormy and Alligators

As I was making reservations, I came upon the history of Magnolia Springs State Park:

“Magnolia Springs State Park encompasses over 1,000 acres between Perkins and Millen, Georgia. The park is named after, and built around, the crystal-clear spring water that flows through the area. During the Civil War, the area now encompassed by the park, was known as Camp Lawton. A stockade held Union soldiers captured as prisoners of war. The site was selected due to the abundant water supply. Between August and November 1864, Camp Lawton was planned, built, operated, and eventually abandoned. Despite its brief tenure, the prison held over 10,000 soldiers and was said to be the largest prison in the world at the time. The stockade was closed in November 1864, and its prisoners routed to other camps as General William T. Sherman’s army closed in during his infamous “March to the Sea.” In 2010, archaeology teams from nearby Georgia Southern University uncovered parts of the stockade wall and artifacts from prisoners. Several of these artifacts are interpreted at the Magnolia Springs History Center located inside the park. Presently, archaeologists and historians continue to study this historic property to uncover more details about the camp and its occupants.

After the Civil War, the springs became a popular recreation destination long before the park was established. This area was used for picnics, church gatherings, reunions, and swimming for local citizens. These same citizens pushed for the development of the area for years until the park was officially created in 1939. Like many early Georgia state parks, much of the infrastructure of Magnolia Springs was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, also known as the “CCC.” The CCC was responsible for damming the spring-fed stream to create a large swimming area for visitors, as well as building roads, a bathhouse, and other park buildings.”

So I made reservations hoping to do some of the trails and see some of the artifacts.  However, there were many warnings of high winds and severe thunderstorms so we watched the radar as our location was between the worst of it.  Thank God.  By mid afternoon, it started to clear up and we decided to do the Beaver Trail which was right behind us:

Lots of trees with no bark:

The trail led to the northern edge of Magnolia Lake:

A beautiful trail just as the leaves are beginning to sprout:

And back home again:

Since it was later in the day and there was still the threat of severe storms, we decided to take a ride around the park and check out some of the other sites.

Yes, we did see them – Yikees!!!

The southern edge of Magnolia Lake:

It was beautiful:

Look closely in the middle of the picture – Yep, that is an alligator:

From there we drove over to the Springs – Crystal clear water:

Lots of turtles:

A little more information on the springs:

One of the most interesting things for me is that this spring delivers almost 9 million gallons of water EVERY DAY – WOW!

See those little black dots on the water – all turtles.  They were so cute.

I walked over to the Spring Mill Branch of the river and found more alligators.  They were everywhere.

We did not get to see the Museum (closed) nor the Fort so we hope to stop here again one day.  Tomorrow we continue our journey north.