Thanksgiving Trip to Norfolk & Bryan's 60th Birthday Celebrations

November 18th, 2020

We packed up the car and set off for Norfolk, Virginia to see Ryan, Christina & Trystan. We were so happy and it felt good to be back on the road, even though we weren't in Lily.

Leaving Florida

and entering Georgia

Leaving Georgia and entering South Carolina

After 5 hours on the road we stayed at Best Western Inn, Latta, South Carolina overnight.  

November 19th, 2020

Not long after we set off this morning we crossed the South/North Carolina border.

I saw this sign for Enfield, which was the town I grew up in, in England. 

Entering Virginia. 

I didn't realize they grew cotton in Virginia. I always thought it was a Southern thing. Shows that you're never to old to learn. 😁

Getting closer to Norfolk.

Very close.  The road between Little Creek and Fort Story, so pretty.

Cape Henry Lighthouse welcoming us on base at Fort Story. I think we'll like it here. 👍

We got to Ryan & Christina's and Trystan ran out to greet us.  It was such a wonderful moment and we had all agreed to have hugs as we have all been careful and we would all be sharing the same house.  Yes, we took a risk but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.  Christina took this VIDEO of Trystan greeting us.  Unfortunately you have to be signed into your facebook account to watch it.

They had already decorated the outside of their house for Christmas.

Picture courtesy of Christina

They took us for a tour of the base in their car.

A lot of history here. Cape Henry Memorial is part of the Colonial Historical National Park.  Here's an excerpt from the website linked above.

"English colonists first landed here in April 1607, erected a wooden cross and gave thanks for a successful crossing to a new land.  In 1781, Americans could watch from these same sand dunes the largest naval battle of the Revolutionary War.  Our French Allies defeated a British fleet just off this shore to set the stage for General George Washington's victory at Yorktown."

So the beach here saw the Brits celebrating in 1607 and then 74 years later being defeated.

Reading about the history here.

Admiral Comte DeGrasse, French Commander who defeated the Brits.

There are two lighthouses here on base.  The "old" and the "new" Cape Henry Lighthouses.

Two of our favourite things, Trystan & Lighthouses!!!

New Lighthouse on the left, Old on the right.

We walked on the short boardwalk that overlooked the beach. 

It was an interesting tour.  

November 20th, 2020

The next day we just hung out, catching up with things.  In the afternoon I (Sue) went for a walk on the beach with Christina and Trystan.  It's a 4 minute walk from their house.  How awesome is that!!!

Ryan met us on the beach after work.

Horseshoe Crab

November 21st - 22nd, 2020

We hung out around the house as Ryan was only allowed out for essential stuff. Trystan loved having us all to play with.

November 23rd, 2020

Bryan & I went for a drive to have a closer look at the lighthouses. The visitor center was open and you could climb the lighthouse but we decided to wait until Ryan was able to do it with us.

We went for a walk on another boardwalk and got some more pictures.

This is an old bunker at the end of Ryan & Christina's road.  Bryan would love to go in there!!!

November 24th-25th, 2020

The kids riding around the block.

Bryan & I went for a ride to scout out some campgrounds for when we come up here in Lily. Unfortunately the one here on base wont work.  The sites are really small and its very dark as lots of trees.  Also there's no sewer hookups.  There's other military ones around, about 30 minutes away that will be ok though.

November 26th, 2020

Thanksgiving arrived and Christina made us snacks to munch on while we were waiting for dinner.  What do you think of her Grinch tree, it was so cute!!!

Trystan guarding the turkey.

Lilo & Peace will be waiting a while yet!!!!

Dinner is served!!!!

It was delicious as usual.  Thank you for having us.

After dinner it was time to decorate the tree.

We played games before going to bed.

November 27th, 2020

The next day Bryan & I decided to go for a walk on the beach.  The others chickened out as they said it was too cold!!!

Neighbors Xmas decorations

Walking down to the beach.

Lighthouse from the beach

Base patrol

Both Lighthouses

That walk certainly blew the cobwebs out.

November 28th, 2020

We decided to celebrate Bryans birthday a day early as Ryan was leaving on a work trip tomorrow.  I bought some 60th Birthday balloons and streamers and Christina blew up the balloons and helped me decorate.

The 0 balloon popped as we were blowing them up, so we improvised with a pompom!!!

We managed to get the decorations up before Bryan got up and he really loved them. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of his face when he saw them.

We got takeout from Outback Steakhouse and had a nice birthday dinner.  Thank you Ryan, Christina & Trystan.

November 29th, 2020

Happy Birthday Bryan, 60 today!!! 

We got up and said goodbye to Ryan who was leaving for a couple of weeks on a work trip. 

We said our goodbyes to Christina & Trystan as they went to the Aquarium for the day. 

We left for home via a couple of nights at the Outer Banks in North Carolina. It was somewhere Bryan has wanted to go and I thought it would be a good present for him on his actual birthday.

I'll write separate blogs for that trip.