Summer of 22 - #3 - Cheatham Annex, Museums, Family & Lighthouses

June 28th, 2022

We arrived at Cheatham Annex Recreation Area, near Williamsburg, Virginia.  We stayed here last year.  It is a nice military campground, although the internet signal is weak and I have no phone signal. It will work for us for the next six weeks. It is very convenient for all the historic places around here, some of which we visited last year.   

June 30th, 2022

We drove to Langley Air Force Base to get groceries and look at the static displays.

F-86

F-15

F-105

F-16

F-15

B-52

Bryan worked on the F-4E & G at George AFB back in the day. 

F-4C

July 3rd - 5th, 2022

We went back to visit Ryan, Christina, Trystan & Colton for a couple of days over July 4th weekend.

On the 4th, we walked down to the beach to watch fireworks but didn't get any pictures.

When I got up the next morning Trystan was all excited and asked me to go in the garden with him. He had found me a frog.  How awesome was that. It reminded me of many, many years ago his Dad coming into the house in Las Vegas and telling me "Mummy, mummy there's a frog in the garden". I didn't believe him, as I didn't think there would be a frog in my garden in the heat of Las Vegas, but sure enough there it was.  I didn't get a picture then. Social media wasn't prominent and I probably didn't have film in the camera!!

It was a lovely stay and all too soon it was time to head back home. 

July 13th, 2022

We met Ryan, Christina and the boys at Wolf Creek where they were staying overnight.  It is a water park and we had fun in the wave pool and relaxing in the hot tub. I even went on the lazy river and got drenched from the overhead buckets of water. As most of you know I have a fear of water on my face but I was very brave!!  Again, we didn't get any pictures as we didn't want to take the cameras near the water. After all that excitement Bryan & I looked after Colton for a while, so R, C & T could go on some rides together. He slept the whole time and we had some conversations with people on the joys of being a grandparent.

July 20th, 2022

We went to visit a couple of museums. I will do separate blogs to cover those.

Hampton Air Power Park Museum & Buckroe Beach Lighthouse - Blog to follow

Mariners' Museum & Park - Blog to follow

July 22nd, 2022 

It was time to go and see some real lighthouses.

It was going to be quite a long drive but we don't mind driving to see things that interest us. It's good to get out of the house for a while.

We stopped at the Mathews County Visitor & Information Centre in Mathews, Virginia to get a lighthouse stamp for our lighthouse book. We had a nice chat with the ladies in there and they told us about another lighthouse we could see, so we got two stamps in our book and then went off to find the lighthouse.

I had found directions for New Point Comfort Lighthouse and very soon we found it. We had to take pictures from a nearby viewpoint in a small park.

There was a small covered picnic area.

and vultures in a tree

We decided to try and find the other lighthouse. So off we went.......... We ended up driving on some narrow roads and after taking one wrong turn eventually got back on track and found Bethel Beach. 

Bethel Beach

In the distance we think is Wolf Trap Light. It was quite a way out in the ocean and we zoomed in as best we could.

Wolf Trap Light

Wolf Trap Light

It was a little disappointing that we couldn't get a better view but we still had a nice day out.

We stopped in a layby near to the campground and saw this informational sign on Cheatham Annex.

We haven't managed to get out exploring much here as it has been so hot, so we had a nice adventure today and got two more stamps for our Lighthouse Passport.

Summer of 22 - #4 - Hampton Air Power Park Museum & Buckroe Beach Lighthouse

July 20th, 2022 - Part 1 of 2

We had a day visiting museums and a lighthouse.

The first stop was Hampton Air Power Park Museum.

 

This was a small museum that was free and had a few outdoor displays as well. We looked inside first.  It was quite interesting but didn't take very long to go around.  Bryan got asked if he would mind telling his story and answering a few questions on camera for a project a group were doing. He politely declined as he's really not comfortable talking on camera with strangers and I completely understand that. I'm sure they would have been interested in some of his stories though.

Left to right: F-16, SR-71, F-4

F-100D

F-105

F-89

                                                                                 

F-86

                                                                                 

A-7

                                                                                

Next we went to Buckroe Beach, in search of a lighthouse, although it was an ornamental one.

Buckroe Beach

We found it, how cute is that!!!

These two stops didn't take as long as we thought they would, so we decided to add Mariners Museum & Park to our adventures.  We weren't expecting much but it was an awesome place and well worth the visit. You'll have to wait for the next blog though as there's to much to add on to this one. 

Bryans 60th Birthday Trip - Carrituck Beach Lighthouse

November 30th, 2020 - Part 2

We left the Wright Brothers Memorial and headed to a lighthouse we wanted to climb.  Ordinarily we would have left this to another day but we are leaving tomorrow so we needed to try and do this today.  We were both exhausted already so this would be interesting.

It was a 45 minute drive and we stopped at a Subway Sandwich Shop, on the way, to get lunch which we ate in the car.

Through the town of Duck, but we didn't see any.  Quack!!Quack!!

It was a scenic drive on the Outer Banks. Eventually we saw the lighthouse in the distance.

As we entered the grounds we saw the lighthouse, it was an impressive sight. I wasn't sure I'd be able to reach the top.  It's been a while since we've climbed a lighthouse.

The lighthouse keepers house, which wasn't open as it's a private residence.  

Looking up at the top.  I decided I would attempt to climb with Bryan.

Here goes!!!

The entrance

Gulp!!!!!

Well presented history of the Carrituck Beach Lighthouse. 

Going Up!!!

We got near to the top and a window was open. Bryan went to take a picture and the wind was so strong he had trouble standing still.  You can see his jacket blowing!!  It was a windy day and we had wondered if they would allow us to climb but they had.  Going outside would be interesting.

The picture he managed to take

Bryan went out first and tried to walk around the walkway but the wind was blowing him back. I was hesitant but I took this VIDEO and managed to get halfway round before I put my camera away and held on tight!!!  I managed to walk all the way around and met Bryan back at the beginning!!! Unfortunately I didn't get any other pictures, there was no way I was letting go!!!

Getting blown backwards by the wind!!

Bryan did get some pictures, even though he didn't walk all the way around.  It was beautiful up there. I felt fortunate that we were allowed to climb when it was so windy, and that we survived, ha!!ha!!

There's the gift shop down below.

We started the trek down. It's easier for me going down but harder for Bryan. I get out of breath climbing, and Bryan struggles with his back & knees when descending.  So we can support and sympathize with each other.

We had to wear our masks while visiting the lighthouse and grounds, which we did. However as we were going down, there was no-one around so I pushed my mask down for the picture. 

We got outside and looked back up.  We were so happy that we had both persevered and climbed this lighthouse.  I looked and the last lighthouse we climbed was 18 months ago, in May 2019, at Key West.  We have seen other lighthouses sine then,including some in Wales, but didn't climb them.

There was a small historical village built by the lighthouse which we drove through, and we went searching for the wild horses that are on the beach, but we couldn't get close enough in our car.

It clouded over but the sun shone through and I saw a rainbow in the clouds.  It was a beautiful sight.

We headed back to the hotel, exhausted but exhilarated after such an awesome day.      Little did we know that we would see an awesome sunset from our hotel room, which will be in the next blog.