Familiar Places and a Fabulous Friend
Before I begin, I must tell you that my daily transits since I began this journey last Sunday make it difficult to post timely updates. Couple my transits with the time spent with the wonderful friends I am visiting and the challenge to be punctual with my posts is increased. I will continue to do my best but do not worry if I am late or if I miss a day. I am still alive!
After leaving Donna and Walt’s place, I wandered around Old Town Alexandria reminiscing about my time spent in such a beautiful area. There were many familiar sites on my walkabout and wonderful memories filled my head. Gravelly Point on the short final flight path of Ronald Reagan National Airport was always a favourite place to hang out and get a close-up view of some aircraft so of course I stopped there for some pictures.
I headed a short distance north to visit a former colleague from the Embassy of Canada. Chanda is a very special friend who drove from DC to Ottawa for my retirement ceremony a couple years ago so visiting her was an absolute must. I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to see her again! She is so full of energy, humour, vitality and conversation! I had a fantastic time reminiscing about the days at the Embassy, chatting about what’s going on in our lives now and what is planned for the future. I had a smile on my face for the entire visit. Additionally, she is a wonderful cook, preparing a delicious supper and a full-meal-deal breakfast. Generous, kind, compassionate, beautiful, and thoughtful are only some of the words that accurately describe this woman. I am so grateful for her friendship and for her invitation to visit. I look forward to seeing her again either at her home or mine.
After that full breakfast, I headed east to the Ocean City on the Atlantic and then had a quick visit to Assateague State Park to see some wild horses. I was fortunate to capture a few pics but could not spend much time as I was heading to Janes Island State Park for my first night of camping on this journey. The sweet smell of campfires permeated the air as I drove into the campground and it brought a smile to my face. I thoroughly enjoy camping and looked forward to a relaxing evening. Setting up camp was quick and I enjoyed watching a beautiful sunset while utilizing a new-to-me, single pot recipe of veggies, tomato sauce, eggs and spicy sausage. Delicious! Watched by a brilliant full moon, sleep in the fresh outdoor air came quickly.
On Saturday morning, I found my vehicle and tent completely covered in a pale green covering of pollen which had also permeated the inside of my vehicle when I had the doors open for short bits when setting up camp. It clung to my vehicle for the entire day as I drove south to Norfolk, Virginia. The highlight of the journey was driving across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (about 26 km, 16 miles long). The events after my arrival will be discussed in tomorrow’s blog. One week into the journey and I continue to have a fantastic time!
