Sept 16, 2008
Sept 17, 2008
Sept 18, 2008
Sept 19, 2008
We left home about 8. Our first stop was at post office to mail packet. However, it wasn’t open yet - it opens at 8:30. So, I hung onto the packet and finally mailed it in Chincoteague.
We headed north on I-81, stopping for lunch just after we turned onto I-64. Traffic was light most of the way, except for Norfolk. We hit there about 4:30. With all the government stuff in the area, they must all get off work at 4...
That’s where we left I-64 and moved to US 13 north through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. We stopped at the first rest area, which is on the southernmost “island” on the bridge/tunnel. It’s a fascinating way to cross the Chesapeake Bay. They built four of these artificial islands that anchor the two sections of tunnel under the bay. Between the middle islands and between the outer islands and the mainland are long causeways. There’s also a bridge at the northern end of the complex. It’s a total of 18 miles long.
The two photos above were taken at the rest stop on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and were taken from a walkway over the road. The walkway connects the parking area with the restaurant. The one on the left looks down at the entrance to the first tunnel and the one on the right shows the approach to the tunnel. Both were taken through plexiglass, so the quality isn't that great.
The two photos above were taken along the walkways at the rest stop on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. The one on the left shows the long causeway connecting this rest stop with the mainland. The one on the right shows a tender of some sort passing through the channel. The island at the opposite end of the tunnel is just visible on the far side.
Interesting little fact - gas prices dropped fifty cents a gallon after we crossed onto the peninsula. I would have expected prices to have been higher there... Of course, we had that little price spike due to hurricane Ike as we were leaving town and our mainland gas prices were around $4.09 per gallon.
From there, we continued on US 13 up the long Delmarva Peninsula, almost to the Maryland border where we turned onto a side road taking us the last ten miles to Chincoteague. There’s only one bridge connecting this island to the peninsula, a creaky old drawbridge that sometimes gets stuck in the “open for boats” position, stranding everyone! They’re building a second, more modern bridge, but it’s got a long way to go yet.
We arrived at Chincoteague a little after 7 and checked into our hotel, the Waterside Inn.
After unloading the bicycles (they have a sheltered area under one of the stairways with bicycle racks) and car, we walked down the street to the Chincoteague Inn’s deck bar for dinner. The meal was okay, but nothing to write home about. One tip - skip the margaritas. They don’t seem to be able to make a decent one here.
We walked back to the hotel and spent some time in their spa. Then showers and bed while watching Batman Begins again...