TravelStream™ news feed for member theoldfolk on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/theoldfolk en-us Copyright ©2010 TravelPod.com Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:52:30 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210362000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210362000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210362000/tpod.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:52:30 -0500 The Old Folk Go West Again The most completely lost of all days is the one in which we have not laughed [Chamfort]

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Ocracoke, North Carolina, United States

We dove to the top of the Island stopping several times to admire the wonderful views Pamlico Sound was on one side of the road & the Atlantic Ocean is on the other. Walking on the sand dunes is hard going. We didn't realize we had reached the end of the island until we saw two guys waving us frantically to board the Hatteras ferry as it was about to sail. It took 40 mins.. I could see land all the way & I was sure I could swim ashore if need be !!!!.

We went to see the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Reg asked if I would like to go to the top I asked if there was a lift ha ha. When Reg saw it was half price for seniors his little eyes lit up. He couldn't get his money out fast enough. It was 275 steps to the top, the tallest lighthouse in the USA. We were both knackered half way up. but as we were representing our country ( England expects & all that)we forced ourselves through the pain barrier finally reaching the top sweating profusely & blowing for tugs

We booked into a hotel at Nags Head for a couple of nights , it backs onto the beach Thursday we went for a walk along the beach & then to the Wright Brothers Memorial at Kill Devil Hills,which we found it very interesting. We intended to spend the afternoon chilling out on the beach reading our books but it rained ( sods law) We went to an outlet mall instead but wasn't impressed & kept our dollars in our pockets.

The hotel was supposed to have wireless internet but it was a joke I spent ages trying up update the blog but when I tired to save it the connection was down & I lost all the info. the connection would only last for a couple of minutes at a time.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1209474420/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1209474420/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1209474420/tpod.html Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:21:16 -0400 The Old Folk Go West Again The most completely lost of all days is the one in which we have not laughed [Chamfort]

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Dulles, Virginia, United States

(It was breakfast then back to the airport to pick up the rental car. First stop was Front Royal & a Wallmart Store (Reg's favourite ) He Bought a new sat. nav. that's right despite my proven track record of excellent navigational skills a pile of maps plus new high spec. glasses [Full HD ready] I have been replaced with new fangled technology . Front Royal is a lovely little Town the guy a the visitor information center was very helpful he gave us a goodies bag of vitamins creams etc. on one of the boxes it said Men Degree clinical protection

I said ( Reg he has given you condoms!!!) Turns out it was some kind of deodorant.

We then headed for the Skyline Drive. We stopped at a lookout point to see the view another couple who were stopped & had come from the direction were headig for in a state of high excitement they had just seen 3 bears a few hundred yards down the road. We jumped back in the car but we didn't see them. Well that put paid to me venturing onto any of the hiking trails. We stayed at Luray after a meal & a few vodies it was off to bed.Sylv.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1211147280/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1211147280/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1211147280/tpod.html Thu, 22 May 2008 16:57:52 -0400 The Old Folk Go West Again The most completely lost of all days is the one in which we have not laughed [Chamfort]

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Washington DC, District of Columbia, United States

Sunday was another wet day, we had already decided that it would be impossible to see the rest of the city on foot. So we booked ourselves on another jolly hop on hop off trolley, the (Metro stops can be a mile or so from where you want to be.) It was a good decision we saw so much more than we would just walking. We saw all the Monuments & Memorials. Photos not very good due to the rain. Washington is unlike most other Capital cities it was designed by one man. It hasn't evolved quite like other capitals & it's basically a Tribute to their heritage of which they are very proud.

We had smooth uneventful journey home, arriving at Base Camp 11:30am. on Tuesday.

Summary of Holiday
We had a fantastic three weeks we had lots of laughs Reg only got a cob on when he was overtired. Saw some wonderful scenery & met the most friendly helpful people you could ever wish to meet.

Post Script
Tuesday Night/Wednesday Early Morning.
Gets up to go to the toilet, wanders onto the landing. I could see the bathroom and the separate toilet.Thinks to myself, I don't remember booking a suite.Anyway,go into the toilet.Whilst having a pee, thinks to myself they've even got the same brand of sanitary ware and they've been to Ikea!!! and then seconds later the penny dropped. We were at HOME!!!!! (Reggie Baby)

The End
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1211071980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1211071980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1211071980/tpod.html Sun, 18 May 2008 17:51:32 -0400 The Old Folk Go West Again The most completely lost of all days is the one in which we have not laughed [Chamfort]

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Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Day in Washington we woke up to a bright sunny day. We checked out the farmers market which was across the road from the hotel we thought it was a bit expensive but farmers markets tend to be pricey. After that it was back to the tube station & back to Arlington Cemetery.
Reg wanted to see the Iwo Jima Memorial, after that we went to the Pentagon which is also located in Arlington first thing we saw was a sign saying No Photography so we didn't hang around for long
We headed for Washington & some sightseeing there are some very impressive buildings I think it was mostly constructed at the same time so the buildings are mostly of the same architectural design, it is all wide straight roads & avenues . Not like London which has evolved over many centuries & has more varied architectural designs
We walked & walked we walked till we could walk no longer god knows how many miles we covered. We saw the White house the Washington Monument the Vietnam Veterans Memorials, The Lincoln Memorial etc. etc..
We were absolutely whacked out when we finally got back to the hotel my feet were springeing, I just flopped into a chair & didn't want to move. But Reg wanted dinner so I had to drag myself up, we ate at the restaurant next to the hotel it was as far as I could walk.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210954200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210954200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210954200/tpod.html Fri, 16 May 2008 21:25:17 -0400 The Old Folk Go West Again The most completely lost of all days is the one in which we have not laughed [Chamfort]

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Arlington, Virginia, United States

Despite the wet & gloomy start to the day it was perfect bliss. It was the day we returned the car back to Dollar 1811 miles later (don't know how many were due to sat nav. woman sending us the wrong way!!!).
We were back to being a twosome again sat. nav. woman was finally out of my life for ever I hope, words cannot describe how happy I was.
Reg had been worry about the drive back to the airport but with the help of a very helpful receptionist at the hotel who printed out some directions which avoided all the road works it was pretty easy a quite!!. I think Reg was glad not to have to drive any more (urban areas are a bit of a nightmare).
We arrived at our Arlington Hotel at 9:30 but an abrupt receptionist said the room wasn't ready yet & we couldn't check in until 3:00pm.(we knew that, we only wanted to confirm our reservation & leave the luggage).
We looking like a couple of wallies in our matching waterproof anoraks, walked to the Metro bought two day passes ($7.80 all day which we thought was reasonable) & it was on into Washington for a first look around. The security is very tight, we couldn't get into the visitors center without ID & going through a security check. It was very overcast, so not very good for photos. After lunch we went to the Arlington National Cemetery. You can't really say going to a cemetery is enjoyable but it was worth seeing. It was all the more poignant as there was a funeral taking place whilst we were there. I don't know how many miles we walked but we were whacked out.Sylv
(Sylvia even found some of here ancestors(Brown,Taylor and a Bird)Well she's found them everywhere else we've been!!!)Reggie Baby.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210800420/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210800420/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210800420/tpod.html Thu, 15 May 2008 19:54:27 -0400 The Old Folk Go West Again The most completely lost of all days is the one in which we have not laughed [Chamfort]

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Annapolis, Maryland, United States

It was nice to wake up on Tuesday to a bright warm sunny morning. It was only a short drive to Kent Island about 20 miles. It's all boats & Marinas Reg thought he might be able to do a little fishing but it was all private piers & marinas but it was a very pleasant place to stay we went for a walk & just chilled out

Wednesday we went on another short hop via the Bay Bridge into Annapolis (you would be amazed at the size of some of the bridges we have crossed) Annapolis is really nice full of little shops & pavement cafes, very much a place where you can walk around.Many old buildings We went on a jolly trolley tour around the city. I have forgotten most of what the guide said except Annapolis was named after Princess Anne. The streets are twisty & not like the gridded streets you find in most towns & city's here. All in all a very good place to visit

Thursday we were again going on a short hop to Alexandria it was supposed to take 40 mins. but there was major traffic works on the highway. Plus sat nav woman was a very naughty girl, in fact she was a pain in the ass. From Annapolis to Alexandria you have to cross The Woodrow Wilson Bridge (yes another one) we crossed it once then commands from sat nav woman guide us back over. (We realized what was happening but could do nothing about it ) Back into the traffic jam finally made it to Alexandria only to find we couldn't get a hotel room (apparently this is their busiest time conferences etc. } We finally found a room in a hotel in Mt. Vernon three & a half hours & a few naughty words later!!! expensive & no smoking Reg might be in for a bad night Sylv.
(what a bloody morning !!!.If I hadn't been driving I'd have hit the bottle.Reggiebaby)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210554240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210554240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210554240/tpod.html Tue, 13 May 2008 21:13:42 -0400 The Old Folk Go West Again The most completely lost of all days is the one in which we have not laughed [Chamfort]

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Williamsburg, Virginia, United States

We left Williamsburg Sunday morning we were driving along the highway to Norfork on the road in front of us were two large vultures who were breakfasting off a dead carcass. Guess who's camera was switched off?.
We drove across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge & Tunnel It was a very dull & overcast day so that was a disappointment. Sylv..

The bridge is very impressive.Overall its 23 miles long and includes 2 tunnels and 4 man made islands.The max speed is 55 and min speed is 45 .We stopped at the first island were there is a cafe/diner for a cup of coffee and a fag!!!. There's also a pier where you can fish but it was so breezy I thought I'd give it a miss(reg).

I asked Reg if he was going to try his hand at fishing his response was " No it's too bloody cold" Long gone are the days when he braved the elements in Icelandic waters (I must admit it was cold & windy.)Sylv..

We drove as far as Exmore which is on Virginia's Eastern Shore Line & checked into a hotel In the evening the heavens opened it absolutely chucked it down accompanied by loud thunder.
Monday was cold & it was raining heavy drizzle & poor visibility. We were ill prepared for such bad weather a woollie pullie for me (Reg had his warm fleece & anoraks for us would have been most welcome Reg's shorts were replaced by big boys trousers. Again we were lucky as there had been more tornadoes in the vicinity. As we wouldn't have been able to walk around much we decided to make some headway up the coast. We crossed the State line into Maryland for an overnight stop in Easton. The cameras weren't used much that day . We dined in a very nice restaurant were we had our first Steak which was excellent, I wasn't the only one who couldn't finish it.
On Sunday we were unable to purchase liquor but we could have bought a gun from Wallmart!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210384800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210384800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210384800/tpod.html Sun, 11 May 2008 19:37:15 -0400 The Old Folk Go West Again The most completely lost of all days is the one in which we have not laughed [Chamfort]

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Nags Head, North Carolina, United States

We said goodbye to the Outer Banks & headed for Williamsburg. When we left Kill Devil Hills it was raining with thunder & lightening then it was sunshine & showers all the way. Reg has been having one of his flights of fancy again. There's a Honda called The Element which he has been admiring since he first saw one. We were in a car park & there was one parked next to us woman owner comes back to it Reg's jumps out of ours,& introduces himself next minute woman is opening doors folding seats showing him how versatile it is, at one point I thought she was going to give him a test drive!!!!! We were well on our way to Williamsburg when we pass a Honda Dealership, guess who ends up inside ?.
Williamsburg is the most visited place in Virgina. The American Revolution & all that we thought in might be interesting & elected to stay for two nights. On the first evening we went to the Christiana Campbell's Tavern all the staff were in period costume. First thing we noticed when we were being seated was that everybody had their napkins tied around their necks we placed ours on our laps. We were in the middle of eating our meal when this comely women walked in( five foot high & five foot wide). She was talking as if she was from the past, relating events from the revolutionary period of time, when she said her piece a guy in a kilt came in carrying a fiddle, he proceeded to play Scottish jigs, (thank god he didn't have bagpipes). We chose somewhere else the next night. Saturday morning we went in to the Historic part of town you could walk around for free but if you wanted to go inside of any of the buildings there was a $75 admission fee we thought this was a bit expensive. We just ran around like headless chickens planting the Union Flag everywhere & reclaiming the colony on behalf of Her Britannic Majesty.
( I not only went in the Dealership but I came out with a brochure on the said vehicle & also checkout on the Honda website)(Reggie baby)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210199760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210199760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/theoldfolk/1/1210199760/tpod.html Fri, 09 May 2008 22:27:03 -0400 The Old Folk Go West Again The most completely lost of all days is the one in which we have not laughed [Chamfort]

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Morehead City, North Carolina, United States

We left behind Morehead City & headed for Cedar Island to catch the drive on ferry boat to Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks. It took 2hrs. 14mins. to cross to the island. First thing I did when we got on board was to check where the toilet were in case I needed to puke I then sat outside on the upper deck next to the lifeboats. I didn't puke & we didn't have to abandon ship.(Sylvia may have just about got her sea legs. Ha Ha Ha!!) For most of the time all you could see was the sea - Pamlico Sound. We met a couple from New Mexico & had a good chin wag with them' politics mostly they wanted Obama to win the Primary's. One of the ferries engineers came up on deck for his break he & Reg had a good old chat about fishing. The guy had his own fishing boat & did commercial fishing on his days off. Ocracoke is a beautiful island miles of unspoilt beaches. It's a very popular fishing area the men have some very impressive fishing tackle The town was busy during the daytime -lots of people walking about & riding cycles, Reg checked out the price but that was as far as it went. There wasn't any street lighting so was the sun had gone down it was completely black out side most everything closed down. They have some vicious mosquitoes around here we have had a few nasty bites.Sylv.
(sat nav women No2 is continually having a go at sat nav woman No1 !!!)Reg.
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Oxford, North Carolina, United States

Continued our journey to the coast a very long drive 275 miles. So we didn't do much more than drive. Morehead City a coastal town so it is a complete change of scenery no more mountains or bears. It's now all boats sand & seagulls just like being in New Brighton we even had dinner in a pub.(in error) & Reg had a Guinness I settled for a cigarette. Stayed at the Hampton Inn which is supposed to be one of the best but we preferred the Best Western & Quality Inns.
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