Day 134 Washington DC - Anapolis - Virginia Beach
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Annapolis,
Maryland,
United States
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Day 134 Elizabethtown - Annapolis - Virginia Beach Virginia
With no real final destination in our minds, we left the RV park to head to Annapolis the Naval training centre, the equivalent of West Point, but for the navy officer training. We have to again thank Karisue for this information; we were only 25 mins from the quaint old town of Annapolis.
We found our way to the Stadium car park to park the Castle and catch the free shuttle bus into the town.
We were dropped off at the gates of the academy, and headed in; the security check was a simple photo ID, and no scanning of the bags nor bodies, a slight change from West point or buildings in Washington.
We spent an hour o a guided tour and were hurried through by our guide to enable us to catch the "formation" This happens twice a day, for breakfast and lunch, this is a roll call time and all 4000 midshipmen arrive on the parade ground in front of the huge memorial hall, all to march in for the meal.
Our tour was at pace, but took us to the gymnasium with the a hall of photos of the high achievers from the navy in sport and trophies won by the various teams and individuals. They certainly focus on the physical achievements. Also the hall was at a level overlooking an Olympic size swimming pools, with midshipmen training in the water.(some will have to improve their prowess in the water, from our observations, to achieve 40 mins swimming completing 600 yards fully clothed. Even if achieved the distance in the time they were required to remain in the water until the time was up.)
Then onto Chapel that seats 2000 people, the pipe organ and the stain glass windows again a credit, beneath this chapel in crypt ,lays one of the Original Naval successful officers (John Paul Jones) who was never beaten in battle when he fought against the English and others in the time of the revolution.
We tracked along the Officers homes and again the marvellous architecture that has been preserved in this area is to be recalled. We headed back across to the great hall to observe the "formation" to find it had been cancelled for today. GREAT! Never mind we visited the great memorial hall inside and also a barracks room for midshipmen.
The tour finished and we had a walk around towards the water and around the grounds, quite freely with no challenge.
Then to the Officers club to have a meal (yes it is open to the public!).
Leaving there, we walked up the main street of Annapolis, with the streets being very narrow and old buildings dating from the civil war.
We found a Starbucks in an old cellar, with wonderful comfortable lounge seats and true relaxed ambience, to partake of our coffee. We vote this as the no 1 Starbucks visited thus far.
We caught the trolley bus to the Castle and it was now time to choose a direction.
We chose to head down to Virginia beach down alongside Chesapeake bay. What a great choice! We didn't see a lot of the water but the road was easy travelling and the little townships along the wayside with different types of farming along the way.
We had noted on the map we were to travel a Bridge/tunnel section of this road. As you all know the travellers are familiar with the choice of Bridge and tunnels with the Sydney experience.
We certainly were not prepared for this experience.
We came to the toll collection point to pay the $17, then around the corner to view parrall bridges snaking off across the huge Bay. Maximum speed 55 mph minimum 45mph. Up and along and a higher part in the middle, then at around the 10 mile mark YES TEN MILE MARK! The bridge went down and was a tunnel underneath the bay to come back up to be a bridge again for another 2 miles to go under into a tunnel again, and back up to bridge again.
Truly a remarkable feat of engineering, we crossed 17 miles on this bridge/tunnel construction on a two lane highway and as mentioned twin constructions ran parallel taking traffic in the other direction.
We arrived at the KOA in Virginia beach (after dark around 7:45pm) tired and hungry but happy to have had the experience of driving over Chesapeake bay.
We settle in to eat and the Castle begins to vibrate and we are subject to low flying military aircraft, GREAT! This is punctuated by commercial aircraft taking off as well. Thankfully they appeared to go to sleep at around 9:30pm
We are still going well and yes we are a little slack in posting, but gee we have had to recover from so much tourist information gathering. We planned to be near a beach, and figured this KOA at Virginia Beach might be the shot, but it appears you have to take your deck chairs and swim gear and load them on the trolley bus to be taken to the beach, coupled with the close training base and airport, we consider the relaxed beach time out may not be here! We are safe and well and hopefully will get this posted to let everyone know this.
Just as a point of interest, for our followers in Australia, we mention that our fuel stations are a little behind in technology, as we filled up the Castle today with gas (petrol) as soon as we began the filling process, a small TV screen began VERY LOUDLY giving the news update or a channel dedicated to upfront news. Interesting concept to be bombarded with news or adverts while filling with gas!
