I awoke to perfect driving conditions and decided to do just that, drive for the sake of driving, with my only goal being to experience the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, a one-time engineering wonder of the modern world. This 23-mile long fixed link connects Virginia Beach and the Hampton Roads area to the eastern shore of Virginia and Maryland.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is just that, a combination of above water causeways and underwater tunnels linking the two shores as well as a series of man made islands.
I was hoping to bring a photographer, but my friend absolutely hates this bridge-tunnel adamantly refused to come! I have to say that the high winds and narrow tunnels would be nerve-wracking in an RV (especially since you have maintain a speed of 45 to 55MPH), but in a small vehicle on a beautiful sunny day, this bridge offered up an incredible drive, the memories of which I shall cherish forever.
I stopped at the Eastern Shore visitor’s centre to find out if there was any place nearby to grab lunch and see something. The lady suggested I check out Cape Charles and showed me a couple of restaurant menus.
So I drove up there and had a nice lunch at Kelly’s Pub, then I checked out the public beach and main street. The town was dead, but I bet it bustles in the summertime! I didn’t wander too much because I would have needed one more layer, a windbreaker, to be really comfortable.
I drove north a little more after to check out a museum that was recommended to me, but it was closed for the holidays. 🙁 It was already mid-afternoon, so I pointed the car towards home. Traffic being at a standstill in Norfolk nothwithstanding, it was a quick drive.
approaching the bridge-tunnel from Norfolk (which is Norfek not Norfoke!)
out at sea
ships in the distance
Wonder what kind of cargo it has on board.
Big ship!
The sun was out in full force, a welcome sight in the middle of December.
There is a rest area with a restaurant and gift shop about 3 miles in.
The water was a beautiful blue green.
jetty
Not sure what this island is all about.
Lucius J. Kellam Jr. Bridge-Tunnel
fishing pier
Sink for cleaning fish?
It was so windy that this garbage can was swinging to and fro.
looking towards the jetty
it was very windy, making for choppy water
Eastbound entrance of the Thimble Shoal Tunnel
there are a lot of emergency pull-offs with phones
entrance to the Chesapeake Channel tunnel
the light at the end of the tunnel!
climbing up into the sky
the sky was so beautiful and the bridge so elegant
just about done
I was sorry to see the bridge-tunnel end.
I prefer Atlantic beaches to those on the Pacific; I guess I’m an east coast gal at heart
the weather was warm, but the wind was bitter!
the ocean smelled so lovely
more sand and surf
the roar of the waves and wind was like a melody
my truck looks pretty good parked in front of these windswept trees 🙂
I had lunch here
Kelly’s Gingerroot Pub
Nice (but expensive!) pulled pork sandwich with onion rings (worth the $1.50 extra!)
the pub reminded me of the ones in Scotland
mini golf
rather than fix sidewalks, Cape Charles paints the obstacles vivid yellow
most of the gorgeous Victorian homes like these looked derelict
entrance to the public beach
the wind was strong enough to knock over these benches
those ominous clouds were just posturing and disappeared quickly
barnacle-covered branch
I love a choppy Atlantic!
this was nice firm sand for walking on
a pier (access was closed)
dunes
more dunes
cool tree
rent on a four-bedroom home is just $650
this building will soon hold the Cape Charles library
Mason (main) Street has lots of shops, with most being closed in the off season
I’m pretty sure we don’t have ATMs stuck to the side of buildings out in the open like this in Canada
Kelly’s Pub redux
eastbound toll booth ($12 each way for a regular passenger vehicle, unless you return within 24 hours and then the return toll is just $5)
The space between the road surface and the pillars is painted a blue that so matched the sky that it seems the roadway is floating!
toldya those black clouds were just posturing
it was so windy that big fat gulls were able to just hover!
Norfolk
looking at Norfolk through a saltwater stained windshield
