Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Chesapeake revisit a good stop


My wife and I scratched another itch this past summer on a rerun of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia.

On a previous trip, we failed to stop at the Chesapeake Grill for a meal, but decided if we ever returned, that was one of the things we wanted to do.

Why? I really don't know.

A wedding brought up back to the area, so we decided to give it a try.

Maybe it was because of the location, that being on a bridge-tunnel highway that was so unusual.

Maybe it was for the expanse of water one could view from the tables along the wall of windows.

Maybe it was wanting to just sit there, trying to feel how it would be to experience gale-force winds howling across the open expanse of water with waves kicking up over the highway.



We survived the July day, as waters were fairly calm, the sun was shining brightly and there were a few boats skimming over the waters and a few tankers waiting to get into Chesapeake Bay.



The cost of the food is incidental since one has to pay about $15 alone to just get on the bridge. But I was willing.


My wife and I enjoyed the outing and decided that the expansive “water view” across the bay and fishing bridge was exceptional.

Next post: Oct. 20, 2017 (We’ll be out in the wilderness for awhile.)

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Lake Watauga -- a great place to picnic





On a summer trip to a wedding in Virginia, my wife and I drove Highway 321 east from Gatlinburg, TN and about lunch time, started looking for a place to picnic.

After scouring the countryside and a couple of spots, which we didn’t like, we  continued on. We were half expecting to have to pull off to the side of the road to eat our picnic meal.


And then we traveled alongside a lake and came across the picnic area called the Watauga Point Recreational Area. It was one of a few facilities along Watauga Lake, which was formed in 1948 to help control flooding.

We usually look for a picnic table with a shade tree, a nice restroom and perhaps a good view.



Well, the recreation area just happened to fit what we were looking for. It wasn’t too far a walk to the table, and the view was worth it.

Mountains surrounded the giant Watauga Lake on which a number of power boats were operating. The temperature in July was pleasant.

I made a few trips carrying various picnic supplies to the table and then my wife and I just enjoyed the food and the view.

The drive around the picnic area takes one close to the edge of the lake which is in the Cherokee National Forest. The Watauga Reservoir is part of the Tennessee Valley Authority,


Next post: Sept. 19, 2017

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Irma or Uncle Sam? Closures possible

Vacation travel is sort of on hold for a lot of people in the southeastern United States.

Hurricane Harvey walloped the Houston, TX area pretty hard recently with devastating flooding results.

Other cities in the area also suffered.

And now, the lookout is for Hurricane Irma, which is potentially to have a heavy impact on Florida. Although at this time Tuesday night, there is no forecast that everyone seems to agree on as to where it will finally make landfall in the US, if at all.

Hopefully it will take the track some are anticipating and make a northeast turn before coming into hard contact with Florida. That would push it out into the Atlantic.

A cool front moving across the US could enhance the storm's move to the east, depending on when the front arrives in the Southeast.

My wife and I are planning on heading out during the last week of this month to make our annual camping trek to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

A bigger problem than the hurricane could affect our plans. Senators and congressmen will be fighting over increasing the country’s debt.

If that problem isn’t quickly resolved, the national parks would probably be shut down. Such a situation occurred a number of years ago.

We were headed to the mountains and got to a trailhead/picnic area called Panther Creek in northern Georgia.

Before getting out of our vehicle for a picnic, a couple local guys in a government truck pulled up and told us, because of budget problems, they were closing the place down. And quickly padlocked the facility.

Our meal was enjoyed just down the road where we pulled off.

Whether it is hurricanes or the government, the best plans often end up changed because of things out of our control.


Next post: Sept. 12, 2017