Saturday, August 20, 2022

A Few Slow Days Before Turning West

 August 16 - 20, 2022
Quinby, Virginia

I'm getting spoiled with these less-than-100-miles driving days, added when I did the final reroute back in March. Our first stop in Virginia has a rare 11:00 check-in, and we're at Virginia Landing RV Park at 11:30 with a whole day to enjoy, and our travel already behind us. The last five miles is another one-and-a-half-lane roads through the trees. 

At this point Bill expresses some skepticism - me too!


I'm not a Thousand Trails fan, having never seen one that was worth the rates they charge, and some of the most run-down parks we've encountered. While there's nothing upscale about this one, it's well-maintained (although there are a whole field of sites with electric boxes that no longer work), and the location is hard to beat. The website says they have 285 sites, but I see less than 100 even with the tent sites and seasonal spaces. The host (they're called rangers which is confusing) is delightful, and meets us at the entrance to lead us into the park where we can pick any available site. She has a couple recommendations, and we opt for no sewer with 50 amp to get the ocean view - duh!

Our first Atlantic Ocean-front site ever.

Plenty of room to spread out.


There are also a dozen shaded sites with 30 amp and water. 

This is a wonderful place to slow down and "just be", especially with the continued cooler-lower-humidity temps. I have nothing on my "list" of things to do and see for this stop, having anticipated we might have natural beauty to enjoy at our site. Two of the three RVs surrounding us are vacant, and the whole park is very quiet at all hours. Reading, a beach drive, adding a few more post-Labor Day reservations, naps, and a couple local eateries make up our four days. 

Burtons Shore Beach is too small for respectable zoomies so Tessa opts for a more sedate stroll along the water.


So different from the left coast.

More vintage structures in the surrounding small burgs.

The dated GPS in the Jeep gives us options for "attractions"  it will route us to. I choose Turner Sculpture which I mistakenly think is "a" sculpture - nope, it's a business on the highway :-))
Seeing the sun rise over the ocean is bizarre for me - but then seeing the sun rise period, is rare :-))

The Exmore Diner is a local hang out where we're the only ones who don't know everyone else. By the time we leave we know a few.

Maintaining its authentic diner vibe with mostly original details. 

Our last day is overcast with the Chesapeake Bay west of the campground providing a muted final look at this unique area.

From here we turn west with a route that will take us to granddaughters, high school friends, our 47th and 48th states, more NFL stadiums, and some historic and poignant locations. Hard to believe we're already on the "last side of the loop" - but we've still got lots to see!

Mr chill-big-kid Elliott with one foot up in the chair, eating his lunch :-)


Oliver and Mommy. Can't believe the youngest is almost eight months old already!

12 comments:

  1. It is hard to believe you've been gone long enough to "turn west!" Ocean views are pretty awesome!

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    1. I was thinking the same thing - 14 states!

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  2. I sure like the tree-lined 1.5 lane road to your campground. Just don't have the trees for those at home. We're in OH for a couple weeks enjoying some rain ... something else we lack at home. Looking forward to your westward adventures. It's about time for us to start planning out our way west.

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    1. That entry road forest was lovely and we always saw some wildlife. The host doesn't live on site so that's her daily commute - pretty nice :-) We're getting used to weekly rain and I'm sure will miss it when we get back to Tombstone. Although they've had weekly rain all summer too :-)

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  3. It's Gay...you (or maybe it is Bill) take the awesomest road shots. Love those campsites with ocean views. I grew up visiting the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico...they are beautiful in their own right, but the Pacific coastline definitely has my heart !

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    1. My road shots are often just luck so thank you!! Hard to beat the Pacific Coast, but there are some special spots on the Atlantic and the Gulf as well. As much as I love the desert, I'm so happy we still get to see the beaches in our travels.

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  4. Yes, I might have been questioning where exactly we are heading with this one. But you chose well. How sweet to have an ocean view:) Yes, the two coasts are so vastly different. Sunrises are something many of us miss regularly...haha! Enjoy the granddaughters! You're still a long ways from home.

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    1. I do love sleeping late :-))) Yes we still have lots to see and six more states to cover, including the last two of the 48!

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  5. short driving days, sleeping late, reading, ocean viewing (either coast) beach drives, naps and eating out sound like perfection to me!

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    1. Absolutely!! I can't imagine any other retirement for us.

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  6. What a beautiful view you had! It's so nice to find a place where you can be happy just settling in for a few days without an agenda of sightseeing. I'm not used to seeing Tessa on the beach not doing a zoomie, LOL. The diner you found is definitely authentic...it looks very cool!

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  7. Sweet view. Nice to have some down days.

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