Post Covid Road Tripping without the Motorhome!

 Clem is ready to go home.  He said, however, he would like to stop at the Golf Hall of Fame, and then, since it’s a way yet, to spend another night or two in St Augustine.  Since we have been to St Augustine several times, I suggested Cocoa Beach, where I remember a cute downtown with lots of shops to explore.  I was definitely up for that!  We stopped to get gas at a station across from the hotel, and I had yet another fortunate little surprise!  I always check for attractions when planning a trip, or when happenstance takes us somewhere, which it had when we stayed the night in Santee, SC.  Outside of Nature tours, which in this weather we are not doing, there were few, and I didn’t want to push my luck with an antique place, or  super store!  But, turns out, the superstore was at the gas station!  So in I go, while he fills the tank! A huge store filled with beach and lake house signs and doo dads, tons of fireworks, some basic groce...

  The next morning we went to the train museum, located downtown in the old train depot, and had fun not only  admiring the two long layouts, but chatting with a sweet big bellied elf of a man with bright red cheeks , wearing a big smile and a bright pink shirt.  His accent was so strong, we had to strain to understand, but enjoyed him giving us a bit of information about the layouts.  This one, he pointed, was for the kids, the other one is for the big kids! It represented the town’s history, and he said the little ones don’t care about that one!  This quarry was an unusual feature, but is apparently significant in the history of South Hill.  What every boy wanted for Christmas. Old Lionel O gauge cars, many with donors names attached, were on view in cases.  A few train related antiques were along the walls, and I loved this folding travel clock with about a 6 inch wooden case!  Working Ferris wheel on hillside. the UFO is to the upper left of i...

 Monday, with no particular plans in mind except to try to avoid Washington traffic, and just put a bit of mileage on, we set out along a path to use the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel which David had told us was so neat. He was not wrong!  As we got closer, the estimated time seemed off, as we saw signs indicating the distance to the bridge, and then to Norfolk on the other side. Can it be?  Indeed it was! The marvel of engineering spans 92,848 feet, 17.6 miles, and starts as a bridge, drops to tunnel, back to bridge, then tunnel, then bridge again!  We didn’t get any photos worth keeping, so I took some from the internet to include. I’m actually glad I had not seen the last one before we made the trip across! Built in 1964, taking 4 years to construct, and the stats and construction process are incredible!  The bridge apparently has its own Facebook page and fans!  Obviously not my photo!  I can’t imagine how deep the tunnel needs to be to allow that s...

The previous  evening while doing a bit of research, I found one of the oddities I am so fond of seeing along the route, in addition to the historic sites, and though I was a bit apprehensive about mentioning it to Clem, I was delighted when he agreed we should go see it!  I had also seen an unusual sculpture as we passed on the way to Strawberry Bank, and it was on the route, so we could see both in the same direction.  The Museum of Dumb Guy Stuff is only open when the two guys decide to hang the open flag, but we decided to take our chances!  Started by a guy who converts  action figures, who found a like minded friend known for "kit bashing" train layouts, and the two started collaborating on projects in the basement, creating dioramas that give context to their creations. Kitbashing, I found out, is taking a model, and building it the way you want to.   On the way, we stopped at the Sculpture I had noticed on the way to dinner, and it marked  the ...