photography

Tom’s Cove Park on Chincoteague Island, Virginia

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Fishing piers at the park

Fishing piers at the park

Tom’s Cove Park is one of two large RV parks on Chincoteague Island on Virginia’s Atlantic shore. The RV park was our stopping point for a couple of days during our jaunt up and down the Delmarva Penninsula.

The park is easy to get to, just turn left on the main street when you cross the bridge at the end of the causeway leading to the island. There will be a nice drive along the inner waterway and you will see the signs to the park.

The park has over 900 sites with about half being seasonal rigs. There are sites for tents as well as the big rigs and everything inbetween. They offer free WiFi which actually provided a strong connection. The cable TV was available at our site, but it was poor quality.

Sher getting a little computer work done

Sher getting a little computer work done

Restrooms and dump stations are scattered around the park, although there are plenty of full hook up sites as well. The store/registration office is very large and stocks a bit of everything from food to power cords to bait.

The water is close and several private fishing and crabbing docks will make this a delightful place to wet a line or set the crabbing pots if you are so inclined. There is also a boat ramp and marina on the property.

Working lighthouse you can see after dark from the park

Working lighthouse you can see after dark from the park

Camp store/registration

Camp store/registration

Take a drive through the park and check out which site you want. This is a suggestion I would make. Had we done that before we registered we probably would have picked a different site. There is quite the selection of sites in the park. Staff are friendly, fellow campers are friendly and there is also a nice pool with a lifeguard on duty.

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This camper is ready to fish!

The large swimming pool

The large swimming pool

Rates are moderate to high, so pick and choose what you want in your site: full or partial hook-ups, 30 or 50 amp, cable TV or not, etc. All in all it is a nice, clean, safe park albeit on the high price side. Click here for the park Website.

Beautiful waterfall and Nature Preserve

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20150522_134618 (2)Traveling in the Columbus and Dublin, Ohio area? There is a little gem of a nature park that you really should see. Nestled in a ravine running into the Scioto River in Dublin, Ohio you will find a stunning waterfall in a peaceful setting in the middle of the city. The Griggs Nature Preserve is part of the Columbus Parks system.

The small parking lot is located on the west side of the river on the south side of  Hayden Run Road east of Dublin Road. There is a trail head that immediately turns into a new, well constructed boardwalk trail. The steep steps lead down the ravine bank to a wide boardwalk with railings on both sides. The boardwalk follows the stream which may give you the chance to see some ducks and their families. Songbirds add to the vista of the pretty trees, wildflowers and other foliage.

The waterfall itself is at the end of the 1/4 mile long boardwalk. What a beautiful waterfall and pool! The rock outcroppings are stunnning to see and you wonder how did this falls come to be. It is hard to believe that this serene natural setting is surrounded by the bustling cities of Dublin and Columbus!

Words of caution: The steps leading down to the stream trail are very steep and long. It is easy going down, but the climb back up can be difficult. Plan accordingly. In addition, the parking lot is small and will require the use of your towed vehicle. Only a Class B will fit into the small parking lot.

We visited Ocean City Maryland

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IMG_3378Ocean City, Maryland claims to be the best resort city in the country, at least according to the welcome sign along Rt 50 as you enter the city. It is on the Atlantic coast. Sher and I were surprised at how built up this area was. Hotels, high rise condos, a boardwalk with blocks and blocks of stores, restaurants, mini golf courses and nightclubs.

Parking on the streets was impossible when we were there because of the volume of people! We drove to what is called the South Inlet and found a very pretty large beach and ocean view. The public lot had plenty of room so we parked there.

Boats were everywhere going from the marinas out to the ocean. The beach was not really that full. A cool breeze was coming off the water so it was comfortable to eat lunch in our motorhome with the windows open. This parking lot was not suitable for long coaches or trailers, however. Don’t try it with your fiver or diesel pusher!

Fishing from the sidewalk at the South Inlet parking lot

Fishing from the sidewalk at the South Inlet parking lot

 

A neat Coast Guard vessel heading out

A neat Coast Guard vessel heading out

 

Virginia’s Eastern Shore aka southern Delmarva

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Looking back towards Va Beach from the first tunnel island.

Looking back towards Va Beach from the first tunnel island.

Today we headed north from Virginia Beach across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnels to what is called the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The spit of land that forms the east side of Chesapeake Bay is also called Delmarva because it is made up of portions of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

The Chesapeake Bridge Tunnel was amazing to cross. This is a toll bridge: it cost us $19 in toll one way for our motorhome. There are actually two tunnels and miles of bridges crossing the water where the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay meet. There are two bridges wth two lanes each direction merging into two way traffic in the tunnels. It has been called one of the engineering marvels of the world. I have to say the construction of the thousands of concrete piers supporting the road decks is a marvel to see.

The trip north up Highway 13 this morning was quite an eye opener. The rural nature of the area was immediately obvious. There were huge wheat and corn fields as well as lots of smaller fruit and vegatable plots. Both Purdue and Tyson had massive chicken processing plants and there were many farms that had chicken finishing buildings.

We checked out a few different campgrounds on our way and have ended up in Tom’s Cove Park campground on Chincoteague Island, Virginia. We’ll probably be here a day or two. It is hot this afternoon so we will take a walk down to the water later when things cool off a bit.

There are supposed to be wild ponies on this island somewhere. We’ll do some looking into them while we are here.

Lighthouse at Fort Story as seen from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel

Lighthouse at Fort Story as seen from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel

 

 

Fishing pier at the restaurant stop on the bridge

Fishing pier at the restaurant stop on the bridge

Our coach parked at a "Scenic viewpoint" on Fishermans Island National Wildlife Preserve just at landfall from the CBBT

Our coach parked at a “Scenic viewpoint” on Fishermans Island National Wildlife Preserve just at landfall from the CBBT

Hit the Virginia Beach beach

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Surf was too high here to swim

Surf was too high here to swim

We made a quick trip to the Coatan Beach south of the main drag next to the boardwalk. The surf was so heavy here that no swimming was allowed, only surfing. Swimming was allowed further north up the shore line.

We also drove up the strip and were surprised at all of the new stores and hotels that have been constructed since we were here last a couple of years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

A few surfers enjoying the waves

A few surfers enjoying the waves

The remains of the historic Starr Piano and Gennett Recording studio

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The origianl Genett Parrot logo still seen on the wall of the remaining brick building

The origianl Genett Parrot logo still seen on the wall of the remaining brick building

Richmond Indiana is a very history filled town on the Ohio-Indiana border in the central part of the state. Both I-70 and Historic US 40 run through Richmond. One of the historic sites in Richmond is the remains of the old Starr Piano manufacturing plants and the Genett Recording studios.

Starr made high end pianos beginning in the 1870’s. The remaining Starr pianos are highly sought after by collectors and musicins alike. The Gennett recordng Studos were in business from 1920 to 1934. The records were made in a primitive concrete and brick building with little acoustical features.

Legend says that an Oriental rug from the Gennett mansion was used as a wall hanging to deaden the echo sounds during the recording sessions.

Louis Armstrong honored on the sidewalk next to the remains of the old recording studio. There are many musicians so honored.

Louis Armstrong honored on the sidewalk next to the remains of the old recording studio. There are many musicians so honored.

Many famous musicians of the times got their first recordings made at Gennett. Hoagy Carmicheal’s big band recorded there. Louis Armstrong got his start in the Gennett studio. The studio was known as the first one to record jazz, blues, country and gospel genres. The Great Depression signaled the end of Genett Records as it did many other record companies of the times.

The remaining portion of the brick factory now has a modern steel structure and metal roof system. Ths building is used for concerts and other civic events.

When in Richmond be sure to seek out the old Starr Piano buliding. You just might hear echos of music from the past. Read more at the Starr Gennett Foundation website.

The remaining structure from what used to be a huge manufacturing complex on the White River in Richmond.

The remaining structure from what used to be a huge manufacturing complex on the White River in Richmond.

The remaining smoke stack from the Starr Piano factory.

The remaining smoke stack from the Starr Piano factory.

A different perspective of the old factory

A different perspective of the old factory

1916 era monument to National Road “modern imporvements” in Ohio

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Photo on the Eagles Nest historic marker showing travel on the National Highway

Photo on the Eagles Nest historic marker showing travel on the National Highway

The Eagles Nest monument on the National Road (US 40) was erected around 1916 after a 29 mile stretch of the then umimproved and often nearly impassable road was replaced with concrete. The stretch of highway ran from Zanesville to Hebron.

The monument is a large granite rock with some interesting inscriptions carved into the surface. The photos show some of the details of the inscriptions, including a Conestoga wagon and mileage to Cumberland, Maryland, the starting point of the road.

The day we stopped here the conditions were very muddy and wet. What a reminder of some of the early muddy conditions that the early travelors faced as they traveled across country.

 

The Eagles Nest monument

The Eagles Nest monument

Conestoga wagon etched into the granite

Conestoga wagon etched into the granite

You are 220 miles from the start of the National Road in Cumberland, MD.

You are 220 miles from the start of the National Road in Cumberland, MD.

A German WWII Buzz Bomb in Greencastle, Indiana??

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As Sher and I were driving west on the National Road (aka US 40) I about drove off the street when we went through Greencastle, a town west of Indianapolis. There mounted on a large concrete “V” shaped base was one of the infamous WWII German terror weapons: a V1 Buzz Bomb. This flying bomb was the first ‘cruise missle’.

Complete with accurate paint colors is the Buzz Bomb on the town square in Greencastle

Complete with accurate paint colors is the Buzz Bomb on the town square in Greencastle

I recognized it immediately and I’m sure I startled Sher when I said “What the heck is that doing here?”

It turns out that the Greencastle requested this relic for the monument they erected to honor those from their county (Putnam) who gave their lives in WWII. There is, according to the plaque, only one other V1 in the states and it is at the Smithsonian in DC.

No Sherman tank or artillery piece for Greencastle. No they have one of the rarest of artifacts from WWII as their memorial. Wow.

Another view

Another view

From the rear

From the rear

The story of the Greencastle V1

The story of the Greencastle V1

We took Anheuser-Busch brewery tour in St Louis

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Mash tank in the brew house. The production areas were not only spotless, but the building interior painted and beautiful.

Mash tank in the brew house. The production areas were not only spotless, but the building interior painted and beautiful.

Just now Sher and I took the free tour of the Anheuser-Busch brewery, home of Budweiser beer. We were able to park in the designated tour parking lot. We had time to visit the welcome center and gift shop before our tour started after a short 20 minute wait.

This tour is just amazing. Two tour guides narrated the tour with mic’s so you could easily hear. It takes about 50 minutes and does require a lot of walking. The first stop is the Budweiser Clydesdale stable. Talk about pampered animals!

The tour will give you a concise history of the company and you see the actual brewing vats and learn the brewing procedures as well. It was striking how big the facility is and how much beer is brewed there each year.  Hope you enjoy the pictures below!

Storyboard of the brewing process. We got a sample of Bud Lite at this stop.

Storyboard of the brewing process. We got a sample of Bud Lite at this stop.

Luke, one of the Budweiser Clydesdales in rotation to pull the famous Budweiser wagons

Luke, one of the Budweiser Clydesdales in rotation to pull the famous Budweiser wagons

One of four Budweiser wagons in the stable rotundra

One of four Budweiser wagons in the stable rotundra

Beechwood aging tanks, the last step before final filtering and packaging. Each tank holds 3600 barrels of beer!

Beechwood aging tanks, the last step before final filtering and packaging. Each tank holds 3600 barrels of beer!

Exterior of the Brew House, built in 1891 - 1892.

Exterior of the Brew House, built in 1891 – 1892.