Norfolk - It's begining to feel like Christmas

[Kyle]I mentioned in the previous blog that Interstate 95 is the busiest (most traveled) in the United States. It wasn't actually too bad when we first joined it at five a.m., after leaving Andy and Robin's. By the time we crossed the border into Georgia (GA) a few hours later, we were starting what was to be a whole day of slow-and-go, and even occasionally stop-and-go traffic. At least we had pizza and sandwiches aboard to keep us from starving (haha!).

The drive North

When we finally exited the car with our creaky joints in Virginia Beach, it had been five hours and three minutes since our last fuel stop. The outside temperature was twenty degrees Fahrenheit (11°C) colder than when we had climbed in. Yeeesh! That's cold. First priority: find out where we packed our coats.

We spent a relaxed time with Liz, including plenty of card-playing and a girls' outing to watch the new Barbie movie

We spent our first few days in the area staying with Liz, one of Maryanne's good friends (they met when studying to be volunteer EMTs/Ambulance Medics). We had a good mix of quiet time with each other and a excursions out and about for variety. We also used Liz's place as a base for a few chores and outings of our own as well as a quiet place to get caught up on our backup of computer jobs (like blog writing). Maryanne got to take a side trip or two to catch up with other friends where possible.

My favorite evening with Liz was when we all went to the Botanical Gardens to see their Christmas lights. It sounds so banal, but it was really incredible. The staff there did an amazing job of lighting up the entire place like a, um, Christmas Tree. Actually, it was more of a whole Christmas forest. Even grumpy old me was bounding around like a kid who can't wait to see what's next. I kept having to remind myself to stay within sight of the group.

Christmas lights at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens was a treat

For our last week in Norfolk, we went to stay with Kate and Mark again. By this point, we have all known one another for half of our adult lives. They are the closest non-family family that we have and coming to their house to be in their company feels like the closest thing to coming home that two rolling stones like me and Maryanne can have without being out on the boat, bobbing around somewhere. To me, personally, I find their company to be the most rejuvenating of all and I look forward to visiting with great anticipation.

Of course, we had a great time. We crisscrossed the town, ate out a lot, repeatedly stayed up later than we all thought we would, and took in our own Christmas light show (not as good as the Botanic Gardens, but the company helped make up for it).

Mark helped me repair the last of the bear damage to our rental car and Kate took a day off to show us the area of Richmond where she grew up. It's very charming.

Christmas themed Doggy-Day-Care, and the beautifully decorated Cavalier Hotel

The Virginia Beach Boardwalk also had a drive through Holiday lights display (fun, but not as good as the Botanical Gardens)

We were happy to overdose on Christmas lighting displays - here are a few from the famous 43rd Street neighbourhood lights

On less busy days, we were more than happy to enjoy Kate's wonderful cooking (which I like a bit too much, but she is so good at it) and hang around having long talks about whatever comes up.

The pets even got comfortable enough around us that we would sometimes wake to find significant sections of the space at the foot of the bed had been claimed by one furball or another. The dog (Poppy) was the funniest. She would wedge herself into the slowly increasing valley on top of the comforter between me and Maryanne. Then she would wait patiently - sometimes for hours - before one or the other of us woke to see her giving a look that clearly said, "Okay, you can scratch me now."

I know it sounds corny, but as we were hugging them all goodbye, I was missing them already and looking forward to the next time we get back. Norfolk is the closest place we have that feels like a "home".