Sept. 9-11, 2017 - Mobjack, Cape Charles - the start of the Ott Adventure

Our adventure with the Otts began around 12:15 a.m. (yes, a.m.) when we picked them up at the Richmond airport.  After a few hours sleep, we turned in our rental car, filled two grocery carts at Walmart, and laid around the boat the rest of the day recuperating from our late night.  On Sunday, after 17 days at Zimmerman Marine, we finally started our engines and left to cross the Chesapeake to Cape Charles.  It was a little windy and the waves were hitting us on the side which caused a little tossing and turning, enough to dump quite a few things over in the boat.  We docked at Oyster Creek Marina around 2:00, rented a golf cart for the day, and headed into the town.  Cape Charles was incorporated in 1886.  It was a seafood and agricultural region.  Most of the neighborhoods had diverse building styles - Victorian, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, and Neoclassical along with about 11 Sears & Roebuck houses. The first stop, of course, was the Brown Dog Ice Cream shop, then to the Shanty for a pretty good dinner.  Monday we did an in-depth exploring of the town.  We had lunch at a cute drug store which included some good sandwiches and, of course, ice cream for dessert.  After touring the town on foot and by golf cart, we settled in for the night. 

Jack and George testing the dinghy

Let the fun begin!

Jack's new sweatshirt (yes it was a little cool that day)

An interesting sculpture

First stop - really good ice cream

Yum, yum

Pictures from the marina

We're out on the end

Getting ready for our day of exploring

First stop - Cape Charles Museum

The guide at the museum was extremely interesting - had lived

in Cape Charles all his life

Waiting for our ice cream

A cute sculpture on the beach

All the parking on the main street is back-in parking

(note the sign behind the golf cart)

St. Charles Catholic Church - built in 1886

This building was part of an 1891 Italianate brick row unusual for

its second floor brick window crowns and cornice

A view of part of the main street - the corner building was once the largest

building and department store on the Eastern Shore

One of the unique houses overlooking the Bay

The view from the back of the restaurant on the marina grounds

September 4-8, 2017 - Niceville and return

The trip from Mobile to Niceville took about two hours.  First stop was the driving range at Eglin, then the motel, then out to Bluewater to visit Jimmie and the "Loosers."  We had a nice dinner with Jack's mother that night.  After a doctor's appointment on Tuesday, Jack played golf while I ran errands and went to visit his sister.  We had a delicious dinner at her house that night.  After another doctor's appointment Wednesday, we loaded the car and headed back to Virginia.  Everyone was starting to get nervous about Irma and the stores had already run out of water.  We spent two days on the road traveling through some of the Alabama country side (some of the roads planned, some not), then it was back to the interstates through Atlanta (at rush hour), Greenville (for the night), then Charlotte, Raleigh, Richmond, and back to the boat.  The trip was pretty uneventful and not as scenic as the trip to Texas. We were anxious to get back and see how the installation of the new washer/dryer looked.  Friday was spent cleaning and getting ready for our next adventure with friends, George and Mary Jane. (Sorry, not many pictures this time.)

Stats on the trip:  Miles traveled - 3,360; nights in a motel - 5; meals in restaurants - too numerous to count (only two were memorable); spending time with our family - PRICELESS!!

A long caravan of fire and rescue trucks heading from Houston
 to Florida to get ready for Irma

We saw many boats and generators.  We gave them a big thumbs up as we passed.

Old washer/dryer

New one!!  Yeah!! 

September 1-4, 2017 - Second stop - Mobile

We left Susan's very early Friday morning for the ten hour trip to Mobile.  Kayla was supposed to have a cross-country meet that afternoon (for 9th graders), but unfortunately she injured her leg and did not run.  Saturday morning we were back at the park for the 10th, 11th, and 12th graders.  This was a pretty big meet which included Mobile County plus many out of state schools.  We had a lot of fun watching all the kids.  Jennifer, Kayla, and Katie all helped at the finish line. After their hard work, Jennifer treated us all to a pedicure.  Saturday night we celebrated Kayla's 14th birthday at Shogun (her favorite place).  As a surprise, Jennifer had invited one of her friends, Alexis, to join us.  Kayla and Alexis go to different high schools this year, so Kayla was thrilled when we walked into the restaurant and Alexis was there. It was a great evening and Kayla had a great time.  After church on Sunday, we went to lunch and then to see Cars 3.  We took Kayla to see the first Cars movie (and her first movie) when she was 4, so this is kind of a family tradition.  Since Sunday was Kayla's actual birthday, Jennifer prepared her favorite dinner that night followed by ice cream cake and presents.  While the girls were at church that morning, Jack mowed their yard for them (an additional birthday present for Kayla since it is her job).  After breakfast on Monday morning, it was time to say goodbye and head to Florida.  We had a great weekend with our girls.

Kayla and their friend Crystal getting ready to work

Waiting for the runners to finish

And the next group is off

Katie helped keep water cups full for the runners

The girls, plus Kayla's friend Alexis, taking a break

Jennifer and her friend, Crystal

After working the meet, a pedicure

Dinner at Shogun with Kayla's friend, Alexis

Two happy girls

Jack at work

Aug. 26-31, 2017 - Road Trip, Texas

While work was being done on the boat, we rented a car and left on a two week road trip.  First stop - Texas.  We spent three days driving through Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas and into Texas.  Our trip took us through the Great Smoky Mountains, which were absolutely beautiful.  We spent the first night in Bristol, Virginia, the second night in Little Rock, and into Arlington on Monday.  Monday-Thursday were spent visiting with my mother and sister.  One day was spent at a real shopping mall! We made a trip to the Stockyards one evening and had dinner at the Star Café with friends George and Mary Jane.  Mother, Susan and I spent a beautiful day at the Botanical Gardens of Fort Worth. The rest of the time was spent just visiting at mother's apartment.  Jack got in several rounds of golf.  Of course, no trip to Texas is complete without a great Mexican dinner at Chuy's.

The Smoky Mountains in the background

They're getting closer

Absolutely beautiful

Turn off to go to Charleston - where I was born

Lunch at Loretta Lynn's Kitchen

Bass Pro Shop in Memphis - it took over a shopping mall

Crossing the Mississippi River

Back in Texas again!

I found these t-shirts in St. Michaels -

fortunately my sister has a sense of humor

Our old house in Arlington

A rather choppy Lake Arlington

The Botanical Gardens of Fort Worth

Having a great day

More of the gardens

The end of a great evening and great visit

You can't go to Texas without stopping at Buc-ee's.