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<\/a><\/p>\nUsually we’ve tried to make this trip a couple of times a year, but I realized that our last stay at the beach had been in June 2017.\u00a0 We were long<\/em> overdue!<\/p>\n We stopped just west of Richmond to visit with one of Wayne’s brothers for a while.\u00a0 Then, after going around Richmond on I-64 and 295, we continued our eastward trek on scenic Rt. 5.<\/p>\n While it’s a much slower way to get to the ocean, we’ve always enjoyed how the road closely parallels the James River.\u00a0 As usual when we take this route, we stopped at Lawrence Lewis, Jr. Park<\/a>\u00a0near Charles City, VA.<\/p>\n After days and days of heavy rain, the river was high, fast-flowing and muddy.<\/p>\n The temperature was in the upper 40s with a steady breeze, so we spent a few minute scanning the sky and surrounding trees for Bald Eagles (which we’ve seen there several times), then hopped back in the car.<\/p>\n On the way back to the main road, a Bald Eagle flew over the car and we were able to snap a quick picture.\u00a0 Nice!<\/p>\n We arrived at the Jamestown-Scotland ferry a little after 1:00 pm and had to wait 10-15 minutes on the bridge for the ferry to arrive.\u00a0 Crossing the James this way is another favorite thing about taking this route!<\/p>\n While it was a little warmer, it was really windy<\/em>!<\/p>\n After crossing the James, this route takes us through Surry, Smithfield, and other small towns before we finally arrive in Virginia Beach.\u00a0 Check-in time at the hotel was 4 pm, and since we were there a little early we decided to go directly to First Landing State Park–the part that you enter from 64th Street in Virginia Beach.\u00a0 It’s absolutely one of my favorite places, and as the sun dropped lower the sky, the light became magical…<\/p>\n Such a beautiful evening!<\/p>\n Sometimes we see dozens and dozens of large birds, but this time there were very few.\u00a0 I spotted a hawk in a tree, but the camera we were using didn’t have a zoom powerful enough to get a good picture.<\/p>\n We then saw some sort of heron in a tree.\u00a0 It appeared darker in color than a Great Blue Heron, but it’s possible it was a juvenile.<\/p>\n It was almost dark by the time we left the park, and we decided to go get dinner before checking in at the hotel.\u00a0 While we did<\/em> miss seeing the full moon rise over the ocean, eating at Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant<\/a> is always a special treat!<\/p>\n It was one of those nights that we completely skipped the salads and vegetables and went straight for the seafood–especially the crab legs!\u00a0 Absolutely delicious!<\/p>\n We finally went to the hotel, checked in, then bundled up and walked along the boardwalk.\u00a0 The moon over the ocean was still beautiful, and the next morning was beyond<\/em> beautiful….<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n