Day 5 – Cold, 27 degrees, but sunny and clear, 6:35 a.m. Got a fairly long drive ahead of us to make it from NJ to NC and have time to set-up at the campground before dark. But I have to wonder whether we should just start this blog all over again with this being the first day of the trip (since we went all the way back home again and started over), or maybe call this Trip 1-B? Anyway, got up and out in 90 minutes, heading over the Delaware Memorial Bridge (near Wilmington, DE) from NJ into DE (passing by the turn-off to the campground we stayed at just recently), then heading South into new territory, to the lower eastern shore of MD and crossing into Virginia, and across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge & Tunnel;
from Virginia Beach, VA West & South to North Carolina and the North River Campground, South of Shawboro, NC.
Nice day; we enjoyed the drive although the kitties did complain a bit. They were feeling confused and sick of being on the road at this point (they like new places as long as the vehicle is not moving – they hate bumpy roads and traffic). Got our first glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia before the Bridge & Tunnel, which is quite a feat (the tunnel). Amazing how they can build a tunnel under the water which goes on for many miles!
The Northern end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel. Amazing!
As we moved further South and away from the farmlands, there were more trees and we marveled how it must look when there’s more green on the trees in the height of Spring. Got off the Bridge & Tunnel, went thru Virginia Beach and skirted Norfolk; before we knew it we were in North Carolina. It felt like our adventure was really beginning.
We wondered how far North the alligators live and when we’d see our first one. Not in NC, I don’t think, but we’ll see……..it is swampy here in many places once you are out of the cities.
Got off the main drag in Northeastern NC and meandered on small country roads, working our way to the campground which was located in the middle of the North River Game Lands on a peninsula surrounded by the North River & the Pasquatank River which both flow into the Albemarle Sound. East of this peninsula is another smaller peninsula, and East of that are the Outer Banks of NC, best known for Cape Hatteras and South of that, Ocracoke Island. The whole area is surrounded by National Wildlife Refuges. We really, really like this area!
Arrived at the campground (Site #2) around 3:30 p.m. Set-up, let the cats out, opened the windows, and kicked back in the blue chairs overlooking the lake around 5 p.m. Gorgeous setting, private site on the lake, full hook-ups (electric, water, & sewer) and only 8 other vehicles in sight, all spaced evenly around the lake with several spaces between each one.
Site 2 at North River Campground in NC
What could be better! The beer & wine we were relaxing with? High today 75 degrees, sunny to partly cloudy (and NO bugs).