Ed and Midge Migrate South: Days 76-79 15-18 January 2016 Asheville NC to Cape May NJ

Day 76 15 January 2016 Asheville NC to Virginia Beach VA (421 miles)
So many miles, so much Interstate. Between the weather, the highway and the surrounding countryside, we didn't have much to excite us except making good time on good roads. We did see the potential for excitement. There were several long, downhill stretches and each stretch had several runaway-truck ramps. It would have been exciting to see one used. Disappointingly, we didn't even see signs that any had ever been used.

With little else to do, we used GasBuddy to check the best gas prices in Raleigh NC, 185 miles ahead.

Crossing from North Carolina to Virginia, about 2/3 of the way from Asheville to Virginia Beach.

The final approach to the motel in Virginia Beach got a bit gnarly, but we had a good stay at another Extended Stay America motel.

Day 77 16 January 2016 Virginia Beach VA to Chincoteague Island, VA (118 miles)

We headed northeast from our motel to reach the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

The bridge-tunnel spans the 17 miles across the mouth of Chesapeake Bay from Newport / Virginia Beach in the south to the Delmarva Peninsula in the north. There are two one-mile tunnels and the rest is bridge.

It was a bit weird to be driving on a road 8 miles from solid land.

View from Sea Gull Pier to the continuation of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, a mile away. A tunnel connects the two parts of the bridge, allowing ships to pass through.

Entrance to the first tunnel at Sea Gull Pier.

Looking back at the bridge-tunnel from the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula (eastern shore of Virginia).

A civil defense truck at the bridge lookout near the northern end of the bridge-tunnel ... or perhaps it was a National Security Agency listening post.

Assateague Light at the Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island. The Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge is on Assateague Island. Chincoteague Island is developed and is to the west of the southern part of Assateague Island

We walked to the shore from the Woodland/Bivalve Trail. A house, about 200m off shore, was a reminder that these barrier islands are dynamic.

Sweet gum tree amidst loblolly pines

Sweet gum seed pods

Flock of snow geese

So, what do the locals do for fun?

Outer beach looking south

The Assateague ponies on the southern (Virginia) half of the island are owned and managed by the local fire department, which has a roundup, veterinarian check and cull every year. The ponies on the northern (Maryland) half receive little active management.

Red sky at night

Day 78 17 January 2016 Chincoteague (27 miles)

We may have had a red sky last night, but the there was little delight in sight the next morning.

We headed for the indoor display at the Refuge Visitor Center.

Web cam of an active eagle nest several hundred meters from the visitor center.

The web cam got us interested in spotting the nest from the ground. It's supposed to be out there somewhere, but we were never sure if we saw it.

Still, the snow had it's own beauty and we appreciated the contrast with yesterday's sunshine.

Buffleheads took the snowstorm in their stride.

By late afternoon we were ready for a restaurant meal. Many restaurants were closed for the winter, but Bill's was open.

We both had the fried oyster dinner.

Not far from the restaurant we saw a statue of Misty of Chincoteague. Midge remembers reading the book and several sequels.

Day 79 18 January 2016 Chincoteague Island VA to Cape May NJ (98 miles)
Same statue, another day! The storm passed in the night.

We drove up the Delmarva Peninsula, from Chincoteague VA, through Maryland to Lewes, Delaware. Now we have to cross Delaware Bay, but unlike Chesapeake Bay, there is no bridge across the mouth. Instead, there is a car ferry to take us to Cape May, New Jersey.

Our car was near the front. When we drove off the ferry, it was covered with frozen salt spray.

Coming in to Cape May

Cape May Wetlands State Natural Area. Yes, it was cold and windy!

Beach at Cape May

Houses and hotels at Cape May

The Grand Hotel. This isn't prime tourist season, so we got a room at a fraction of the summer price.

Relaxing at the indoor pool, Grand Hotel.

Day 80 19 January 2016 Cape May to Woodstown NJ (74 miles)
The alarm rang at 7:30. For a fancy hotel, the complimentary breakfast was a mediocre coffee and a cellophane-wrapped muffin. Before checking out, we checked CNN news, but it was mostly depressing stuff about the Republican and Democrat primaries.