Waiting For Ava

There's an old saying repeated frequently by Tidewater residents: If you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes. Christmas Day was mild & sunny. December 26th was cold, with wind whipped rain blowing straight through you. Then sunny & mild again. Two nights ago it was 16 degrees. If 2008 is like past years, we can expect a week of beach weather in the middle of February. It rarely snows here, so the anticipation of it closes schools. Where exactly is "Tidewater"? It's the name used by the locals to describe the land mass encompassing Hampton & Newport News VA, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Portsmouth, south to the North Carolina line. For years progressive thinkers have tried to engineer a merger...to become one city, renamed "Tidewater". Doing so would bring many benefits to the area, not the least of which would be increased Federal funding. Unfortunately the years go by and not even the light rail envisioned for commuters from VA Beach to Norfolk has gotten off the ground. This area has yet another name..."Hampton Roads". In actuality, Hampton Roads is a body of water, but over the years people have referred to the combined cities as Hampton Roads.While waiting for Ava's birth, we've tried to follow a normal routine of shopping, cooking, running errands, working, etc. Danny is probably handling it the best, as you can see. "Don't worry! Be happy!" is his motto. Noel's due date was yesterday. She has a doctor's appointment Monday afternoon.

While we are waiting I should talk about Tidewater for those of you who don't know the area. The best way to describe it is "schizophrenic". In summary, "Tourist Tidewater", "Military Tidewater", "Old Guard Tidewater", and "Edgar Cayce Tidewater". If you are part of any one of these, you may not know much about the others...or care. "Tourist Tidewater" includes Colonial Williamsburg and that's good for an entire day, or two. Naturally "the Beach" (VA Beach) is a big draw. Families stay here & take day trips to Williamburg, Jamestown, Yorktown or the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Virginia Aquarium is 3 minutes from the resort area, "The Strip". Whale watching excursions, bird watching. If you visit in July, take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to Chincoteague for the annual pony penning as described in the children's book favorite "Misty of Chincoteague". The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, an engineering marvel, is one of the 7 man-made wonders of the world. That alone is worth the trip to the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Prior to the Bridge Tunnel's opening in 1964, you would have taken a ferry from Kiptopeke to South Hampton Roads. Crossing the Chesapeake Bay then was slow, but beautiful. An event to be savored. Speaking of savoring things, if you are wondering about the food in this part of the world...people who know good food describe this as a hot dog town. That said, there are a few restaurants of note. Ta-da! "Zoe's" VA Beach, "456 Fish" Norfolk, "Isla" VA Beach, and "Sonoma Wine Bar & Bistro" at VA Beach's Town Center, the designated downtown area newly created by popular demand. That's only half joking. VA Beach has never had a downtown until recently. If you wanted a downtown, you had to go to Norfolk or Richmond or, better yet, to Washington, DC. DC also lays claim to the closest NFL team, so if you like pro ball, you're in the wrong town. And what beaches do the residents use? One is pictured above. As a tourist, you'd never find it and the locals want to keep it that way. Part of First Landing State Park, it is known as "Oyster Beach". You reach it by taking 64th St. off Atlantic Avenue. Or if you drive 45 minutes south of the resort area, you can enjoy Sandbridge Beach, another local preference.

On to "Military Tidewater". It co-exists comfortably with the other lifestyles here. Military families often return here at retirement. All branches of the service are represented with a few notable standouts: Langley Air Force Base, Oceana Naval Air Station, Fort Eustis, NAS/NOB. When the 2005 BRAC Commission recommended moving the Master Jet Base from Oceana the locals who have complained for years about jet noise took a big gulp and reevaluated their position. Withdrawal of this major installation would cripple the economy, perhaps permanently. Growing up here during the Cold War, I recall that this was the number one target of a nuclear strike.

One of my favorite parts of the US is eastern North Carolina, specifically, the Outer Banks...a fragile chain of barrier islands which attracts hurricanes like a magnet. From Virginia Beach, take Rte. 168 or take the Currituck Ferry from Knotts Island to 168. Call 1-800-BY FERRY to verify the schedule. Knotts Island is south of VA Beach but in North Carolina. No other part of North Carolina can be reached from there by road. Most popular annual event? The Knotts Island Peach Festival. In 2008 it will be celebrated on Saturday, July 26th from 10AM-5PM. It's a surprise to most people to learn that peaches can be grown this far north. Knotts Island is an anomaly. Don't care for peaches? They also grow scuppernong grapes, apples, pears. Some of the fields are "pick-your-own", which children love. And for the adults? There are two vineyards. Wine tastings are held on Martin's Farm where you can picnic overlooking the water. Further south are the Outer Banks. There you can see wild ponies graze peacefully in Corolla. The names of the towns in the Outer Banks are enchanting: Nags Head, Duck, Wanchese, Kitty Hawk, Hatteras Island, Ocracoke Island. If you are looking for a place to kick back, look here. I'll try to give you a tour on the way to California.