A Mini-Trip to Wachapreague, Virginia on the Eastern Shore....

December 27, 2015. The day started off looking grim, overcast with fog. On the road about 10:30 and by 11:00 the sky was blue and the sun out. Temperatures ranged in the 60s and 70s. Total miles about 140.

The original plan was to go to Onley, though decided to try the Island House Restaurant in Wachapreague.

Wachapreague is known as The little City by the Sea and Flounder Capital of the World. Our State tourist booklet states a population of 250, which seems a little low.

How was the day? Overall a terrific day. Weather was about perfect. Food was decent. Yes, my snaps could have been much better...but, that's the nature of my photography. Wish I had spent more time in Wachapreague photographing.

Note: The photos are not in any order and I've decided to post truly crappy ones as a reminder to myself to work harder on my photography.

Couldn't resist taking a snap of this cool truck...

Pat's crab bisque....

Dang, my flounder is out of focus. Pat had streamed shimp along with her crab bisque.

Thought there should be a snap to be had.... I didn't find one.

Taken from the top of the restaurant. The City is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a series of barrier islands.

The restaurant.

Jennifer, our waitress, who did an excellent job and even agreed on a photo.

Pat just started using a Ricoh with a fixed 28mm lens. We were discussing distortion when you get too close.

Last Sunday, I tried to find a picture here. Pat decided to give it a try.

Another crappy snap....

The village.... Taken from top of the restaurant.

For the folks at the XV Forum....

Have You Ever Felt as Though You Had to Get Out of Dodge? Well, Today Was One of Those Days.....

Will spare you the details. Decided I wanted to go somewhere and the easiest and one of the most pleasant places to go is the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Yes, just across the Bay Bridge Tunnel. And, I live about five minutes from the Tunnel. So, off to the ES headed for my first visit to Sting-Rays' restaurant. Temperature's in the high 40s and bright and sunny.

BTW: No longer attempting to organize the snaps on the page. However they are positioned, that's that....

Think I need to leave the trees alone as well as the B&W!

Have always wanted to stop at one of these places.....thought surely I can get a decent snap with all the bright colors. Cigarettes about $10 cheaper than across the water.

This is pretty crappy. But, I'm going to leave it as a reminder.

Flounder was OK....sort of. I'm sure the slaw was good but I just didn't like it. Sweet tea was great.

A little artsy? I like this one.

OK, here's the house I couldn't resist.

Thought this would be cool. It's not.

Mr. Rittenhouse built this motel in the '50s. It recently has been offered for sale as his children have no interest. Last year and this year both, I planned to spend a few days here and tour the Eastern Shore. There's a moral, here.

Just poked the camera up through the sunroof and took a shot. The motel is back in the woods. This motel always gotten great reviews.

The restaurant is  on the right side. They sell all kinds of stuff in the gift shop.

A Mini-Trip to Emporia, Virginia.....

Bright sunny day. Temperatures in the 40s. Emporia is about 100 miles primarily along a four-lane divided highway with most of the speeds 55mph. Little traffic once out of "our area." On the way back stopped briefly at a national cemetery and a small state park.
NOTE: Organizing the photos in order often doesn't work. Sooo, here they are.
BTW, yes, these snaps are ordinary, at best!

Located intersection I95 and VA 58.

I see these abandoned houses often and think they'd make a great photo! Well, for someone else, maybe. For me, hmmm..... Not so good.

Not any better in black and white.

Terrific fried chicken, wings were OK, mashed potatoes and green beans like mom used to make. Hidden under the wings is great pork BBQ.

Pat had wings, pork, potatoes, and green beans. And, several deserts.

 

A Delightful Mini-Trip To Smithfield, Virginia....

Speaking of the perfect day to get outta Dodge, this was it. The temperature was about 70 and off and on slightly overcast. We took the long way to Smithfield, going toward Suffolk, turned off of 58, then 460 to Wakefield, and then to Smithfield. Once out of Tidewater there was no traffic. As I'm posting a link to this on the Subaru XV forum, yes, there are two photos of my car. Could have posted this on my other blog, Blue Highways of Virginia...but, decided to post it here. Truly a great, enjoyable, and pleasant day.

Yes, as it says, Isle of Wight post office.

Smithfield, VA.

Smithfield, VA

Wakefield, VA

My meal, meatloaf.

Andre, our waiter, took this. Wow, am I getting old!

Pat sitting with, Ben.

Yes, Rory's Story Cubes, a great....not a game. A lot of fun.

Yes, I was playing around if you will, and Pat was a good sport. Doesn't take much to excite an old man. When she sees this I'm sure she will nix it!

Yes, a stereotypical tourist snap. Full frame.

Pat's meal. Tomato bisque and some kind of fancy something or other on flat bread.

Severely cropped. Smithfield, VA

Amazing art center. The artists are here and you can visit and watch them paint and such. The two ladies who were there to greet visitors and offer assistance were terrific.

Smithfield, VA

Andre, our waiter, did a great job.