Virginia Beach in April

For the second consecutive year, the old Dominion Cardinals began the camping season with a weekend outing to Virginia Beach, VA. Holiday Trav-L-Park offers excellent facilities and a comfortable campground. We could not have had better weather. We had 15 of 23 rigs in our membership attend. It was a good time and much fun.

Our weekend began Thursday, April 23. We wanted to beat Friday traffic and extend our time camping, if we were to drive 150+ miles to get there. It was a good decision. Traffic was no problem until we were within the Norfolk city limits. The trip through the tunnel was tense, as always. Mem called to advise us to take Exit 21 rather than Exit 22. Birds Neck Road is still under construction, as it was last year. Avoiding that road was another good decision.

We were not the only early arrivals, and by 5:00 PM we had a lively group for happy hour. When the sun went down, the temperature followed. Jackets and sweaters were retrieved and the party continued. The remaining rigs arrived during the day and evening on Friday. Several found traffic slow and arduous, but no major problems were reported.

Bike riding was popular during the camp out, both motor-powered and pedal-powered. It was an easy bike ride to the beach, and the motorcyclists took an extended ride on Saturday to North Carolina. If one was not riding somewhere, walking and sitting were also enjoyable pastimes. The first camp out is a great time to catch up on what has been happening since we last saw each other. Everyone appeared to enjoy themselves whether exercising or visiting.

By Saturday, we decided to stay over until Monday. Traffic on Friday can be bad, but Sunday traffic is much worse, especially on I-95 north. Besides, it is nice to watch others packing up and leaving on Sunday while knowing you have one more day. Thursday through Monday seems to be the best schedule for ODC weekends.

We are very appreciative and grateful for the help we received from Bill, Chuck and Larry on Sunday. They spent time and energy hooking up analog-to-digital converter boxes to our two coach TVs. This no small task; we could not have done it without their help. Now we have great digital reception with the bat-wing antenna.

Five rigs stayed until Monday. We had a community meal Sunday evening, and on Monday we formed a convoy for the trip north. We left the campground around 10:00 AM and encountered a major traffic accident within a few miles, Fortunately, our "lead dog", Chuck, was quick to take us on a detour around the accident. The convoy disbanded in the vicinity of Exit 104 on I-95. Several of us stopped for fuel, others kept going.

Our last stop was at Logan's in Fredericksburg for a steak. Parking is easy, and the food is usually good; it was again. We still had to unload the coach and park it in storage. We were done by 5:30 PM, and we enjoyed the evening in our easy chairs. It is good to be home again...for a few weeks.