We started our Virginia visit by spending a week at Aaron's Lake House. Aaron invited our friends Bob and Kathy Loomis to join us and we were glad he did. We had a great time with lots of good food, including a Porchetta, Aaron brought back from a visit to his home town of Hibbing, Minnesota. We were able to get in a few days of birding and visit the local Buggs Island Brewery. But mainly it was just sitting on the front porch relaxing and watching the birds come to the feeders and other wildlife that walked by.
We then moved to Virginia Beach for the next four weeks, and what a whirlwind four weeks it was. We started off by taking Brooks, Will and Michael Nopper to lunch. Brooks was Josie's first charge as a nanny. He was off the next day to Washington DC for his summer internship so we wanted to see him before he left. However a few weeks later we ran into him and his dad Don at a local watering hole while out with Leon and Laura Hoots. We also ran into Nancy and Diane who I taught with for many years. The next day while attending Brooks and Will's graduation party I was fortunate to see Jennifer, Linda, Ruthie and Heather who I once taught with. On another day we visited with Bob and Kathy's daughters Virginia and Katie and Josie was able to play with Virginia's one year old twin daughters, Ann and Mary. We were also able to catch up with Shannon and Wick Townsend who live right across the street from the Park. Josie used to watch their children and we also watched their dog Mocha, the sweetest dog in the world.
It seemed that we were always eating during our visit. We had a huge crab feast with our friends Jerri and Bob Howe, who just happen to be the Camp Hosts at First Landing State Park where we were staying. We were joined by Aaron, and John, an Lindsey. who work with Aaron. John was one of my students at Cox High School, great seeing an ex-student doing well. We ordered a bushel of crabs and had so many left over everyone was able to take home a few for a second evening of deliciousness. Leon and Laura suggested we try a new restaurant in town so we met them there one night for dinner. We also had dinner one evening with our old friends Steve and Linda White but forgot to take a picture. While I was in DC visiting Missy, Josie meet Bob and Kathy at Bay Local for lunch. Josie had not had enough crab yet and ordered the crab cakes. I had a nice lunch and visit with Bonnie who I taught with for many years. We were joined by our college friend Dee who also taught Marketing and is still going strong teaching at Old Dominion University. Later that evening Bob and I met Aaron at Smartmouth Brewery before going to a Tides Baseball game.
I met Aaron and the group from his work place at the Boogaloo Bayou Festival in Norfork one afternoon and we pigged out on crayfish and other Cajun delights. I also tried my first deep fried Oreo. It was much better than I had expected it to be.
The next day Aaron and I drove up to Washington DC and met Missy, who now works in the city. We visited her very nice apartment and then took my first Uber ride over to Nationals park for a game. It was UVA Day at the park and we had a great time meeting many of Missy's college friends before, during and after the game, which the Nats won 18 to 4 over the Reds.
Of course it would not be a complete visit back to Virginia without playing golf with the home boys. I may have over done it a bit on June 21st, the Summer Solstices, by joining Hutch and his son-in-law Jon while they played golf from sunrise to sunset. They started out playing in the rain but were able to finish 65 holes, while I played 51 with them after the rain stopped. We also were able to get out for regular 18 holes rounds. Sure was great playing with Tommy Fisher, Leon Hoots, Leon Profit, John Crell and Mike Weirich.
We had to see a few baseball games while in town and we met the gang twice for Norfolk Tides games. Aaron and I even drove over to Hampton one evening to see a Peninsula Pilots College Summer League game at the historic War Memorial Park.
We left First Landing State park and drove back to Aaron's lake house for the long Fourth Of July Weekend. Aaron was gracious enough to let us park the RV in his driveway for 10 days. Missy joined us after taking the train down from DC. We started off by celebrating at the local Buggs Island Brewery and then eating raw oysters for dinner. Everyone worked hard at shucking the tasty Lynnhaven and Seaside oysters. The next day we drove over to Danville, Virginia for an Appalachian League game between the Braves and the Asheville Tourists. Before the game we visited the Two Witches Brewery and after the game hit the Ballad Brewery. On Monday we played the local Kinderton Golf Course and finished the day with a cookout, with Chef Decker manning the grill. We capped the night off with Chocolate Cake Shooters and games of Mexican train. On the Fourth Aaron used the left over oysters and made an absolutely delicious oyster stew. It was a great long holiday weekend.
After the long holiday weekend we left the RV in Aaron's Lake House driveway and drove the Jeep back to Virginia Beach. We stayed at the Haddad house while they were in Chicago for their oldest son Josh's wedding. Josie flew to Chicago on Friday for the wedding, while I pet sat their two dogs, one cat and a rabbit. The hotel in Chicago had a great view of the Navy Pier and the giant Ferris wheel. The whole group had loads of fun at the beautiful back yard wedding. Eli wore his "Body By Bacon" T shirt that Josie gave home for his birthday and Livi (Olive Oyl) is a cute as ever.
I was able to get in another round of golf with the guys and went out one evening with Leon and Laura to the Pier Cafe and Commonwealth Brewery. The next afternoon I stopped by Famous Uncle Al,s Hot Dogs to see my old friend Uncle Al. It was great to touch base with him. On the last night in town Hutch and Lynn had a nice dinner for me with all of the gang attending. It is hard to believe but I have known these four guys for a combined total of 122 years. Great friends and good people!
On Sunday I met Josie and the whole Haddad clan at the airport as they arrived from Chicago. We drove out to the lake house to pick up the RV and were surprised by Aaron, who had a great meal waiting for us.
On Sunday I met Josie and the whole Haddad clan at the airport as they arrived from Chicago. We drove out to the lake house to pick up the RV and were surprised by Aaron, who had a great meal waiting for us.
We are so blessed to have so many great friends back in Virginia. We miss them when we are on the road but when we get back it is as if we had never left. We are now in Michigan for two weeks.
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