Day 02 Too Many Freeways

Our dream run of having eight hours of uninterrupted sleep came to an abrupt end last night. Guess it was a combination of things. We pulled up late after trying to get accommodation in the beach area during peak summer season, driving further than expected and then catching up on a couple of days worth of photos and blog entries. Our bags needed to be repacked too into a more user friendly arrangement than we had for the trip over. This wasn't in error, it was just the way we had to have the bags to manage the weight. Now we have our mobile wardrobe, it's easier to allocate some space in the car for things we won't be using each day.

Clint managed about 2 hours sleep. He went to bed with a thought of something not yet done and that played on his mind. He was trying to be good and go back to sleep but that wasn't happening. About an hour later, he woke me. Well nothing left to do but make use of the free wifi at the motel and catch up on more reading. We also sent out our new local phone numbers to a few people for emergency contact. I walked to the 24 hour gas station almost next door and came back with a couple of coffees.

We talked with a couple of people from home using various texting apps until about 5:30 am when we decided to get underway a little after 6 am.

Our target for the day was about 600km - leaving Delaware and crossing Chesapeake Bay to Virginia to pick up the start oof the Blue Ridge Parkway. This run has been mostly highway work. The intesting feature for the morning was using the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel system to cross the bay. The structure starts out as a bridge then dips down into the water via a tunnel. Through the tunnel and up onto another bridge, more tunnel and bridge cand then dry land. It's an interesting way to solve the problem of whether a bridge is tall enough to fit a ship under.

We stopped off at the souvenier shop and heard over the radio that a hurricane has formed off the coast and that people should start their safety preparations. Hurricane Irene is expected on Friday. We intend to be a long way north of here on Friday. We'll be in Indianapolis by then.

This morning was our first real diner breakfast of the trip. We found Sage Diner and ordered each 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 pancakes and coffee. All up this cost us just under $11 including the gratuity. Admittedly, the bacon is the streaky tail and sliced paper thin but it was filling.

Coming into the Charlottesville area we decided it was time to have a break. We found a Starbucks in a little shopping centre. No sooner had we sat down to our coffee and snack when the building started to shake. The more experienced people among us were taking shelter in doorways and outside. We followed. I grabbed the iPad and my bag. Clint grabbed his phone and coffee. It took a few minutes for the pane of glass we were sitting near to stop shaking. We resumed our refreshments to the buzz of the topic of earthquake.

Report on earthquake

We finished off the day with a nice little drive along part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We've ridden this excellent road on the Wing before so it was nice to remember that three day ride for an hour or so.

Booked in to a motel a little earlier today, hoping for some sleep tonight. The Internet is a bit dodgy so only the one photo from the Parkway.