Day 13 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

On day 13 of our 2025 summer adventure Gary, Sheryl, Milton & Gaby, Charlie, and I rode the trolley into Virginia Beach, for some time in the sun and the sand! On our trolley ride, we picked up a father and his two daughters on holiday from Quebec. His wife was on holiday with several of her girlfriends in the Bahamas. So, Dad decided to bring the girls to Virginia Beach. 

There are many murals in Virginia Beach, but these two hold a special place in my heart!

Our first stop was a short walk from the trolley stop at 21st Street. We were headed to the Naval Aviation Monument. The Naval Aviation Monument on 25th Street at the Oceanfront honors Virginia Beach's extensive aviation heritage. Commissioned by the Hampton Roads Squadron of the Association of Naval Aviation, the monument showcases three eras of naval aviation. 

The monument was designed by sculptor Michael Maiden who relied on his experience in the Army National Guard to bring his ideas to life. Maiden worked hard over a two year period to get every detail right, researching the subject in libraries and museums, visiting the aircraft carrier Midway in San Diego, and even hiring models to pose in vintage aviation clothing. 

The resulting bronze sculptures are lifelike and convincing, from the realistic sculpted WWII weapons and modern NAS Oceana flight gear down to Eugene Ely’s 1910 flight jacket and safety football helmet.

The first statue depicts Eugene Ely, the first aviator to fly off a ship's deck. 

Another scene shows a World War II pilot and his crew scramble out of a flight deck hatch. 

A male pilot, female pilot, and maintenance chief gathered around an unloaded bomb skid depicting the modern era of aviation. 

And finally, the scene of a wife greeting her pilot husband with their children reflects the joy of a Navy homecoming.

Some of us had walk walk on the sand!

And put our feet in the Atlantic Ocean! 

We walked to the Virginia Beach Pier, but we did not need to spend $4 per person to walk out on the pier. The ladies did hit the gift shop!

Since Milt is still recovering from his recent knee replacement, we took breaks on the benches!

We grabbed a trolley and headed to Chix on the Beach for lunch. We picked it for a spot on the beach with something for everyone! We learned that it is a sister restaurant to Waterman's (where we ate yesterday!)

In the 1950's a restaurant was opened—the Sun-N-Fun Bathhouse Grill, which stands in the very spot that Chix on the Beach stands today. The Year was 1977... Jimmy Carter was in office and polyester was on the upswing thanks to John Travolta's bold dance moves in "Saturday Night Fever." It was a scant decade after the "Summer of Love" and somewhere between the disco and shag scenes 

Laverne Burlage quietly opened his first restaurant—a modest little seafood shack with a killer view of the Atlantic ocean. Since opening its existing doors in 1977, Chix has seen many presidents in and out of office, fashion styles that change like the Atlantic breezes, and millions of locals and vacationers coming and going through its doors in four decades. Verne was no stranger to the restaurant industry. In the early 40's, his family had opened a restaurant right across from where Chix restaurant stands today, Called Chix—serving hamburgers, chicken and hot dogs. 

In 2015, Mike and Mariah Standing, owners of Virginia Beach's icon & Original Crush House, Waterman's Surfside Grille, purchased Chix from Laverne Burlage to give him some time to work on his retirement and love of travel, to enjoy his family and to fine tune his break dancing skills. The New Chix on the Beach is the perfect union of the old and the new—mixing yesterday's traditions and nearly 40 years of history with the best new recipes of today. 

We did a ton of walking today, so after lunch we grabbed the trolley back to the campground. 

Since it was not raining, I was able to get up close to the "Seahorse Cathedral" mural. 

It is even more impressive up close!

 

Amazing, just amazing!

The guys took a rest and the girls headed to Wal-Mart (because we don't want to grocery shop in DC!)

We enjoyed a happy hour by the rigs, with fly overs from the US Navy, before the rain came back!

Our stay here at Holiday Trav-L-Park has been awesome!

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!

Day 12 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

On day 12 of our 2025 summer adventure my morning started out with a delayed walk. I waited for a small break in the rain. I got two-miles in. The yard art here at the park, is amazing!

Gary, Sheryl, Milton & Gaby, Charlie, and I rode the trolley into Virginia Beach. It's a wet, rainy and windy day, but we will have fun!

Virginia Beach's Wave Trolleys are the best way to experience all that Virginia Beach has to offer. Due to the rain, we missed out on the opportunity to peruse the shops and restaurants along Atlantic Avenue. We could only see them from the vintage trolley. We did not sit in the open-air section of the trolley. The trolleys have a style that harkens back to the early 1900's passenger cable cars, but are fitted with modern accessibility features. 

We enjoyed our lunch at Waterman's Seaside Grille. We opted for a window side inside table. It was just too windy and wet to sit outside! The name comes from the definition of Waterman: An individual who lives, works, or thrives at sea. In fishing, surfing and other water endeavors to be called a Waterman is the greatest compliment ever paid to a venturer of the sea—as it implies "the greatest ever."

Owned & operated by the Standing Family, Waterman's has a long history that dates back to the 1960's. The building was first called the "Shake n' Burger & Beach Nut Gift Shop," a walk-up burger joint & souvenir shop. In 1981, Mike Sr. & Helen Standing rebuilt the restaurant as "Fogg's Seafood Company" & gave it it's start as an Oceanfront staple.  In 1996 when their son, Mike Jr., graduated from college, he entered the picture - creating the addition of "the Attic" nightclub & converting the restaurant to "Waterman's Beachwood Grill."  Then in early 2007, the building was expanded & a new concept emerged - "Waterman's Surfside Grille" - an upscale yet casual Oceanfront restaurant, with the Attic transformed into a special events venue, and the Beach Nut Gift Shop re-created...now a spot to find unique gifts & jewelry, located right inside the doors of Waterman's restaurant.

We found an extensive mural under the highway. I learned that it is called the Seahorse Cathedral painted underneath an overpass near Rudee Inlet. This mural features sea creatures painted in the style of stained glass. 

The girls walked around the park a bit upon our return on the trolley capturing more of the unique art!

We believe the rain will stop in the morning and we will venture out again to explore what we picked out today, while we were on the trolley!

Day 11 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

On day 11 of our 2025 summer adventure Gary, Sheryl, Milton & Gaby, Charlie, and I traveled from Pollocksville NC to Virginia Beach, VA our home for the next 3 nights!

My morning walk at the park included this guy, I think he was trying to pace me around Lake Georgia!

Yes, that is the name of the lake at the campground.

We spent last night in a great small campground in Pollockville NC. The Town of Pollocksville is a quiet agricultural town. Once prosperous for lumber milling, the Town of Pollocksville still maintains its rich architectural history nestled alongside the natural beauty of the Trent River. Pollocksville is a Bird Sanctuary and welcomes any aviaries. The Town boasts nearby fields of corn, soybean, and cotton, surrounded by the dense pines of the Hofmann Forest to the East, and the Croatan National Forest to the West. 

New Bern, NC, was the next town we came to. It boasts a rich history with several interesting facts. It's the second oldest town in the state, was the first capital of North Carolina, and is the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola. Additionally, it was the first city in America to celebrate George Washington's birthday and is home to over 150 sites on the National Register of Historic Places. The town was named after Christoph von Graffenried's hometown of Bern, Switzerland, which means "bear" in German. This has led to the "Bern Bear" being a symbol of the city, with over 108 creative Bear Town Bears appearing throughout the city. 

The Neuse River is unique for several reasons, including its status as the longest river entirely within North Carolina and its role as a critical habitat for various species, including threatened ones. It also features unusual geological formations like the Cliffs of the Neuse, a 100-foot canyon carved by the river on a coastal plain. Furthermore, the Neuse River is known for its significant role in North Carolina's fishing industry, serving as a spawning ground for many fish species. 

Tar River, east of Greenville NCThe Tar River is a nearly 200-mile long river that flows southeast beginning near the North Carolina/Virginia border through Greenville and Pitt County to the wide estuary of the Pamlico Sound separating the mainland from the Outer Banks and Atlantic Ocean. Though technically the same river, once you pass under the US Highway 17 bridge between Greenville and Little Washington, the Tar River becomes the more brackish Pamlico River as it then merges into the sound. The Tar River gets its name from North Carolina’s history as a naval stores colony, where our dense longleaf pine forests provided much of the tar, turpentine, and pitch needed for shipbuilding and transporting goods throughout the colonies and abroad. Like all coastal rivers, it is also due to this abundance of trees, and the tannins their leaves produce, combined with the stirring and movement of rich sediment during storms that the Tar River gets its brown color. 

Gary & Sheryl had an issue with their tow car on this leg of our adventure. The good news is they, the car and the RV are all good. All installed safety equipment worked perfectly. We have most of the repairs made, waiting on a couple more items to arrive tomorrow.

US 17 has many names that are evocative of its role: the Ocean Highway and the Historic Albemarle Tour Highway to name a couple. Originally, US 17 was intended as the North Carolina segment of Interstate 95. But eastern Carolina politicians, appalled by the idea of an asphalt superhighway cutting through their farmlands, vetoed the idea, and the Interstate was diverted further west. Regardless, millions of people travel US 17 each year. The fact that it is not an interstate is a blessing since many of the gems along the route are fairly well kept secrets. All you need is a tank of gas, a road map, and time to spare, and you can be on your way to discovering the charm and history of eastern Carolina via US 17.

We got off US 17 onto I-64 to head into Virginia Beach. We are spending 3 nights here at Holiday Trav-L-Park. We are next to Naval Air Station Oceana and we are enjoying the sound of freedom, very often!

Day 10 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

On day 10 of our 2025 summer adventure Gary & Sheryl, Milton & Gaby, Charlie, and I traveled from Myrtle Beach SC to Pollocksville NC.

We left Myrtle Beach in the rain and our planned stop to see a friend in Shallotte, NC was rained out! The drive was kind of grey and uneventful, but there is still something to learn!

Little River is a historic coastal town with a rich past and present. It's known for its fishing heritage, beautiful scenery, and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The town is the oldest in Horry County and one of the oldest in South Carolina, founded in 1732. It's also famous for its World Famous Blue Crab Festival and the Little River Shrimp Fest. 

We were just a few days too early for the 43rd Annual World Famous Blue Crab Festival, it is May 17 & 18 this year! What began in 1981 as a small waterfront gathering, the now World Famous Blue Crab Festival has grown into a premier event that draws visitors from all over. When the festival began, it’s main goal was to bring visitors to the historic waterfront in support of the local economy.

The SC / NC border on Route 17 is near Calabash. There is a nice Welcome to North Carolina sign. But no welcome center. Heading south, there is a large welcome center on the South Carolina side. 

We crossed the Cape Fear River a couple of times as it meanders its almost 200-mile-long course. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear. The river is formed at the confluence of the Haw River and the Deep River in the town of Moncure, North Carolina. Its river basin is the largest in the state at almost 10,000 square miles.

The river is the most industrialized river in North Carolina, lined with power plants, manufacturing plants, wastewater treatment plants, landfills, paper mills, and industrial agriculture.

We bypassed Wilmington on the Interstate 140. We passed by parts of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. It is where Charlie did some of his Infantry training here back in the late 60's and early 70's. It is a 246-square-mile United States military training facility in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Its 14 miles of beaches make the base a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports (Wilmington and Morehead City) allows for fast deployments of Marines.

The main base is supplemented by six satellite facilities: Marine Corps Air Station New River, Camp Geiger, Stone Bay, Courthouse Bay, Camp Johnson, and the Greater Sandy Run Training Area. Air Station New River is a helicopter and tilt-rotor base. In 1972, the airfield was named McCutcheon Field for General Keith B. McCutcheon, one of the fathers of Marine Corps helicopter aviation. Charlie was in Aviation when he was in the Marine Corps.

We ended our day at Magnolia Lane Campground and RV Resort. Our overnight stop, before we hit Virginia Beach tomorrow. We had nice pull thru sites, so none of us unhooked! We enjoyed a quite afternoon with friends! Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!

Day 9 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

What do you do on a projected rainy day in Myrtle Beach?

You walk at sunrise to avoid the impending rain. You enjoy all the nature you can see!

You enjoy breakfast outside with your friends, before the rain becomes more than spitting.

You sit under an awning catching up with friends from Texas.

When the rain let's up for a bit, y'all go for a walk on the beach. 

Some of us even put our feet in the water!

We walked the pier.

We sat in the BIG chair!

We talked to the fishermen.

We marveled at the majestic trees!

You enjoy lunch at the rigs. You huddle under an awning, as the rain grows stronger! They guys opt for some "down time." While the ladies get some shopping done!

You enjoy and quiet dinner in a rig and when the rain stops at 7pm, you take a drive to North Myrtle Beach to revisit some old hangouts!

You enjoy blackberry cobbler and ice cream as a night cap! I'd say it was a great rainy day in Myrtle Beach!

Stay tuned for more #TwoLaneAdventures

Day 8 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

 

On day 8 of our 2025 summer adventure Gary, Sheryl, Charlie and I traveled from Savannah GA to Myrtle Beach SC. Of course Sheryl and I got a walk in at the KOA. This park has at least 4 couples of swans and many Canadian Geese with gooselings. 

We took I-95 around Savannah to get back onto 17 after our fuel stop in Hardeeville SC. The Georgia and South Carolina border is the Savannah River. An interesting fact about this border. On June 29, 1977, an altercation between Georgia law enforcement officers and a South Carolina shrimp boat captain attracted national press and rekindled a controversy that would not be resolved until 1990.

South Carolina and Georgia disagreed over the exact location of the boundary in the lower Savannah River, as well as ownership of several islands in that region. At stake in this border dispute was not only tax dollars but also potentially millions of dollars in federal aid. The original boundaries for Carolina stretched as far south as the St. Mary’s River, in Florida. Georgia’s founding charter established the colony as bounding Savannah’s “northern stream” south to the Altamaha’s “southern stream.” At the end of the Seven Years’ War, the St. Mary’s River became Georgia’s southern boundary opposite the new British colony of East Florida.

Border controversies continued, and three commissioners from each state met in Beaufort on April 28, 1787. The Treaty of Beaufort guaranteed to South Carolina; and all of the islands in the Savannah River belonged to Georgia. Uncertainties remained, as the US Army Corps of Engineers and other organizations significantly altered the lower region of the Savannah River to ensure safe navigation for deep-draft vessels. As boundary questions continued between the two states, a 1922 U.S. Supreme Court ruling placed the line at the Savannah “midway between the main banks of the river.” On June 25, 1990, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of South Carolina and awarded ownership of most of the islands in the Savannah, adding three thousand acres of land and seven thousand acres of water to the Palmetto State.

We are in South Carolina now and we stop for gas at a Pilot Flying J on 17. We both pull in to get gas and there is a large gathering of people near the entrance. They look like a bus tour group. I pay for the gas and watch the pump as Charlie cleans the windows and checks the tow car. I notice a man taking pictures of our RV and car. I see Charlie talking to him and then a lady comes over and talks. Pretty soon Sheryl comes out of the store talking to this group of people, almost like the "pied piper" the group is following Sheryl. They are now talking to Sheryl near her rig. Gary is pumping the gas. I go over to give Sheryl something and the rig door is open and I start to go in, but there are people coming out ... almost this the clowns coming out of a clown car.... they just kept on coming! As Paul Harvey would say... the rest of the story ... They were from Paris, France on a bus tour from New York City to Key West. They had never seen RV's this big nor had they seen RVing towing cars! They were just fascinated! No one could say that the Americans at the Hardeeville Pilot were not friendly, accommodating and cordial to this group of visitors from France.

We got back onto US 17 heading north. Heading into Charleston we choose to avoid the downtown area and take the 526 around Charleston. We were lucky to see a military aircraft take off over our heads, from the Charleston Air Force Base. We did cross the Cooper River a bit north of Charleston Harbor. 

At the other end of Mount Pleasant the roadside sweetgrass basket stands are the most visible aspect of the Gullah/Geechee culture along US 17. The Hamlin community – a community of families who are descendants of slaves from area plantations, have stands along this "Seven-Mile" stretch known as the "Sweetgrass Basket Makers Highway." In 2006, the sweetgrass basket became South Carolina’s official state craft. 

If you drive through historic Georgetown SC, stop and enjoy the waterfront community. Easily accessible by land or sea. It is a beautiful hidden gem between Myrtle Beach and Charleston. Many more tree canopied streets to enjoy! By sea, this harbor is a great stopover along the Inter-coastal Waterway. You don't want to pass it by, you will be pleasantly surprised. As the 3rd oldest seaport in the country and is filled with history, charm and personality. In this harbor, you will be happy to find that a small town still exists. The people are warm, welcoming, and will treat you with their southern hospitality. The stores, restaurants and tours are locally owned and are not part of any big chain so you will get a real feel for this wonderful town. 

Pawley Island is known as one of the oldest summer resorts on the East Coast. The families of rice planters who owned plantations on the nearby rivers first settled Pawleys Island in the early 1700′s. Pawleys continues to be known for its shoeless, carefree, laid-back lifestyle, which includes crabbing in the adjacent creeks, fishing, the stories of ghosts, the rope hammocks and the unspoiled, unsophisticated, casual, delightful stretch of wide beach and sand dunes. 

You can tell we are getting closer to the big commercial beaches, we continue to see beach shops, golf carts for rent, bicycles, scooters for rent, chairs, umbrellas and cheap t-shirts. We took US 17 and enjoyed the stop and go of the traffic, not really! Myrtle Beach State Park is our home for the next few nights. I am ready to dip my toes in the ocean and walk the beach and see a sunrise! Our friends from Texas, Milt & Gaby, should arrive soon. But our first official visitor was a big ole raccoon!

Stay tuned tomorrow as we explore Myrtle Beach for a day! #TwoLaneAdventures