Grand American Tour

Saturday 9/23 We leave the Outer Banks in the morning after passing by a huge white dune. We cross over the water and follow SR 64 towards Raleigh where we catch I-85 and I-40 towards Ashville NC. The way goes through rolling hills, lots of forest and unfortunately heavy rain – but this was the last rain for a long time. When we arrived Ashville it was around 9PM. All we got was a room at a quality Inn (with $135, the most expensive Quality Inn on that trip). We had dinner down town at a nice little street restaurant, the New French Bar which was awesome. This town rocks. We leave around midnight and the town is still filled with people walking the streets and going from one pub to the next. There is still live music and the average age seem to be barely 21. Ashville is known for hospitals and recreation – but down town is a hip place for young people like we haven’t seen before.

Friday 9/22 We stayed at the sea ranch, left the windows open and sleep with the sounds of ever breaking waves. We spend the next day on the outer banks and simply enjoy the beach and Atlantic Ocean. We had dinner at the pelican which was the first time on the whole trip we had a really bad experience with the food – not recommended.

Thursday 9/21 After a great breakfast in the Golf Club we tour Colonial Williamsburg. We are so happy that we decided to stay here. There was so much to see that it would definitely not fit in the blog but we will describe the details later in the book. One of the most interesting take away for me was the fact that not only people live here to demonstrate the life from back then but also build everything with the tools and in the traditions from the 1600s – and also teach others those techniques like to build wagons or wheels. That way not only the houses and many artifacts but also craftsmen’s techniques are preserved for the future. In the afternoon we drive further towards Virginia Beach, stay there for a picnic and then take 168 to the Outer Banks where we stay in the Sea Ranch. Thanks to the suggestion from our friend Kurt Keese we decided to do a little detour and have 2 days at the Outer Banks. It is a beautiful place south of Virginia Beach.

Wednesday 9/20 We are leaving the “Flag House” to bring our car to the Jeep dealer. We return later for breakfast. Howard, who run’s the Inn told us a bid more about his business as interim manager and we had a great morning together with Allan and Ilene another guest couple from Philadelphia. We depart from a couple of new friends. We go onto SR 311 towards York Town where we tried to catch a sunset sail tour. But as we approach York Town we just couldn’t even find the town or the harbor. No signage. We turn around and go back to Williamsburg. What a need little town. We decided to stay in the Williamsburg Inn right at the “Colonial Williamsburg” the old town with all the restored houses and people dressing in the cloth from the 1600s. We dine in the “Kings Arm”. An excellent dinner with Duck and vegetable prepared like back then – very interesting and really good.

Tuesday 9/19 Due to the repair of the sun roof, we stay one more day in Annapolis. In the morning we see one of the tall ships leaving the harbor. They ship get’s pushed from the pier – sets sail and off it goes. No motor and just a light breeze. A wonderful picture. Walking by the harbor and seeing all those great sail boats is difficult. Not only because we are sailors and our ship is in California but also because the idea of doing a large tour along the US coast is shaping up. Oh well – there is so much to see. We very much enjoy the day and just hang out and relax. Annapolis moved to the top of our list of places to go for vacation.

Monday 9/18 Today we drive up to Washington. We enter the city via SR 50 and sure enough as we come in town we see the prominent and beautiful Capitol. It is much more impressive as any of the pictures we saw suggested. The city is very busy with preparing for a big event next weekend and therefore many roads are closed. We walk to the Capitol building and later drive down to the White House. So here is made world politics. It is impressive. On our way back to Annapolis, all of a sudden our glass sunroof broke in thousand pieces. We went to a local Jeep dealer and ordered a new one. This also causes us to stay 2 more days here – but honestly: we love to stay. So far we made close to 1,000 pictures.

Sunday 9/17 We just relax in Annapolis. The first day after about a week of rain with all day sun and blue skies. Annapolis is really vacation. A cute town with one restaurant after the other, all with outside tables and service. It is a perfect September day, 78F low humidity and a very lively vacation town. Also a good day to update our diary while hanging out at the porch, watching sailors and their girl friends come and go. Here are a bunch of nice restaurants – but the insiders tip was Phillips. And yes – it was a perfect dinner. We stay in the Flag House, which is a very nice Bed & Breakfast run be equally nice people. The Inn keepers are on vacation and Howard and his wife are perfect hosts.