Road Journal: Colonial Virginia and Newport News

This posting is actually a bit overdue. This trip was made on 08/02- 08/03. Wow, okay, so not as overdue as I thought. When spending long days on the road, I feel like I enter a time space continuum of sorts at times. Anyhow, moving on.


So heres the format I think Im going to follow:

8/2-8/3/10
Charlotte, NC- Newport News, VA


Audiobook: Joe Hill 20th Century Ghosts. Actually do recommend this. Some really good oddball stories in here. A few of which actually had my pulse going more than most. Of course I was on quite a few long dark country roads. Combine that with the fact that the narrator does a stellar job, although he often sounds like he has a sinus infection. Still. Worth the listen. Crazy back story- I was listening to an audiobook that had two short stories on it. The duo was titled Road Rage and one of the stories was a collab between Stephen King and this guy, Joe Hill. Id never heard of him before so I read the back piece on him and it said he had written the Ghosts collection. Went to the library to pick up an armload of fresh stuff and this one just happened to be sitting right in front of me. Couldnt resist as it seemed it was destiny.


Mental Soundtrack: This Land is Your Land (historic influence I suppose) combined with Freak Nasty's Da Dip. I blame a road sign. "DIP" Whats really odd is how they mixed together in my head. Went a little like: This land (alright now) is your land (Ahhh dip), this land (if you aint dippin) is my land (you must be trippin). Somehow it worked. Barely. It was on a continuous loop. Oh, and Kenny Rogers' The Gambler wove through my mind for no apparent reason. I started analyzing the song and realized that I think the narrator killed the gambler. For some really lousy advice and for drinking his 'last swallow' and smoking his cigarettes. Because at the end, the gambler is dead and he broke even. Maybe Im way off?


TRIP:
Once I delivered in Newport News at a big college that was in the process of renovation, I started to look around for something to occupy my time until I could get a return trip home. Started off by going to the Newport News Visitor Center which is right in front of a fantastic little nature park with historic markings, trails, water, and I believe deer feeders because there was a cluster of deer right next to the road. Accidentally deleted some pictures prematurely from my phone, but here are a couple from within the park:

I think the historical markers center mostly around the 1862 Campaign. The last one had a placard about it being Dam No.1. Honestly dont remember or know any other historical details. But the park was pretty.

The advice I had received from the super helpful woman inside the Newport News visitor center had me going two possible directions. Southward there was a museum she said Id enjoy that was an historical prison containing the likes of Jefferson Davis and had something to do with Edgar Allan Poe and his military career. Plus there was the coastline. Northward there was the History Trifecta: Jamestown, Yorktown, and Williamsburg. She suggested I take the Colonial Parkway which branched off right behind the visitor's center and meandered through all three locations. Plus it kept me close to the interstate if I needed to jump and run for another load. Sounded perfect to me, so I headed out.

If ever in the area, I do recommend the slight detour for the Colonial Parkway versus hanging onto I-64. There are multiple pull-offs with historical markers full of information that I had no idea about and unfortunately have completely forgotten since. History buffs will probably appreciate it though. The road is not for commercial vehicles, but was comfortable for my van. Speed limit remained around 45 and the traffic was light. The Parkway was tree lined and I would love to return when the leaves change.

In an effort to provide full disclosure, let me mention what I just now ran across. I was looking on the internet for a picture to replace another missing one of mine that showed a bridge along the Parkway. When I typed in "Colonial Parkway" in Google, I got something I didnt expect.

Colonial Parkway Killer

Apparently still on the loose. Now those ghost stories hit home even more. Im glad I didnt know this when I drove it. Not that it wouldve changed my path.

Okay, moving right along. Last few things I want to note: Williamsburg is WAY better than Yorktown if you have to choose. Alot of walking involved though. Jamestown costs money to get in to. Yorktown and Williamsburg both have trolleys or buses that will hit the major spots. I believe they are both free. All have visitor centers for more information.

And one last thought: NASA is everywhere. They are not just "Houston we have a problem" and 10-9-8...1 liftoff from Cape Canaveral. Nope. They are also in Alabama, Mississippi, and Virginia at least. They taunt me in nearly every state. (I was supposed to be an astronaut when I grew up).

Keep Right til next entry..