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USA Becs 21st 2015
  • Walkabout AUS
  • Walkabout AUS

USA Becs 21st 2015

This time there will be no itinerary, nothing planned as such, but we'll spend a few weeks with Bec before she goes back on campus, then Sue and I will continue through the American Civil War areas. Then back for Bec's 21st in early September. Read more
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  • Walkabout AUSUSA Becs 21st 2015Walkabout AUS

    Norfolk Naval Base, Norfolk Virginia

    August 27, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    This base is home to the entire Atlantic Fleet and covers an area of six thousand five hundred acres, (yep, that's 6,500 acres).

    We decided to take the naval base tour and boy was it worth it, the base is a city within a city having some 21,000 civilian contracted employees, and around 48,000 military naval personnel.

    It has the worlds largest payroll at approximately $2.9B annually.

    You could get lost in here it is just so large, unfortunately what I was really hoping to see was one of the aircraft carriers but unfortunately there were none in port at the time as they were all deployed around the world.

    You truly understand the US military might and the allegiance it has with its personnel when you visit a place like this. The sailors are treated so well and have every conceivable special treatment splurged on them and its all totally at no charge to the navy people.

    It has its own commissary bigger than any Walmart in the country with everything you could possible imagine available to the sailors, and ALL TAX FREE. Bowling Alleys, 3 McDonalds, all the other food chain restaurants, 8 cinema movie complex, 3 gas stations, 4 totally equipped gymnasiums, the list just goes on and on forever.

    In actual fact the place is so busy, around 50,000 vehicles pass in and out of the 5 gate entrances every single day.

    If you ever get a chance to visit this place it has to go on to your agenda, wouldn't have missed it for the world.    Read more

  • Walkabout AUSUSA Becs 21st 2015Walkabout AUS

    Appomattox, Virginia. End of Civil War

    August 27, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    This very funny sounding name was the place where the last official battle took place and General Robert E Lee of the Confederacy surrendered to General Ulysses S Grant.

    After having 3 trains of supplies and food captured by the Union Army and their way blocked from escape to the west Lee had no further hope of reaching his other allies and armies in North Carolina and rather than see more indefinite bloodshed and lives lost, realised that surrender was going to be the only real way to expedite new peace and recreate unity of the nation.

    They met in the old Appomattox Courthouse for the signing of the surrender.    Read more

  • Walkabout AUSUSA Becs 21st 2015Walkabout AUS

    Mexican in Roanoke, Virginia

    August 28, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    We had a really nice time driving through the various valleys and mountain highways as we traversed through Virginia on our way to Roanoke.

    We chose here for our stopover tonight as it gave us a short run in the morning to the famous Blue Ridge Parkway. I have heard a lot about this highway through the Shenandoah Valley, and Sue has apparently been there before, some 40 years ago, so really looking forward to that run tomorrow up through the valley.

    Tonight was time for some spicy tastes of Mexico in downtown Roanoke, and it did not disappoint, in fact my (mild) Mexican nearly blew my head off, glad I never asked for the medium or hot version, blimey.

    Managed to get the hot stuff scraped off the top and enjoyed the remainder in relatively low pain, the Sol beer helped a lot, and Sue revelled in the Lime Margarita she had. So off to bed and a new experience tomorrow.    Read more

  • Walkabout AUSUSA Becs 21st 2015Walkabout AUS

    The Allegheny Mountains. WV

    August 28, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    These ranges through Virginia and West Virginia are just gorgeous, I could live here in a heart beat. The fresh air, the beautiful scenery and the extended drawl of the southern accent is really starting to appear.

    As we move further west through these two states and head toward Beckley, our next stop, the voices get more and more pronounced with the words really being extended out and that cool southern accent really starts to show.

    One young lady in a gas station asked if I could stay all day as she reckoned she could just sit and listen to our Aussie accent all day long. Such lovely people.    Read more

  • Walkabout AUSUSA Becs 21st 2015Walkabout AUS

    Roanoke, Virginia

    August 29, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    We kicked of the day early with a local breakfast at the Texas Tavern in the CBD of Roanoke.
    Bacon and eggs, toast, and coffee for massive amount of $3.99. Wow nearly broke the bank, haha.
    After 2 breakfast, plus a tip we were out $15. Well worth it talking to the locals with that incredible southern drawl accent.
    Ok now we head toward Bedford to make our way to the Blue Ridge Parkway.    Read more

  • Walkabout AUSUSA Becs 21st 2015Walkabout AUS

    Camera History Museum, Staunton Virginia

    August 29, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    This place was incredible, over 47 years this guy has accumulated every camera every made since the beginning of photographical time, and has it all on display in the camera museum.

    Locals that we met in Waynesboro tipped us off to this quaint little town when we met them at Sam's hot Dogs in Waynesboro, so it goes to show, mixing with the locals when doing these kinds of road trips really pays off.

    For a small 5 dollar donation the proprietor gave us a persona guided tour around the place with some amazing stories about photography and equipment and many of the cameras were the actual ones that took famous images throughout history.

    Starting from old tin plate development processes through to the modern digital age it was an incredible experience, Bec would have loved it.    Read more

  • Walkabout AUSUSA Becs 21st 2015Walkabout AUS

    Arrived at Beckley, WV

    August 29, 2015 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    You expect a little town only to find a massive tourism hub with all the usual gas stations, restaurants, and fast food outlets everywhere on just a short distance, a bit like a highway transit centre where multiple highways connect.

    Along the way we have had great economical stops with the Econolodge Motel chain, averaging around $90 AUD a night with large rooms and breakfast included, not a bad deal.

    Well off for a meal and then bed.    Read more

  • Walkabout AUSUSA Becs 21st 2015Walkabout AUS

    Cracker Barrell at Beckley

    August 29, 2015 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    Hunted around for a feed and weren't interested in all the usual fast food restaurants in the states, so we chose the Cracker Barrel, good wholesome food prepared fresh on the day.

    It's unlicensed so we weren't even tempted to get into it. A great meal and then off to bed.Read more

  • Walkabout AUSUSA Becs 21st 2015Walkabout AUS

    Beckley, West Virginia

    August 30, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    This morning was a nice sleep and breakfast then off to a coal mine site in Beckley.
    This is a full tourist mine site and we went into the mountain to get a real feel for how these guys worked last century and the 1800's.
    After the underground tour we checked out all the above ground buildings and sheds dating back to the 1890's, really well preserved.
    Ok now time to make our commute back to Youngstown. Should be about 4 hours plus any stops we choose to find along the way. Check out our photo albums, tons to see.    Read more

  • Walkabout AUSUSA Becs 21st 2015Walkabout AUS

    New Haven, West Virginia

    August 30, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Came across this amazing valley and bridge on our way back to Ohio. Check out the great pics Sue took of the largest single arch steel bridge in the world.
    We got great shots from the top and then after a gorgeous Hershey's chocolate ice cream we found a way down to the river for some shots from below.Read more

  • Walkabout AUSUSA Becs 21st 2015Walkabout AUS

    Morgantown, West Virginia

    August 30, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    For bit of a break to our drive we stopped off at Morgantown, WV where one of our fiends daughters went to college, a swimmer.
    To our surprise it was much like Youngstown, a lot of old derelict and worn out areas close to the city centre as new areas had developed further out.
    Still pretty though and a big university scattered across the heart of the city. Spread so far that a personal monorail type transit system runs around the university.    Read more

  • Walkabout AUSUSA Becs 21st 2015Walkabout AUS

    Boardman, Ohio

    August 30, 2015 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    Finally back in Youngstown after our whirlwind road trip through many states into the south.
    Caught up with Bec & Tom for a very pleasant Teppanyaki dinner in Boardman. Time now to settle down a little and rest while we build up to Bec's 21st next weekend.Read more

  • Walkabout AUSUSA Becs 21st 2015Walkabout AUS

    YSU at Youngstown

    August 30, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    A relaxing day today and we headed in to YSU campus to help out the dive team install some new boards.
    Moved the old ones to the dry land facility and helped get that set up.
    Following that we got across to the soccer field to support Bec's Bestie, as she calls her, in the women's YSU soccer match. Unfortunately they lost with a last minute goal to the opposition.Read more

  • Walkabout AUSUSA Becs 21st 2015Walkabout AUS

    YSU Tour

    August 30, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    What a great day. After standing around the soccer ground with YSU President Jim Tressel, he invited us back to his home Pollock House on the campus grounds.
    What an amazingly kind man with a heart of gold.
    The mansion was so stunning inside and restored impeccably back to its 1894 glory, such a beautiful home and wonderful to spend time with the President.    Read more

  • Walkabout AUSUSA Becs 21st 2015Walkabout AUS

    New Waterford, Ohio

    August 31, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    So cool to be back on the estate and just vegging out and relaxing. As you can see Sue and Bonnie had a great time picking tomatoes.
    You are obviously imagining the glasses of red wine in their hands. Oh well, it is vacation.Read more

  • Walkabout AUSUSA Becs 21st 2015Walkabout AUS

    Warren, Ohio

    September 2, 2015 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Sorry about not much blogging but we have just been relaxing on the property of our hosts Tom & Bonnie Oliver.
    Today we ventured out again doing errands and stuff for Bec but finally got to the Packard Museum. Check out the photos in the Packard album.
    These were America's luxury cars long before the Cadillac. Seeing this museum and all the things Packard were involved in is amazing. Unfortunately when they did a merger with Studebaker in the late 50's it was there downfall. No one wanted a Studebaker badge.    Read more

    Trip end
    September 15, 2015
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