Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel!

We made our trip to Jamestown even more exciting by taking the long way home across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel!  Yes, we've not only been across the Chesapeake, we've now also been under it!  From Jamestown, we went southeast along a peninsula in Virginia where everyone lives with a view of water.  Once across the bay, we drove up the Eastern Shores, with a quick stop for a dip in the Atlantic!  So lovely!  I'm excited to take you on the virtual ride.... 

If only you had a map?  Ta daaa!  We live at the A and D, the beginning and the end.  Jamestown is down by the B, and our little Atlantic Adventure is marked by a C.  The Bridge-Tunnel is at the bottom of our route, taking us across twenty miles of water.



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Our drive along Virginia's southern penninsula didn't result in any decent drive-by photos.  But here is where we began our trip across the huge bridge....

Leaving the western part of Virginia state

looking ahead - for a better view of the whole thing click here

There were many ocean liners waiting to come to port

When we had crossed several miles of bridge, we came to a man-made rocky island, about five acres in size.  On this island was a long fishing pier, where many people were keeping their eyes on several fishing lines at once.  In talking to a few fishermen, we learned that one line was for catching bait (bluefish) and the others were for using the bluefish to catch shark!  Getting a shark is a regular event here - my disbelief was quickly chased away when the fishermen started opening their 'big catch' photos for me on their phones!  I could have stayed on that pier for hours, out in the middle of the water, literally, with the stories and sun and camaraderie....  

The fishing pier

The view of the island from the fishing pier. (Most of the fishermen were behind me.)
In the building is a restaurant, bathrooms, some info.  We had come from the right (west).

We watched a pod of dolphins swim by!  (Can you see them halfway up between the bottom of the
photo and the boats?  Delightfully close when using binoculars!  But little specks of white here.)

a bit closer!

So here, at this first island, is where the tunnel starts.  Off and on across the bay, we went underground.... er, I mean under water... so that boats could freely pass.  After visiting the fishing pier (and the restaurant), we drove down into the tunnel and came up again at the next rock island in the distance.

looking down at the entrance to the tunnel!

After a few tunnels and many bridges, we crossed twenty miles of the Chesapeake Bay and arrived on the Eastern Shores, a narrow piece of land that belongs to Virginia, Maryland and Deleware!

It was getting late, but we really wanted to swim in the Atlantic Ocean!  We had been longing to see the wildlife preserves and national seashores in this area!

On our way, we took a drive-by photo of NASA.  Wish we could have taken the time to explore their visitor center!  Next time!

NASA (the spot from where the last two launches were sent in the last few weeks)

(Meanwhile, in our van, Aidan and Owen were laughing pretty hard at Owen's Bill Cosby talks)

gorgeous, gorgeous wildlife preserves

Soon the area turned touristy, and the marshes were filled with billboards.
(See how they go all the way down the road?)

A great visitor's center at the National Seashore!  And another stamp in the Passport! 

Into the Atlantic!

my girl

jumping the waves!

Marijka and Arthur had lots of fun closer to shore

Gord and Jon stayed on higher ground.  :)

We really didn't do this place justice!  In the short time we had, we saw several egrets and even a quick glance at the wild ponies that live in the preserve.  

egret!

(The ponies are behind the trees on the left.  The pictures we've seen of the wild
ponies in the area are spectacular!)


 We need an excuse to go back!!!  Anyone want to come check it out with us????