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| As we drove from Richmond to Norfolk, we passed the striking architecture of the Hampton Coloseum |
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| We decided to take the I-664 bridge instead of the Hampton Tunnel - what a great route! Plus we got a nice view of the Norfolk Naval Station across the bay |
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| Tuesday morning, we decided to do a grand tour of the peninsula, starting with Norfolk Naval Station |
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| If you've never been this close to a flattop, you wouldn't believe how big it is! |
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| Both Aircraft Carriers that were in port were undergoing pier-side yard work |
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| On the coast of the Naval Station is this monument to Battleship Sailors - those are 16" projectiles - they weigh as much as a small car! |
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| Leaving the base, we drove to Ocean View (just the other side of I-64 from the Naval Station |
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| The bridge in the distance seems to end half way across! It is the entrance to the Hampton Tunnel, built to make sure the harbor could not be blocked by bombing the bridge (bottling up the fleet). |
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| As we drove the coast, we encountered Little Creek Amphibious Base. Clearly, the SEALs do not want to have unexpected visitors! |
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| Little Creek is home to many of the Navy ships that support the Amphibious forces - the so called "alligator Navy" |
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| Adjoining Little Creek (and now part of the same command) is Ft Story on which is the Cape Henry Monument commemorating the battle between the British and French just off shore of the cape. |
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| Cape Henry was the first British settlement in America. This cross commemorates the fact that the British settlers. led by Captain Christopher Newport, erected a cross to thank God for their safe arrival |
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| The Cape provides a tremendous view of the mouth of Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean |
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| The Chapel of St Terese of Liseaux, the Little Flower |
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| The original Cape Henry Lighthouse dates to 1792 |
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| From Ft Story, we drove to Virginia Beach to the Old Coast Guard Station |
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| Va Beach - Old Coast Guard Station |
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| Va Beach boardwalk - it was cold and windy and we only walked a block or so |
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| "I am the Norwegian Lady. I stand here as my sisters before me to wish all men of the sea safe return home." |
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| A block North of the Old Coast Guard Station and very near the Norwegian Woman, is this great Monument to Naval Aviation |
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| Eugene Ely was the first person to fly from a ship and later landed aboard another ship. The tubing around his shoulders were bicycle inner tubes and formed his life preserver! Would OSHA approve that? |
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| This sculpture represents "The Team" of modern Naval Aviation |
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| Coming Home! |
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| Just a short drive from Va Beach is Naval Station Dam Neck. This base is now part of nearby Naval Air Station Oceana. This combined club is gorgeous and sits right on the beach |
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| Dam Neck is where the Fleet Rifle and Pistol Championships are held each year. Bob fired in those matches each year. |
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| Just a couple of miles up the road is Naval Air Station Oceana, which began as a training and readiness base during the pre-WW-II days. |
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| I saw many planes that my old ship, the USS FDR carried - The AD Skyraider or "Spad" as it was known throughout the Fleet |
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| The F-8 Crusader - the Navy's first operational carrier borne supersonic aircraft. |
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| The land borne version of the carrier landing system or "meatball" that pilots use to find the correct glide path and slope. |
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| When you see Top Gun, you don't really get a feel for how far the engines on the F-14 Tomcat are. - Next, Kitty Hawk and First Flight Memorial! |
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