Rides

The Eastern Shore

June 2, 2013‎

It was a beautiful sunny day again. We journey to the Eastern Shore.

We began our day around 11:30am - a little late start but none-the-less we were off....

The worst part of the ride - I-64 from the Hampton Roads Tunnel until the Chesapeake Bay tunnel!

Someone got the wrong memo and instead of patching the pot holes, they installed speed bumps!!!!!

It is an extremely rough and very uncomfortable ride. (at least for me!)

Take the Interstate 64 E ramp to Hampton/Norfolk

total 1.2 mi

Take exit 282 to merge onto US-13 N/Northampton Blvd toward Chesapeake Bay/Bridge - Tunnel Partial toll road

go 34.2

The toll was $12 for each bike - was a bit expensive but worth it. The toll back was only $5 each (only if you return within 24 hours).

Riding on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel on the bike was breath taking. It only increased my desire to go to Key West and island hop on the bike.

The rest stop along the Bridge has changed drastically since I was there with my daughter years ago.

The souvenirs were - as always over priced - but the quality was much better! The restaurant was beautiful! We didn't eat but I did see some of the food and it looked fresh and very appetizing. In addition, the view was beautiful.

We continued on 13 until VA-184W W/Stone Rd

2.0 miles

Continue onto Randolph Ave/T-1112

go 0.1 mi

Del enjoying the beach at Cape Charles

Cape Charles is a quaint little waterside town. Although I heard there are some cute stores, there, we did not come to shop - we came to EAT..

We did take a moment to stop and see the beautiful beach and some of the beautiful homes.....of course that was only by accident as I had forgotten what road we were suppose to turn on so we just took Randolph to the end and then back tracked to Nectarine and made a right.

Nectarine St

go 348 ft

Take the 1st right onto Bayshore Rd

go 0.3 mi

Turn right onto Marina Rd

Destination will be on the left

go 23 ft

Total: 61.5 mi – about 1 hour 12 mins

33 Marina Rd, Cape Charles, VA 23310‎

Be on the look out - it can be a little tricky finding the Marina.

Our lunch was at The Shanty

It was a cute restaurant, very casual - nothing fancy. They had indoor seating and outdoor picnic tables - of course is where we sat.

The view was beautiful with the exception of the construction on the left.

Straight out in the water, we watched a mother sea hawk feed her babies.

I had a great little salad - a bit expensive at about $5.00 but the balsamic vinegar dressing was delicious! The greens were fresh. We had 1/2 lb of seasoned steamed shrimp and my husband had a great little dish - chopped lobster and various cheeses and spinach on a flat bread...VERY GOOD.

The best was the ICE CREAM, it is made special for The Shanty by a local creamery. It was a coconut lime with a drizzle of raspberry syrup! It was AWESOME and worth the trip!

The employees were FABULOUS! With the exception when the waitress brough our ice cream out before Del was done eating! But she was very friendly! They allowed dogs on the patio (a great plus in my book!)

My husband had a corona and a coke and I had a coke - This brought our final bill to $47.87 plus $10.00 tip. Yeah, a little pricey for lunch - especially one that didn't fill us up for long. But the food was great and the view was pretty nice. Probably could have had a cheaper meal - but the reviews I had read were right on. However, besides the chopped lobster flatbread, there was no other lobster choices - my husbands favorite. Lots of clams, crab, and shrimp.

Our view from the patio

Need directions to find the place - but worth the drive.

Off to our final destination for the day!

Head south on Marina Rd toward Bayshore Rd

go 23 ft

Turn left onto Bayshore Rd

go 0.3 mi

Turn left onto Old Cape Charles Rd

go 0.3 mi

Slight right onto Nectarine St

go 348 ft

Take the 1st right onto Randolph Ave/T-1112

Continue to follow Randolph Ave

go 0.8 mi

Continue onto VA-184 E/Stone Rd

go 1.3 mi

Turn left onto US-13 N/Charles M Lankford Jr Memorial Hwy

go 4.9 mi

Turn left onto US-13BUS N/Courthouse Rd

go 0.8 mi

Turn left onto County Rd 634/Savage Neck Rd

go 2.1 mi

Slight left to stay on County Rd 634/Savage Neck Rd

Destination will be on the right

About 6 mins

go 2.3 mi

Total: 12.8 mi – about 26 mins

Savage Neck Dunes State Natural Area Preserve

Savage Neck Rd, Cape Charles, VA 23310‎

HAVE to have directions and be looking for it because you will never find it. We drove right past it the first time. But if you like nature, sand, and the water, this will be your favorite spot.

The drive from 13 to the preserve was a mix of farms and wooded areas sprinkled with a few very large homes. It was a very nice, easy drive.

The parking lot only holds about 6 cars and it is a 1/2 mile walk to the beach. It was not made for bikes! It is covered with gravel. I, being nervous about the gravel, just pulled straight into the first and only parking spot - while Del, backed his into a small spot on the grass! Well, at least one of us can drive!

The walk is beautiful with a little pond on the way, a couple different paths to take, and lots to see.

Take care to check for hitch hikers - ticks! found several on us on the way out. Luckily we were wearing boots and jeans!

Great mowed paths

Cute little pond on the way filled with croaking frogs!

Finally made it to the water - hot and tired and wanted to jump in!

The dunes of the Eastern Shore!

Ver large horseshoe crab. Del moved it closer to the trail so that a little boy swimming with his parents would see it.

So after de-ticking ourselves, Del had to back my bike out of my parking spot - I was not about to even attempt backing it up!

Me!

Thanks to my talented husband and his great riding abilities, he got some great shots of me riding across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel - of course, my inability to maintain a consistent speed did not aid in his endeavor.

I actually look like I know what I am doing!~