6/26 - Virginia Beach, VA instead of the Outer Banks of NC

6/26 - continued.

So, after having ice cream at the gas station and surfing the net for a local hotel, I finally gave up and decided that a slight change in plans would be ok. We would drive north to Virgina Beach and stay at a hotel nearby instead of pitching a tent here on the Outer Banks. I was disappointed but I was afraid of having another yucky campground experience and to be honest, the last few nights at the Hampton Inn had me spoiled. It was my birthday and I wanted to be comfortable. So I made the reservation and was instantly relieved. That's a bad sign for the rest of the trip, if you ask me.

I explained to the kids about the change in plans and they didn't care one way or the other, as long as they still go to play at the beach. So I packed them all up into the van, called the campground to cancel (I think they probably had it figured out by this time - it was nearly 10 p.m.) and we headed out for another 2 1/2 hours of driving. All the way back north along the dunes of the Outer Banks. Through Nags Head and through Kitty Hawk. So much for seeing the Wright Brothers Museum or eating at the Top Dog Cafe. But that's ok - we have great things planned and there would be fun things to do in Virgina Beach as well.

What a long day - definitely our longest day in the car so far. The kids slept for this last stretch and the car was very quiet. It was hard to stay awake myself. That is, until we started trying to get through Norfolk, VA. Wow - crazy! And it was so dark and the roads were confusing. I got lost several times in a seedy part of town. Kept stopping at the same gas station to look at the map and find my way out. I couldn't get out and ask for directions and leave the kids in the car. It was so late, the place was just so ... scary. I don't want to be politically incorrect so I will only say that there was an air of desperation and I was very tense. And I don't scare easily.

So I finally got it figured out (just as our van was being approached by a dirty looking man in the parking lot) and made it onto the right stretch of interstate. You know how in a major city all of the roads twist and curve and interchange, and if you get in the wrong lane in traffic sometimes you just can't get over before you've already missed your exit? That is what kept happening to me.

On a side note, Norfolk looked like an interesting place. We went through several tunnels ... or maybe it was the same tunnel over and over again ... I can't remember. It would be neat to see it in the daylight. I wonder if it would be less intimidating.

So, at almost 1 a.m. (getting lost loses time!) I pulled into our hotel. Exhausted. Carrying a sleeping boy and nothing else. The only thing we brought in were the blankets the kids like to sleep with. The room was absolutely beautiful. It had two big, fluffy queen sized beds and a pull out sofa bed. A huge flat screen tv and a huge area of floor space where the kids could sit and play. And it even had a kitchenette! I almost wonder if we got upgraded or something - I didn't ask.

I just tumbled into bed ... it was so late ... and a bed never felt so good!!