Ginny's Marvellous Beach Day!

"Beach" had been on the Bucket List for sometime now. I happened once to meet this cute guy who, once-upon-a-Thanksgiving, had listed it off as one of the pluses of living in Richmond: just a short two-hour drive to the Ocean. 

   Cute guy having lately ticked off "Mountains", it was therefore down to Katie to organise a trip to the seaside. Our intern numbers had depleted once again but - no matter - a trio of girls was just enough to settle upon an adventure. 

East!

 I was interested to see what Virginia Beach was about. I knew, from old friends, that it held a naval base nearby so there was that aspect. 

Tour had also taught me that "seaside" was not entirely always familar - Llandudno took a week to show me its proper colours - so I wanted to see how "seasidey" it was, compared to the likes of Scarborough or Brid'.

We found ourselves close to the resort strip on arrival. Lots of promisingly tacky souvenir/beach shops on the way into town. So far, so recognisable. Our hunt for lunch soon threw up subtle differences though. No by-the-beach eateries, no cafes nor food huts to be seen. Instead the boardwalk is backed entirely by hotels, towering over the sandy beach - affording great views to their guests but pushing the restaurants, as opposed to cafes or diners, further back into town.

There was however, plenty of ice-cream.

To the beach then!  Lots and lots of art & sculptures adorning the paths by the boardwalk,
Neptune included. Jenny found palm trees, reminding her of home in Floridia.

 Beside the sea. 

At the Ocean's edge.

  ^ That's kind of how it was. A big gap of sand, a long line of people in chairs, on towels and the sea. Not so many children building sandcastles in the interim space but plenty of sunbathers about, closer to the edge.

The waves of the Atlantic Ocean took some getting used to. It was fairly choppy & the breakers would come in every so often, usually in two or threes. I got the dance routine of hold your nose/close your eyes down to a fine art. I guess I have spent the last 13 years cursing the Atlantic so it was high time for the Ocean to enact its revenge.

We swam some until we tired of the waves crashing & beating us up & headed back to sunbathe.

(I probably shouldn't have dozed off.
 I probably should've worn a higher SPF.
 I definitely didn't expect to finish the day with lobster  legs, given that my legs never, ever tan.
 But we live & learn & are sure to take as-cold- as-can-be showers once home to lessen the burn.)



The day went from overcast & cloudy to being
          much brighter by mid-afternoon.  

Her name is Ginny & she dances on the sand                          A brighter Neptune

About the boardwalk:

In its various forms, the thoroughfare has seen it all: Prohibition and German U-boats, Big Bands & surfer girls, shag contests & rollerblades. Throughout time, the Boardwalk has remained an enduring symbol of Virginia Beach. Built from wooden planks in 1888 during the nation's "gilded age," the five-block promenade attracted thousands of Victorian vacationers.

I imagine the wooden planks had a certain appeal but fire put an end to them. I see it more, as at Llandudno & Portobello, like a promenade running parallel to the sea.


B&J had passed us a voucher earlier for Doughboy's Pizza so we headed that way for tea. Pretty awesome choice of toppings made these sun & sea-sated swimmers rather happy: sundried tomatoes, avocado, spinach, chicken... Nom.  Doughboy's then presented us with another voucher.

Vouchers are ace! Vouchers create a dangerously circuitous loop:
                                             
                    Pizza. Ice-cream. Pizza. Ice-cream. Pizza.

I wasn't altogether sure if we'd ever make it out of Virginia Beach.

  Penguin-sized ice-cream at that.
To Scale.

Homewards: happy, tired, thankful.
 

To cold showers & Aloe Vera. 

The afternoon after the day before:

Ouch.