Yorktown, Chesapeake Bay, VA

We've twice driven past Yorktown while complaining about the two hour drive to the coast at Virginia Beach.

On the hottest day so far this year we decided to try this tiny estuary resort recently rebuilt after serious hurricane damage, and 230 years after serious battle damage. The British were a little less welcome at that time.

We all paddled (waded) and swam in the slightly murky York river, made sand angels and enjoyed the sunshine. Note to self: slightly saggy English-pale men need sun screen.

Both girls confidently strode into the water. M attempted swimming and even dispensed with the arm-bands.

We also enjoyed comforting diner food at the River Rooms in the Duke of York Motel and stopped to show our respects, on Memorial Day, at The Yorktown Victory Monument.

South of the James Farmer's Market

Donuts on a Saturday morning, freshly prepared by Mennonite girls from the back of an immaculate food truck - warm, squishy and divine. See the happiness...

In our search to find them hidden behind the forest shelter, we sourced a new 'green' - Swiss Chard as grown on former neighbour Huw's allotment.

Freshly squeezed lime and lemonade kept us cool amongst the market bustle. There are more future taste-joys to be had...

Mrs Yoder's Donuts and more

Late Spring Watch

Summer officially starts on Monday and in advance of that we're getting some impressive wildlife action. Tonight we sat watching fireflies light up across our front yard, whilst M whispered that she did believe in fairies.

Then there's the black snake who crossed the road (without a punchline) to our front steps,  before being scooped up by neighbour Brian and taken to a new life on the riverside. He is now our designated 'Crocodile Dundee'.

General rule of thumb: Move away from black and green snakes and move slightly faster from brown ones. If close enough to spot the round eye over the triangle head you're in trouble.


On the vegetative front it's all enormous, creamy magnolia flowers, sky-blue hydrangeas, wild pink rhododendrums and the ongoing crazy bamboo. It's humid, warm and electrically stormy but not yet super hot.


Update:
Second, crosser snake in same spot today...

Wine and Heritage Festival, Rassawek / Music in the Park, Forest Hill

Top combos - an afternoon of wine and rural heritage followed by an evening of Cuban music and hula hooping.

Excuse the mixed-cultural metaphor but this was the ying and yang of American life, all in one day. Opposing political affiliations aside... we loved the crazy tree house with inner-trunk ladder rising some 20 feet to a platform above (exit ramp pictured) plus the motorised raft that took us across the water to scan for 'gators' and wave at the passing steam boats.

Amidst the unusual flavours of Virginian wines - our votes went to Saude Creek's Merlot and Wind Song vineyard's whites. We got to see Barefoot Puppets in action, taking the Little Red/Bread Hen to Germany and Paris with inimitable style and top European accents - yes, even the English worked for us. M's shoe featured as a mouse!

Back in the city, beneath light drizzle we got out the picnic rug, lentil cheese bake and red wine and savoured Bio-Ritmo and the fact that there were familiar faces in the crowd, even a school friend for M - the perfect close to the weekend.

Backyard movies, Floyd

With each guest comes a home improvement - from the first intrepid folk (pre-furniture) to increasingly sophisticated challenges...

For Sala it's home cinema beneath the stars - we love the drive-in but it's time to cook-out and sit back! Come and occupy Richmond with us, with 3-D visuals c/o the local bamboo.

Paradise Park aka Geometry Park, The Fan

Not quite too cool for school - this is after-school action with skate-Dad and the rest of the crew, in our local 1970s 'pocket' park. A radical, concrete vision for play just two blocks from our front door.

Despite our risk-embracing credentials, we do have to fake nonchalance for the climbing of the concrete edifice/slide (!?) and find ourselves hovering with arms out-stretched just beneath it... so far no slip-sliding onto the brick below.

Paradise park history

First solo bike ride

Self-propelled though not necessarily self-stopping... we took to the sidewalk at home before venturing further afield to Chimborazo Park, with skate boards and balance bikes for the rest of the crew.

Check out the footage and dappled sunshine.

Cycling out...

Cycling back...

NB: J's warning cry should be translated as, "Watch out for the squirrel!"

First rock climb

In a weekend of firsts, this is possibly the most dramatic... on a mobile plastic rock face, a father and daughter scale 30 feet above the relaxing crowds at the Strawberry Street Festival. Due to lack of body mass, the abseiling child remained suspended until the mountain rescue team could reach her - dangling helplessly with grubby pants on show.

For the American audience:
abseiling = repelling
pants are not trousers!

Photo credits: Neighbour Ameigh

First ballet show c/o Pilates, Dance and more...

... and so it begins - a little bit of sparkle in your hair, a little bit of sequin on your costume and a little bit of grace in your step! M's first ballet performance was magic.

We were told the story of dance as it merged across the globe and got little demos from pupils of all shapes and skills and ranging in age from 4 to 60 (!) - and including the remarkable male teacher. For those as besotted us, there is video taken by a fellow audience member and thankfully missing their feet.

Post performance cake - the perfect reward.

First ballet show

City of Murals, RVA

So it's not the 80s, though I was beginning to wonder... however these murals are good and the city lets them be everywhere. Not really subversive or contentious but great looking and identity-making. In a city where 'Occupy' were moved on and resettled in the mayor's neighbour's yard - it's fun to see a splash of creative freedom  on the city streets and canal sides...

We have to wait another two years for the return of the RVA Street Art Festival that bought many of these to town.

PS: Spot the ballerina and her great aunt...

 

Democratic Campaign Trail - Day 1, Siegal Centre, Richmond

No going back, only FORWARD...
Four more years, Four more years!
OBAMA BIDEN
Virginia's got your back
We are all fired up!!

Obama is fit, Michelle is genuine and the atmosphere was electric. We prayed with the Mayor, pledged allegiance with the Boy Scouts and got goose bumps from the Star Spangled sung in awesome harmony. Go Bama - we love you!

In true bipartisan spirit the Republican neighbours babysat the kids and got them doing opposition sidewalk art.

PS: Plus P queued for 4 hours to get our spot amongst the 8,000 Virginians.

Pocahontas State Park

We embraced the great American wilderness with a sunlit stroll in the complete peace of Pocahontas State Park. Beaver Lake was still and murky. Our shady picnic bench was opposite a family of turtles - a tiny baby, who kept slipping off its perch, a teenager who moved on swiftly and some very laid back big guys.

The flowering pink and white laurels were out, the swings were heating up nicely as the temperatures rose (32C) and a satisfied great blue heron was attempting to consume its caught lunch. Just us, a Menonite group and the odd old boy and his boat - bliss.

For those twitterers we know, we spotted:
- eastern king bird
- mystery, small, pale grey crested bird
- vultures en route...

Whilst in the backyard we've identified:
- cardinal
- flicker
- cat bird
- house finch
- robin

Garden Explorations, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

Jim Jam joined Lewis Ginter's absolutely sweet children's garden artist for her new Explorations programme. The only child 'mine age' she noted with sadness, before a magical one-to-one of story-time under a tree, authorised water butt usage and some gentle sponge sprinkling... then some compost bin excavation, bio-degradable plant pot construction and the planting a precious nasturtium seed.

Careful avoidance of high salicylate options meant we sampled some tiny celery thing and some impressive carrots. Ours are not ready for the harvest yet.

Garden Explorations