North Carolina
Mar. 2025

Dates: March 25-29, 2025

People: Mark, Sarah, Jonah, Seth, Anya, Ben

Itinerary

• 3-18 (Sarah flies early)

• 3-25 (Travel Day)

• 3-26 (Family Day)

• 3-27 (Family Day)

• 3-28 (Family Day)

• 3-29 (Travel Day)

TUESDAY MARCH 25

We left home at 6:15am. It was me driving with Jonah riding shotgun, Anya and Ben in the middle, Seth in the back.  Anya was coughing for the first 30 minutes while we all tried to help her stop.  Our first stop was at the Ohio Turnpike Service Plaza at 9:05am for bathrooms.  It was the last one in Ohio.  We then drove on to Breezewood, PA where we got gas and lunch. We were there from 1145 to 1235. Seth drove from there. Seth got us around DC and into Virginia making his way through a fair amount of traffic. He was also shooting to complete his hours for driver's training.

We stopped for bathroom in Woodlea, VA and then Mark took over driving for the remainder.  We made it to Lisa's place around 6:30p in time for supper with everyone there. We got meet Elia for the first time.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 26

Seth, Jonah and I drove over to Northwest River Park. Seth and I ran the trail loop. Jonah hiked.  After our time there we went back to the house to find most everyone still in bed. We had a relaxing morning at the house. It was a lunch of cold cuts and sandwiches.  We took a walk to the neighborhood park in the afternoon for the kids to have playground time.  At 4:30p we drove up to Chesapeake Pizza place for supper. They were a rare cash only establishment.  After supper we went up to Trinity, Norfolk for Lenten service.

THURSDAY MARCH 27

At 7am Seth and I up for run workouts in the neighborhood.  We had an 845a target to leave for the Virginia Zoo.  10am was the actual departure. We got up to the zoo around 11am. It was like $18/person but we got 50% off for Toledo Zoo reciprocal. Nice deal.

Zoo was nice today, not overcrowded at all.  Would call it a poorer version of the St. Louis Zoo.  Nice big walkways, not very big.  Exhibits ok.  We found areas for the kids to play and spend some time.  We stayed at the zoo till around 3pm.

We came home, Lisa w/ Sarah and the two littles went to two realtor appointments.  We hung around the house with Dave and Karen joining us.  Sarah and Lisa got back around 6:30pm

Dave and Karen brought sloppy joes over for supper.  Played cards and watched NCAA Sweet 16 games.

FRIDAY MARCH 28

At 730a Seth and I head out for another lap on the NW River Loop and then back to the house. We grabbed breakfast sandwiches from Food Lion on way home. It was another lazy morn in the house.  Mark held Elia for awhile and talked to her. She was very alert and looking around. We had leftovers for lunch.  In the afternoon Jonah, Seth, Mark went over to the Great Dismal Swamp State Park.  We hiked the trails and explored the canal.  Supper tonight was a breakfast bar. We watch Michigan State + Michigan Sweet 16 games.

SATURDAY MARCH 29

Mark got up at 6am for a walk in the neighborhood.  We targeted a 7am departure but it was 750a when we left.  We stopped at 820 for a Norfolk Chick-fil-A breakfast.  We hit some traffic along I64 East of Richmond.  North of Richmond the GPS was recommending following US 17TH northwest taking the alternate route to avoid DC.  The distance that was is actually shorter, but on a normal day its probably 15 minutes slower.  DC and Richmond traffic were making it the better route today so we took it.  You go through a  fair amount of towns with stoplights but most of the road is 2-lane highway and some sections of interstate so it moves fairly well. It joins up with the normal route just south of Breezewood.

We stopped at 12:30p in Winchester for lunch at the Chick-fil-A.  The kids enjoyed the play place.  I went and filled up with gas while they finished lunch and played.  We were there about 50 minutes.  Sarah starting driving after.  She drove til the Mohanon Valley Plaza in Ohio at 5:08p where Seth took over.  Seth drove til the Erie Islands Travel Plaza where we stopped for supper. We all hit the Panda Express.  Jonah drove from here the rest of the way home. We made it home 8:45pm.  We used four different drivers today!