Elizabeth City

August 24 - 28

This weekend we're taking a 4 hour drive north to Elizabeth City to help celebrate Clara's cousins', Virginia Tunnell, 100th birthday.

Virginia is the daughter of Lula Provost Riggs, Clara's mother's sister.

I've had a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that Clara has a 100 year-old first cousin, and I haven't quite figured out how there can be almost thirty years difference in ages of 1st cousins.  But it's a fact.

We're staying at a small RV park on Elizabeth City Coast Guard Base.  This is the largest Coast Guard Base on the East Coast.  Search and Rescue operations are run out of here with C-130's and helicopters.  It's a nice little base.  There are only 10 spaces for RV's and they've been full the whole time we're here.

We arrived Thursday.  Friday we explored Elizabeth City.  It's a surprisingly large town.  Like a lot of Northeastern NC, it's apparent that the community has its challenges.  However, there is a university, Elizabeth City State University - a historically black college, and the Coast Guard.  It appears that these are the mainstays of the economy.

There is an incredible state museum, Museum of the Albemarle.  It really looks out of place here.

We found a  very nice restaurant on the waterfront - Cypress Creek Grill and enjoyed a delicious dinner here both Thursday and Saturday nights.

Saturday was Virginia's birthday and it was celebrated somewhat like we did Dad's 100th birthday - at the church.

There was a nice crowd of mostly family and friends and Clara renewed some relationships from many years ago.

Clara and her 100 year old cousin, Virginia Tunnell

The family

Descendents: children, grandchildren and great grandchildren

Children, Josh, Ginger and Sylvia

Sunday, I decided that I wanted to visit the Dismal Swamp State Park.  I've heard of it many times and had never been there.  It is well known among sailors who transit the ICW.

As Clara stressed, the name is "dismal".

The canal was dug in the early 1800's

Well, it's a ditch in a swamp.  And Clara hasn't stopped pointing out to me that the reason for the name is that it is a pretty Dismal place.  At least I've been there now.  Probably won't go back though.  Although we had a pleasant day and ended up in Chesapeake, Virginia for lunch