Relatives, The Pocomoke River and the Great Dismal Swamp

Tuesday,  May 14, Day 22

We are headed to Norfolk and Newport News today, to see more of the Avery family.  

We did things a little backward, stopping at the visitors center on our way OUT of Manteo, but we wanted to pick up some additional literature.  Right at the visitors center was this cemetery, and a plaque.

This was a reminder to me that during the Civil War, escaped slaves came to Roanoke Island in droves, seeking asylum.   LIncoln had not yet issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and so the Union officers came up with the idea of calling them "contraband".  The slaves were considered property in the South, so the North said they were seized property.  Here on Roanoke Island, they built communities, went to school and church and learned trades that would be helpful after the war.  However, after the war, the United States turned the island back over to its original owners and most of the AfricanAmericans were once again forced to leave the area.  Many of them did stay, however, and there is a portion of the Manteo community dedicated to them.  

We are only a short way from  Norfolk, where we will meet Stanley and LeeAnn Avery, and Ann Bunn Avery.  These are Blake relatives that we have not met before.   We also planned to meet Karen, whose husband Erwin recently passed away, but she was not able to get off work.  

 Lee Ann Avery

 Ann Bunn Avery

John with Stanley and Waitstill his son, who dropped by unexpectedly.

A lovely luncheon was prepared and we had a chance to talk while we ate.  This meal was so reminiscent of ones we had many times at John's grandparents on Long Island, New York.  It was really nostalgic for me.

 It was delicious.

Lee Ann had to scoot off to an appointment and Ann Bunn wanted to get back home to Newport News before the traffic got bad, so our visit was short, but wonderful.

Before leaving, they shared with me this photo of LeeAnn and Stanley's grandchildren.  Twenty-seven family members rent a big house on the Outer Banks during the summer.  John always wanted to know who rented those big houses, and now we know.  What fun they must have!   It was great to meet the cousins we had been writing to for 50 years and had never seen!  

Little did we know that we were about to encounter our own bridge crossing, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.  It is close to 20 miles long,  and is the main north-south highway to Virginia's eastern shore.  It has two mile long tunnels, low level trestles, a high level bridge, two man made islands.

We were actually going under the ship you see coming over the highway!

We wanted to head out to Chicoteaque Island to camp, but Virginia doesn't tell you that it is only a wildlife refuge and you can't stay there.  It is over an hour and a half to the Maryland side and camping, so we look instead for an alternative.

You have to get practically to Ocean city Maryland before you can cut down to the park. 

We found the Pocomoke River State Park as an alternative campsite.  

This is part of a 65 mile Pocomoke River, the eastern most river that empties into the Chesapeake Bay.  

It is also part of the Great Diksmal Swamp, which is actually in Delaware.  Who knew?  It is the northernmost stand of cedars.  You can see the coloration of the water.

It is also supposed to be one of the deepest rivers in the world for its width.  Lots of distinctions!

Joe Biden wanted to make this a National Park, but the locals objected, feeling it would attract too many tourists!

John takes time to go onto the roof and clean off the slide-out since we have lost the protective cover for the time being.

We had a wonderful relaxed evening and morning here.  And tomorrow we will head to Assateaque, this time on the Maryland side!