Coffee Roasting and Other Adventures

We left Virginia Beach on Tuesday morning - about 7 - after saying a sad goodbye to Mark and Lynnette and our friends Belle and Charlie. :(

We should have known, when it took us over an hour to get out of the city {because of rush hour} that it wasn't going to be QUITE the smooth driving day we had coming out for vacation. Our first destination of the day was in Westminster, Maryland, which was about a five hour drive. In those five hours, we were delayed for rush hour, an accident, and a wrong turn in Washington DC {of all places}.

It was our first time to be in Maryland together, and this is the best I could do for a welcome sign, as the ACTUAL welcome sign was around a curve, behind some trees, and I caught it out of my peripheral vision as I was sailing past.

But we made it to Westminster, a small college town, and the purpose of our visit was to stop by Furnace Hills Coffee to see how roasting is done. I learned about Furnace Hills Coffee when I was working at WBCL. I interviewed the owner, Dave Baldwin, about the story of the place, which employs people with disabilities, including Dave's daughter, Erin. I was so intrigued by the story and by the whole idea of coffee roasting {because of course!} that I wanted to see it for myself when I realized we were going to be in the area!

{Can we pause to talk about WHY Ryan thought this was a good day to wear a Colts shirt? In Maryland? We did receive some icy treatment for that. Not from the nice coffee folks though.}

So we'd never seen coffee roasting in action before, and we were fascinated. Furnace Hills has three roasters, and they were all going while we were there. 

 It's a tiny roasting company, but they keep busy, and Dave was kind to explain the process to us - from the time the beans arrive in their burlap sacks until they're roasted and ready to go!

We learned a little about the blends, from the soldier's blend that is a big seller because Gettysburg is nearby to Erin's breakfast blend...we learned how they work and why they're so good! {And we sampled some!}

And then we had a photo taken with the whole gang working that day!

They recommended a little cafe in town for lunch, so we went there. It was delicious, but Ryan's Colts shirt didn't go over well. LOL!!

We had to get back on the road after lunch, because we still had five more hours to go!! We drove on up through Pennsylvania into New York, and man, were the trees ever pretty as we went!

{PS - Pennsylvania, could you spring for larger signs? I almost missed it!!!}

Sunsets in the mountains sure are pretty!

We arrived at our destination after dark - a hotel in Mt. Morris, New York. We were pooped from driving and ready to rest - because the next day was going to be a very big day!

Cape Henry

Last Monday was our last day in Virginia Beach, and we took it easy that morning {again}. Lynnette and I did a little shopping at Cato, and it's possible the capsule wardrobe grew in that outing. After lunch, Mark and Lynnette took us to see one of my favorite things: lightouses!!

There are two lighthouses at Fort Story, and we were able to climb one of them: the Cape Henry Lighthouse. 

The Cape Henry Lighthouse is located at the "First Landing," where the Jamestown settlers arrived. It is said to be one of the oldest surviving lighthouses in the US, dating back to the late 1700's. It looks out over the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, and my goodness, did we ever have a magnificent day to explore it.

 It was 191 steps from the ground up to the base of the lighthouse and then up to the top of the lighthouse.

Did I mention I'm petrified of heights, and I'm claustrophobic?

But I made it to the top, and the view was spectacular!

And as you know, what goes up must come down.

Made it! All 191 steps and the scary ladder included!

And after our lighthouse tour, we looked at some of the other memorials at the First Landing site.

Ryan recreated one....

We looked out over the water one more time...

 And then it was time to say goodbye {to the lighthouses}.

 We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping...

And then Mark and Lynnette took us to Bubba's for seafood. Ryan wanted real, fresh seafood. And it was, indeed, delicious. Even I liked it!

And then....we went to their favorite coffee shop: Cafe Moka. It was delightful.

And so was our last day in Virginia Beach. :( We spent one more night at Mark and Lynnette's, and we were sad to say goodbye to them when early morning arrived.

Walking through Williamsburg

For our Sunday in Virginia Beach, we visited Mark and Lynnette's church, and after church, they took us to Colonial Williamsburg, about an hour from where they live.

{PS: Here was our church look. Since I took a picture, I thought I should post it.}

Anyway, on the way to Williamsburg, we had lunch at a place Mark and Lynnette wanted to show us: Taste. And it was indeed tasty!

After lunch...on to Williamsburg we drove.

If you don't know, Williamsburg used to be the capital of Virginia, and the Colonial area preserves the 18th century appearance and is complete with a cast of people who recreate life in that time and pieces of history for an interesting way of learning about American history. You can purchase tickets to tour buildings in the city, but we didn't do that. We just walked the streets and observed the history and the beauty! Peek into our day?

A stunning church still in use today:

Ryan REALLY wanted this hat. I think it looks striking on him. LOL!!

This was more our style:

Character in action on the streets of Colonial Williamsburg:

Thank goodness coffee existed in colonial times! {Although I doubt it was served with little cardboard cozies.}

Photo opp!!!

Ryan's new friend.

A couple of in-character boys playing in the street:

Recreating an Olan Mills type pose. HA!!

This is as much as we get into tree climbing:

I lost some weight.

How many are in this picture??

 

Sunset. Stunning.

And on our way home...a stop for pizza, followed by the Colts game on TV! It was a truly beautiful day. I was so thankful!