Discovery Sunday is what my grandfather and I used to do when I was a child. He would pull out the map of the area we lived in Missouri and randomly pick a spot on a Monday. The rest of the week my task was to read up on the area or site we were going to. As you can guess by the end of the week I had a plan and off we went. Grandpa lived on a fixed income so I had to plan as economically as possible. At the time I didn't know that he was teaching me the value of enjoying life a little simpler and to take advantage of what is around you.
I live in Southeastern Virginia now and I continue on my quest still. I have lived here for 14 years and I have just scratched the surface. The Chesapeake, Eastern Shore, Tangier's Island, the Dismal Swamp, loads of canals and waterways, John Smith's trail and so on. There is no end to Discovery Sunday here.
Today I MAKE my friends go with me on Discovery Sundays. I enjoy this because I have to tear them away from their norm/safety zone and watch how much fun they have discovering that simple lesson my grandfather taught me so many years ago. (more than a few them bug me to go on Discovery Sunday now)
Now I want to share that experience with you, the reader. While I make may around on my discoveries I will share them with you. So just like Discovery Sunday with Grandpa I will have fun sharing it with you.
On this Sunday, by the way it does not always have to be Sunday, I was out and about on the Eastern Shore going on a very short day trip to Cape Charles. On the way home I decided to stop off at the Eastern Shore and Fisherman's Island Wildlife Management Area to do a quick recon of this site. It was really great on top of the gun mounts in the cool wind just behind Fisherman's Island.
For some interesting reading on the Winslow Guns and site information visit:
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/easternshore/History.html
Aerial view of WWII gun battery. Photo Credit: USFWS
Ft Custis
Battery Winslow No.122
2 - 16" - LR - Casemated Barbette
1943-1948 Navy Gun (16" 1940 Program)
World War II gun placement for the harbor defense of the Chesapeake Bay entrance way.
Lat: 37.133543 Long: -75.956375
Park Info at:
Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge
(757) 331-3425
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/easternshore/index.html
http://goo.gl/maps/vN80
