Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge

My first post of 2012 !!

I went to help my brother, Chris, with his job in Delaware during the week of February 27th.  I left on the 25th to drive up there. My route takes me across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. The Wildlife Refuge Refuge is at the north end of the Bridge-Tunnel and the southern tip of the Delmarva peninsular.  I had been there once before and decided to stop again. It is 1,123 acres and was established in 1984.

Fresh water pond.

Small abandoned boat near a canal at the end edge of a saltwater marsh.

Another view of the canal.

A panorama of the saltmarsh. In the background is the Chesapeake Bay and to the left you can just make out the Cape Charles Lighthouse

Just beyond this portion of the saltmarsh is the Atlantic.

This is the remains of the WWII Winslow Bunker.  It was part of Fort John Custis and had 16" guns to protect the naval bases and shipyards in Virginia Beach and Norfolk.  The only time they were fired was during practice.

This is the other side and the platform that held the guns.

A view of towards the Chesapeake Bay from the top of the gun mounts.

A small cemetery. There was no gate, so I didn't climb the fence to see who was buried there.

The 'back gate.'  I didn't see this the first time I visited.  It is an entry point to theRefuge from a welcome station along US 13.