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Comment by mariecb on May 6, 2014 at 10:56am

DARmom - thanks for that helpful information.  If I could get my husband to take more vacation I would love to drive out there!

Comment by DARmom on May 6, 2014 at 9:38am

Mariecb - 

I have used both Norfolk and Richmond airports and Norfolk is much closer to the base - about 10 minutes. Richmond is a good 30+ minutes depending on traffic. Flying out of Richmond the TSA there are stricter than anything I have encountered before.

Last week I rode from Michigan back to the base with my son. We took the Ohio turnpike which becomes I-76 E; Merge onto  I-70 E at exit 161 towards Breezewood, PA. Breezewood, PA (very easy off and on) and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, which was very clean. We ate at the sports bar directly in front of the hotel and our waitress’s husband was retired Navy. We then took US 522 South towards Winchester, VA. Next take US 17 South towards Fredericksburg, VA and then I-95 South towards Richmond, VA. The final leg was 64 E to Norfolk, VA. This was a great route, traffic wasn’t bad, and it takes you through the Blue Ridge Mountains and north end of the Shenandoah Valley – so picturesque! Loves of places to stop for gas, restroom, and food. 

Comment by TLC72 on May 5, 2014 at 10:50pm

HuffyMom- What part of IL do you live?

Comment by HuffyMom23 on May 5, 2014 at 5:27pm

mariecb - I drive a 2 lane highway that eventually merges into 4 lanes on my way to work.  So I am not used to major traffic. When you are not use to it, then it is an adjustment.  I just hope when I go back to work tomorrow that I remember to not drive 75 or 80. ha I am sure it will be nothing for you guys. The end of June will be here before you know it. I bet he is excited for you to come..

Comment by Leach73 on May 5, 2014 at 5:18pm

Hello to all.

My Sailor will be heading to Norfolk in a couple of weeks. Her PIR was 04/18 so here I go again, moving along, with the help of N4Ms, of learning as she moves on to the next part of her journey in Navy life. Just wanted to join the group and say Hello!

Comment by mariecb on May 5, 2014 at 3:55pm

HuffyMom 23 - we are from Duluth, Minnesota so not used to much traffic.  I do have a sister in Minneapolis so we drive there but is it worse than that?!  We are thinking of flying into Richmond and driving to Norfolk. 

Comment by HuffyMom23 on May 5, 2014 at 2:48pm

It took us about 15 hours.  We divided it up between 2 days.  We stayed at the Navy Lodge the first night we got there which is very close to the base.  For us that part didn't matter because our son is at the AEB shipyard and it is still a bit of a drive from there. But the Navy Lodge is awesome for the price and very clean.  I love them!  We might go back out in the fall and we are planning to stay at the Navy Lodge then if we go.  My brother lives in Virginia Beach but he is out for about 4 or 5 months on his deployment.  We missed seeing him. :(  We left on April 24th and got back yesterday.  We stayed at a condo on Virginia Beach for 1 week.

My son will talk to us about everything that is going on with him out there and usually calls us about every night.  But, when it comes to his emotions, he just won't say anything.  Honestly if he would have said I really miss you guys and don't want you to leave without me, I would have lost it. ha  But this was his decision to join the Navy, so I know he understands that he will be away from everyone. He is a strong kid and as long as his path steers the way he would like in the Navy, he will most likely make a career out of it.  Two of my brothers were in for 20 years and my brother-n-law was in the Air Force for 20 years.  So he has good role models. But I never missed my brothers like I do my son! ha ha  Would it also be a long drive for you? My biggest adjustment was that traffic.  I did every bit of the driving the whole trip because my husband never drives my car and isn't comfortable in it.  He has a big quad cab truck and he is used to sitting up high.  So I wasn't real happy about doing all of the driving.  Usually he does. :) You might be used to crazy traffic.

Comment by mariecb on May 5, 2014 at 1:57pm

HuffyMom23 - I have not seen my son since early January and it was so good to read your post. I miss him so much.  Like your son, he is very private and does not tell us too much.  He just arrived in Norfolk in mid March and still stays on the ship.  We plan to go out and see him (we live in N. Minnesota) the end of June. We are staying at the Navy Lodge outside of the base.  We are hoping to fly but it is getting expensive for all 3 of us.  How long did it take you to drive out?  How long did you stay?  Anything you can suggest would be appreciated!

Comment by HuffyMom23 on May 5, 2014 at 1:04pm

Hi everyone! We just got back yesterday from seeing our sailor son in Norfolk.  Does it ever get easier to tell them good-bye?  I am so bummed today and was not ready to come home.  Of course the weather started getting nicer the few days before we left.  When we left Saturday, he kept wanting us to stay longer.  It was really hard to tell him we couldn't. 

It seemed like during the week when we picked him up we had time to visit during supper.  Then once he showered he couldn't stay awake.  We were waking him up at 4:30 a.m. and leaving our condo every morning at 5:00 to take him to the shipyard.  It was about a 30 minute drive.  So really the weekends were the main time we spent with him.  I will say though, that I WILL NOT MISS THAT TRAFFIC from Virginia Beach to Norfolk. ha  We do not have that crazy stuff where we live and it was making me nervous. I do miss the sound of the ocean though.  Where we live in Illinois is blah compared to the east coast. Even the drive home through the mountains was beautiful. 

The room he stays in on the base on the weekends is even way far away from the main gate of the base.  He doesn't have his motorcycle out there yet, so he usually just stays in his room all weekend unless going out to eat.  Those cab fares are getting expensive for him to do stuff all the time.  He also has to use a cab when he leaves the shipyard during the week to do anything.  His room was so sterile so it made his dad and I feel better to take a TV and some of his clothes.  Then before we left we went to the NEX and bought him a bunch of stuff so it looks a little more lived in when we left.  He wanted me to bring his favorite blankets and a couple of his pillows.  Knowing he had some comforts from home put a smile on his face. 

Don't get me wrong, he is glad he chose the NAVY, but it is just hard for mom and dad and his sisters to not see him more often.  Hopefully he will get back in the swing of work this week and not be too bummed we are gone.  He has never once told us he is homesick or wants to come home.  He is very private with his emotions so I don't always know what he is feeling.  I couldn't believe how many sailors I saw sitting by themselves eating at the NEX in the food court.  They were eating and messing with their phones the whole time. ha  My son is the same way and it makes me sad.  But I know many kids are fine with doing things by themselves.

Sorry for the long post! :)

Comment by jw'smom on May 4, 2014 at 5:43pm

Thank you Navy Mom 2013, I appreciate the tip.  I will relay to my sailor about the transportation offered!

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