A low-budget escape (Part i.1)

August 5: The summer is quickly winding down and I was eager to make one last escape before I went back into my classroom. We're equal distance away from Ocean City and Virginia Beach waterfronts, so I was hoping to get Chi to the Atlantic before school resumed. It took two weeks of trying, but we finally found a Virginia beach hotel with a reasonable (peak season) nightly rate. Here's where Mommy's surprise came in: For the bargain price of $114 - tax included - we were all set with a place to crash after our long day at the beach. Mind you, it was not walking distance from the shore, but it was less than a 15 minute drive from the water. And knowing there would be no drive home the same day we ventured down made Mommy very happy.

To the beach! Our travel details:

•  out the door at 8 a.m. (full tank of gas, $2.76 a gallon)
• expected arrival 10 a.m.
• stopped to relieve Mommy's ears of wailing toddler at 9:08 a.m. (breakfast, including tip, $20 - candy bribe to get back into carseat, $0.50)
• buckled into car and back on the road at 9:49 a.m.
• traffic... and more traffic...
•  arrive at parking lot ($10 for the whole day!) 11:43 a.m.
• rapid succession of events: hike one block to the beach; take off shoes and burn feet in sand (Ya says, "Ow, is hot!"); Chi immediately heads into the water; Ya positions himself with sand toys, then repositions in frustration as tide brings water near him.

(The early afternoon arrival meant few people had set up at the beach - - a BIG benefit for getting my pictures!)

Mommy initially considers renting a cabana for $20, but the attendant kept disappearing for lengths of time and she was impatient. This was a mistake, as preserving one's personal space bubble is impossible without a kiddie gate set up, the use of chairs and umbrellas, or a beach blanket so big it could fit half a football team.  Our stroller, beach bag, and camera bag ended up two inches behind a family's blanket (and chairs, and cooler).  They spread out around my belongings and claimed the space entirely.  For the remainder of our stay, I brushed up against one of the men every time I went into my camera bag or touched our towels - - they were that close.