Day-17 .. Zoo & USS Wisconsin .. in NORFOLK

We're going to the .. zoo, zoo, zoo  .. I wish you could .. too, too, too.

But, first, a stop in downtown Norfolk at the waterfront and a glimpse of the USS Wisconsin.

Here she is underway  (Wikipedia) :

She's an Iowa-class battleship, launched in 1943,  887 feet long.

OK, let's go to the zoo for a fun afternoon of enjoying 12 busloads of field-trip schoolkids !!   They must've followed me from DC.

1st exhibit we stopped at .. family of orangutans  .. see the baby looking at me..?

The 'looking at me' became a theme ..

A fun, relaxing afternoon.  This zoo has done a remarkable job in designing the living spaces for their animals.   Talked to zoo staff and they work very closely with national and global affiliates to place babies for conservation breeding.

white rhino

My time on the East Coast is over.  Tomorrow, Wednesday morning, I start heading West, gaining time and more visits with friends and relatives.   Thank You!  Weldon & Violy for being great hosts!    Good fellowship, reminiscing, talking about family and future, and reconnecting. 

Back to being a road trip warrior, trying to find interesting smaller highways and roads and more pieces of Americana.   I'm coming your way.   May need to wash some clothes when I show up.   May bend your ear with excited talk about roads and rivers and Main Streets!