HAPPY ANNIVERSARY !

After spending our first night in Richmond, VA, I surprised Bee with a getaway trip to celebrate our 1 year anniversary. It had been so long since our last road trip ;)

We drove about an hour away to stay at a Bed and Breakfast in Charlottesville, VA where another surprise would await Bee in the morning.

I arranged for us to stay in our own private cottage separate from the rest of the rooms in the main house. It was nice and it was secluded, except for the mouse....it was then that the description of the "cottage" being the former barn took on a whole new, less romantic reality.

So, then next morning we woke up at the crack of dawn and drove to a secret place where I would surprise Bee with her dream-come-true present.
When we arrived at the location (a fancy hotel), I stepped into the restroom real quickly and when I came out, the pilot of the hot air balloon I hired had blown the surprise. Bee was happy anyway, so it all worked out.
There was supposed to be another couple flying with us, but they didn't show up, which meant we got our very own private flight (for half the cost)! Saweeet!!!

We helped blow up the balloon...


And then we took off. The flight was surprisingly smooth without any of that stomach rising stuff.


We flew over UVA campus and Bee took some time to ponder what she had done a year ago...


When it was time to land, we got to help with that too. It was great!


After our flight, we decided to grab a bite to eat. We found this house that had been converted into a local Mexican Restaurant. Cool.
The next day we found an Apple Orchard nearby. We enjoyed the view and Bee beat me terribly at a game of checkers in their laid back style store.

We have returned to this same orchard every year to pick fresh apples and make apple pie. We love it!