Leaving Salisbury, Maryland, Melanie and I aimed the Volvo due south for the tip of the Delmarva Peninsula with hopes of dipping our toes in Chesapeake right where it meets the great Atlantic.

Route 13 is one of the must-use arteries running down Virginia's Eastern Shore. Shooting straight down the spine of the area that's only five miles at it's widest point, this little highway connects the small towns and villages that dot this fairly-untouched land.

The first place that caught our eye was directly on 13 called Turner Sculptures, which housed hordes of bronze animal figures such as a larger- than-life bust of a ram and realistic chase sequences of bobcats and rabbits. The walls covered in vibrant paintings of mallards and egrets; birds in flight and on the hunt. Outside, the shop resembles an antique shoppe or flee market site, except for the life size deer sitting in the grass and the bronzed underwater scene greeting the gallery guests.

Bumping further down the road, with our stomachs asking to be fed in the language of gurgles and growls, we decided to turn down a small road with faith in a sign and our gut instinct. The sign read, "Wachapregue. A city by the sea. Dining."

The city looked more and more like a village as we drifted deeper into the extensive fields of this far eastern shore. Rolling green farms on both sides and plots of trees popped up ever so often. Eventually, the fields opened up to restaurant and a firehouse, but little else. Full steam ahead, we found a place to fill our bellies at the only restaurant in town, Island House.

With a view of the inlet and barrier islands in the distance, we basked in the cool breeze under the bright sun on the back deck. Our meal of sweet potato fries and a yellow American cheese club felt like home cooking, but not as neighbor-esque as the kind waitress with good conversation and pronunciation lessons on her hometown.

Finally, after a day of bobbing and weaving off of Route 13, we reached the end; the "fin del" Delmarva at the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge. Although, we were not able to have our metaphysical moment wading under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, we did find one of the most beautiful areas yet; a saltwater marsh preserve. Over looking marsh grass at distant, loblolly trees and barrier islands, a sense of disorientation sets in; a feeling of other worldliness, or at least other-country-ness - lush green-yellow grass standing tall and strong out of the brown water with invisible critters running around and birds coo-ing and tweeting in the background. Everything so completely untouched.

With sleep becoming an issue again, we began our hunt for lodging. Camping at Kiptopeke Park near the tip of Delmarva was an option, however with our flesh already undergoing one mosquito ravaging, our spirits were not prepared for another overnight outdoor experience. Cape Charles was on our radar in hopes of bed and a bit of air condition.

Although we didn't stay there in Cape Charles (we stayed in Nassawaddox where we found a nifty America's Best Value Inn for under 70 dollars a night), we did find a cute little town with a quiet beach and a fun little spot that goes by Kelly's Gingernut Irish Pub.

Though I am partial to wings served by the Lucky 7's Tavern in Jersey City (New Jersey), the deliciousness served here may be a close second and was as a spicy end to a long drive.