Passing Time in Myrtle Beach

With Mike back in Michigan for a meeting, I had a few days alone in Myrtle Beach.  Now, if I were  a guy, or a golf nut, passing the time would have been no problem as there are over 80 golf courses around here.  A hacker's dream.  (Actually, I am a hacker, but this is not my dream).

So, using the excuse that one of Mike's favorite shirts had two small holes in it, after I dropped him off at the airport on Saturday, I drove straight to a mall to replace it.  We never shop on our travels, other than for groceries, so this was a treat.  And I'm not even a big shopper.

Sunday morning was the church dilemma.  It is not an easy task finding a church on the road.  At least for me.  If you are Catholic, you just ask directions to the nearest Catholic church.  Ditto for Lutherans. But if you are looking for a Bible believing, Bible teaching, non-denominational church, it becomes a little more difficult.  Based on convenience more than anything, I ended up at a church a little over a mile away from the campground in Surfside Beach.  It was a good service.  And I seem to hit churches on their hospitality Sundays because they were having a free catered lunch after the service.  (In Utah, it was the third Sunday of the month potluck when I was there).

I didn't stay for lunch as I was on my way to Charleston (Mt. Pleasant, to be exact) to spend the afternoon with family - PJ and Jessica O'Mara and their two cute daughters, Taylor and Jayden.  Brad O'Mara and his girlfriend Ashley joined us.  PJ and Brad are Mike's second cousins, but we dispense of such formalities and just say "cousins".  We had a wonderful time, filled with lots of laughing and reminiscing. The hours flew by and I found myself making the almost 2 hour trip back after dark, but it was worth it. So far, a bonus of this eastern trip has been the chance for us to catch up with some extended family members that we don't get to see very often.

The weather didn't quite cooperate with my planned beach day on Monday.  It was overcast all day, which didn't make me want to rush to the water.  It was perfect for a bike ride, though.  I set off to explore the campground, knowing from the map that it was really, really big.  When I was done, my pedometer app said I had ridden 5 miles and I didn't even get through the whole park!  Later that afternoon I did plop a chair in the sand.  (it might have been overcast, but it was still warm - you have to be thankful for the little things. . . )  Taking a break from my book, I strolled the beach in search of sea shells.  I didn't have to look hard - they are everywhere.  Not so the dolphins - I never did see any.  The coming and going of the tides are very visible here.  When Mike and I walked the beach one morning, I thought the beach area seemed narrow.  But that afternoon, the tide was out and the beach tripled in size.  I enjoyed watching the sandpipers scurrying in and out of the water.  We didn't so much enjoy the pitter-patter of little feet we constantly heard in the motorhome.  Thinking it was raindrops, but knowing it wasn't raining outside, we discovered blackbirds were running on our roof.  What could be up there to attract them?

Tuesday was cleaning day :(  and Mike flew back in :).

We woke Wednesday morning to the first bit of sunshine we have had in days.  The wind, however, was fierce.  It was so strong it blew our bikes over.  Our idea of getting in another round of golf changed because I have a hard enough time hitting the ball straight or far without battling the wind.  We did some maintenance things, or I should say Mike did:  putting air in our bike tires and getting the collected rain off the roof and slide out awnings.  And we took a last walk on the beach.

I had seen The Carolina Opry advertised and thought it would be fun to go.  A recommendation from friend Valerie sealed the deal for me so we went to this musical show on Wednesday night.  Mike wasn't as eager as I was, but we both really liked it.  The performers were excellent, and they did much more that just country music, as their name would imply.  Comedy was part of the show, which made it even more enjoyable.  One song title, "It's hard to kiss the lips at night that chew your butt all day" reminded us of the show we went to in Cody, Wyoming when they sang, "It takes a whole lotta liquor to like her."
And the comedian gave me a new pick-up line to pass along to our boys:  "If you were a buger, I'd pick you first!"  He then did a little ditty about dollar stores (which seem more plentiful down here than elsewhere) that was quite hilarious.  Did you know Fiddle Faddle is the poor man's Cracker Jacks?

So, we are up to today - Thursday.  We left Pirateland under sunny skies but cool temperatures.  Not far outside of Myrtle Beach, we drove right past Coastal Carolina University.  We had heard of it, but never knew where it was.  We saw a sign advertising "Fresh Mountain Apples - turn right".  Would mountain apples be different from those grown on flat land?  Mike was not willing to make that right hand turn so I could find out.  And we decided that Sparky's must be the South Carolina version of Wall Drug, judging by the number of billboards encouraging us to stop there.   (clean restrooms seemed to be the biggest draw).  And really, does anybody actually like boiled peanuts?

We are on our way to Charlotte, North Carolina, home to everything and anything NASCAR.  I'm disappointed that I won't have a chance to bump into Jeff or Jimmy or Junior at a local restaurant as they are in Virginia for the race at Martinsville this Sunday!

                                                            With Jayden and Taylor

                                                                     PJ and Brad

   Ocean fishing.   We don't see people fish right from the beach at Lake Michigan back home.

                                                           Those cute sandpipers

                                             A creative way to use the picnic table shelter!

                                                  We've passed a lot of cotton fields

Myrtle Beach, SC

Watching the Tigers again gives me time to post, although as Mike will point out, "We didn't do anything today except drive 4 1/2 hours south.  (and he is correct)
In fact, when he read the Richmond post, he said I was getting long winded.  Gosh, he didn't say that on our western trip until near the end of the three months.  If I am starting out that way, it is a good thing this journey is only for one month or you could be reading my version of "War and Peace"!



Mike wanted to leave by 9 this morning (Thursday) and we were pulling out at 8:45.  Let me tell you, that goes a long toward marital harmony.  I can't tell you how important that is when traveling together 24/7.

When we turned out of the campground in Wilson, NC we were on US 301.  That rang a bell.  That is the main highway that runs through Zephyrhills, Florida, our ultimate destination.  I told Mike we could just stay right on 301 for the rest of the trip.  (That would never happen.  Too many stoplights!)
But before we got back on the freeway, we did drive through Mount Olive, the pickle capital of the United States.

The most interesting thing to happen today:  We were on a two lane divided highway about 30 miles from Myrtle Beach.  Mike said to be watching for two things: a place to get fuel (that we can easily get in and out of) and if we can't, a stretch with a wide shoulder so he could pull over, put the RV in park and go back to use our bathroom.  We never found a gas station big enough for us, and he couldn't wait any longer.  With the cruise control set at 60 mph, I grabbed the steering wheel, Mike slid out of the drivers seat and I slid in while he hustled back to the bathroom.  First time I have driven the motorhome in two years.  I usually drive it once a year, home from East Lansing after we tailgate at a Michigan State football game.  A few minutes later, after rounding a bend, we made the exchange back.

I called each of our boys today.  I scolded each of them as we hadn't talked to any of them since we left Michigan.   You would think they had conferred on an response, because I got the same one from all three:  We are keeping up with you on your blog.  I said that was all well and good, but since they don't write a blog, I had no idea how they were doing and they need to call their mother!
As we were nearing Myrtle Beach, I was talking with Matt.  I said, "We are in Myrtle Beach and driving past golf course after golf course.  It is sunny and the temperature is 81."  There was a long silence and then Matt said, "You are not complaining, are you Mom?"
Absolutely not!  I guess I needed to have a little more enthusiasm in my voice.

We are at a campground right on the beach.  We will be here for a week, as Mike is flying back to Michigan for a board meeting.  So like last April in Utah, I will be here by myself for a few days.  We chose Myrtle Beach and the campground for that reason.  The park is very big with lots of space to bike  ride. so between that and miles of beachfront, I'll keep busy.  Not to mention the RV needs a good cleaning inside.

There really won't be anything to write home about in the next few days, so I won't be posting.  Unless of course one of us hits a hole in one.  We already have a tee time for Friday.  First on the agenda in the morning is a walk on the beach.  Mike said when he was in Myrtle Beach (over 13 years ago) he saw dolphins every morning from his hotel window.  I'm hoping they are still there .  .  .

With our windows open or sitting outside, we can hear the waves crashing on shore.  And our claim to fame?  Within the last 5 months, we have put our feet in both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans!

                                  Welcome to South Carolina - Smiling Faces Beautiful Places

                              The view out our front windshield.  We are this close to the beach

                                                                      Priceless!

On to Richmond

The title of today's post is taken from a headline in the New York Tribune in 1861 that called for a push by Union Forces to make haste and take Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy.

We have almost a 4 hour drive to North Carolina this morning.  My goal is to finish this post before we get there.  (I'm not kidding.  Between looking out the window, listening to a book on tape, getting munchies, stopping for a turkey sandwich at a rest area, I have a lot of distractions!)

Before we left for Richmond, while in the motorhome, we saw a front-end loader rumbling through the campground with a coffin in the bucket.  We did a double-take. . . it was a little eerie.  I knew we were out in the boonies, but not THAT far.  We then remembered that the campground was hosting their Halloween activities this weekend.  They were setting up their haunted house.  (this is a very popular thing with campgrounds.  We have camped with our two oldest grandchildren at such events in Michigan and they love it.)

We did a Trip Advisor search of what to see and do in Richmond.  Our first stop was St. John's Episcopal Church, site of Patrick Henry's famous speech.  The existing building was erected in 1741, but the parish itself dates back to the early 1600's.
Many churches (especially rural ones, which this certainly once was) have cemeteries on the grounds.  Usually off to the side or in the back.  Not St. John's.  The main sidewalk up to the front entrance goes right through graves and tombstones, including Elizabeth Poe, Edgar Allen's mother  (our second creepy feeling of the day).

We were reminded by our guide that for decades, the colonies in America were loyal British subjects, mainly because  Britain ignored us.  Only when the Crown started to impose taxes upon us did the rumblings of self-government and independence begin.  Taxation without representation. . .
In 1775 the Royal Governor, Lord Dunmore, disbanded the Virginia House of Burgess because of the  revolutionary rhetoric and prevented them from meeting in Williamsburg, then the capital of the colony.
Facing imprisonment, members gathered at St. John's church in March for several days.  On March 23, 1775, with George Washington and Thomas Jefferson sitting in the pews, 38 year old country lawyer Patrick Henry delivered his fiery speech:
 "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?  Forbid it, Almighty God!  I know not what course others my take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
(that bears a striking resemblance to Joshua 24:15 - ". . . choose you this day whom you shall serve, but for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord.")

It is said that Washington was the sword of the revolution. Jefferson was the pen of the revolution.  And Patrick Henry was the voice of the revolution.
The church holds reenactments of the speech on Sundays from May through September, so we just missed the opportunity.
Patrick Henry went on to organize the militia and briefly command the Virginia forces until Washington persuaded him that his greater service would be to direct the organization of a new government of Virginia.  He did and became the first governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia and was re-elected four times.

From St. John's church, we headed into the heart of downtown Richmond.  (both Charlottesville and Richmond are very hilly cities).  The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center was built around the White House of the Confederacy, our destination.  In fact, we were directed to park in the hospital parking garage, because the museum was right next door.  Tours are given on the hour and we had about 40 minutes, so we took a 10 minute walk to the State Capitol, designed by you-know-who. (Thomas Jefferson).  Mike commented on how convenient it is because all the state government buildings are in a circle around the capitol.  (unlike our capitol in Lansing).  We entered at the back of the building and I wanted to walk to the front to get a picture.  Not much of a picture because the entire front was covered in tarps for remodeling.
Continuing around the capitol, we saw the Governor's residence.  It was pretty, but I wasn't going to take a picture until we read the plaque and realized the historical significance (see picture below).  While I was taking a picture, we experienced our first example of southern hospitality.  A Virginia State Trooper came out of the guard house and asked if we would like a tour of the mansion!  We said we only had about 10 or 15 minutes because we had to be back at the Confederate White House by 3.  He quickly got on the phone and a lady came out and said, "Come on in.  We'll make it quick."
The first floor is like the White House, open to the public and the second floor is the private living quarters.  She said the governor had just walked in, but we didn't see him. (we actually had to ask just who is the governor of Virginia?  FYI - Bob McDonnell).
I asked if there were any children living in the mansion.  She said no, that the governor's youngest are in college.  But she showed us pictures of previous governor's children (including Charles and Lynda Robb's, LBJ's daughter) with their lemonade stands in front of the mansion.
The tour was quick, but so nice.

Oh oh. . . we are pulling into the campground and I am not finished.  And even worse, Mike wants to wash the motorhome!  Darn, darn. . .  I'll continue typing in a few hours.

This is a tangent, but when we got set up in the park, I told Mike I was glad we didn't have to use their restroom facilities.  On the other hand, it is a great, long pull-through site and cheap.  We were half-way through washing the RV when the owner came by and said it wasn't allowed.  (The reason we picked this park was when I called to make a reservation, the lady said we could).  On the other hand, it is not raining, so we are grilling burgers for dinner and when I went to the office to buy a bundle of wood, I got the biggest bundle ever for $4.  So it is a campfire, burgers, and watching the Tigers on our outdoor TV.  We have found very few campgrounds out east here that allow you to wash your RV. Every park we stay at in Michigan lets us.  One park's motto is "When you look good, we look good".  Maybe we have a different view of water, what with being the Great Lake State!

Back to Richmond:
We literally ran and got back for our 3:00 tour of the Jefferson Davis White House.  I found a kindred spirit when our tour guide (a young man in his 20's) encouraged us to ask questions because he had a head full of useless information.  That is what Mike says about me!  I smiled.  Mike just rolled his eyes because he knew what he was in for.  This guy was enthusiastic, to say the least.  These are the kinds of questions I ask:  "Why Jefferson Davis?"  "Why Richmond?"
Jefferson Davis was a senator from Mississippi when he was tapped to become President of the Confederate States of America.  He and his wife Varina and their three children moved into the home that the Confederate government leased from the city of Richmond in August 1861.  Two more children were born in the 4 years they lived there.  They were forced to flee during the evacuation of Richmond on April 2, 1865.  Robert E. Lee was a frequent visitor and 36 hours after Davis fled, Abraham Lincoln came to the house to discuss post-war plans.
The house has been very well preserved and restored and the tour guide really brought it to life.  (we have found that so many times, a tour guide can really make or break your experience).

We then drove 3 miles to the Hollywood Cemetery.  It is one of only 3 places in the country to have two presidents buried there. The other two are Arlington and United First Parish Church in Quincy, MA.  With Jefferson Davis interred here, Hollywood actually claims to have 3 presidents.  I'll tell you the grave sites we saw at Hollywood and let you guess the names of the presidents who have their final resting place at the other two.
This cemetery is HUGE, but easy to navigate by following the painted blue line and using the $1 map.
We saw the tombs of James Monroe (5th president) and John Tyler (10th president), along Jefferson Davis, his wife and and all 5 children.  They have a large confederate memorial, also.

Running out of daylight, we drove to Monument Boulevard.  We thought this was going to be a several block section of statues, one right after the other, that we would walk.  Instead, there were several blocks between the statues, and we drove it.  I didn't get pictures of them all, including a really neat one of Arthur Ashe who grew up in Richmond.  And we also didn't see the Robert E. Lee monument (another darn it).  Considering that Lee is one of Virginia's favorite sons, the fact I didn't see a statue of him the whole week we were in Virginia is unbelievable.  The houses on Monument Blvd. were almost as impressive as the statues.

Next up was a place to eat and try to watch the Tigers.  We found ourselves on the campus of VCU - a very urban campus.  Walking down the street, we passed City Dogs, and we could see they had the game on.  They had every kind of hot dog we've ever heard of, along with lots we hadn't.  They had a Boston Dog, Manhattan Dog, Tennessee Dog, Wisconsin Dog (to name a few), but no Michigan Dog, so we opted for the local Richmond Dog.  The fact that Tuesdays are $1 Richmond Dog Day played into that decision.

Experiencing history isn't free.  We paid 3 tolls getting to Richmond, and paid them while getting around Richmond.  But we found gas for the Jeep at $2.99 and diesel for the RV was some of the cheapest we have seen.   You have to be thankful for the little things. . .

We easily could stay in Virginia several more weeks, as there is so much to see.  I am envious of those that live here amidst all this history.  And just so you know this is a site seeing trip and not a shopping excursion, there was an IKEA a mile away from our campground in College Park and we didn't go.  How often do you get to one when you live in rural Michigan?  And I need a 9 x 13 pan for the motorhome!

The number of horse farms we saw in Virginia surprised us.  You would think we were in Kentucky.

Our stop in North Carolina is just for one night on our way to Myrtle Beach, SC.  Again, not enough time to explore everything.

(Answers to presidential burial sites:  Arlington has Kennedy and William Howard Taft.  Quincy, MA has John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams)

                                                    Entrance to St. John's Church

                                                   

                                                         Guide at the church

                                     Markings stamped on the sidewalk in downtown Richmond

                                              On the grounds of the Virginia State Capitol

   Also on the grounds.  Statue of General Washington, with other famous Virginians around it

                                                       Front of Capitol building

                                                          Side view of Capitol

                                             

       Read the plaque.  It explains the history of the house.  It is the oldest continuously occupied          governor's residence in the United States.  Everyone has a claim to fame.

                                                The rear of the Confederate White House

                     The front and side of the house.  Notice the modern building next door.

                                                            Tomb of James Monroe

                                                            John Tyler's grave site

                                                   Jefferson Davis and family grave site

               Stonewall Jackson on Monument Boulevard.  I got this picture because we were waiting at a stoplight.

                                           One of the beautiful houses on Monument Blvd.

Monticello

Anticipating a 3 hour drive on Sunday to the Richmond area, we thought we could get set up at our new campground in Virginia (Cozy Acres) and still have most of the afternoon to do some sightseeing. But traffic and weather conspired against us.  A car accident on I-495 began the delay and then pouring rain all afternoon put the kibosh on any meanderings.
Our campground is nestled in the Virginia countryside.   While I enjoyed the ride on the two lane country roads, Mike doesn't really like maneuvering  the RV off the beaten track.  For pure driving ease, he likes campgrounds close to freeway exits.  EZ on, EZ off type things.  The first picture below is the view out the front of our motorhome, just to give you an idea.  The big bull is T-bone.

John Steinbeck once said, "You don't take a trip.  A trip takes you."  We've found that to be true.
So we set off with a full day's schedule on Monday: Monticello, Montpelier, Mitchie Tavern, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.   It took us over an hour to get to Monticello.  We were surprised  by how many people were there.  5 parking lots filled and at least that many tour buses.  We didn't think the government shutdown was the culprit as this is too far away for day-trippers from D.C.
We had no way of knowing that October is THE month for school field trips.  When you arrive at the Monticello Visitor Center, you receive a ticket with a time for a guided tour of the mansion.  We got there before 11 and our time was 2:20.  All the school kids get the morning times.  We quickly realized we would never get in everything we hoped to.  Three hours seemed like a long time to kill, but there was the obligatory orientation film, a museum, a shuttle bus ride higher up the mountain to the house and the grounds to wander.  (not to mention lunch)

I have a confession to make. I'm not as clever as I appear to be.  This steel trap of a brain has gotten rusty in the last few years and I take constant notes on my phone everywhere we visit.  Any interesting (at least to me) tidbit from a film, tour guide or sign gets put into my Notes app so hours (or a day) later I can relate with accuracy our activities and any interesting information we learn.  I have to explain to guides that I am not being rude and texting!  So basically, I plagiarize.   Three quarters of our way through Monticello, I lost my page of notes.  Don't ask me how.  So I'm going from memory on this blog post.

Monticello is a fascinating place.  Can I say that again?  It is a fascinating place.  That is entirely due to its architect and inhabitant - Thomas Jefferson.  He was a lawyer, governor of Virginia, author of the Declaration of Independence, secretary of state under Washington, vice-president to John Adams and the third president of the United States. (he described the presidency as a "splendid misery".)  The notable event of his presidency?  The Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition that explored the new territory.  Returning to Monticello after two terms, he founded the University of Virginia.
 From his most famous document - "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."  Remember my Lincoln's Gettysburg Address quote from a few days ago?  Do you see a similarity?  ". . . all men are created equal. . . "
The power and eloquence of the written and spoken words of our forefathers is so incredibly moving.

But Jefferson was much more than a wizard with words.  His interests in architecture and science are on display all over Monticello.  He was involved in every detail.  The house itself is a neoclassical design, so very unlike the boxy, georgian style homes popular at that time (like Mount Vernon).  Jefferson's time as Minister to France gave him an appreciation of European customs, designs, fabrics, etc.  So many of the innovations he incorporated into the house are ingenious.  Flanking the house, on either side, is an L-shaped walkway  that ends in a little square building.  Jefferson and his wife Martha lived in one while the main house was being built.  From the right walkway, through the trees, you can see the dome of the main building on the campus of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.  The interesting part is what is underneath the walkways.  The ice house, the kitchen, the wine cellars, the privies, the storerooms, the smokehouse, the slave quarters.  Everything needed to provide for the family took place below, out of the way.  There was a dumb waiter that ran from the wine cellar directly up to the dining room.  Slaves would carry the meals on trays up the stairs, place them on shelves that were attached to a revolving door.  The slave butler upstairs would spin the door and take the hot meals from the shelves.  Jefferson attached the weathervane on top of his roof to a circle (basically a compass rose) on the ceiling of the front porch.  He could see this from 5 windows inside.  He never had to walk outside to tell which direction the wind was coming from!  Inside the foyer, he had a set of round balls attached to a string that indicated what day of the week it was.  He had a rudimentary copy machine.  His pen was attached to another pen and whatever he wrote was duplicated on another sheet of paper.  Every time he dipped his pen, the other pen went into an inkwell, too.   I could go on and on, but you get the picture.  Clever, clever ideas.

To help pay his debts, Jefferson sold his collection of over 6,900 books to the government, forming the nucleus of the Library of Congress.  He wrote to Adams, "I cannot live without books" and immediately began collecting them again.

The grounds were beautiful with a large variety of flowers.  There was also an area for hands-on activities, mainly for kids, but I took a stab at writing with a quill.  You have to dip that pen constantly! And it smears easily!

Workers at Monticello don't shy away from the slavery issue or the Sally Hemings debate.  They acknowledge that there is ample evidence to prove Jefferson fathered children with Hemings (a black slave) after his beloved Martha died after only 10 years of marriage.  Like Washington, Jefferson struggled with the slavery issue, but only freed 5 of his slaves upon his death.

Jefferson died at the age of 83, on July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  He was deeply in debt and his beloved Monticello was sold to pay those debts.  Wanting to preserve the plantation, the third owner donated it to the federal government, but it refused to take it!  The Thomas Jefferson Foundation was formed and the house was sold to it.
Jefferson's wish for his tombstone was to have listed what he considered his three major contributions to his country:  Author of the Declaration of Independence, Author of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom and Founder of the University of Virginia.

I think I liked Thomas Jefferson's home better than George Washington.  The museum at Mount Vernon is much better, but the brick home of Monticello is iconic.  Just look at the back of a nickel.

We left Monticello and stopped at the Mitchie Tavern, which is just down the hill.  It was founded in 1784 by a Scotsman named William Mitchie.  They offer a lunch and tour, but we were too late for the lunch, so didn't go inside.  We were hoping to get to Montpelier, home of our fourth president and his wife, James and Dolley Madison.  Checking the website to punch in an address in the GPS, we saw something that had escaped us in our earlier research and planning.  The house is not open on Mondays!  Had we realized that, we would have gone to Richmond on Monday and done the two presidential homes on Tuesday.
We saw signs proclaiming "Ash Lawn Highlands - home of fifth president James Monroe" three miles from Monticello.  Knowing very little about Monroe (except that he was the author of the Monroe Doctrine) and even less about the house, we took the short side-trip there.  A prime example of what Mike likes about traveling - you never know what is around the next bend.  There didn't seem to be a lot to see there other than the home, a modest looking building, so we nixed taking the tour and drove 45 minutes to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  This is actually over 400 miles long, but I wanted to just drive for a ways to see the views.  We got on it, heading south, at the northernmost entrance.  We couldn't go north to the Shenandoah National Park, on the Skyline Drive, because both are closed due to the government shutdown.  As it was, all the visitor centers, rest areas and shops along the Parkway are closed, but the road itself is open.  We didn't have to drive far to start seeing spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley.  But the rain clouds were coming back and the views were getting obstructed so we only went about 30 miles.  The drive reminded us of the mountainous ones we had out west.  Ok in the car, but wouldn't want to take the curvy roads in the motorhome.  Plus, many of the overview parkings spaces were not big enough to accommodate the RV.

Since it wasn't out of our way, we drove into Charlottesville, through the campus of the University of Virginia.  Jefferson's influence is everywhere.  Most of the buildings resemble Monticello, with the brick and columns.

I'm determined not to regret that we didn't see Montpelier.  Just another reason to come back!

                                                The rural view from our motorhome

                                   A long view to show some of the flowering shrubs

                                  The classic view of Monticello.  Actually the back of the house

                                                           The front of the house

                                                            The right side walkway

                                 The first structure at Monticello that Thomas and Martha lived in

                                                    The tunnel under the right walkway

                                            My feeble attempt at writing with a quill pen

                                                                  Mitchie Tavern

                                               The clouds beginning to obstruct our view

                                                         The Shenandoah Valley

                                                             Rockfish Valley

Annapolis and Mount Vernon

The last two days were a classic example of "places to go and people to see."  We didn't let the constant rain on Friday deter us.  We started the day having breakfast with our niece Rylee, who is a senior at Catholic University in D.C.. Rylee chose the restaurant, a local eatery called "The Coupe" and Mike and I both thought our omelets just might have been the best we've ever had.  We had thought to go to Annapolis and Rylee's enthusiastic review of the city confirmed our decision.

The main street of Annapolis is a narrow, cobblestone lane that dead ends at the water.
Little did we know that the self-proclaimed "Sailing Capital of the World" was having a HUGE boat show this weekend. We could not see the Chesapeake Bay due to the conglomeration of large tents.  For a mere $10, we could have gotten inside the barriers (and come to think of it, out of the drizzle under those tents) but we declined.  Just as I wrote about "serious" hikers when out west, Annapolis was filled with "serious" sailors.  They were easily recognizable - yellow rain slickers, Sperry Top-Sider shoes and 99% of the men have beards!

Besides being the capitol of Maryland, Annapolis is home to the U.S. Naval Academy, which is a short walk from downtown.  The Academy was founded in 1845 and wears its age extremely well.  A lovely campus to stroll.  Our first stop was the Visitors Center, which came at just the right time.  We got out of the rain and Mike's hip was telling him to find a place to sit down.  Remember I mentioned the patriotic stirrings I feel being in this area?  Well, the first orientation film of this trip had that pot boiling over.  When the words and images of Honor - Courage - Commitment came on the screen, I was tearing up.  We owe so much to the brave men and women who serve our country.  I feel privileged to have visited the academies of all four of our service branches: The Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, West Point in the Hudson River Valley, and the Naval Academy (home to both the Navy and Marines).

Just outside the visitors center, we got the view we missed downtown - the harbor.  While walking to the chapel to see the crypt of John Paul Jones (considered the father of our navy), we passed a midshipman in full uniform (those Navy blues are impressive), walking ramrod straight, carrying his shoulder pads and gear, obviously on his way to football practice.
We were a little disappointed at the chapel.  It was closed due to a wedding rehearsal, so we could only peek in the front windows.  Entrance to the crypt, which is under the chapel, was also closed.  The famous story about John Paul Jones is he was decisively overmatched in a sea battle in September of 1779.   His ship's flag went down more than once, and finally the other captain asked if he was surrendering.  Jones' response: "I have not yet begun to fight."

We spent the afternoon dodging raindrops in this quaint town where history is well-preserved.

Saturday brought family equality.  After seeing our niece on Mike's side on Friday, I drove one hour to Frederick, Maryland this morning to see our niece Jill (my sister's daughter) and her family.  It was a treat because I had never seen my two great-nephews in person.

With the skies overcast and an intermittent drizzle, we headed to George Washington's home - Mount Vernon.  The trucker log jam never materialized, but we did face traffic gridlock with the University of Maryland having a home football game against Virginia this afternoon.  The drive to Mount Vernon was about forty-five minutes and along the way we passed exits with familiar names: NASA, Bethesda Medical Center, Pennsylvania Avenue, Richmond, Walter Reed, Arlington, and Gettysburg to name a few.  (and once again - we are not going to the National Mall area of D.C. or Gettysburg because we have already been there).  I saw a license plate for a car registered in the District of Columbia. On the bottom of the plate it said, "Taxation Without Representation".  I thought it belonged to a disgruntled citizen but Mike said that is their motto!  And sure enough, I saw many others.

Once outside of Alexandria, Virginia, the 8 mile drive along the George Washington Parkway to Mount Vernon is a scenic one that follows the Potomac River.
When we arrived, the place was packed with people.  One of the guides told us that, due to the government shut-down and so many attractions in D.C. closed, Mount Vernon is averaging 3,000 visitors a day compared to the 500 who normally visit this time of year.

We enjoyed wandering the entire estate.  The home, outbuildings, and gardens are wonderfully maintained.  There always seemed to be a guide around to answer my many questions.  With 40% of the furnishings original to the house, it truly is an accurate reflection of the home life of the Father of our Nation.  (the fan, powered by his rocking chair in his office was ingenious!)  I found it fascinating that I was holding on to the same banister while climbing the stairs to the second story that Washington built, installed and held on to everyday.  Then of course I had to wash my hands because a gazillion other people have touched it, too!  Mike bought me the audio tour handset that describes the grounds and outbuildings (knowing how I devour the minutia those things provide) while he was satisfied with reading the informative signs everywhere.  The plantation was not just George and Martha's home.  It was a working farm that our first president loved.

Adding to the experience, there is an orientation center and excellent museum on the grounds.  The theme of the orientation film is "We Fight To Be Free" which reminded me of the phrase "Freedom isn't free".  I got choked up all over again. . .
The museum traced Washington's life from his birth in Virginia to his death in his bed on the second floor of the house.   The displays were every bit as informative and well-done as most modern-day presidential museums or libraries we have been to.  One whole room was devoted to his famous dentures!  At his first inauguration, he only had one tooth!

Also on the grounds is the Washington family tomb where, along with George and Martha, other members of their family are buried.  Martha was a widow with 2 children when she married George and they never had any children together, but many of George's nieces and nephews have Mount Vernon as their final resting place.
A short distance from the tomb is the Slave Memorial where 75 slaves that lived and worked on the estate are buried.  After leading our army in the Revolutionary War in our fight to be a free nation, Washington struggled with the concept of slavery.  In his will, his slaves were freed upon his death.

Robert Frost said this of Washington:  "George Washington was one of the few men in all of human history who was not carried away by power."   After the Revolutionary War, there were many who wanted to make him a king.  He resigned his commission in the army and returned to Mount Vernon, content to live out his days here.  But he answered the call of his nation once again when our new constitution called for an elected head of government.  He is the only president in history to be unanimously elected.  With his popularity, he could have continued on past two terms, but, in keeping with Frost's assessment of him, Washington refused to run again and eagerly resumed his work as a gentleman farmer.

We stayed at Mount Vernon until closing time, which prohibited us from driving to the Manassas or Antietam battlefields.  Manassas is the site of the first and second Battles of Bull Run and where Thomas Jackson got his nickname - Stonewall.  More soldiers died on a single day at Antietam than any other battle in our nation's history.  So much to do. . . so little time.  So we found an Irish pub in Old Town Alexandria for dinner and caught up with the football scores.

As I type we are watching the Tigers while listening to the rain ping off the roof of the RV!

Tomorrow we head to Richmond.

                                                             Breakfast with Rylee

                 The Middleton Tavern in Annapolis where Ben Franklin was a frequent patron

                     The immortal words spoken by James Lawrence before he died in battle in 1813

                                     Navy Chapel where both Protestant and Catholic services are held

                                                       The Navy Mascot - a goat!

                                                  Historic  Downtown Annapolis

                                                             Jill, Riyan and Gus

                                                    Mount Vernon visitors center

                         

                                 View from porch of Mount Vernon overlooking the Potomac

                                                       

                                                        Washington Family tomb

                                                   George on right, Martha on left