Shadow Play

The blackeyed Susans are blooming. They make really cool shadows in the noon day sun...

Headed home

There is still beautiful open farm land in Shenandoah. I hope Virginia doesn't mess it up for development sake... especially for the expansion from the travesty of Northern Virginia/DC area.

The New Market Gap..

Where I've been all week. Doesn't get nicer than this.

Good bye cottage, good bye MobileFriend.... 'til next summer....

How relaxing is the cottage? ask Maggie....

Stopped a visited the 54th PA monument outside of New Market. The only PA monument in the state ( and probably the only Union monument along side a road!)

Hello home!!!!

Dayton

The road that the B&B is on is not paved or widen...it is as has been for over 150 years. The B&B house was built in 1852. The New Market Gap can be seen in the distance.

We stopped at the Rockingham County Historical Society in Dayton VA. Well worth the stop for travelers.

Through a lot of intervention on both sides, the town was not burned during the Civil War. As a result it has more original buildings.

While the road to the B&B hasn't changed in generations, change has come to the valley. I-81 travels the length of it.

This is the south end of Massanutten Mountain...the north end is at Front Royal.

Stopped at an old Stage Coach Inn that is now a cool antique/stuff shop. Just had some nice scenes...

The shop had these for sale.... I about fell through the floor when I saw the "price"....

I have shelf full of them from my grandmother..... I guess she wasn't superstitious!!! I shall also keep them on the top shelf....

Cooler today....94 degrees....it is a difference. The katydids are quite vocal here... day and night...I love the sound.

Monticello

Crossed over the Blue Ridge today and went to Charlottesville Virginia and Monticello. Monticello is the home of our 3rd President, Thomas Jefferson. It is a truly idyllic setting.

Many of the things he built in the house still work...including the clock and windvane/compass.

Recently the grounds lost one of it's old trees, trees planted by Jefferson. From this photo you can see how big the tree was! You can also tell the insides have been gone for a long time. The Monticello Foundation did take the wood from the tree and had bowls and things made for sale.

We would have liked to do more exploring and tours of the grounds than we did. Today we hit a truly lovely 104 degrees. Virginia sure does know how to hot and nasty well..... These temps are just as rude as our below zero days in January. Well, maybe they are more rude....I can pile on the cloths in January, but you can only take so many off......

We traveled through Rockfish Gap .... if you are a fan of "The Walton's" this was place they always talked about. About 20 miles from this spot is a "Walton's Museum", based on the TV show, the area, and the family of the authors. I didn't go this time, but I know how to get to it now. Next summer....

The GoodHusband and Mums are doing well. I left home with two crock pots full of favorite Husband food, so he 's doing ok. It has been equally hot at home too....90's in our mountains is hot for us. He has broken down and put in another air conditioner in the family room.

Front Royal

Our original plan today was to do the Mosby Driving tour... but the heat is so awful we decided to stay in Front Royal. We got a driving tour and spent the afternoon following it and enjoying the air-conditioned car....

This church is still here...

One of the roads we followed is still unpaved. It hasn't changed much in 150+ years, just a little bit wider. The troops did follow this road....

In a clearing we could see one of the turns of the Skyline Drive. It starts at Front Royal

One can't do a good Civil War tour unless you stop at old cemeteries. This one in Front Royal was the site where the Virginians defended by placing their big guns.

There is always a sad story to be told.....

As a BIG POINT OF REFERENCE..... TODAY I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE HEAT....

it is nasty hot here. The wind is hot.... I feel like I'm standing in front of the Gates of Hell....

Harpers Ferry

We went to Harpers Ferry WV today. It is a lovely little town that is everything Civil War. A goodly portion of the town is part of the National Park Service.This is Bolivar Heights....

Through the clearing in the above photo.... way way out in the distance are these......

This looks out over the battle field to the various Heights.

I will also say.... it's HOT

Lynchburg

Wednesday we headed up the valley and crossed over the Blue Ridge using a local road and not the interstate I-64. The Shenandoah flows north...so downriver is north as in "down the valley"... so in going Up the Valley we went south...

My MobileFriend went to this college...today it is co-ed ( a very recent change)

The stairway in the old main building is pretty cool when you look up...




Fortunately my friend knew where to find this... it's in a park close to the campus.

What is left of the keel.... ( undoubtedly one of the most exciting pictures I've taken....._

ROADTRIP!!!!

I am doing solo roadtrip this week.

ok....taking pictures well driving doesn't always work out so great........ ( that was "Welcome to Maryland".......)

Traveling to Virginia and meeting up with my MobileFriend for a week of Civil War Adventures.

I can always tell what types of winters they have by the amount of road shoulder place. At my home, you have 2-3 of berm (to pile snow). Here.....well, I would say they have a "civilized" winter.....

Stopped in Winchester and walked around. It is like a blast furnance here.....