Tennessee 2

This visit was terrific, tiring, and an eye-opener.

The slavery, politics, and the everyday life on

a plantation of a wealthy, driven man was

somewhat repulsive.

Jacksonian "democracy" excluded women, blacks, and indians.

Women were to know their place, blacks were to be owned,

and indians were rounded up and marched to Oklahoma on the

Trail of Tears.

The Jackson Mansion.

Family cemetary at Old Hickory's tomb.

The original two-story Jackson house on the left was

re-tooled into slave quarters after the mansion was finished.

Well this fits!

We needed a diversion and a little music.

TWICE--and way past our bedtimes.

North Carolina

The Seashore was not wholly accessible to us.

Highway 12, running through the Outer Banks, was completely

washed out in several spots, and only residents were allowed in.

I guess it means a return visit!

A gift from hurricane Irene

The first critter we found was not this beautiful rattlesnake.

  (You can tell he was rattling if you look closely at his tail.)

  It was swarm after swarm of VERY aggressive mosquitos.

  Everyone smelled like deet!

The mosquitos were a salt water variety whose population

bloomed.  Another gift from Irene.

We braved the evening mosquitos to view the Bodie Lighthouse.

It, and the Visitor's Center, was damaged and closed.

Thanks, again, Irene.

So we went to the beach and picked up a few shells for you.

No mosquitos.

In the marshes of Roanoke Island, near the lighthouse, the

boardwalk was a little skewed--thanks, again, Irene. 

The storm surge was likely over the walk.

The Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. (1899)

The historical waterfront in Manteo on the island.

The evening breeze kept the mosquitos at bay.

But not here--notice the fly swatter in Judy's hand.

This is site of the first British Colony

and the first Brit, Virginia Dare, born on US soil.

The colony failed for lots of reasons, and the colonists exact

fate remains a mystery.

Roanoke Island was also a safe haven for run-away

slaves and is part of the Underground Railroad Network.

An impressive site and museum, visiting our 345th National Park.

Of course, our legs had to be in the air!

Judy, at the first powered flight take-off point.  The landing point

is a mere 120 feet downfield at the next boulder.

I was underwhelmed, until I realized that

66 years later, we landed on the moon!

Judy's hat looks just like the Wilbur and Orville

monument.  Oh, it is!

We thought that this might be a good lunch spot.

It was--grilled grouper sandwiches--yum.

More shells for you and a relaxing evening and sunset for us.

Virginia

Our first stop was in Staunton, Va. 
The birthplace of Woodrow Wilson and
the site of his library and museum.

The birthplace was a Presbyterian Manse. 

 He spent only a year here, but the guide said

that is was his most formative year!

Staunton was the geographical center of Virginia before the

WV split and was very politically and finincially important.

You can tell from the architecture stlye and the number

of buildings that are equally as impressive as this one throughout town.

All of the churches downtown were impressive.

Nearing Brock's Gap, we had to stop and photograph

Judy and the sign.

We ran across a general store that was a gem.

The present owner's wife did geneology of the "Gap".

She was not available to us, but her husband was able

to share with us and provided much interesting information.

Judy is the great, great, great, great, great, great,

 great, great, great, granddaughter

 of Hini Brock, whom we think the gap was named after.

There was even a service station there--now a

"one of the ten best roadhouses in VA!"

You can buy both whiskey and guns here--we didn't but did visit.

This is Judy imitating a Brock's gap

"tradition" of  a headstand on top

of Chimney Rock at the entrance to the gap.

In a neaby town (Dayton), we found a historical society

that gave us infoormation to find a book called

A BROCK FAMILY HISTORY

by Robert L. Brock.

We viewed the book for several minutes and decided to

try to find a copy.  We found a used copy at Amazon

for $343.00

We are now emailing the author to see

 if he has one more to sell to a family member.

Next stop--Charlottesville where our third, fourth and fifth

 presidents worked and socialized.

Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe.

The garden at Jefferson's Monticello.

The grounds were beautiful and free to tour.  The house

was interesting and a must, but an expensive guided tour.

So we took lots of pictures.

Something new for us!

Judy's in trouble again--picking Tom's tomatoes.

YUM.

With our third president and author of the

Declaration of Independence.

On the lane to Ash Lawn, the home of James Monroe.

We toured this house and grounds also.

The last time through this area, we toured

 James and Dolly Madison's home.

This is Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest home.

It is near Lynchburg and built on inherited property from his inlaws.

This is the house he called a retreat where he came

when it got too hectic at Monticello.

Another view. 

Back at our park--of course there was grilling.

And pickleball with new friends, Jim and Terry.

This couple was taught the game by Henry (not pictured),

who we met in Washington in 2007. 

Henry also joined in the games.

And with old friends, Julie and Bob. 

We met this couple at Peace River in Florida in the winter of 2005-06.  We

occasionally run into them on the courts throughout the country.

We also enjoyed playing Euchre, Oh Hell!, and had a couple of

wonderful dinners with them.  See you on the road, guys!

"Give me liberty or give me death."

Patrick Henry's last home and burial site.

Judy, signing some proclaimation in Henry's law office.

Meanwhile, Dennis is doing the hard labor in the blacksmith's shop.

The three of us.

 

We were diverted from Chesapeke Bay TT because of tropical storm damage

to an Outdoor World Resort in Williamsburg.

We've toured this area before and were happy to see

some of the sights again.  Here is a collage of the historical area.

We nearly had the place to ourselves this evening.
Heading to the Outer Banks in the morning.

West Virginia

Our site at Summerville Lake Corp of Engineers park.

Very nice and you could dock your boat at your site.

NO BOAT :(

but great neighbors :)

They had a great speed boat and took us on a tour of the lake.

Thank you Damian and Crystal.

Dennis and Crystal swam and jumped off  the rocks.

Dennis' picture is just a splash.

But the photo timing for Crystal's jump was perfect!

AHHHHH.

Summersville dam and lake hold back the Gauley river.

The lake is very deep and it is dropped 75 feet after

Labor Day.  That makes the river a world class whitewater

rafting river.

Overlooking the pleasantly named Summersville lake. 

 The COE usually names dams and lakes after the nearest town.

  Here the nearest town is Gad. 

I guess they just thought that no one would

want to go to the Gad dam and lake.

A visit to the New River Gorge VC yields lots of info

for our touring.  Our National Park visit # 341.

This bridge over the gorge is the longest single span

bridge in the western hemisphere.  It is also the sight of

spring time base jumpers who fling themselves off and

safely land on the riverbed 876 feet below.

The gorge not only home of jumpers but is also

well known for rock climbing.  Here I am showing all

of my skills.

On the New River in the drizzle with a makeshift umbrella

Judy looks as though she just made the jump with

a minature parachute.

The sun came out later and that allowed us to hike the

Endless Wall Trail--an appropriate name.

Arriving home, we were greeted by a begging fawn.

It is always great to see deer, even if they are being fed.

Half way through the gorge is Grandview, also appropriately named.

A little walk along the rim and Judy is in trouble again.

Pole dancing WV style,

on a grapevine.

Kathy, we took several pictures in your honor!

Another lookout at Grandview.

Overlooking Sandstone Falls near the south

end of the gorge.

And at the falls.