Home at Jackson Center

The plan was to drive only half way from Highland Haven, spend the night then proceed into Jackson Center for our appointment. Well our plans lately have gone awry more times than not. This was one of those times. We drove all the way through. Four hundred and forty miles in nine and one-half hours. The reality of the thing was rain, tons of it and getting out of Highland Haven which takes an hour along with buying gas which takes some time too.

The rain hit which slowed us down then we could not find any place to stop for over night. Finally we were only two hours out of Jackson Center when we found a place. We decided to just mush on and did. The hard part was driving through Columbus, OH during rush hour and as with all towns it has road construction. We made it fine however.

Shirley drove the last hour and as we pulled into Jackson Center at least one day early, we learned that friends had saved us a site. What a wonderful thing, friends. We parked next to the Lodens  and the Higgins.

To relieve Annie's pent up energy we let her off her leash and she ran and ran, then ran under a fence and into a hole. Happily she saw the error of her ways and came back to us.

Weather has been less than wonderful but it is OK, we are among friends and we are all waiting to get our rigs worked on.

Sleeping in is great and each day Annie is getting more mature. Life is good.

Yesterday, we got our mail. No problems, it was just there as it should be. One disappointment for us though is a restaurant we look forward to coming to is no longer open. This town is slowly dying. Honda has moved near by and is even taking people from Airstream.

Yesterday too, Annie saw her first rabbit, and almost got a cotton tail bunny. We made some new friends and just visited folks.

Today, Shirley visited with the ladies and I went to Sidney and got the truck serviced and ready for our trip home. Tonight 7 of us went to dinner together. We were supposed to be bad thunder storms but only had wind. Tomorrow we get our trailer worked on and have a BBQ with neighbors.

Don't know the guy but I'm sure this did not make his day.

My hat blew off when I took this but I'm sure you get the idea. It can happen!

For you racing fans, this Bobby Rahal van was parked at Walmart on our way here.

More later. Trailer should be done by Friday.

See 'ya, Barry, Shirley and Annie the rabbit puppy

Just a litte rest is all we ask.

Still tired from the caravan, the frustration of the mail non-delivery and the previous nights driving in a thunderstorm we decided to head for an Airstream park in the mountains of Virginia.

Well, we did not realize it was so far, it was only about 4 inches on the map. But when we needed it the most it was getting late and we were on two lane, narrow mountain roads and Lucille quit. We had forgotten to charge the phone. So we took many a wrong turn, but finally found the place after stopping three times for directions. Amazing where you can turn the trailer around when you have to.

Rain was threatening when we arrived, but we parked and realized the Luthers were there. So tired and all we loaded into the pickup of someone we did not know yet with the Luthers and headed to Floyd, VA for one of the best meals we have ever had. Also, we met and got to know a new friend.

After dinner we drove into town for some on the street bluegrass music. What a wonderful time we had. Love these small country towns. The rain held off until we got back to the trailer and had fallen asleep.

Next day the Luthers left and we just rested. Shirley did laundry, I finished hooking up water etc. and we read and napped. We stayed a total of three nights. Annie found a new friend. A Lab puppy that Shirley met on a walk about a mile from camp. We both took Annie back and she and Christie, Annie s new friend, ran and played together for over an hour. Christie then followed us home and Shirley eventually walked her back home.

Rain fell most of the second day and night but that was OK we just enjoyed the peace, quiet and the scenery. After the third night we left for Jackson Center.

More adventures later.

Us the morning after we arrived.

Shirley, Annie and Christie the Lab.

My, but it's fun to be a dog.

Yep, I was there too.

Not the best weather in the world but we loved it. Altitude here is about 3,300 feet.

See Ya! Barry and Shirley

Leaving the caravan and Newport News

Breaking up is always hard to do especially this caravan. Aside from visiting Jamestown and Williamsburg we had to get our mail. This should have gone like clockwork, but it didn't. Shirley spent many hours and two days finding our mail. The Lincoln postoffice had done it's job but Newport News did not. First she was told our mail had not arrived. A call to Lincoln and they sent what they had by overnight mail. Then, we found we did not have all the mail we were expecting and after more phone calls and more trips to the Post Office in Newport News; we learned it had arrived three days prior and was there all the time.

Disgusted we left at 11:30 for Charlottesville and a KOA. We usually don't use KOA because they are higher for what you get, but Virginia has fewer choices than most states. As we approached we hit a driving thunder storm. Slow driving, fast wiper blades and flashing lights found us headed for a Walmart in this downpour for supplies. The rain quit and we got our supplies and headed for the KOA. To our surprise we found some of our fellow Cilvil War caravaners staying there too. The Yates, Cotters, Spillmans and now us!

Still undaunted we head onward.

More adventures tomorrow.

Tom and I in our new Civil War t-shirts.

We didn't know or see these people but I think we would like them.

See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie

Our Last Day Of The Civil War

Monday the 13th of May was our last day and one of our busiest! We toured from 9:30 am 'til 3:30 pm then went to our final banquet at 6 pm.

First we visited Fort Monroe and the Casement Museum. This was a part of Fort Monroe which is across the bay from Fort Wool. Together these forts protected the Chesapeake Bay even through WW II.

The casements are rooms in the fort that have had various uses throughout the years. One of these was where Jefferson Davis was incarcerated for a time after the war. The rest of the museum was a treasure of Civil War artifacts.

Entering the fort was interesting. Designed during the smooth bore canon era with horse drawn wagons our pickups barely had room to enter. As we drove into the fort our mirrors only had about two inches of clearance.

Lunch was at the Chamberlin, now an assisted living facility which was so nice we all want to end up there. Linen tables cloths and great food. The Chamberlin in past years was a famous hotel for the ultra rich. Still nice enough for all of us.

Our caravan's tours ended with tours of End View and Lee Hall Plantations. Both were 1700's vintage and were used as hospitals etc. during the Civil War. If only these old homes could speak. The tour guide at Lee Hall could be a motivational speaker at any convention. We were all tired but it was a dynamic way to end our touring.

Dinner was at 6 at the "Riverwalk" a beautiful restaurant right on the James River. Dinner was excellent. Al and Joan came too and it was wonderful to see them again. This years good bye was sad because it may be a long time before we see some of our friends again.

The Civil War caravan is over but our learning may continue in one form or another for the rest of our lives. To have learned and seen what we have during the last three years helps us understand ourselves and our country better. Plus we have seen some beautiful country.

Fort Monroe was one of Robert E. Lee's forts he worked on when he was in the Union Army.

The plaque says it all. 

This was Jeff Davis' Quarters. He was shackled mostly to his bed.

The Union solders put the flag in his room to haunt Davis.

The front of Lee Hall.

Shirley, Annie and I stayed two more days in Newport News to visit Jamestown and Williamsburg.
On Tuesday the 14th we drove to Jamestown. It is a place we have wanted to see for many years and may never be here again. We were lucky enough to arrive for a guide by an archaeologist who gave a great talk. It seems the fort was said to be under the river due to shifting tides etc. and up 'til the 1990's that was expected to be true. From accidental digging they found sites where the old fort lay and history has changed once again.

Williamsburg was next and I had no idea it was such a huge town. In its day it was the first capital of Virginia. Just wonderful to visit. The highlight of the day was a reenactment by a man portraying Thomas Jefferson. I only went along to be sociable, thinking he would be a flop. After one and one-half hours I was convinced that he was Jefferson in the flesh! As usual we ran out of time and energy. Maybe some day we will be able to return to both these towns.

More later as we head homeward, Barry, Shirley and Annie

Newport News

Thursday, May 9th we drove the 103 miles to Newport News, VA. We parked in a city park deep in the woods. This was my least favorite camp site because I felt I was in a cave. Think thick woods!

So far I have four tick bites and Shirley has three. Annie's meds protect her but we are leery. Spiders, rattle snakes, water moccasins abound. There was a Civil War battle here but we declined to follow it, however, there are still dirt embankments visible from that war.

We were delighted to unhitch and have Joan and Al arrive for a visit. We first met them in '07 on our first caravan. They had just gotten married. Al said he had moved up in class, he was a lawyer and Joan was a judge. We have seen them many times since then and they were on our first two Civil War caravans, but due to health reasons were not able to attend this caravan. They live near here in Norfolk and we are happy to learn they are doing just fine after surgery.

Friday, we drove to Hampton Harbor for a cruise so far I have no pictures. We also visited Ft. Wool which was designed by Robt. E. Lee before the Civil war. Next we visited the Hampton History Museum and St. John's Church. I went home after the cruise to take care of Annie, as it was a long day and hot.

Saturday we left for a tour of the Mariners' Museum. On this we did not know what to expect but it was excellent! We spent most of our time in a section labeled "The Monitor." This was mostly information on the Monitor and it's battle against the "Virginia" which we were taught in school was the Merrimack. You could spend a week in here but our time was limited.

Next we visited the Berkeley Plantation which was built during the growth of Virginia before the Revolution. All the important men of our long history up to and including the Civil War visited here. If it could only talk.

Next we visited the Shirley Plantation which has a similar history to the Berkeley Plantation. An interesting note was the family awoke one morning to find wounded Union solders on their lawn. The Union was the enemy but they rendered aid and Gen. McClellan wrote a letter of thanks and stated the home and its inhabitants were to be left alone. We saw that document with his signature on it.

Here Annie saw her first goats and chickens.

Next we visit Ft. Monroe on Monday and on Tuesday disband. I will write more later.

Hand carved ships ornament from the Civil War.

Our guide at Berkeley Plantation.

Shirley at Shirley Plantation.

A canon destroyed during the battle of the Monitor and Virginia. 

The goat was as curious about Annie as she was about the goat.

Shirley was the savior for the goats as Annie wanted to herd them.

See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie

Fredericksburg, VA Where it all started for me.

On Monday, May 6th we headed for Fredericksburg. This is where I became interested in the Civil War. Shirley and I had been on a tour in DC and I wanted to see Monticello as I had just read "Undaunted Courage."  We drove from DC and spent the night in Fredericksburg. Next day we visited the battlefield and I was hooked. So here we are on our third Civil War Caravan!

As we drove from Manassas to Fredericksburg we passed the U.S. Marine Corps Museum and stopped for a photo op. There were acres and acres of lawn and Annie got to run, without her leash, back and fourth between us. Her running was pure delight and we must have had everyone laughing at her antics. We certainly had a group of cadets entertained. It was good for all of us to see her pure joy of just being alive.

Our campground was a KOA, not great but not bad. Weather was OK when we arrived but rain came at nightfall. Parking was a bit of a problem, one of our parkers must have had his mind someplace else. He could not find our names on his list of sites. Finally after asking in the office he sent us to our site and someone was in it. He had given them our parking papers, our name was on it. I was losing my cool as the last place we parked we had to circle three times to find our parking site. Long story short, after the second time around I yelled at him and now I am afraid I have made a lifetime enemy. I apologized to him but he refused to accept my apology so there you have it. He couldn't do his job and I blew up. Too bad 'cause I was one of the few who liked him.

Tuesday the 7th we drove to visit Chancellorsville National Battlefield, where we had a museum and a ranger-led guided tour. Other than being the "worst battle and the most people killed" this was the site where Stonewall Jackson was killed. Also, this battle is considered to be Lee's greatest victory. I have my own feelings toward Lee and they may be different from most southerners.

Next day saw us headed for the Fredericksburg battle site. As I have stated, it all started here for me. I recommend reading up on it. The Union had really bad generals. The Union got slaughtered. That afternoon we toured the town.

We were first here in about '92. Things have changed a lot. Even historic towns grow and twenty years have hidden some of what we remembered. Heck, Lincoln, CA where we live is not the same town just 10 years later.

Things are winding down. We only have one more stop after this one.

Shirley and Annie at the US Marine Corps Museum.

This old house was next to the Stone Wall during the battle of Fredericksburg.

This is an example of compassion shown often by both sides.

These must be Confederates, their uniforms don't match. 

Had to take this picture. There seems to be a lot of liberals here in VA, lots of public housing etc. This car stole my heart.

Beautiful old Apothecary in Fredericksburg circa 1647.

Neat stuff.

Doctors office. Remember Geo. Washington was bled to death.

See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie

Ford's Theatre and Manassas

Wednesday, May 1st we drove to Centerville which is in the middle of the Manassas/Bull Run battlefield.

We are parked in a very precarious position but well chocked so should be OK. It seems whoever planned this place had no idea about RV's. The sewer and water in our site is OK, but the power is on the wrong side and about 30 feet away. After unhitching and chalking we had a chili cookout then retired to our respective trailers.

There is a shooting range here and the constant shooting puts us in the mood for the Civil War except there is no artillery.

Next morning we departed on a bus to Washington DC. Poor Annie was farmed out at a kennel with lowly D O G S! We were to visit where Lincoln died but the bus was late. We did make it to Ford's Theatre and saw a play. This was a treat for us because the play was very good and every time we have been here the playhouse was under renovation. Abe's box has been preserved and we got to see that too. We did not get to see where he died because the kids being unable to visit the White House, thanks to Obama, were filling all the other attractions.

Lunch was at the Basilica followed by a tour of this huge facility. A few pictures are enclosed. My first trip to DC was in the 80's traffic was OK then, next visit was in the 90's and driving was a nightmare. Now in the 2000's I would not attempt it at all.

After the Basilica we toured Lincoln's cottage. I did not know it existed, but it was that eras Camp David. It is only 12 miles out of DC but has a breeze so was cooler and smelled better. Lincoln said he hated, "that damned place." Meaning the White House. In those days it was the "peoples" house and anyone could come in and sewage was awful. Drinking water came directly from the Potomac.

We could tell Annie did not like the kennel, she did not eat and it seems did not go to the toilet either. She made up for all that after we picked her up.

Friday saw us driving to the Brawner Farm, which was roughly the site of both battles of Bull Run. The Union named battles after water sites and the Confederates named them after cities in the area. Therefore Bull Run is named after a creek and Manassas is named after the closest town.

We also visited the Stone House which served as a hospital to both armies not once, but twice. This structure still stands and was build around 1830.

Friday, May 3 was our anniversary and we went to dinner with the Luthers. It was very good, crowded but good food and service. Yesterday the 4th we went alone to a Greek restaurant, Katernas, and had lunch just the two of us, but the Yates were eating there too. Wonderful place for an anniversary lunch!

Prior to lunch we visited the Liberia House Plantation, a plantation of the era and visited the museum too.

Today is a day off and we are going to visit Henry Hill museum and see the movie. Then we will go to the air museum of the Smithsonian, not to be confused with the Smithsonian itself where we have been previously.

Next off to Fredericksburg!

Remodeled Ford's Theatre shows where Lincoln was shot.

Tour of the Battles at Manassas.

Old Stone House.

Inside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

The bridge at Bull Run.

The Basilica. 

See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie