Sunday, October 28, 2007
Time to pay the piper....
Our previous blog spoke about the delicious meal we had near Monticello. Apparently that was all my body needed to send me over the edge. Another midnight rush to the emergency room left no doubt about the outcome and I was scheduled for surgery the next morning. The simple outpatient operation turned out to be not so simple once they found my gallbladder had reached the acute stage with gangreen and some 20 or more stones. We have extended our stay here for a few more days to make sure that I am healing properly. I don't think I'll be having any more fried chicken dinners any time soon.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Monticello: Thomas Jefferson and historic lettuce...
We took a rainy-day tour of Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence (an original copy of which is in the mansion....no pictures please!)
After a tour of the mansion we walked to his grave site where some visitors have placed nickels atop the tomb.....and others, those who had flunked grade school history, placed pennies.
A journey around the grounds took us to the garden containing flowers and vegetables that were direct descendants from those that grew there 200 years ago. Donna bought several packets of these "heirloom seeds" to start a garden when we land somewhere. I don't care how famous the broccoli is I'm still not eating it!
And speaking of food...our next stop was the Michie Tavern, for hundreds of years a stop for weary travelers. Costumed servers dished up a southern fair consisting of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and cornbread followed by peach cobbler ala mode. Hard to believe but this was Donna's idea. She even complimented the fried chicken. I would have taken pictures but wasn't about to free up a hand to do so before Donna came to her senses.
Fall is finally in the air and the sunny 80 degree weather of last week has turned to cold and rainy. The colors are just beginning here in Virginia.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
On the Road....Again
Today we hit the road, again, for part 2 of our journey...or is it part 3?
We have been on a 11 day stop-over in Suffolk, Va. visiting with granddaughter Lydian, as well as having repairs done to the RV. Along with Virginia Beach...
... where the water was full of porpise and the air full of jet fighters.....
...we went to the aquarium ...
the Children's Museum (for kids of all ages, that's Ryan in the bubble machine)......
...and Busch Gardens...
While here, we decided to splurge on a hotel for the first time during our trip.....now we'll have to get used to the confines of the RV all over again.
We have been on a 11 day stop-over in Suffolk, Va. visiting with granddaughter Lydian, as well as having repairs done to the RV. Along with Virginia Beach...
... where the water was full of porpise and the air full of jet fighters.....
...we went to the aquarium ...
the Children's Museum (for kids of all ages, that's Ryan in the bubble machine)......
...and Busch Gardens...
While here, we decided to splurge on a hotel for the first time during our trip.....now we'll have to get used to the confines of the RV all over again.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Whew! Time to catch up...
This will be a lengthy blog as we have been very busy and not posted for more than a week. After leaving Massachusetts we headed to:
Mystic Seaport, Connecticut.
Donna was here when she was 16 and remembers it as a quaint re-creation of a whaling village. We really liked the museums and tall ships, or short ships if you are below deck.
On the downside asking directions was a little tough and they need to work on their petting zoo.
From there it was on, to Pennsylvania. Although the leaves still had a ways to go there was color to be found.
We had a nice visit with relatives in Danville as well as a trip to one of the largest farmers markets (more than a football field in length) restocking our supply of fresh fruits, vegetables, and pies.
Then it was on to Lancaster, right in the heart of Amish country. Driving through towns with names like; Bird in Hand, and Intercourse, you have to share the road with horse drawn carriages and people powered scooters, which are the main modes of transportation.
Here the modern world collides with the past:
Another day was spent on a driving tour of Gettysburg. After purchasing the audio CD in the bookstore, you followed it on a 2.5 hour tour of the battlegrounds. As well as a walk through the cemetery where Lincoln delivered his address.
And of course no trip to Pennsylvania is complete without a visit to the town of Hershey where the street lights are Hershey's kisses.
And there's chocolate a plenty!
Then it was on to Washington DC.
We actually stayed in Maryland and took the Metro right from the campground to the Mall. There were of course monuments and museums...
...as well as the Smithsonian where you could not only see items like, The Wright Brothers plane, giant stuffed elephants and Albert Einstein's pipe...
...but a few gems like, Dorothy's Ruby slippers and The Hope Diamond...
...along side Archie Bunker's chair, Seinfield's puffy shirt and Mr. Rogers' sweater...
...and my personal favorite the original penicillin mold.
Finally we were off to the National Zoo to see the pandas...
...and no matter the museum, exhibit or monument there are no entry fees, because, that's right as taxpayers, you've already paid for it (only 42 thousand dollars each!)
Mystic Seaport, Connecticut.
Donna was here when she was 16 and remembers it as a quaint re-creation of a whaling village. We really liked the museums and tall ships, or short ships if you are below deck.
On the downside asking directions was a little tough and they need to work on their petting zoo.
From there it was on, to Pennsylvania. Although the leaves still had a ways to go there was color to be found.
We had a nice visit with relatives in Danville as well as a trip to one of the largest farmers markets (more than a football field in length) restocking our supply of fresh fruits, vegetables, and pies.
Then it was on to Lancaster, right in the heart of Amish country. Driving through towns with names like; Bird in Hand, and Intercourse, you have to share the road with horse drawn carriages and people powered scooters, which are the main modes of transportation.
Here the modern world collides with the past:
Another day was spent on a driving tour of Gettysburg. After purchasing the audio CD in the bookstore, you followed it on a 2.5 hour tour of the battlegrounds. As well as a walk through the cemetery where Lincoln delivered his address.
And of course no trip to Pennsylvania is complete without a visit to the town of Hershey where the street lights are Hershey's kisses.
And there's chocolate a plenty!
Then it was on to Washington DC.
We actually stayed in Maryland and took the Metro right from the campground to the Mall. There were of course monuments and museums...
...as well as the Smithsonian where you could not only see items like, The Wright Brothers plane, giant stuffed elephants and Albert Einstein's pipe...
...but a few gems like, Dorothy's Ruby slippers and The Hope Diamond...
...along side Archie Bunker's chair, Seinfield's puffy shirt and Mr. Rogers' sweater...
...and my personal favorite the original penicillin mold.
Finally we were off to the National Zoo to see the pandas...
...and no matter the museum, exhibit or monument there are no entry fees, because, that's right as taxpayers, you've already paid for it (only 42 thousand dollars each!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)