Skyline Drive

This morning I started driving the Skyline Drive of the Shenandoah National Park. I had great weather. I started at the south eastern end of the park and drove northwest finishing about 5 p.m. The speed limit is 35 mph but I often went slower. Congested areas have a speed limit of 25 mph. The road is smooth and in great shape. I stopped at one visitor center about 10:30 to walk for an hour. This road has about 500 scenic overlooks. I didn't stop at them all. In the Smoky Mountains National Park admission is free but you pay for parking in one place for more than 15 minutes. I paid $15 for a five day pass. Here there is no fee for parking but I had to show my senior national park pass.

I saw many squirrels and 4 deer and turkey vultures, red tailed hawks, Carolina wrens and tufted titmouse.

The first section of the park has the highest elevation. I stopped for lunch at 1 o'clock at the Grand Meadow visitor center. Here, in the middle of all these mountains, was a huge meadow. Field sparrows called as I walked through the meadow. I saw dozens of people biking on this road. 

These two does seem to enjoy running with me down the road. I had a great day driving on mountain roads making sharp turns and going up and down hills.

At my third and final hike of the day I came upon a puddle in a dirt road. Tadpoles were swimming!

 

Shenandoah

Today I drove from Waynesville, NC to Stauton, VA. Tomorrow I will drive the length of the Shenandoah National Park Skyline Trail. I plan to do a couple hikes while I am up there.

 

North Carolina

 This morning I got  up early, packed my car, and started driving south and east. I left Pennsylvania in the rain about 10:30 in the morning. I drove through Maryland and West Virginia. I drove through Virginia and into North Carolina. The prettiest scenery was in southern Virginia and northern North Carolina. This is my first time in North Carolina. I like it. Gas is cheaper here by 30 cents a gallon compared to Pennsylvania.

Air And Space Museum

Today the five of us drove south to the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Air And Space Museum next to the Dulles airport near Washington, D.C. We spent 2 hours walking around looking at planes, helicopters, missiles, gliders and even a space shuttle.

This is a very large place. Some planes were only inches apart.

Some were German, American, Japanese and French.

I learned a lot today.

The grandgirls were given a sheet with a scavenger hunt. If they found all the items they would get a prize. They were very motivated to get the prize.

There is the space shuttle. There were also some astronaut suits and helmets.

 

Colonial Williamsburg

Yesterday we went to colonial Williamsburg, a sprawling park that includes many origini\al colonial buildings. Behind this grand house was a maze. The grandgirls absolutely love hiding from the adults. We all walked through it. Eventually the adults left and went to a high spot where we could watch the two girls run crazily through the maze for another half hour. They had an absolute blast and a cardiac workout..

We toured a few buildings including this home of a political leader and naturalist.

The home owner had fossils and bones on display in his study.

We went to the courthouse. Here we sit in the jury box as the docent tells about the justice system in colonial times.

Colonial reenactors wander the streets talking about colonial times. These two guys are going to a party tonight to celebrate the boys that King Herod put to death. They are wondering how the toasts will read.

Thomas Jefferson gave us a speech. In Virginia in the 1780's, about a third were for independence, a third weren't sure, and a third were against it. If the revolution failed the fighters for the revolution could be hanged, drawn and quartered. All their assets would be given to the King leaving their wives and descendants penniless. They had a lot to loose.

This is the inside of one of the four gaol (jail) cells. Atop the third step on the right is the privy.

A windmill at the farm.

After a meal at a Italian restaurant we walked back to the car. We went back to our hotel to enjoy the pool for a spell. And then we had birthday cake. The Yule log has chocolate cake rolled with Oreo cookie ice cream Delicious!

 

Yorktown

We also visited the National Park at Yorktown. This park had a museum and history center, an old town we walked through, and 2 2 hour auto drives showing the locations of the troops during the siege of Yorktown in 1781. This diorama shows the British troops surrendering to the American and French troops. The exhibits at this national park had fewer words and more sensory components which made the visit more comfortable.

 

Jamestown

Today we visited the Jamestown National Park. Here is a statue of Pocahontas The weather was warm but the rain fell steadily all morning.. 

This is the Tercentennial obelisk which was built in 1907.

This is the church where the first group of men from England decided to make laws.

A statue of John Smith stands looking over the James river. This park had an inside museum and history center also. I was disappointed. The exhibits have so many words on them and are set so close together everything becomes overwhelming.

 

Jamestown

Today the five of us traveled to Jamestown, Virginia. The travel took longer than we expected due to a vehicle on fire on the highway. We didn't make it here on time to visit any historical sites but after dinner we did have time for a swim in the hotel pool. Walking back we saw a boy looking up in a tree along side the road. A barred owl was looking down at us. We watched it leave from the lowest branch and fly higher and perch again. We suspect it had killed a mouse and was waiting for us humans to leave so it could enjoy a snack.