We spent a very busy week in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and Spotsylvania, Virginia.
In Charlottesville, we dropped in for PickleBall one morning. The group was very welcoming and we had a lot of fun playing indoors. In addition we spent time with our Air Force friends, Beth and Greg. They entertained us royally with a bike ride, a fun evening at their local pub and some fabulous meals (thanks Beth) in their beautiful home in the Virginia countryside. We had so much fun reliving Air Force days and catching up with their lives.
Dogwood
Roger and Greg
Greg, Beth and Roger
The four of us enjoying a pub evening.
Of course no visit to Charlottesville would be complete without a visit to Monticello. Thomas Jefferson's beloved home has never failed to amaze us as a symbol of the genius of our forefather. This was our fifth time to see it. Two years ago additional rooms were made available for viewing. It is now possible to go up into the dome, as well as viewing rooms on the second floor.
We left Charlottesville for Harrisonburg on Tuesday morning. Harrisonburg was great for a three night stay. We were able to play PickleBall at one of the best indoor courts that we have seen.
On Friday we arrived in Spotsylvania, Virginia. We were thrilled to stay with our friends, Judy and Barry, at their beautiful home in an area south of Washington DC. Roger and Barry were Air Force Academy classmates and worked together during one of our assignments in Washington. They were outstanding hosts and we appreciated their hospitality so much.
Barry volunteers as an interpretive guide at the Ellwood Farm. We had a private tour of this mid size farm that sits on a knoll overlooking Wilderness Run. Barry explained that this was the site of a a civil war battle that lasted for three days in May of 1864, called the Battle of the Wilderness.
On Friday we arrived in Spotsylvania, Virginia. We were thrilled to stay with our friends, Judy and Barry, at their beautiful home in an area south of Washington DC. Roger and Barry were Air Force Academy classmates and worked together during one of our assignments in Washington. They were outstanding hosts and we appreciated their hospitality so much.
Barry with Bear
Judy and Roger
Barry volunteers as an interpretive guide at the Ellwood Farm. We had a private tour of this mid size farm that sits on a knoll overlooking Wilderness Run. Barry explained that this was the site of a a civil war battle that lasted for three days in May of 1864, called the Battle of the Wilderness.
The headquarters of Generals Warren and Burnside during the war.
This painting depicts General Grant (on the horse) demanding of General Warren his reasons for starting the battle so late in the day.
General Stonewall Jackson's arm is buried in the cemetery at Ellwood. General Jackson had been shot in the arm at Chancellorsville the year before. His arm was removed. Jackson's chaplain was the brother of the man who owned Ellwood. That chaplain was responsible for the arm being buried in the family cemetery.
It was hard to say goodbye to Judy and Barry on Sunday morning. We are now at Andrews Air Force Base where we will stay for the week. We spent ten years in the Washington DC area so it will be fun to see our favorite places again. Thank you for checking in with us.
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