Blessings:
Last night I went out of the trailer at dusk and saw one of the magical things about lower altitudes in the summer: lightning bugs or fireflies. We don't see those in Colorado. Is it the humidity? I don't know. But I love seeing those little flashes of light and remembering my granddaughter, Kylie, chasing them in Iowa four years ago.
Last night we were in an RV park in Winchester, VA. The sites were fairly close together, but there were huge areas of green grass throughout the park. It reminded me of RV parks we stayed in during our first-ever RV trip in 1988.
Today we drove from Virginia through a corner of West Virginia and a slice of Maryland before entering Pennsylvania. To touch that many states in such a short time in the West, we would have to drive in circles around the area where Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona meet at the Four Corners. The scenery was beautiful. We are no longer driving through just tunnels of trees. We also saw large open fields and farms, limestone outcroppings, and vast vistas.
Tonight we are parked in a destination KOA in Pennsylvania. They have side-by-side hookups for the 50-amp pull-through sites. But the electric is reliable, the restrooms spotless and the location attractive.
On a Friday night in summer, we share the park with a field of tents and lots of families with young, bike-riding children. Not our favorite thing, but we are glad families are having such wholesome fun.
Curses:
Yesterday morning at about 10 we talked to the mobile RV repair tech who was supposed to install our new air conditioner. We had been waiting in Ashland since June 1 for the unit to be shipped from Indiana to Virginia. On Wednesday Roadway trucking told the tech the unit was in Richmond but they didn't have anyone to unload the truck until Thursday. He told them it had to be delivered onThursday. When he called them Thursday morning they still couldn't tell him exactly when it would be delivered, but it would be on Friday. His father had been hospitalized in Florida and he couldn't wait any longer. At 10:45 we began preparations to drive north. As we drove, I studied Trailer Life and found a place to stay about three hours up the road.
Both yesterday and today I spent a lot of time on the phone, trying to work out a location where we could have the unit shipped and installed further along our route. Maybe, just maybe, that will happen in a couple of weeks in Syracuse, NY. Tammy at Camping World RV Sales there was very helpful, as was Dawn at Dometic, the company honoring our warranty on the A/C. We will keep our fingers crossed.
John says any time we have a warranty claim, it is a crap-shoot.
Showing posts with label Virginia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virginia. Show all posts
Friday, June 11, 2010
Monday, June 07, 2010
Civil War History
It is only 108 miles from Richmond, VA, the capital of the Confederate States of America, and Washington, DC, the capital of the United States of America. That helps to explain why so many battles of the Civil War were fought in this area. In the past we have visited Civil War battlefields in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and Tennessee. During our stay here in Virginia we are learning a lot more about the war.
Last week we visited three sites in Richmond. First stop was the Civil War Medical Museum where we learned about Chimborazo Hospital, the South's state-of-art convalescence hospital. When Richmond was flooded with casualties after the first battle of Manassas, quickly overwhelming the existing hospitals, Southern leaders ordered the construction of five general hospitals in Richmond. The largest and most famous was Chimborazo. None of the hospital's buildings still exist, but the museum is housed in a 20th century building on the same site.
"Under the yellow flag," the symbol of military hospitals during the war, more than 76,000 Confederate sick and wounded were treated there.
Between 75 and 80 wards--well-ventilated wooden buildings--were designed to house 3,000 patients. After some major battles, as many as 4,000 were treated there. The death rate during that terrible war is hard to comprehend. According to one display at the Museum of the Confederacy, approximately 850,000 men served in the Southern army. Nearly one-third of them--260,000--died in that service, more from disease than from fighting. In addition, another 216,000 were held in Union prisons at some point.
The Chimborazo museum had a very informative film. After watching that we learned a lot from the National Park volunteer on duty. A fellow RVer, we really enjoyed talking to him. I'm sorry I didn't get his name, but he sure represents park volunteers well.
Our next stop was at the Museum of the Confederacy, located right in the center of downtown Richmond. What with street construction and the busy Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center right there, finding the museum was a test. It is located right next to the Confederate White House, the home were Jefferson Davis lived during the war. We chose not to tour the house, but we understand it is impressive. This is a view of the front door.
The museum gives a great overview of the course of the Civil War, the life of the average soldier and the evolution of public opinion in the 150 years since. The displays include many personal effects of Southern generals, such as this display showing General Robert E. Lee's field tent.
Also, this one showing an officer's uniform.
I got a kick out of these nicknames for the soldiers from the different states of the Confederacy.
And I was touched by this quote from an unknown soldier's letter home. I forget that many people were illiterate at that time in our history.
One floor of displays discussed how, after the war, there were annual commemorations celebrating events of the war. People around the state became increasingly uncomfortable keeping the hard feelings of the war alive that way. Most, if not all, of those events have been discontinued. I also read that there were efforts in the first decades after the war to "win the peace" by making sure the Emancipation Proclamation didn't bring equality between white and black. That conflict wasn't resolved until the last part of the 20th Century.
From the Museum of the Confederacy we drove to the National Park Service Richmond National Battlefield Visitor Center. It is located along the James River at the site of the Tredegar Iron Works, the industrial facility that manufactured much of the Confederacy's artillery, ammunition and other war-related materials.
The iron works are located on the Haxall Canal,
using water power to run some of its equipment. This is one of the huge wheels we saw.
In the days immediately following the end of the Civil War, President Lincoln came to Richmond and walked through the damaged city. This statue behind the iron works includes a line from his second inaugural address, "to bind up the nation's wounds."
Hopefully, that has been largely accomplished.
On a lighter note, as we arrived at the visitor center on a very hot day, we saw these young people cooling off in the James River.
Last week we visited three sites in Richmond. First stop was the Civil War Medical Museum where we learned about Chimborazo Hospital, the South's state-of-art convalescence hospital. When Richmond was flooded with casualties after the first battle of Manassas, quickly overwhelming the existing hospitals, Southern leaders ordered the construction of five general hospitals in Richmond. The largest and most famous was Chimborazo. None of the hospital's buildings still exist, but the museum is housed in a 20th century building on the same site.
"Under the yellow flag," the symbol of military hospitals during the war, more than 76,000 Confederate sick and wounded were treated there.
Between 75 and 80 wards--well-ventilated wooden buildings--were designed to house 3,000 patients. After some major battles, as many as 4,000 were treated there. The death rate during that terrible war is hard to comprehend. According to one display at the Museum of the Confederacy, approximately 850,000 men served in the Southern army. Nearly one-third of them--260,000--died in that service, more from disease than from fighting. In addition, another 216,000 were held in Union prisons at some point.
The Chimborazo museum had a very informative film. After watching that we learned a lot from the National Park volunteer on duty. A fellow RVer, we really enjoyed talking to him. I'm sorry I didn't get his name, but he sure represents park volunteers well.
Our next stop was at the Museum of the Confederacy, located right in the center of downtown Richmond. What with street construction and the busy Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center right there, finding the museum was a test. It is located right next to the Confederate White House, the home were Jefferson Davis lived during the war. We chose not to tour the house, but we understand it is impressive. This is a view of the front door.
The museum gives a great overview of the course of the Civil War, the life of the average soldier and the evolution of public opinion in the 150 years since. The displays include many personal effects of Southern generals, such as this display showing General Robert E. Lee's field tent.
Also, this one showing an officer's uniform.
I got a kick out of these nicknames for the soldiers from the different states of the Confederacy.
And I was touched by this quote from an unknown soldier's letter home. I forget that many people were illiterate at that time in our history.
One floor of displays discussed how, after the war, there were annual commemorations celebrating events of the war. People around the state became increasingly uncomfortable keeping the hard feelings of the war alive that way. Most, if not all, of those events have been discontinued. I also read that there were efforts in the first decades after the war to "win the peace" by making sure the Emancipation Proclamation didn't bring equality between white and black. That conflict wasn't resolved until the last part of the 20th Century.
From the Museum of the Confederacy we drove to the National Park Service Richmond National Battlefield Visitor Center. It is located along the James River at the site of the Tredegar Iron Works, the industrial facility that manufactured much of the Confederacy's artillery, ammunition and other war-related materials.
The iron works are located on the Haxall Canal,
using water power to run some of its equipment. This is one of the huge wheels we saw.
In the days immediately following the end of the Civil War, President Lincoln came to Richmond and walked through the damaged city. This statue behind the iron works includes a line from his second inaugural address, "to bind up the nation's wounds."
Hopefully, that has been largely accomplished.
On a lighter note, as we arrived at the visitor center on a very hot day, we saw these young people cooling off in the James River.
Sunday, June 06, 2010
The Grass Is Always Greener
Our two cats eat different food. PC eats something created for diabetic cats. Partner eats inexpensive off-the-shelf food that I lace with lots of medicine. Both cats would rather eat from the dish prepared for the other. That means one of us has to maintain constant vigilance when both cats are eating, to make sure they consume only their own food. After the first few bites, PC eats while watching Partner out of the corner of his eye. As soon as Partner moves away from his bowl, PC turns and quickly walks to it and begins to eat. If Partner wants some of PC's food, he just walks over and pushes PC aside.
They now operate on conditioned response. The other day I picked up PCs food when he left the kitchen, but Partner kept looking for it. So I put his bowl on the tray where PC usually eats and he gobbled up his own food.
Two days ago, Partner wanted to drink water. Since the bowl is on the same tray as PC's food, he usually pushes PC out of the way eats then some of his food before he takes a drink. That day I picked up the water bowl and put in on his (Partner's) tray. Partner had his drink and left the kitchen. That triggered PC's conditioned response and he turned and hurried to the water bowl.
Children!
For us, the grass isn't always greener. If we weren't stuck here in Ashland waiting for a new air conditioner, we would be in northern Virginia or Pennsylvania right now. And today they are having tornadoes up there. We're happy with our grass right here today.
They now operate on conditioned response. The other day I picked up PCs food when he left the kitchen, but Partner kept looking for it. So I put his bowl on the tray where PC usually eats and he gobbled up his own food.
Two days ago, Partner wanted to drink water. Since the bowl is on the same tray as PC's food, he usually pushes PC out of the way eats then some of his food before he takes a drink. That day I picked up the water bowl and put in on his (Partner's) tray. Partner had his drink and left the kitchen. That triggered PC's conditioned response and he turned and hurried to the water bowl.
Children!
For us, the grass isn't always greener. If we weren't stuck here in Ashland waiting for a new air conditioner, we would be in northern Virginia or Pennsylvania right now. And today they are having tornadoes up there. We're happy with our grass right here today.
Saturday, June 05, 2010
45--and Counting
Today is our 45th wedding anniversary. That is a really long time. We are both amazed, and grateful. We know so few people who stay together this many years and others who don't live long enough to celebrate 45 years of marriage. It just keeps getting better. Because of our lifestyle, we are celebrating 45 in Virginia and we celebrated 44 in Colorado, 43 in Oregon, 42 in Missouri, 41 in Kansas, 40 in Texas and 39 in Alberta.
Today I went somewhere with my best friend. We did something we always enjoy: visiting a local festival, the Ashland Strawberry Faire.
It is strawberry harvest time here. Guess what we're having for dessert tonight!
The faire is held on the campus of Randolph-Macon College, the oldest Methodist college in the country, founded in 1830. It is a one-day event and it was packed with people shopping for plants, crafts, food and, of course, strawberries--fresh, in shortcake and in smoothies. After we looked at all the booths, we bought lunch--BBQ pork sandwich for John and beef gyro for me. I skipped the fried Oreos for dessert--mainly because I couldn't find the booth when I finished the gyro.
This was one of the most unusual booths we saw. It is used as house plant fertilizer.
A couple of vendors were selling walking sticks. There were particularly fine.
This fellow had a message to share.
John talked to the people in the St. Andrew's Society booth.
These lawn ornaments were for sale.
We came home shortly after noon. The temperature was inching toward the predicted high of 95, which is supposed to feel like 100. So we decided to hunker down under our one air conditioner.
Today I went somewhere with my best friend. We did something we always enjoy: visiting a local festival, the Ashland Strawberry Faire.
It is strawberry harvest time here. Guess what we're having for dessert tonight!
The faire is held on the campus of Randolph-Macon College, the oldest Methodist college in the country, founded in 1830. It is a one-day event and it was packed with people shopping for plants, crafts, food and, of course, strawberries--fresh, in shortcake and in smoothies. After we looked at all the booths, we bought lunch--BBQ pork sandwich for John and beef gyro for me. I skipped the fried Oreos for dessert--mainly because I couldn't find the booth when I finished the gyro.
This was one of the most unusual booths we saw. It is used as house plant fertilizer.
A couple of vendors were selling walking sticks. There were particularly fine.
This fellow had a message to share.
John talked to the people in the St. Andrew's Society booth.
These lawn ornaments were for sale.
We came home shortly after noon. The temperature was inching toward the predicted high of 95, which is supposed to feel like 100. So we decided to hunker down under our one air conditioner.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
It's Hot Here
We are sitting here in Ashland, Virginia, just north of Richmond. Temperatures are in the high 80s during the day, the low 70s overnight. And we only have one air conditioner! We are sitting here, waiting for a new Dometic A/C to be delivered and installed. The good news:it is under warranty. More good news: the Magnolia trees are still in bloom here.
More good news: there is lots to do here. So, we may not be quite as comfortable as we would like, but we do have one working A/C and it is a good place to be, especially if you are interested in the history of the Civil War.
We visited the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park in Fredericksburg yesterday. The visitor center and Sunken Road Walking Trail were very interesting. The road is the site of the December 13, 1862, defeat of Union General Burnside's troops by those led by Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Here is a section of the original walls along the Sunken Road.
The Confederate troops were between these walls, firing at the Federal troops attacking from the left. Up the hill to the right, Confederate artillery was also firing at the Federal troops. This monument honors Richard Rowland Kirkland, a Confederate soldier that took pity on the injured Federal troops that lay near the wall for two days. He filled several canteens with water and began taking them to the wounded soldiers. Troops on both sides held their fire for two hours to allow him to bring water to the wounded. Kirkland is called the "Angel of Marye's Heights."
At the top of the hill is the Union Cemetery, authorized by Congress in July 1865, three months after the war ended. The bodies of those killed in the Fredericksburg area where battles also were fought in 1863 and 1864, were moved from crude cemetery plots scattered haphazardly across nearby battlefields. The majority of the bodies are unidentified.
Upright stones list the names of identified remains. Small flat markers like this show the cemetery section and the number of unidentified remains buried there (five).
We also explored downtown Fredericksburg. There are lots of shops there in restored old, and I do mean old, buildings. This stone structure was built in 1813 as a dry goods warehouse. Now owned by the City of Fredericksburg, it is rented by a shop selling Civil War artifacts.
More good news: there is lots to do here. So, we may not be quite as comfortable as we would like, but we do have one working A/C and it is a good place to be, especially if you are interested in the history of the Civil War.
We visited the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park in Fredericksburg yesterday. The visitor center and Sunken Road Walking Trail were very interesting. The road is the site of the December 13, 1862, defeat of Union General Burnside's troops by those led by Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Here is a section of the original walls along the Sunken Road.
The Confederate troops were between these walls, firing at the Federal troops attacking from the left. Up the hill to the right, Confederate artillery was also firing at the Federal troops. This monument honors Richard Rowland Kirkland, a Confederate soldier that took pity on the injured Federal troops that lay near the wall for two days. He filled several canteens with water and began taking them to the wounded soldiers. Troops on both sides held their fire for two hours to allow him to bring water to the wounded. Kirkland is called the "Angel of Marye's Heights."
At the top of the hill is the Union Cemetery, authorized by Congress in July 1865, three months after the war ended. The bodies of those killed in the Fredericksburg area where battles also were fought in 1863 and 1864, were moved from crude cemetery plots scattered haphazardly across nearby battlefields. The majority of the bodies are unidentified.
Upright stones list the names of identified remains. Small flat markers like this show the cemetery section and the number of unidentified remains buried there (five).
We also explored downtown Fredericksburg. There are lots of shops there in restored old, and I do mean old, buildings. This stone structure was built in 1813 as a dry goods warehouse. Now owned by the City of Fredericksburg, it is rented by a shop selling Civil War artifacts.
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