Sunday, June 12, 2005 - Day 8

We left the campground in Charleston about 8:15 this morning, and right now its 4:30 and we are in line for the Ferry from Cedar Island to Ocracoke Island on our way to Cape Hatteras.  So far today we have only traveled about 300 miles, but have seen a lot of the coastal areas from Wilmington to Cedar Island.  We detoured through several beach communities, most with very high dollar homes, and there seems to be a marina at every water crossing, with high dollar boats, too.

We will try to find a place to park in Ocracoke Village right after we get off the ferry.  The ferry leaves at 6pm and the crossing takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes.  There are a couple of campgrounds right in the village, but maybe we will boondock if we find a suitable place.

6:00 pm - They loaded us right on time, and even got everyone in line on board. The guy guiding me got a little frustrated because I would not get as close to the inside wall (on my left) as he wanted.  I was sure he never saw that my mirror was only 3 or 4 inches from the wall.  Regardless of how close or not I was, they didn't park anyone beside me or beside either of the other two motorhomes on board.

8:30 pm - We arrived about 10 minutes early (tail wind), found a big parking lot at a boat launch, long spaces for boat trailers, and have settled right in.  We did a quick drive around, but it was dark, couldn't see much, and we needed gas in the cute little truck.  The only place we found with gas, the pumps were broken.  The lady said would be fixed tomorrow?  We can't do much driving tomorrow, but then this town is real small, anyway.  If they don't have the pumps fixed in the morning, we will just hook it up, and pull it on to the next town.

Monday, June 13, 2005 - Day 9

We drove around Ocracoke Village for a bit this morning and visited the lighthouse there.  Stopped at the same store as last night for gas, and they had one pump working - the high premium, so we only got 8 gallons at 2.499 per gallon.  Plenty to hold us until we get to our next stop.

Then we drove the 12 miles to the end of the island, and caught another ferry (free this time) for the 45 minute ride to Cape Hatteras Island.  Again, I didn't have a whole of confidence in the dude loading us on.  He got me so close to the inside wall, that we could only open the door about six inches.  We were trapped inside.  The awning was within 3 inches of the super-structure.  We spent most of the morning just traveling up the island and viewing the sights.

Near the north end of the island is the Wright Brothers Museum and the location of their first flight.  Very nice Visitor's Center and Exhibition Hall, as well as markers for the distance of each of their first 4 flights. The town is named Kill Devil Hills for the natural hill located on the site and the location of the Granite Monument honoring man's first powered flight in 1903.

We arrived in Virginia about 2 or so, then through Norfolk on I-64 up to Williamsburg, arriving here about 5 or so.  Got settled in and are discussing what we will do while we are here.

We arrived here at the same time that some folks in an American Eagle arrived, and they told us they had purchased the 3 day pass for touring the Historic District.  After we returned from dinner, the gentleman parked next to us came over and offered a map and a couple other detail brochure about Historic Williamsburg.

About 7 or so, we went to dinner at Marino's, a nice Italian place close to the Historic District.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - Day 10

We were up and gone this morning by about 8:45 or so.  Jumped over to I-64 for the southbound trip to the Yorktown battlefield, one of the decisive battles of the Revolutionary War.  Since we are on the NW side of Williamsburg and the Battlefield is on the SE side of Williamsburg, this was the fastest way to get there. 

Upon arrival at the Visitor's Center, I inquired about the Golden Age Passport.  Now that I am over 62, for $10 I purchased a pass that is good for life, and allows access for me and my family members to enter any National Park free.

We drove around the park, viewing the various troop positions, then drove over to the historical town of Yorktown.  Yorktown was the town being defended by the British at the time the Americans attached the British.  Many buildings were destroyed, but some remain.  The city is being re-developed with Riverside shopping and dining and the construction of a pier for cruise ships.

From the Yorktown Park we got on the National Historic Scenic Parkway and traveled the 30 miles or so to the Jamestown National Historic Site. The Parkway travels right through the middle of Historic Williamsburg, and goes under the restricted area with a tunnel, really a unique experience. The Jamestown National Historic Site is the site of the first English speaking settlement in the New World in 1607.  Of course, not a lot of the original site remains, except for the bell tower of the old church.  Excavations are still going on to this day.

From there we drove over to Charles City, which hardly exists any more as a town (at least we could not find a town).  This area is know for its plantation homes along the James River.  We drove by several, but decided to forego any tours.  From there we came back to the coach about 4 pm, and took a short nap.

Just a note about campgrounds in this area.  We are staying at Williamsburg Pottery Campground, a campground with over 500 sites.  But, there are only 30 to 40 sites occupied. It obviously was at one time a successful park, but is now kind of run down.  We also drove through another campground, Jamestown Beach RV Resort, near the Jamestown, which had over 600 sites, and no more the 20 or so were occupied.  This seems really strange to us, and has us wondering why.

About 6 or so, we drove down to the Historic District, easily found a parking place, and wandered around part of the area.  Several of the very nice shops were still open in the Market Place, but we just wanted to see some of the buildings and gardens.  There were several formal gardens and one vegetable/flower garden that we walked through.  Many of the old building in the area were private residences, and not open to the public.

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - Day 11

Today will probably be a 'light duty day'.  We don't plan to do much strenuous stuff.  We left the campground a little after 8, had breakfast at Stack'm High Pancake house.  Not anything special, very mediocre.

We then drove back to the Historic District and visited William and Mary University, established in 1693, the alma mater of 3 presidents.

The first building built there from 1693 to 1697 is still in use today, after 3 fires and several remodels and add-ons.

I noticed one rather unique construction technique, both in the Historic District and the brick walls around William and Mary.  The walls were about 4 feet tall, 2 feet thick, with rounded brick on the very top.

We then went to the L.L. Bean Factory Store and then the Candle Factory close to the campground, but refrained from buying anything at either place. As I write this, its about 1pm, and we will probably just hang around the coach until late this afternoon.  I will work on the website some, and add pictures from yesterday and today.

 Thursday, June 16, 2005 - Day 12

2:00pm - We left Williamsburg about 8:00 this morning, took I-64 to Richmond, I-295 around Richmond, and I-95 toward Washington with our destination being a KOA campground about 18 miles NE of the Washington Beltway. Our GPS showed us that the shortest and best route was right through the middle of DC, all freeway and much shorter than the Beltway route. When we passed by the Beltway Exit traffic was backed up 2 -3 miles, while traffic was very light the way we were going.  Everything would have worked fine, except when we got downtown we missed an exit, went through 3 tunnels, and the freeway ended at New York Avenue, maybe 8 or 10 blocks from the Capitol.

Now that sounds really bad, right?  But, as it turned out, the GPS got us right back on track and was only maybe 3 miles off route, then right back on the Washington/Baltimore Parkway, the exit we missed.  Was a little frustrating, but was not near as bad as it could have been, since Donna was driving.

We are now checked in to the KOA, all hooked up and happy, after a bit of hassle finding a site that worked for both satellites.  Our reservations apparently got messed up a little but the manager re-arranged some reservations, and we are happy as two pigs in the sun.

We are not too far from Annapolis, and will likely drive over there later today.  Then DC tomorrow & maybe Saturday.

8:00 pm - After a little resting and relaxing time we drove over to Annapolis for a little sight seeing.  We parked in the Naval Academy Football Stadium lot, and caught a free shuttle to the Visitor's Center.  Then we walked around the old town area and down to the City Docks.  After noticing a lot of available parking, we caught the shuttle back to the lot, and drove the little truck back to old town, and then around some of the area, not covered by the trolley.

 Several of the streets are very narrow, with 'Row' houses all jammed up.  The homes were either actually joined together or had a 3-4 foot wide walkway / garden between them.

The old town part of Annapolis has some really old buildings such as the tavern established in 1750 and still doing a great business.  I do doubt, however, that it looks much like the original.

Obviously we didn't make any effort to enter the grounds of the Naval Academy, but we did get a chance to do a drive by photo of the gate and sign.

Friday, June 17, 2005 - Day 13

We had a very big day today visiting some of the sights in Downtown DC.  I will try to break down the various locations we visited, with a few of the 140 pictures I took today.

Vietnam Memorial - For no particular reason this turned out to be our first stop.  We drove into DC today, and as luck would have it, we found a Free spot right next to one of the paths to the Memorial.  As we entered the actual memorial, and began our decent along the wall, the first impression I had was how simple and un-elaborate the memorial actually  was, as well as being much smaller than I had envisioned.  But as we walked deeper into the depression, the more significant it all seemed.  Folks were stopped, pointing to names, taking rubbings of a particular name, and observing or placing various personal memorials that had been placed along the wall.  Shortly after beginning our descent, I saw a lady in her mid-forties, standing and weeping softly as she looked at a name on the wall. Was she mourning a brother, and uncle, a father, or maybe even a husband?  I'll never know. That was when it really hit me as to the personal significance The Wall holds to so many thousands of people in the United States.  The Wall contains the names of 58,209 servicemen listed in the order of date of casualty.  The wall is 246 feet long, cost $7 million to construct, all paid for by private contribution.

The Lincoln Memorial - Just adjacent to the Vietnam Memorial is the Lincoln Memorial which is located at the opposite end of the Mall from the Capitol at the western end of the reflecting pool.  The most impressive thing about the Lincoln Memorial is its massiveness and the efforts taken in its construction.  And Old Abe is still in the same repose that everyone is familiar with.

Washington Memorial - We were unable to actually visit the Washington Memorial because the entire grounds surrounding the memorial was undergoing some sort of re-construction.

Korean War Memorial

Also near the Lincoln Memorial is the Korean War Memorial, with statues depicting various soldiers ascending a hill. There is also granite wall with vague figures etched into the granite.

World War II Memorial - One of the largest and newest memorials is the World War II Memorial celebrating "The Greatest Generation". Twin Atlantic and Pacific pavilions symbolize a war fought across two oceans.  Fifty-six pillars represent the 56 US states, territories, and District of Columbia that united in a common cause. The Freedom Wall's 4,000 gold stars commemorate the more 400,000 Americans who gave their lives in the war. 

Quoting President Harry Truman " Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid.  They have earned our undying gratitude.  America will never forget their sacrifices"

Placing the memorial between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial reflects the importance of World War II in preserving and internationalizing democratic ideals won under Abraham Lincoln. The memorial continues America's story of striving for freedom and individual rights.

The White House - Although all the streets adjoining the White House have been closed to vehicular traffic, the street on the north portico of the residence is open to pedestrian traffic and is the closet that one can get to the actual house.  Along the south portico, between the south lawn and the Eclipse, that street is also open only to pedestrian traffic, but is periodically closed as dignitaries arrive and depart. Although there is a steel fence around the secured property, I was able to get pictures through the fence.  The picture on the left is of the north portico and the one on the right is the south lawn.

The Capitol - At the very east end of the Mall on a really high hill is the location of the Capitol building, housing the House and the Senate.  It faces the Lincoln Memorial to the west. 

Arlington Cemetery & Tomb of The Unknowns - About 20 years ago, we had the opportunity to visit Arlington Cemetery, and at that time visitors could drive through the area at will.  Currently, because of the high volume of visitors, and maybe for security purposes, one must walk to the various attractions within the park, such as the Robert E. Lee House, the Kennedy grave and eternal flame, and Tomb of the Unknown.  We asked and actually were granted permission to drive to the Tomb.

At the Tomb, it was quite amazing to see several hundred standing in complete silence and reverence while a lone soldier marched back and forth in front of the tomb.  The precision of his march and the detail actions of his turn were absolute perfection.  At the changing of the guard a slight ceremony occurs to change the guard, including an inspection of the new guard arriving and the guard departing.  This ceremony takes place every 30 minutes.

There is always a wreath placed in front of the tomb, and an even more impressive ceremony occurs when this wreath is replaced with a new one. We were fortunate to view a changing of the wreath, which included a group of students representing 'Presidential School'.  Escorted by one of the soldiers, the group descended the stairs and placed the wreath at the tomb, followed by another soldiers playing Taps on the trumpet.

The Flag at the Tomb constantly flies at half-mast.

Saturday, June 18,2005 - Day 14

Since we are so close, we decided to drive into Baltimore today.  Actually, we just hung around the coach most of the morning, then arrived in Baltimore about noon. We stopped at the visitor's center, got some local maps, and then drove on out to the Fort Henry National Park.  As you may remember from your history lessons, the attack on this fort by the British in 1814 was the inspiration for Francis Scott Key to write "The Star Spangler Banner".

The fort is very well preserved, was used for many years.  During the Civil War it was used as a Union Prison for captured Confederate soldiers.

From 1917 to 1923, it was used as a hospital for American veterans of World War I wounded in combat.  In 1925, Fort Henry was designated as a National Park by Congress, then 14 years later it was designated as a National Monument and Historic Shrine, the only park in the country to have this double distinction.

We just happened to be there at a time when some local enthusiasts were giving a demonstration of some of the military drills and uniforms.  One of the Park Rangers narrated the presentation as the volunteers did an excellent job with their presentation. At least a couple of hundred folks were watching the presentation. 

After the completion of the presentation, the Ranger then got volunteers from the audience to assist in replacing the flag.  The one taken down was huge, but the one put up was even larger.

A series of pictures to give you an idea of just how big the flag actually was.

Old Glory