Virginia Aug 27 – Sept 12
Evacuate! Dorian Approaches
As the path for Dorian changed from Alabama to the Carolina’s, the campground we were at informed us that our site was most likely to be underwater so best to move on. We decided to Virginia to be as far away from rain and wind as possible. Turns out to be a good choice. Nothing but very hot and humid days.
Glen Maury Campground – lovely spot (although the restrooms need a lot of TLC) this is Buena Vista (city) owned. A nice surprise when we pulled in was the website quoted only to have water and electric, but turns out there is a few full hook-ups – now the restroom issue doesn’t matter. And the price was right $17.50 a night!
Baby Bear
PeaHens
Animals/Insects
Little tiny black bugs – drive me insane! They only appear once you are nice an sweaty on a hike and they buzz around you, especially around eyes and nose. Inhaled a few too – ugh!
Black Bears!!! Yes, we saw a Momma with 3 cubs running across the road as we approached the trail head. Out of nowhere and they came bounding out of the bush right in front of us. We were so stunned we didn’t have time to pick up phone and take pic, except for the last little guy who was the straggler.
Pea Hens – this was a first for us to see, the bird itself is very beautiful, grey, plump looking; but they sure do make a most gawd awful noise.
Deer of course. A fawn and momma came wandering across the road as I was driving down it one early morning. These animals sure do need to look both ways before crossing!
Monticello
Museums went to a two while here: Woodrow Wilson and Monticello. Both of these museums spoke openly about the “enslaved” peoples which was a way of life for both the Jefferson’s and the Wilson’s.
Woodrow Wilson (focus of this museum is the household where he was born and on his parents and their life which shape Woodrow) father was a Presbyterian minister and in addition to the $1000 monthly salary he received for his services at the church in Staunton, the family also lived rent free in a beautiful, large home and had 3 full-time enslaved persons. WW (as he referred to himself, actually his first name was Thomas, middle name Woodrow which he dropped in favor of Woodrow which he felt sounded more prestigious) grew up having slaves as a child. He was 10 years old when the Civil War began, and his values were already ingrained that slavery was a natural part of the South. These beliefs continued into his presidency as Civil Rights took a reversal turn during his presidency and also women’s right to vote. Although he relented in the passing of the 19th amendment, he believed women should not be involved in politics. Actually, I found this to be a quandary for WW because his 2nd wife (1st died in his first term) took over for him when he had a stroke while in his 2nd term. His attending physician documented that WW was “an extremely sick man”, but doc vowed not to disclose this information to the public while WW was alive. So, Edith took over behind closed doors.
Monticello – Jefferson built a beautiful home, lived grandly on a fine estate employing over 600 enslaved persons during the 40 years that he lived there. Again, the museum tour devoted entirely on the enslaved population at Monticello. The question was posed: “What do you think Jefferson meant by saying “All men are created equal…” how would you interrupt his thoughts?” I never thought about that, now I can’t stop thinking about it. Slavery was vital to the South’s economic survival, to Jefferson’s survival of his lifestyle, yet “all men are created equal”. He didn’t say “free men” or “white men” or “men with property” as these are all the scenarios that the tour attendees threw out as what he could possibly have meant – so it makes me ponder. Jefferson lived large and died with a lot of debt left to his children – we always laugh and say I am going to leave my kids my credit card debt! And that is exactly what Jefferson did! Kept expanding his house, imported expensive copper pots for his cooks to make French cuisine dishes, kept buying land and all the while going deeper and deeper into debt. Think my next read will be the Jefferson biography.
Eats and Drinks
Lunch in Buchanan’s was at “The Fountain” established in 1952. It still had the original soda fountain. I had a sinful bacon, jelly and cheese grilled sandwich. My mom use to make those and it tasted just like how she made them!
Cider – there are a lot of hard cider distilleries in this area so we decided to try a tasting. The one I bought taste like a bubbly pinot grigio. Delicious
Breweries – Devils Backbone (names after a ridge in the area) served up some very good IPA’s (Ty said) and I tried a couple different stouts.
diner
TopColeMt
Cole Mt hike
ViewBluffMt
Hiking
Cole Mountain – beautiful 5-mile loop trail that is part of the Appalachia trail. 2.5 miles up, 2 across on the ridge .5 miles down. The confusing part of this trail was the name. All Trails and the information sheet we picked up from Visitor Center referred to it as Cold Mountain, but when we got to trail head, the description on the map was Cole Mountain. The trail itself was the Old Hotel Trail. We compared our path to the All Trails and it was the same, so go figure.
Bluff Mountain – 6 miles loop this time, 3 up and 3 down. The view at the top at The Bald (trail name) was 360 degrees. We were looking down into the town of Buena Vista and could actually see our campground!! Again, the Appalachia Trail follows this trail for a bit.
Chessie Trail – 5 mile out and back along the James River. Flat as it is an old train track. Was nice to do on a hot and humid day.
Planter Fasciitis
I am bummed. Woke up this morning and could not put any weight on my left foot what so ever. Yesterday when we were touring the Wilson museum it was kind of achy on the heel but didn’t think anything about it. Today is a different story. Went to Urgent Care just to make sure I didn’t fracture my foot somehow, and Dr (great ole guy) said “Yup you got yerself case of the Planty”. Ice, rest, ibuprofen and a lot of stretching exercises with a band should heal it, but will take some time. Oh and ditch the crocs and flipflops (these are the only shoes I have besides hiking boots). So here I sit.
Richmond is next stop
On Thursday we pick up camp and go to Richmond to spend some time there exploring the capital (of Virginia) and the civil war battlefields. And it is a bigger city than what we have been in so will look for shoes with some support.