Here I have decided to put the story and pictures of Judy's and my Summer of 2008. As in the past years, we like to visit new places, explore parts of the area we have yet to visit and to also revisit places we enjoy
MONTPELIER, JAMES MADISON
On Sept. 17, 2008, which is Constitution Day, the rededication of Montpelier, the home of James and Dolley Madison took place. James was the fourth President of the United States and is created as the architect of the Constitution. The home they lived in, Montpelier, was expanded and remodeled over the years after their death and the good people responsible for the restoration brought it all back to its original state, just like it was in their day. We witnessed the rededication along with several thousands on what was a glorious day.
DOLLY SODS
Judy and I traveled to the remote area of the Monongahela National Forrest to an area called Dolly Sods. It is a real wilderness full of beauty and desolation at the same time. We traveled for miles over a dirt road and took a few side walks in areas that were cleared for farming hundreds of years ago by European settlers. The name Dolly Sods is a misspelling of a German name for the type of fields that they created.
Tygart Flyer
Judy and I took a train excursion through the forests around the Cheat River in West Va. in early September. We headed to Elkins WVa and took a train referred to as the Tygart Flyer. We spent 4 hours in air-conditioned comfort looking out windows and watching the scenery and enjoying a buffet lunch. This was a real treat since we had such beautiful weather and the woods and river scenery was so wonderful. We ended our trip along the Cheat river by visiting the falls on the river.
Larry and his Dad go ballooning
Thanks to my sister Mary Ann I got to go on a hot-air balloon ride with my dad which was a gift to him for his birthday. We flew around the town of Woodstock Va. with a fellow named Don. We were asked to helped set up the balloon and then enjoyed a hour of floating across the countryside and the town. The balloon was much larger than I could of imagined and the lift off was virtually motionless. There is plenty of noise as Don had to constantly blast the hot air to maintain of altitude. We did a couple of touchdowns and for some reason it always made us rise up again. I did enjoy talking to the people on the ground and that was easy to do since we never seemed to be too far off the ground once we had our original rise. Here are some photos of filling the balloon with air and our rising and eventual landing in an apartment parking lot.
Nags Head '08
We don't actually remember when we first started going to Nags Head but it has been at least 25 years since we did start our annual trip. For all of the previous years we rented the same cottage but this year we rented a place from my fellow NVI manager, Ron Maxwell. Ron and I worked together in Fredericksburg Va. in 1994 and did so for two years. Ron still runs that same store and has a very successful run as manager. Joining Judy and I this year was Christie and Doug, Charlie plus Kelly and Richard. Charlie's friend Terry stayed a few days and was a delightful guest. This may of been the first year that no other family members were at Nags Head at the same time. As always the week is to short but it was a very relaxing week
Charleston Park July 4th picnic
For the third year we have hosted a neighborhood picnic and this year was as nice as any so far. Many of our neighbors and friends came to celebrate our good fortunes and spend time getting to meet the new owners and catch up with the others. we also celebrate Danny's birthday as well.
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Crozet Tunnel
Though I don't know the exact history of the Crozet tunnel that passes under Afton Mountain here in Waynesboro, A man named Claudius Crozet in the 1850's built a tunnel without the aid of tunneling equipment that is standard today, through Afton mountain for rail traffic in and out of the Shenandoah Valley. It was used for nearly 100 years. Plans are mentioned every now and then to turn this engineering marvel into a greenway. Judy and I visited it from the eastern entrance in the town of Afton. We did not get inside due to the lack of flashlights and boots since there is lots of water.
LONGWOOD GARDENS
If you have never been to Longwood Gardens which is outside Wilmington Del. you have to make plans to do so. About 200 years ago a family started what was now called an arboretum and spent a lot of time collected a array of trees because they wanted to. In the early 1900's hard times fell on the several hundred acre site and a member of the Dupont family bought it and upgraded it to include gardens, fountains, and a conservatory. It is stunning beautiful and extremely well laid out and of course, it is beautiful.
LARRY HAS ANOTHER BIRTHDAY
JULY 1 MADE IT 56
JUDY AND LARRY'S 36th ANNIVERSARY
Judy and I will spend the summer going to places that we have enjoyed in the past or would like to go for the first time. We have already been to Harpers Ferry, Gettysburg, Longwood Gardens and Assateague Island. In a few weeks we will head to Nags Head NC. We still dream of Ireland and who knows, maybe that will still happen this fall. On our actual anniversary day, we had a date to the Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro. Judy made a picnic dinner and we sat along the South River and watched kids play in the river and we watch the ducks swim about. My god, we have gotten old.