After Virginia - October 28, 29, 30 in Tennessee

Gatlinburg was interesting and as lovely as they say. But this is it for us at Tennessee. Friday (Oct 31) we head west again. Where will we go next? We don't really know. We will tell you tomorrow.



At Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee):
Can you tell we were cold?



We met Pedens today (October 29) at Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, TN) and saw a number of great Southern Gospel groups. This was a very interesting day. It is a bit like an elaborate and Southern Christian version of a cross between Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland with lots of country gospel music. During the week at this time of year really means that the place is crawling with retirees (like us). There were all kinds of crafters showing you how they make everything from furniture to sorghum to weaving to wagon-making. Lots of feel for the south and its subculture. We really enjoyed it.


After leaving Jamestown, we decided to drive west for awhile. We ended up near Winston-Salem NC at a Rest Area on I-40. We slept great amidst all the trucks lined up and then today (the 28th) we got into Tennessee (Dollywood). My cousin and husband, Carol and Roger Peden will join us and show us around the park on the 29th.

Driving through Asheville area was as good as any fall colors on the whole trip (and we've seen some great stuff). We were sorry we couldn't match up with Myron and Bev Gottfried in Ashville but we had a nice chat. Marie did find an outlet for some fabric she wanted. As we parked in their lot, you can see the snow on the ground nearby. We even drove through some snow flurries - and that was a first for this trip.

Virginia - Historical Sites October 21 - 27

Jamestown was our last spot to visit before leaving Virginia (today, October 27). The visitor's center there is arguably more elaborate than the new Gettysburg Center. Amazing. We took off for North Carolina about 3 pm and drove 7 hours (going west for the first time in months).

Williamsburg was our visitation site today (Oct 26) (plus the outlet stores there). Marie has never been here so we enjoyed walking the streets and visiting their wonderful Visitors' Center.



It is now Oct 25 and we are enjoying this eastern area of Virginia. We toured Yorktown yesterday and have an easy lounging day today. Tomorrow we will go to Williamsburg and Jamestown.
This river shot is looking out the window of our restaurant booth where we had lunch in Yorktown:
After all the exploration (Oct 22) of battlegrounds around Fredericksburg, we drove about 200 miles to the Chesapeake area - camping right on an extension of the Chesapeake Bay - the Piankatank River - in a gorgeous Thousand Trail preserve. We will stay here 4 or 5 days and explore Williamsburg, Jamestown, etc. In this next photo, you can see us at the little car in the middle (at the end of the torquise line) (click photo for an enlarged version)
This map shot is taken from our GPS localizing system. Our camp site is at the lower end of the torquise line (there is a faint blue car representing our rig). We are camped overlooking the Piankatank River. It was so delightful (and free via Thousand Trails membership) that we stayed 5 days.

This is the Piankatank River as seen from our RV (the site is at the end of the torquise line above):
Wednseday, Oct 22 was another civil war exploration day. We hiked around the woods at Chancellorsville and better understood this disastrous spot (for the Union army) and my relative (Fighting Joe Hooker). It was his only battle as full general (1863) and Lincoln replaced him quickly. It also is well known as being the spot where Stonewall Jackson was accidentally shot by his own men. He died a few days later.
The trenches dug by the rebels go for miles through the woods. They are still readily visible.
A year later, Grant used similar strategy to Hooker's and that battle brought 26,000 casualties (182,000 men fighting). There is no way to imagine what that was like in these woods.

Next we went on about 10 miles to Fredericksburg and saw the very famous "sunken road" where there was another loss by the Union. 18,000 men died at this site in a three day time. Unbelieveable!
Imagine this road filled with bodies and blood.
In a two year period, over 600,000 men fought within a 15 mile radius.
Today (Oct 21) we visited Monticello and drove around Charlottesville. We had never been to Monticello and it is fascinating and enriches our current read of " The Hemingses of Monticello" (with the truth about Jefferson and his fathering 7 children by the slave Sally Hemings). We ate at a 240 year old Tavern (Michie's Tavern)The view from the hill is gorgeous.

In the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia - October 15 - 21

- Getting back to this valley is like coming home. I graduated from SVA here 48 years ago and Marie and I have come here many times since then. It really doesn't change much from decade to decade.
- We are now in Weyer's Cave VA (Sabbath Oct 18) and our first morning at Richard and Bonnie Smith's place ( luxury property/farm) brought these sights. They have built a gorgeous home on top of their hill with views all around.
This is looking out from their yard:Look where we get to park - on top of their hill with plenty of room for Buddy to run. He likes fall in the valley - and so do we! This is Ryder and Tracy and family. We had a great time with them. Terrific kids (and therefore, parents).
Next we go to New Market for church. Vanessa my niece) and kids are here too. Gerry is working at the academy this weekend. This is a neighbor's driveway near Richard's house.There were over a hundred of these buggies parked outside Sunday church in the Mennonite community.
- We started our Shenandoah visit (Oct 15) by using the self-guided 1 mile walking tour of the Manassas VA Bull Run #1 civil battleground. (see photo of Stone Wall Jackson monument). This is the exact spot where he earned the nickname "StoneWall". It is incredible to be here and envision what the book and movie "Gods and Generals" depict so well.
- Did you know that Bill has received a Christmas present nearly every year for almost the 43 years since teaching 8th grade science at Kent Jr High School in MD? They come from a former 14 year old student who lives in Manassas, VA. Well we visited Aunt Joanie's Chocolate Shoppe in Manassas and found her making candy. This was a reunion with Joan Huntington and I after 43 years.. She says she has sent me a box of candy from her shop every Christmas because something I did helped her start believing in herself (when she was 14). Can you think of a better gift for a teacher? Incredible! What a hero she is to her own family too. We had a fun lunch together and Marie found some things to buy for Alexis at her store.
- Next we parked in an RV park in Luray VA and revisited the Blue Ridge Mts' SkyLine Drive where we went on our second date (1961).

- Then on to the site of the New Market Battle where 250 teen cadets made a difference and beat the Union armies.
- Next we go to Richard and Bonnie's farm in Weyer's Cave VA (Friday Oct 18).

In Maryland - October 5-15

Oct 10-14 In Washington DC area - we did some sightseeing (see photos) and had a great family reunion at Joanie and Bruce's house (at Laurel, MD)






If you don't recognize these folks, I'll help you. Bruce and my little sister, Joanie are in the photos with Marie and I. Carl and Agnes Schneider are with their grand-daughter, Talia, and Rochelle (my niece) is with her daughter Paige. I didn't get a good picture of all three of her kids (Leah and Justin, sorry).

The bottom photo is John Lintner (my cousin) between Bob and Judy Spindler. (if you can't see it clearly, click on the picture)

In Westminster MD, October 5-8

Next we start our 340 mile journey down to Westminster Maryland where we will park the rig in the driveway of Bob and Judy Spindler. Judy is Marie's cousin and Marie lived with the Nelsons for college (lucky for me 'cuz that is when I met her).



We stayed with them for four days and did a lot of exploring and catching up. Next we go to the DC area for 5 days.

Hooker Family Exploration - Amherst , Westhampton, and Hartford

October 3 - We spent the afternoon in the Hartford Connecticut area looking up several places that we knew reflected old Hooker family stories. The most famous person in the founding of CT is, of course, Reverend Thomas Hooker. I found his gravesite in the small cemetery in the yard downtown as part of the Center Church in Hartford (see photos). His grave marker is very old but you can still read its long description . Then I was pleased to also find the oldest building still standing in West Hartford, Ccnnecticut is the Sarah Whitman Hooker House (see photo). If you have an interest in reading about her and why this house is a national monument you can click on this website: http://www.west-hartford.com/Profile/HistoricInfo/SarahWhitmanHooker2.htm.

We were lucky to stumble quite easily onto the Hooker area of the Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst MA today (October 2). It was thrilling for me to see several generations of folks I either remember or remember hearing stories about, lying all beneath that beautiful oak tree you see. If you click on the next photo (below), you can read the dates of all those printed out on the back of the granite marker. I had a powerful emotion about life and its opportunities as I thought about all that my grandfather and his sister did with their incredible career lives. But in addition, I think the tears in my eyes were more about the way that both those folks really cared about me and my siblings. Grandpa came to our house every Friday night with little gifts and rewards for our week's accomplishments. I got nickels and dimes for memorizing new poems and for reading things to him. It hit me about how that support had meant so much - from this man lying in the cold earth since 1953. In a sense, he has been alive in me for those intervening 55 years.
Next we went looking for my dad's Uncle Harry Allen's house. Jenny Strong, his long-time housekeeper and later partner, got the house when Harry died (1942 and he had never married). Marie and I stayed in that house on a trip with my parents soon after we were married (c. 1965) and Jenny told us stories of my dad, Allen and brother Charlie, being "silly" and running around the house. It was believeable. What a thrill today it was to find that house not only standing but beautifully restored and registered as an Historic Landmark (built in 1886) and being used as a bed and breakfast. I may write to the owners and offer some movies taken 80+ years ago of dad's Uncle Harry walking in the yard and Allen and Charlie playing around there also - and you can tell it is the same house. The oak tree is much bigger, I might add.
This was an exciting day and next we go to Hartford, Connecticut to look over what Reverend Thomas Hooker did in founding the early settlement of Connecticut. I know there will be some new excitements to discover. I have never had a trip like this in my life. It is so fun to look for roots and find them so easily and visibly.