04/10/2008
Saturday is a big football day and we watched the little ones play first - just tag football of course. Most looked a little confused as to where they were meant to be or which way they should run but they enjoyed running around in the sunshine and we had a great time too.
On the way back we stopped into Yoder's - a Menonite store not too far from us. What a fantastic place, with beautiful home baked pies, herbs and spices of all kinds and a wonderful chicken barbecue where we purchased several chicken dinners, plus sweet potato pie, strawberry and rhubarb pie and pecan pie. Wish we had this at home - although we might start to put on even more weight if we did.
In the afternoon we made our way to Woodberry Forest School to watch the football game (American football that is). The game continued for over 2 hours but was a great game and Woodberry won. I now understand most of the rules although it's strange to see different groups of players run out at different times - receivers, offence, defence. They are playing on a brand new artificial pitch costing $500,000. They also have a practice field of the same material and cost - no comparison to the pitches and fields we play on in England.
Point to note: it may be sunny and warm during the day but at this time of year the dark drops down quickly and it's soon cold. Keep a sweater in the car!
Also, on the critter spotting list, we have now seen a praying mantis - rescued from the pool in the afternoon. No bears but probably a good thing!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Spelunking in the hills
03/10/2008
Our intention today was to visit the Luray Caverns and Motor Museum. We crossed the mountains by Skyline Drive on the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Park (yes we know you all know the same songs as we do so feel free to sing them).
There are places out here that people have never really left and communities remain together which results in outsiders being a little unwelcome if you stumble onto one of them we were told. Thoughts of Deliverance sprang to mind and banjo playing people on porches. We never saw them but you would have to be way off track to come across them I guess. When the National Parks Service took over the land people were just moved off, whether you owned your farm or not and this obviously leads to a deep mistrust of the government for a lot of people.
Luray was beautiful and a local sound engineer had wired up various stalagtites to play certain notes controlled by an organ which was pretty eary. Needless to say, one wonders if he had enough to do in his life!! The motor museum was just as good with pristine coaches and then cars over a vast period of time. Most had original buying costs on them and were around $480 upwards. Imagine how rich you must have felt to have afforded a car back then.
We returned home and then investigated Culpeper to get the White Water Rafting pictures developed - hopefully these will be added soon.
Our intention today was to visit the Luray Caverns and Motor Museum. We crossed the mountains by Skyline Drive on the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Park (yes we know you all know the same songs as we do so feel free to sing them).
There are places out here that people have never really left and communities remain together which results in outsiders being a little unwelcome if you stumble onto one of them we were told. Thoughts of Deliverance sprang to mind and banjo playing people on porches. We never saw them but you would have to be way off track to come across them I guess. When the National Parks Service took over the land people were just moved off, whether you owned your farm or not and this obviously leads to a deep mistrust of the government for a lot of people.
Luray was beautiful and a local sound engineer had wired up various stalagtites to play certain notes controlled by an organ which was pretty eary. Needless to say, one wonders if he had enough to do in his life!! The motor museum was just as good with pristine coaches and then cars over a vast period of time. Most had original buying costs on them and were around $480 upwards. Imagine how rich you must have felt to have afforded a car back then.
We returned home and then investigated Culpeper to get the White Water Rafting pictures developed - hopefully these will be added soon.
Back to School
02/10/2008
Welcome to Virginia! One of the prettiest states I have seen - well in our opinion anyway.
We awoke to grandchildren being taken to school and a glorious sunny morning. We could now see the new pool and wonderful garden leading out towards woodland. We had a relaxing morning eating rolls and bacon but were expected at the High School in Culpeper at lunchtime to be introduced to Jennifer's honour student english literature class. The students, we are told, thoroughly enjoyed their visitors and asked many questions and took pictures for the yearbook - let's hope they're not too frightening to look at. I went backwards and forwards on the various journeys collecting the grandchildren. Everything is so well organised and children are only allowed to leave with a recognised person. Having a van with automatic doors makes this so much easier. Also having loads of parking space makes this a far more pleasurable experience.
Back at our temporary home games were played with children out in the beautiful sunshine until they had to go home to change for soccer practice but not before we had been visited by our hosts' son, who coaches a private school football team and invited to their game on Saturday.
We had a lovely evening exchanging stories and comparing life in England and the American countryside and made plans for Friday.
Welcome to Virginia! One of the prettiest states I have seen - well in our opinion anyway.
We awoke to grandchildren being taken to school and a glorious sunny morning. We could now see the new pool and wonderful garden leading out towards woodland. We had a relaxing morning eating rolls and bacon but were expected at the High School in Culpeper at lunchtime to be introduced to Jennifer's honour student english literature class. The students, we are told, thoroughly enjoyed their visitors and asked many questions and took pictures for the yearbook - let's hope they're not too frightening to look at. I went backwards and forwards on the various journeys collecting the grandchildren. Everything is so well organised and children are only allowed to leave with a recognised person. Having a van with automatic doors makes this so much easier. Also having loads of parking space makes this a far more pleasurable experience.
Back at our temporary home games were played with children out in the beautiful sunshine until they had to go home to change for soccer practice but not before we had been visited by our hosts' son, who coaches a private school football team and invited to their game on Saturday.
We had a lovely evening exchanging stories and comparing life in England and the American countryside and made plans for Friday.
Airport Antics
01/10/2008
Had to get up a little earlier today to catch the United Airlines flight to Washington Dulles. First problem being that we couldn't check in online as one of us, apparently, was a security risk and had to be checked in at the airport. We set off early to return the car and sort out whatever problem it was. Everyone had to use touch screens to check in at the airport, most people having no idea what they were doing, including us. Inevitably, ours said - speak to a UA representative - she entered the date of birth and that was it. Although our seats were now split. Technology - great when it works.
Managed to change seats to be together to find that just across the aisle was a man in handcuffs, being accompanied by marshalls or police - comforting! Then we were informed that the ELAC box that contains the electronics to control the pitch and roll was broken (nothing important then). This had failed before but we were reliably informed that the new box would work fine - obviously it did as we reached Washington an hour later than expected, in rain.
Picking up the car took an age, due to the woman in front who wanted leather seats, a different colour from the one in stock, lots of cupholders - you name it, she wanted to check on everything and then go and speak to her husband who, apparently, was standing patiently outside. I don't believe the rest of us existed in her world and didn't want to anyway.
We set off to find the 29 and hopefully to find the house just off it, somewhere near Brightwood. Imagine how amazed we were when we managed to find it - in the dark as well. What a pleasure it was to see our friends after such a journey. We retired to the basement and slept well - hoping for the weather to clear up soon.
Had to get up a little earlier today to catch the United Airlines flight to Washington Dulles. First problem being that we couldn't check in online as one of us, apparently, was a security risk and had to be checked in at the airport. We set off early to return the car and sort out whatever problem it was. Everyone had to use touch screens to check in at the airport, most people having no idea what they were doing, including us. Inevitably, ours said - speak to a UA representative - she entered the date of birth and that was it. Although our seats were now split. Technology - great when it works.
Managed to change seats to be together to find that just across the aisle was a man in handcuffs, being accompanied by marshalls or police - comforting! Then we were informed that the ELAC box that contains the electronics to control the pitch and roll was broken (nothing important then). This had failed before but we were reliably informed that the new box would work fine - obviously it did as we reached Washington an hour later than expected, in rain.
Picking up the car took an age, due to the woman in front who wanted leather seats, a different colour from the one in stock, lots of cupholders - you name it, she wanted to check on everything and then go and speak to her husband who, apparently, was standing patiently outside. I don't believe the rest of us existed in her world and didn't want to anyway.
We set off to find the 29 and hopefully to find the house just off it, somewhere near Brightwood. Imagine how amazed we were when we managed to find it - in the dark as well. What a pleasure it was to see our friends after such a journey. We retired to the basement and slept well - hoping for the weather to clear up soon.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Going all out before heading out.
30/9/2008
Today we decided to go all out and visit practically everything in Colorado in one day before we left. We failed but did fit in some good sites driving around Estes park reaching about 12000 ft in a car. Passing snow drifts and Toyota all the way up and over.
We first decided to see just how people used to travel such great expanses by heading into Denver to see the Forney Transport museum, which turns out is a much bigger collection then we thought. Once we entered the Hanger we were faced with Railway engines, planes, cars and carriages numbering a couple hundred. From the Big boy steam engine to a puzzling crushed car that i still question what it used to be. The collection held amphibious vehicles of all types, some of the first electric powered carriages and various different cars from films and TV programs. They even had a horse drawn carriage from Britain not too far from us. After a sit in a model T and a look at the sheer size of the big boy we eventually tore ourselves away from the cars and forced ourselves to move on out. Of course we made the stop in the gift shop, only to find out that the exhibits were merely a third of the collection the museum had since they don't have the space to display their vast collection. I can tell you now that if you are in the Denver area that this place is a must see for anyone even slightly interested in transport or the like. We also saw the elephants of the circus walk past whilst there which was surprising to say the least.
So we then decided to go off to what we thought was a small narrow gauge railway near Golden. Needless to say, we were wrong again. We toured a massive collection of standard gauge engines, wagons and Caboose's. The heat may have stifled our enthusiasm slightly but we fought on around the site, through the turntable and restoration exhibits in the Roundhouse where Thomas had been hidden for the first time in 3 weeks to our delight since it meant that we needn't find ourselves surrounded by children. With an old diesel giving a taster of how to drive a diesel through clever use of sound effects and a coin slot i found myself quite interested. They also had some American engines which strangely were powered only on one side due to the power being rotary gears to the wheels, meaning that they weighed a lot and the rest of the engine was pushed onto the other side just to balance it out. This museum even had a model railway in the basement that span quite a large area once again powered by quarters, with incredible landscapes based on Colorado itself. The heat was getting to us so with another book from the gift shop we jumped back in the car.
Turns out that we didn't need to go to Yellowstone because all of the animals were down there in Estes park. Ranging from the odd squirrel and Chipmunk to the massive moose standing beside the road. The park even had Elk and the many people looking for Elk. We walked through some of the park where the Elk frequent, only to find more Squirrels and a woodpecker. However we did hear the high pitched squeal of the Elk which sounded humerous coming from such a massive animal. They called back and forth from all over the place except where we were.
Then we headed on back down the long I 70 back to Denver falling asleep slowly as we did so, only fully waking up for the Chance to Eat where i finally had a chicken pot pie and realised i had made a mistake not ordering one earlier in the holiday. The roads darkened and we rolled down the highways past an accident and on through traffic light after traffic lights to the motel where we would setup to depart Colorado after missing half the things the area had to offer since we misjudged just how immense a state Wyoming was and the states surrounding it. An area where you can travel for hundreds of miles on end without seeing a soul. This area certainly is one of the most beautiful and has some of the many great sights to be seen across America and is one that I'm sure i will find myself again some time in the distant future. But for now we were heading on out to Virginia to rest from our tour.
Today we decided to go all out and visit practically everything in Colorado in one day before we left. We failed but did fit in some good sites driving around Estes park reaching about 12000 ft in a car. Passing snow drifts and Toyota all the way up and over.
We first decided to see just how people used to travel such great expanses by heading into Denver to see the Forney Transport museum, which turns out is a much bigger collection then we thought. Once we entered the Hanger we were faced with Railway engines, planes, cars and carriages numbering a couple hundred. From the Big boy steam engine to a puzzling crushed car that i still question what it used to be. The collection held amphibious vehicles of all types, some of the first electric powered carriages and various different cars from films and TV programs. They even had a horse drawn carriage from Britain not too far from us. After a sit in a model T and a look at the sheer size of the big boy we eventually tore ourselves away from the cars and forced ourselves to move on out. Of course we made the stop in the gift shop, only to find out that the exhibits were merely a third of the collection the museum had since they don't have the space to display their vast collection. I can tell you now that if you are in the Denver area that this place is a must see for anyone even slightly interested in transport or the like. We also saw the elephants of the circus walk past whilst there which was surprising to say the least.
So we then decided to go off to what we thought was a small narrow gauge railway near Golden. Needless to say, we were wrong again. We toured a massive collection of standard gauge engines, wagons and Caboose's. The heat may have stifled our enthusiasm slightly but we fought on around the site, through the turntable and restoration exhibits in the Roundhouse where Thomas had been hidden for the first time in 3 weeks to our delight since it meant that we needn't find ourselves surrounded by children. With an old diesel giving a taster of how to drive a diesel through clever use of sound effects and a coin slot i found myself quite interested. They also had some American engines which strangely were powered only on one side due to the power being rotary gears to the wheels, meaning that they weighed a lot and the rest of the engine was pushed onto the other side just to balance it out. This museum even had a model railway in the basement that span quite a large area once again powered by quarters, with incredible landscapes based on Colorado itself. The heat was getting to us so with another book from the gift shop we jumped back in the car.
Turns out that we didn't need to go to Yellowstone because all of the animals were down there in Estes park. Ranging from the odd squirrel and Chipmunk to the massive moose standing beside the road. The park even had Elk and the many people looking for Elk. We walked through some of the park where the Elk frequent, only to find more Squirrels and a woodpecker. However we did hear the high pitched squeal of the Elk which sounded humerous coming from such a massive animal. They called back and forth from all over the place except where we were.
Then we headed on back down the long I 70 back to Denver falling asleep slowly as we did so, only fully waking up for the Chance to Eat where i finally had a chicken pot pie and realised i had made a mistake not ordering one earlier in the holiday. The roads darkened and we rolled down the highways past an accident and on through traffic light after traffic lights to the motel where we would setup to depart Colorado after missing half the things the area had to offer since we misjudged just how immense a state Wyoming was and the states surrounding it. An area where you can travel for hundreds of miles on end without seeing a soul. This area certainly is one of the most beautiful and has some of the many great sights to be seen across America and is one that I'm sure i will find myself again some time in the distant future. But for now we were heading on out to Virginia to rest from our tour.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Long road to Massacre.
We left Burlington on the by now very familiar Highway 385. South to Cheyenne Wells where we found another closed museum. The landscape varied from intensive arable, through beef farms where the cattle were kept in small compounds each with a mound in the middle, to almost desert like wilderness, sandy soil with sage brush. We passed signs for Beecher Island but no mention of the battlefield shown on the map. The road was straight and hardly undulated, but busy with trucks. We eventually came to Sandy Creek, the scene of one of Americas most inglorious incidents. Following a period of horsestealing and raids by hostile Indians, culminating in the murder of a family, a regiment of local volunteers was raised with the single intention of wreaking revenge. The rabble of farmers, drunks and old veterans rode out to Fort Lyon where they learnt of an Indian Camp at Sandy Creek. After a heated debate among the officers the soldiers, almost a thousand strong attacked the camp, apparently ignoring the US Flag under which Chief Black Kettle, who had made peace with the Whiteman, was told he would be safe. A massacre ensued in which 200 natives died, the majority women and children. The atrocity was compounded when the bodies were subsequently mutilated. The subsequent Indian wars were a direct result. In defence of the US Govt they held Courts of Enquiry and the Sand Creek massacre was exposed for the disaster it was. There was very little to see at the site which is not surprisingly sacred ground to the native American. However, the visit was made more than worth while by our conversation with one of the Rangers who gave us an in depth insight into the back ground and events of the massacre. His was an unbiased account and the twists and turns of the Indian policy set in the back ground of the Civil War, debates over statehood and the arguments about abolitionism. Characters involved included a Methodist preacher (Chivington) who was anti slavery but publicly stated that the only good Indian was a dead one. An Army Colonel removed for being sympathetic to the Indians and calling them together for Peace talks. A lieutenant who marched his troop around the massacre site but didnt shoot a single shot and was shot dead after giving evidence. Black Kettle miraculously survived Sand Creek only to die under very similar circumstances when attacked by troops led by CUSTER.
We resumed our journey over the semi desert landscape to Limon where we had lunch at a Wendys staffed by numerous staff not one of whom was seemingly aged under seventy! We then took the Interstate into Denver and visited what looks like a very interesting Transport Museum which no one was surprised to find closed. Rush hour in Denver is like rush hour the world over.
We resumed our journey over the semi desert landscape to Limon where we had lunch at a Wendys staffed by numerous staff not one of whom was seemingly aged under seventy! We then took the Interstate into Denver and visited what looks like a very interesting Transport Museum which no one was surprised to find closed. Rush hour in Denver is like rush hour the world over.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Colorado Bound
Left Scotts Bluff in glorious sunshine once again this morning having spent a night listening to what seems like endless trains going through. This is the busiest area we have been through for freight trains but then each town has silos or sugar making facilities so a busy area. Although in between towns there are miles upon miles of empty land with the odd cow here and there. Some roads are endlessly straight and seem to go on forever - so much so that a corner makes you wonder how the car will go around them.
We had intended to stop at a couple of trail type museums but being Sunday a couple were shut so we drove on. We finally stopped at Wray where there was very little but it had a cafe and a row of shops so we had a snack there. Most of these towns seem to have a lot of houses but you never see anyone walking in and out of shops in the Main Street, they are like ghost towns and you wonder where everyone is. We drove on to our intended destination, Burlington, Colorado. This had a marvellous Old Town Museum where we visited lots of preserved buildings showing you the telegraph depot, blacksmith, courthouse, jailhouse and a beautiful old house with pictures of the owners. There was a lovely lady playing the piano as we returned to the little cafe for the best milkshake we have ever had. Strawberry with real strawberries, cream, ice cream - a real meal in itself. Not forgetting the chance to buy Christmas decorations - this seems to be an all year round thing and the decorations are superb but transporting them back could be a bit of a nightmare.
We were told the best place to travel onto after this would be a suburb of Denver and take a trip along the Rockies before we fly on to Virginia. Apparently it is now cooler in Virginia so everything has turned around and we are hotter than them.
For this evening we ate across the road at a steakhouse which was very nice and apparently one of the two restaurants to be found open on a Sunday evening (the other being a Chinese). On to Denver tomorrow.
We had intended to stop at a couple of trail type museums but being Sunday a couple were shut so we drove on. We finally stopped at Wray where there was very little but it had a cafe and a row of shops so we had a snack there. Most of these towns seem to have a lot of houses but you never see anyone walking in and out of shops in the Main Street, they are like ghost towns and you wonder where everyone is. We drove on to our intended destination, Burlington, Colorado. This had a marvellous Old Town Museum where we visited lots of preserved buildings showing you the telegraph depot, blacksmith, courthouse, jailhouse and a beautiful old house with pictures of the owners. There was a lovely lady playing the piano as we returned to the little cafe for the best milkshake we have ever had. Strawberry with real strawberries, cream, ice cream - a real meal in itself. Not forgetting the chance to buy Christmas decorations - this seems to be an all year round thing and the decorations are superb but transporting them back could be a bit of a nightmare.
We were told the best place to travel onto after this would be a suburb of Denver and take a trip along the Rockies before we fly on to Virginia. Apparently it is now cooler in Virginia so everything has turned around and we are hotter than them.
For this evening we ate across the road at a steakhouse which was very nice and apparently one of the two restaurants to be found open on a Sunday evening (the other being a Chinese). On to Denver tomorrow.
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