May 4, 2013 - Spring 2013

Bet you thought we had driven the motorhome off a cliff somewhere by now. Not quite, but we have certainly had some ups and downs that did not involve the motorhome. I am going to make short work of the downs as we are both tired of dealing with them and ready to move on. Basically what happened is that the doctor took Buzz off the antiviral medication after his eye surgery. Everything I had read online (and evidently that he had seen also) indicated this was the proper procedure, but it turned out to be absolutely wrong in his case. On...

Jun 25, 2012 - Appomattox Court House NP

Let me begin by apologizing to our good confederate reenactor/pharmacist friend for enduring the pompous Gen Lee!!! Using our imagination, we walked the old country lanes where the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginig to Ulysses S. Grant took place. For us all visits begin with the visitors' center. Many of the original structures remain today. The preservation, authentic period furniture are phenomenal. Clover Hill was the settlements' original name. I would have renamed it bug heaven as the gnats were eating our eyeballs...

Jun 5, 2010 - June 4-11, 2010 Appomattox, VA

Parkview Mobile Home and RV Park Right off the 24 and close to train tracks but so far it has been pretty quiet. Not a lot of trees so we can get satellite here but little shade. The sites here are level and fairly large and the roads are easy to get around on. Very hot and buggy but then it is almost summer and a storm is about to come in. Appomattox Court House National Historical Park is where Lee surrendered to Grant on April 9, 1865. The grounds are much like they were at the time of the battle but some of the buildings have be...

Sep 25, 2009 - Appomattox Court House

Our fourth night was spent at Front Royal, VA. We decided to take our car on the Skyline Drive where there are many turnoffs. The day was a bit overcast but we had a great time. The highlight was seeing a juvenile bear scamper across the road in front of us and climb over a wall. There is no photo - you have to trust me on this. We went on to Appomattox Court House in VA where Lee surrendered to Grant, ending the Civil War. Jerry and I were there in 1974. Since then I discovered that a grandfather was there at the time of the surrender....

Sep 22, 2009 - September/October, 2009-Frank & Sylvia-Virginia

Guess you are wondering where I am ???? Let me see....... My new family, Frank & Sylvia Ruckman took me straight to Westmoreland. We no sooner got my suitcase unpacked, then we headed out in the motor home. Our FIRST few days took us from Tennessee to Virginia. Along the way, we stopped to see Where the Union & Confederate Armies met to sign the ending of the Civil War. I guess WE lost, as I am a "Southern Bear". It sure was "scary" when Frank & Sylvia left me in the CEMETERY with that Union Soldier and the rest were Rebels. I could almost...

Sep 21, 2009 - Appomattox Courthouse-Lee's Surrender

Virginia is beautiful. Today we visited Appomattox Courthouse National Park, the surrender site. The national park has done a great job of restoring/replicating these buildings. Not all of the buildings are there that the map shows but there are more than we expected. It still looks like a village. A yankee interpreter told the story as if he was there. That was fun and educational. We drove over to Lynchburg today but not much to do there. It is an historical town but not tourist friendly in our opinion. We leave for Lexington tomorrow....

Jul 14, 2009 - OTRA - VA - Appomattox

7/14/09 Left at the usual 11:20 a.m. Easy driving north on US-301 to Rocky Mount then north again on I-95 to Emporium, VA. WELCOME TO VIRGINIA: 12:40 p.m. At Emporium, we picked up US-58W then US-46 to US-460 then Route 24 and into the campground. Since we stayed the extra night at Wilson, we’re only staying at the Parkview MHP and RV Park, a nice little park about 1/4 mile from the highway, one night to keep on schedule but there is so much Civil War history in this area, we could easily spend a week or two. Passed the Perdue Chicken...

Jun 19, 2008 - Appomattox Court House and a good history lesson

The village of Appomattox Court House – where our nation began to reunite. Today was a full day steeped in history instruction for us, and we enjoyed the lessons. The village of Appomattox Court House was the county seat in 1865, but quickly fell into disrepair after the war, while the nearby town of Appomattox Station prospered because of its position on the railroad. The town of Appomattox today is a small tourist town, and Appomattox Court House is owned by the US government, serving as a national park for all of us to learn more about...

Jun 8, 2008 - Appomattox Court House

We have been parked at a campground in Waynesboro, VA for a month now. Gene has been patiently waiting while I have been doing a little hiking. Even though we have been in Waynesboro for such a long time, we have not done much sightseeing here. There are a few places we want to visit. Also, we have friends coming this week. That is always a bonus for us. Then we’ll be on our way to New York. Of course, there are a few things we want to see along the way. I took off my hiking boots and put on tennis shoes. I took off those sweaty, smelly...

Nov 13, 2007 - Natural Bridge / Appomattox Court House

We arrived at the Natural Bridge which once upon a time was considered to be one of the natural wonders of the world, right up there with Niagara Falls. This natural formation began 3 million years ago when underground creeks flowed through the porous rocks and fissures hollowing out caverns and hollows. The grey limestone eventually gave way, leaving a "bridge"connecting two mountains. Today the site includes a nature trail and a replica of a native Monacan Indian settlement, they being the original inhabitants of the area. Another...

Oct 24, 2007 - 1st On The Road Emergency - Mommy gets Superglued (T)

Noah needed the emblem on his Union hat fixed - the crossed rifles had fallen off for the second time. I am a firm believer that superglue fixes all, although Dave has banished me from use of the superglue since in the past he has had to unglue earings from my fingers. This was just a quick job, I told myself, Noah is always so patient about getting things fixed. I didn't realize that superglue will actually go through fabric! I not only superglued the little crossed rifles to my one hand, but my other hand also got glued from the other...

Apr 14, 2007 - Appomattox Court House NHP

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park is comprised of many original historic structures along with several reconstructed builings on approximately 1700 acres in rural southside Virginia. The village of Appomattox Court House was the site of the surrender of General Robert E. Lee and the event that signaled the end of four years of Civil War. The Visitor Center is in the reconstructed courthouse building. Exhibits include many original artifacts associated with the events surrounding the surrender of the Confederate Army of...