More Road Trips,Just Trying to Keep Busy

August 2020 

August 8, 2020

With all the fear,  (Montgomery County is particularly bad.) we are finding ourselves in the car doing a lot of road trips.  Today we headed out to Charles County where we found Rich Hill.  

Rich Hill Has a quite dramatic history.  In April of 1666, an immigrant from Wales named Hugh Thomas was assigned and patented 600 acres of land on the west side of the Wicomico River.   He sold 300 acres to Thomas Lomax in 1668.  In 1676 Thomas gave his brother, Cleborne, 100 acres. When he died in 1680 the remaining property went to his brother.  In 1710 the property was sold to Mary Contee.

Mary Contee became a very wealthy woman due to some sketchy doings of the Governor of Virginia and some manipulation of her husbands' will.  She remarried and her husband arranged to sell the land to Gustavus Brown.

Gustavus has some interesting events in his life.  He was from Scotland and a surgeon's mate aboard a King's Ship that came to the Colony in 1708.  While he was ashore a severe storm arose and his ship had to leave him with nothing but the clothes on his back.  He quickly informed the local planters of his willingness to serve if he could be provided with instruments and medicines.  He proved himself a valuable doctor.

He built the house on Rose Hill most likely around 1720.  His daughter Margaret married Thomas Stone a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Samuel Cox eventually became the owner of Rose Hill.  He was a southern sympathizer.  In the early hours of April 16, 1865, David Herold and John Wilkes Booth would arrive and be given aid during their escape after Booth assassinated Lincoln. 

Continuing on our road trip, we found this really neat shop called Glory Days Antiques in Newburg, Maryland.  It was definitely worth a stop. 

Along the drive, someone was having fun.

Monday, August 17, 2020

We thought we would go to Gettysburg today.  On the way there we ran across this abandoned mini-golf course.  Of course, we had to explore.

We eventually got to  Gettysburg.  This battlefield is so large and unfortunately, it was a typically hot August day.  We decided to do as much of the tour as the heat would allow and plan to go back and pick up where we left off.  We didn't last too long, so Gettysburg goes back on the things-to-do list.

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Stopped off at Rock Creek Regional Park for a short walk.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Ended up the month cleaning out the shed in the backyard.  This was something we have needed to do for a long time..  Realy felt good getting it done.

 

Sometimes Things Work Out

 Sunday, July 19-28, 2020

We had bought a bunch of chicken to grill when the kids got here, but now we are just doing a bit for us and the rest is in the freezer.

The good news, Candice tested negative and the kids are coming.  We had a great time with them even though it was only for a few days.  

They discovered the Battlefield Country Store only about a mile away.  Great ice cream, cheese curds, and many other yummy goodies can be purchased here.  Brandon even enjoyed the cannon.

On Tuesday, July 21, we did something really new for all of us.  We went to Rush Hour Live Escape Rooms. Fought the pirates and won.  This was really fun.  It didn't take long for each of us to learn our strengths and weaknesses.  Because of Covid, we had the room to ourselves, just a family unit.  Hopefully, this will be a regular activity for us.  Afterward, we explored a little bit of the area in Fredericksburg when the Escape Room was located.  We had never been to this shopping/entertainment area before.  I am sure it is a hopping place pre and post-Covid.  

All of us really enjoyed swimming in the lake at Wilderness.  The water was great and it was just plain fun to do.  Brought back some old memories of when the boys were young and we spent so much time here swimming in the other lake by our campsites.

The time went by very fast and we had to say goodbye to the kids.  Sure glad they made it down for a few days.

Saturday, July 25, 2020

We got up early and fill our day with activity.  We originally decided to go to Luray Caverns.  But when we got there it seemed that many other people had the same idea.  Because of Covid, it had become a self-guided tour, and groups were spaced out and it looked like a long wait.  So, we decided to go to Shenandoah Caverns instead.  We had never been there before so why not?  

Here the caverns still had a guided tour.  The only thing was the elevators were off-limits so we did some heavy-duty stairs.  First, we toured the lobby area that had some really nice scenery sets.  Then the tour of the Caverns.  The grounds were filled with things like the Cootie Bug, Statue of Liberty, and other cute items.  Next, we went into the American Celebration on Parade.  A museum of parade floats and other paraphernalia.

We found out that Route 11 Potato Chip Factory was right around the corner.  Because of Covid, we couldn't do a tour but we could order carryout packages of the chips.  We will try to do the tour when the world comes back to its senses.

Next, we went in search of some quirky stuff.  Continuing along Route 11  we entered Mt. Jackson

with its apple basket water tank.  We also found a covered bridge.  The Meems Bottom  Covered Bridge, a 204 foot long Burr arch-truss bridge constructed in 1892-93.  It was in use until it was burned by vandals in 1976. After salvaging the original timbers, the bridge was reconstructed.  It reopened to traffic in 1979. 

Next, we went in search of a tombstone of a horse.  We didn't realize this was on private property, so when we couldn't find it, we stopped to ask for directions from a gentleman standing near the road.  He very graciously invited us onto his property to see the gravesite.  We not only saw the grave but had a pleasant conversation with him and met his horses.

On our way back to camp we spotted some neat metal artwork.  A quick U-turn and another picture for our blog.

A few more days in Virginia and then back home