A good deal of driving today, but a good deal of time spent in beautiful surroundings too.
The decision for today was whether to go to Gettysburg or to Harpers Ferry. Ken particularly wanted to go to Gettysburg, but after internet research suggested a minimum 4hr visit, we decided on Harpers Ferry
www.nps.gov/hafe/ in kindness to the children. As it was, we spent considerable time there walking from the Visitor Centre to the small reconstructed town, and then wandering through the buildings/museums. Situated on the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, it is quite simply stunning. The children learnt about John Brown the abolitionist and his daring raid on Harpers in an attempt to "do something" rather than simply "talk about" giving slaves freedom. The raid was the 'last straw' in the events leading up to the Civil War, and certainly had emotions at boiling point.
As for Ken's wish to get to Gettysburg - well, we drove past it on one of the interstate roads.
Right now we are in Fredericksburg, Virginia
http://www.nps.gov/frsp/index.htm staying for a night in the KOA.
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| walking the trail from the Visitor Centre to Harpers Ferry historic town |
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| we walked along the rail road for some distance |
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| kiddly winks |
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| so pretty |
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| the rail line getting closer into the historic town |
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| Harpers reconstructed - celebrates 150 years of the battles in and around Harpers Ferry |
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| love the cobblestones |
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| a ruffian sitting in a doorway |
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... because the "Daughters of the Confederacy" were the only ones who truly appreciated just how much the "peculiar heritage" (ie. slavery) was an "everlasting tribute to both races" and was supported by "the character and faithfulness of thousands of negroes [despite] many temptations throughout subsequent years of war." *GAG*
Fortunately, even when this was unveiled (?in the 1930's), most of the crown gathered jeered the wording as tactless and tasteless. |
