We have been busy, oh yes. This site has been somewhat neglected due to technical difficulties. Here is several months worth of back-posting!
August 24th
Out in the Cumberland area of Maryland there is a long stretch of mountainous land called Green Ridge State Forest. We've been to Shenandoah a few times, but we were more interested in a quiet and secluded camp weekend. We definitely got what we wished for! After bottoming-out our poor little car on the very primitive road to our campsite, we pitched the tent and walked 20 yards to the loop trail that crossed straight through our camp area. The insects were pretty awful but that may have been because we were the only people around! We didn't see another single person on the trails or drive by to any adjacent camp sites.
September 18th
I had to do some training for work in Virginia. What was it? Wouldn't you like to know!
We spent a rather busy day doing random stuff around the DC metro area. We started along the George Washington Memorial Parkway on the VA side of the river and went to one of many small former Civil War fort sites. At Fort Marcy Park there wasn't really anything much to see except for a very short trail that takes you through and around the old earthen walls and a few random cannons. Hastily built to defend DC against direct military attack, its proximity to the Key Bridge gave it a strategic advantage for mortar defense. However, the fort didn't see much action. Neither did we. No pictures.
Continuing along the parkway, we stopped at Turkey Run Park. We took a short trail that descended to the river and walked along the banks for a short while.
Next, I thought it would be nice to see the Dumbarton Oaks gardens in Georgetown, but they were closed. Instead, we walked around the neighborhood and discovered a little hidden park with very overgrown valleys and trails, Dumbarton Oaks Park (est. 1941). The area used to be part of the Dumbarton estate as a "wild" garden but was donated to the public in 1940.
Last, we finally paid a visit to the Washington National Cathedral, still being restored after the 2011 earthquake knocked several spires off the top of the neogothic building.
One unusual feature: The "Scientists and Technicians Window" which commemorates space exploration and the lunar landings.
South-east view from one of the towers
October 19th
It was a grey but warm Saturday when I suggested that we go back to Charlottesville for a little more sight-seeing. Along the way was Montpelier, James Madison's home.
I felt a little sheepish that I hadn't previously known how much of Madison's intellect went into the beginnings of the US Constitution. The house itself has only recently been restored to its original structure and exterior after the duPont family owned it for nearly a century (during which they added two wings with 33 rooms, put plaster over the exterior brick, and painted it salmon pink).
Unfortunately, the National Trust for Historical Preservation is still trying to find furnishings for the home because Madison's stepson, John Payne, sold many of the household's valuables, books, etc at local taverns to settle his enormous debts. Additionally, Dolley Madison had to sell the estate and its belongings in order to settle her debts, but she still died in poverty.
The trust has a partnership with the Thoroughbred Retirement Program, where former racehorses get to live out their lives humanely.
In the late afternoon we went to one of the newly-popularized artisanal cider works outside Charlottesville. These places are really unique. Since heirloom food species are being sought for their taste and preservation, it was only a matter of time before vintners carved a niche out of old-fashioned cider making. It's processed nearly the same as wine, but as I understand most ciders are very dry because the sugars in apple juice are veraciously consumed during fermentation. Sugar is usually back-added to keep some of the dryness under control. It could be said that cider is America's national drink (or at least the earliest) because while apples had no trouble taking to American soil, growing barley and other grains was trickier (until the Midwest was settled). Therefore, most people just made their own cider. We came home with a few (4) bottles since you can't buy it in Maryland (stupid state laws!)
Before heading back home, we stopped for some BBQ. Originally we were going to stay overnight but it turned out that every hotel in town was full because of the UVa-Duke football game.
I had brisket AND pulled pork. Hans ordered the "slop bucket", which had cheesy potatoes, pulled pork, baked beans, and coleslaw all layered in one huge cup. Epic.
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