The State of Virginia, USA
Part of a year long trip from Sept ’94 - Sept ’95 through 36
USA States and 2 Canadian Provinces by Jean and Graham Beven in ‘Serendipity’ their
30 foot Winnebago Chieftain.
The State of Virginia, USA - Round Trip USA
We only 'passed through' the state of Virginia, USA twice as there was nothing
off route on our must see list of places to visit.
There are however six National Wildlife Refuges, fifteen National Parks
and ---- State Parks in the state of Virginia.
The State Tourist Office for the state of Virginia, USA is: Virginia
Division of Tourism - Bell Tower, Capital Square, 101 Ninth Street, Richmond
VA 23219.
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14th October 1994 continuing on the Blue Ridge Parkway -
Moved into Virginia from North
Carolina .
Picture - View From Blue Ridge Parkway
15th still on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Some of the overlooks have names as
interesting as the view! Fancy Gap, Groundhog Mountain, Devils Backbone
- to name a few.
Visited Mabry Mill, operated by Mr E B Mabry from 1910 to 1935. A trail
takes you to the 'Grist Mill', Sawmill and Blacksmiths Shop. There
were plenty of outdoor exhibits too. From old wagons to a 'lye distiller'
for making home made soap. During the summer and autumn there are demonstrations
of various skills that you would have needed to survive in the early days.
At one of the overlooks we saw three eagles soaring on the thermals.
16th Still on the "ParkWay" - Overnight Stuarts Draft (CtoC)
17th Left Stuarts Draft towards Cold
Springs on Hwy 608 then took the 662 to Greenville , eventually following
I-64 and I-81 north. Called in at AAA North Staunton, pick up maps
etc. Camping at Funshine RV Travel Plaza. Charlottesville Hwy 29 to Culpeper?
and headed into Washington
DC.
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18th October 1994 we re entered
the state of Virginia usa and visited Arlington
Cemetery. Taking the guided tour of America 's largest national burial
ground with around 600 acres of landscaped countryside. Among the thousands
of headstones are the graves of President John Kennedy, world champion
boxer Joe Louis, America 's most decorated soldier, Audie Murphy, which
was one of the main reasons Graham wanted to go there, and the Tombs of
the 
Unknown
Soldiers from all the conflicts since the American civil war. The cemetery
occupies the site of the home of Robert E Lee, The Curstis-Lee Estate.
Arlington House was General Lee’s home at the time of the outbreak
of the American civil war. The house is now The Robert E Lee Memorial.
The Arlington Cemetery for Union dead was established in the grounds
of Arlington House in 1864. The changing of the guard at Arlington House
is a spectacle not to be missed. With the guard changing, carrying out
precision silent rifle drill.
Came out of Washington
DC. again 19 October 1994 Visited Fredericksburg
Battlefield Exhibit
Then
we then drove to Williamsburg VA.
to visit the living museum and spent the rest of the day there. The
early history of the 'Colonies' and how the colonials lived and worked.
Followed by a trip to Jamestown and Yorktown, Virginia.
The following day (20th) we moved to Chesapeake VA. Visiting the Mariners
Museum . We also had our first mail pick up at the main post office – on
production of Grahams Texas drivers licence we managed to retrieve
our mail: Our membership card for Coast to Coast and a few other odds
and ends.
After we had finished in Chesapeake we headed for Cumituck, North
Carolina.
