We left Charleston on Monday am and headed to Petersburg which is just South of Richmond Virginia. We (especially MLA) were attacked in the low country by biting nats/no see'ums, so no one was disappointed to see Charleston in the rear view mirror.
MLA has relatives in Petersburg Virginia that we wanted to visit. Her grandparents, originally from Austria, had settled in that area.
We made the drive to Petersburg in one jump on Monday day and moved into the Pocahontas State Park in Virginia. Nice park although no wi-fi hence the lack of blog updates on Monday & Tuesday.
Tuesday we spent time exploring the historical sites in Petersburg, which boasts several Civil War sites, including the Crater. The Crater was formed when Union soldiers tunneled under a Confederate fort and blew it up, with great loss of life.
We made the drive to Petersburg in one jump on Monday day and moved into the Pocahontas State Park in Virginia. Nice park although no wi-fi hence the lack of blog updates on Monday & Tuesday.
Tuesday we spent time exploring the historical sites in Petersburg, which boasts several Civil War sites, including the Crater. The Crater was formed when Union soldiers tunneled under a Confederate fort and blew it up, with great loss of life.
Petersburg before the war was the second largest city in Virginia. It had five railroads coming into the city plus a port on the Appomattox River. It was a bustling city with a bright future.
Grant knew that in order to take Richmond, the capitol of the Confederacy, he had to take Petersburg. It took a ten month siege with constant bombardment but Petersburg finally fell. Richmond fell almost immediately thereafter and of course, Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse shortly after that.
In the process of the siege, Petersburg was decimated. Over and over again I was struck with how the ten month siege destroyed a city with a very bright future. Petersburg also had the distinction of having a great Revolutionary War battle within it's city limits. It survived the Revolutionary War battle but not the Civil War battles.
MLA and I spent a lot of time at Blandford Church, which was built in the early 1700's. Over 30,000 Confederate soldiers are buried at the cemetery of Blandford Church. Only 2025 were identified by name; most are buried in several mass graves.
After the war, the women of the church went to each Confederate state and the border states and raised money for memorial stained glass windows for the church. Tiffany's of New York made the windows (at a deep discount as tier contribution to the memorial) and they are amazingly beautiful.
Afterwards, MLA and I had dinner with her two Aunts: Aunt Lucille and Aunt Liz. They are two of the most gracious southern women you will ever meet. We had a great meal and were able to catch up on what's happening throughout MLA's extended family.
Today (Wednesday) we broke camp early and drove from Petersburg to our home in Maryland. All told we were gone just short of three months. Total mileage was about 3600 miles and we visited the following states in the RV: Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and finally back home to Maryland.
We had an awesome time on the trip however it was great to get back home and see Scott, Kasey, and Jenna. Plus many of our neighbors stopped by for a quick tour of the RV.
Now the fun of unpacking, cleaning, reorganizing, and repacking the RV begins. There are a few modifications and changes I want to make before we go back out on the road again. We are not sure of our plans just yet so we'll play it by ear. Wouldn't surprise me if we decide to take the RV to a nearby campground or two.
Until then, See Ya!
Grant knew that in order to take Richmond, the capitol of the Confederacy, he had to take Petersburg. It took a ten month siege with constant bombardment but Petersburg finally fell. Richmond fell almost immediately thereafter and of course, Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse shortly after that.
In the process of the siege, Petersburg was decimated. Over and over again I was struck with how the ten month siege destroyed a city with a very bright future. Petersburg also had the distinction of having a great Revolutionary War battle within it's city limits. It survived the Revolutionary War battle but not the Civil War battles.
MLA and I spent a lot of time at Blandford Church, which was built in the early 1700's. Over 30,000 Confederate soldiers are buried at the cemetery of Blandford Church. Only 2025 were identified by name; most are buried in several mass graves.
After the war, the women of the church went to each Confederate state and the border states and raised money for memorial stained glass windows for the church. Tiffany's of New York made the windows (at a deep discount as tier contribution to the memorial) and they are amazingly beautiful.
Afterwards, MLA and I had dinner with her two Aunts: Aunt Lucille and Aunt Liz. They are two of the most gracious southern women you will ever meet. We had a great meal and were able to catch up on what's happening throughout MLA's extended family.
Today (Wednesday) we broke camp early and drove from Petersburg to our home in Maryland. All told we were gone just short of three months. Total mileage was about 3600 miles and we visited the following states in the RV: Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and finally back home to Maryland.
We had an awesome time on the trip however it was great to get back home and see Scott, Kasey, and Jenna. Plus many of our neighbors stopped by for a quick tour of the RV.
Now the fun of unpacking, cleaning, reorganizing, and repacking the RV begins. There are a few modifications and changes I want to make before we go back out on the road again. We are not sure of our plans just yet so we'll play it by ear. Wouldn't surprise me if we decide to take the RV to a nearby campground or two.
Until then, See Ya!
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