19-APPOMATTOX, VA-DAY 2, BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY & RED HILL

We have been to the east coast in the motorhome three times and each time I wanted to drive the famous Blue Ridge Parkway. The first time, if my memory serves me, we just didn’t have time in the schedule. The last time we tried it we were met by a road covered with a sheet of ice. 


THIS time we did it! I have been so looking forward to this.


Because there is no way we wanted to take the motorhome on this road, it was a bit of a backtrack in order to get to the Parkway. We left early in the morning to get to the Parkway and drive a portion of it for an hour and a half or so.

This involved driving Virginia’s back roads from Appomattox just to get to the Blue Ridge Parkway. That road itself was a hilly, twisting and beautiful drive with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background.

We passed two or three huge pumpkin farms literally in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Although most of this route was heavily wooded, occasionally  there were open fields.

Finally we were on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is paved (That surprised me a bit.) Narrow (not a surprise.) and twisty and it snakes along the ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Part of the way had snow, no doubt thanks to Hurricane Sandy.

At one point we stopped at a turn out. We climbed these old mossy rock steps up to….

…what used to be an old narrow gauge lumber railroad.

 

From the rail road I could look up a small stream to a waterfall.

Then we were back on the road.

Here and there, we could look off to the West and see towns down through the valleys.

The mountains in the distance were all a different shade of blue.

I did not know there were tunnels on this road.

Although the majority of colorful leaves are off the trees, there is still some color left in places. the Blue Ridge Parkway did not disappoint. It was a beautiful drive.

Next the Natural Bridge was only 30 mile round trip off the Parkway so we went. I have heard about this for a long time and seen pictures and didn’t want to miss it.

When we arrived, there was a big parking lot in front of a huge gift shop where you buy tickets. There was a large hotel on the hill overlooking the parking lot. 

Next to the gift shop was a wax museum and factory. Hmmm! This is going to cost some money. OK. No big deal I thought.

We went inside to discover that the Natural Bridge, created by God and God alone had become terribly commercialized by the family that owns the property. 

It cost $19 each just (That’s $38 folks!) for us to spend five minutes going down to the bridge, take one picture and leave. Because I can’t walk much, we did get a “free” shuttle ride down and back.

For $38 that’s the least we should have gotten. If we hadn’t driven so far out of our way we wouldn’t have coughed up the cash. However, here we were. 

So if you are in the area, I suggest that you just take a look at my picture and then completely skip visiting the actual location.

From Natural Bridge, we set the GPS for Red Hill, Patrick Henry’s home. We have visited many Presidential homes in this area and those of other prominent statesmen, and found them to be, by and large, palatial estates. Not so with Patrick Henry.

Patrick Henry, born in 1736, was an attorney and orator of the American Revolution and the first elected governor of Virginia. He embodied the spirit of American courage and patriotism.

Henry’s was the first voice raised against England in her attempt to impost taxation without representation. He rose to his full stature in attacking the infamous Stamp Act, which was hotly debated at the House of Burgesses in Williamsburg in 1765. 

When Henry hurled defiance at George III, the other delegates screamed, “Treason!” Patrick Henry came back with the challenge, “If this is treason, make the most of it!”

During the Second Virginia Convention, his most famous speech was delivered in 1775 at St. John’s Church in Richmond. His words became the trumpet call that led the colonies into the Revolution. With courage and eloquence, he cried, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

Patrick Henry also felt that in addition to the Constitution, the Union needed a Bill of Rights. Had it not been for him, the Bill of Rights would not exist.

The favorite of Patrick Henry’s many homes was Red Hill, which he called, “One of the garden spots of Virginia.”

Originally, Red Hill plantation consisted of almost 3,000 acres, the house and several dependencies, including an overseer’s cottage.

Henry and his first wife had six children. After her death he remarried and had eleven more.Two of his 17 children were born here. It was a simple and very tiny house for such a large family.

Next to the house is a huge Osage Orange tree that was there when Patrick Henry lived there.

Some of the furnishings in the home actually belonged to Patrick Henry, like the table next to the chair.

This room was the dining area.

In a small building behind the house is where the slaves did the cooking.

There was a small house that was the residence of primary slave couple.

Another small building that had originally been the Overseer’s house became Patrick Henry’s law office.

Henry’s original desk is in this office.

Patrick Henry and his second wife are buried on the property along with some other family members.

These grave markers are very simple and not at all ornate.

Tomorrow we will move the RV to Pocahontas State Park, south of Richmond. Its about 20 minutes from Colin and Leslie’s house and the home of the World's Most Wonderful Grandchildren. We will be there for a couple weeks, including Thanksgiving.

There are a lot of things to see around historic Richmond. We will continue the blog as we visit these things but won’t bore you with too many pictures of the grandkids...maybe.