for the first time since this adventure began

In late fall of 2008 I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. It's astounds me that it's nearly a decade. I thought I'd slay the beast in a couple of month. Clearly that didn't happen.

After I was diagnosed, I bought a pedometer. Then I bought more pedometers, and finally FitBits. I'm probably using those since 2013.

The last few weeks the battery on my FitBit has been wonky. At one time it took two weeks for the battery to die. Then it was a week, and then two days. Then one day. The end was near. But I refused to give up.

Saturday it didn't work at the AT hike. I charged it when I got home. Sunday I charged it again. Monday it wouldn't charge.

RIP FitBit.

Now the real quandry. Do I need to buy another. Or has using these devices for nearly a decade taught me everything I need to know. Do I need the security blanket?

golv: bake oven knob

There are three or four sections of the Appalachian Trail close to me. Today I participated in the Get Out Lehigh Valley walk at Bake Oven Knob. It's the first time I've ever been there—I will never walk any of them alone.

(Why don't I ever fix my shirt before a picture?)

Driving up 309, and then into the woods, I was delighted that this area is still basically untouched. There are no developments or strip malls. It was refreshing. It might have something to do with the terrain.

The Pennsylvania section of the AT is rocky and often steep, hense the nickname "Rocksylvania".

Bake Oven Knob is a high point along the rocky ridge of Blue Mountain. We hiked up to a northern overlook of Carbon County, and a southern overlook in Lehigh County. I saw something that looked like a lighthouse in the middle of miles and miles farms. I'm sure it was a silo of some sort.

The rocks at Bake Oven Knob are covered with graffiti. I'm not sure I'd climb out there to spray paint my name or an image. I'd be afraid of falling. The trail continues to the Bake Oven Knob shelter that has lean-to's and a privay, and if you follow it far enough you'll come out at Lehigh Gap.

I was super careful coming down the rocks. I'm glad I took the walking stick I bought in Eagles Mere. It was harder coming down than going up

We saw no raptors, even though this was billed as a raptor scramble.

I tried to log it on the Volkssport site. There is a special program that if you do 10 walks you can earn a patch. I don't think I'll finish it, but I did want to log my attempt. I failed miserably. And I couldn't print out my stamp. If I ever meet up with the Jackson's again, maybe they can help me.

Miles/Steps:   I have no idea. My  tracker was dead. Not far. Less that 2 miles up or down...over rocks.
Bathrooms:        None in the parking lots.
Weather:        Perfect. 70s, sunny, breezy
Wildlife:          None
Extras:           No AT sign at the trailhead, which was disappointing. There was a game commission sign saying that it's hunting season and to wear bright colors. I had my pumpkin shirt on from last years Great Pumpkin Race, and a pink fleece. I don't think I looked like a deer.

it's official

As you know, I haven't been teaching much online this year. Great changes are happening at the Art Institute—the biggest one is that it was sold. Another, is that it changed Learning Management Systems.

First I started getting single classes. Then my classes were set up and cancelled. Then I got no classes at all. I haven't taught there since May. I am scheduled to teach the November 9 session, we'll see if that happens.  As has been the case, I'll set up the class, and then it's cancelled. I'll really know on November 9. Until then, I'm not counting on it.

What does all that have to do with walking and this blog? Nothing, and everything.

AI is where I had been getting my health insurance benefit. Friday, I got the email that said, I haven't worked enough this year to qualify for the plan next year. Back to the Marketplace if ifstill exists. Or none at all, which was the old option. They are going to send me info about CObra. But we all know how expensive that is.

Good news: I've had pretty much every test and exam that I've avoided for 20 years. I'm all up-to-date and relatively healthy. I passed all the tests. If I could wave a magic wand and get rid of the obesity and arthritis, then all would be perfect.

Alas, I lack the committment to slay those particular dragons.

walking in the woods

This weekend is the State Parks Weekend for the Liberty Bell Wanderers Volkssport group. Three state, and one county park in one weekend. Last time, we stayed overnight. This time I went alone and did three-ish walks in one day.

The start point was a hotel, and the road was closed in front of it. Hopefully, this was not a sign of things to come. I signed in for the three walks, stamped my books, secured directions and hit the road. (Yesterday, I went on google maps and printed a map to get from one walk to another. )

The first stop was the Marsh Creek State Park. I parked and followed the directions into the woods. I did not take my walking stick. The initial path said I didn't need it. I made a judgement call. I was very wrong.

The route was basically around the man-made lake. The 5K went as far as the dam, and then you went back. There was few hikers, but a lot of bikers. Some of them were not "sharing the road". It was starting to piss me off.

As I was walking deeper and deeper into the woods I started to think about all the things I was doing wrong. Walking alone on an unfamiliar path. Not having a stick. (I tripped 3 times). I left my backpack in the car, so I had no food or water. I would have flunked Girl Scouts.

I saw 5 other Volkssporters. Here, I did the whole 5K.

 The next stop was Warwick County Park. The website says "In the 18th and 19th centuries, Warwick’s woodlands provided much of the raw timber used to make charcoal for the region’s iron furnaces and forges. Remains of the iron industry can still be seen at various charcoal hearths along old cart paths." I was looking forward to seeing the ruins.

This walk was written by the Chester County Red Rovers, a new club, and a co-sponsor of the event. They were really hard to follow. I saw the treasure of the club and her dog, also having trouble. We figured out where the start point was, but that was an out and back, with no historical artifacts.  I decided to do the second half, and then do the first half if I had time. 

The directions said to return to the park office, and go thru the parking lot on the left, and turn on the grass path after the pavilion. What grass path? The county had just mowed the lawn. No grass paths were apparent.

In the distance, to the front left, I saw a wooden structure and something that looked like a sign. I went toward it. It was where I was supposed to be. The instructions said to turn left on the trail and follow the tree line, past the parking lots, blah, blah. I did that.  But since I approached the bridge from the wrong direction, I really should have gone RIGHT. I am wandering all over the place looking for the trail. Couldn't find it.

Then I decided to go the other way. I had nothing to lose, and I was over this walk. I just wanted to leave. After I passed the bridge, I turned left and the directions were correct! Sheesh. Also, With the sun not hitting it, I could see the "grass trail". The grass was mashed down and by doing that it was a different color. (Think golf course.) 

This park was buggy. Several flew up my nose. Yuck!

I followed the directions until it went into the woods then I worked my way back to the car. I didn't trust these directions. At all and my phone was dead. Not a good combo.

It was only a 7-mile drive to the next park. Not enough time to charge the phone, but enough to take these two pics from the car with it plugged in.

The last stop was French Creek State Park with the start/end point being Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site Visitor's Center. The National Park services website says  that Hopewell was in operation from 1771-1883, Hopewell and other "iron plantations" laid the foundation for the transformation of the United States into an industrial giant.

I've been here before. The last time was Jan. 1, 2016 with Angel and her family at a First Hike event  and everything was closed. Since we hiked in from French Creek State Park, I didn't realize there was a visitor center. I didn't stamp my Pennsylvania Passport books, but I was able to stamp my NPS one.

I was so disappointed the camera was dead. The whole village was OPEN. Even the house. And the water wheel. And it was running. I would have taken dozens of photos.

These directions were also written by the Chester group, but they were much better. The first half of the walk was at the furnace, the second half in French Creek, including the 2nd 5K. I didn't do the whole thing. Again, when the trail became too rustic, I doubled back and headed to the parking lot.

This week I did very little walking, and I was tired after the third walk. Laziness always rears it's ugly head.

Miles/Steps:   7 miles
Bathrooms:      I-3.5 at the visitor's center
Weather:        Perfect. 70s, sunny, breezy
Wildlife:          I heard a lot at Marsh Creek including something diving into the lake. The only thing I actually saw was a chipmunk. I saw nothing at the other two. Heard lots of birds and insects. 
Extras:           Pat wanted me to stop at Michaels on my way home. Before I left the furnace, I  googled for a store in Pottsville. Coming up I saw 2 AC Moore and 1 Joanne's. There was one on Route 100.
     I turned at the entrance sign and there was an access road. In the middle of the road was something dead. And a wake of what I thought were vultures, feeding on it. I slowed down. I stopped. I beeped the horn. They didn't budge. They looked up and gave me the "what the hell are you beeping at look". It was then I realized they weren't vultures. Or even turkey vultures. 
     They were large and dark grey-black but their heads had feathers. I tried to look them up, but the closest I could come was forest ravens, but they aren't right either. I wonder if they were young. They committee was sitting in a tree when I came back. (Vulture trivia: The term kettle refers to vultures in flight, while committee refers to vultures resting in trees. Wake is reserved for a group of vultures that are feeding.)

a walk in the woods

About a month ago, I met my new international students—Isha (red), Surbhi (headband) and Lubna (blue). Well, Lubna is not really one of mine. The students that are here for one semester don't get a host family. But you can't break up the three musketeers, can you? And the one in yellow? You all know who she is. She belongs

The one in yellow? You all know who she is. She belongs to Angel and Darrell.

The day we met we planned to hike today. They have really crowded schedules. I gave them four places to pick from, they left it up to me. I discounted the Water Gap. It's busy this time of year. I had settled on Ringing Rocks.

I woke this morning and it's drizzling. It looked like it was going to pour all day. Rocks+Rain = Disaster. I needed a Plan B.

I picked three that I knew I would be able to get to without directions. Or minimal directions. And they were all near Easton, because I had to pick up the Teen.  When I picked up the three at NCC I had the directions taped to the dashboard. I told Isha to pick one. She picked Martins Creek Reserve. It's a PPL property near the nuclear power plant. (That's on the Jersey side of the river.)

It was crazy walking with this group. I thought I was easily distracted. We (okay, they) climbed on fallen trees. And under them. And over them. And made slo-mo videos on them.

They climbed on rocks. This particular one was covered with some sort of sticky bush. We had to pick stickers out of Lubna's hajib, sweater, shirt and pants.

 They climbed on the rocks in the river and the Teen took off her shoes and went in to her knees.

 It took 2 hours to walk 2 miles. When we reached the observation deck we took more pictures, danced, spun, climbed, stared at the water and all other kind of fun things.

It only took about 40 minutes to get back to the start. After lunch we headed to the playground.  They played like 5-year-olds. And made more videos including mannequin videos and slo-mo falling videos.

Miles/Steps:   About 4.5
Weather:        humid, overcast, drizzle
Wildlife:          at the one river stop, on the Jersey side, there must have been 300 geese. Large gaggles stretching for a half mile. Bizarre.
Extras:           Do you see Isha's purple shirt in the dancing photo? It's not a shirt! When she took off her sweatshirt her arms were bare. At one of the play-in-the-water stops, her arms turned purple. I asked her how she put on another shirt. She didn't. They are sleeves! Think evening gown gloves without hands. Amazing.

bethlehem south volkssport walk

Today was the Bethlehem South Volkssport walk. We picked today because the Octoberfest is happening at Arts Quest and thought it would be a win-win. Especially if members were coming up from greater Philly. Only two members came, and my niece. It was a walk for four.

On the upside, we could walk really fast. And there was minimal stopping. It was Bill's first time on the HMT. We also worked out a route that goes past the main gate of the Seel and the museum. So it was productive. 

My niece and I did the 6K, and then headed off to fourth street to paint her planter. 

I did little to no walking this week. 

Miles/Steps: About 6. That includes the walking up and down the block while painting.
Weather:      warm, overcast
Wildlife:       2 yellow jackets. They were a PIA
Extras:         My Fitbit is dying. A battery charge last maybe 3 days.

have you ever played "ticket to ride"?

Yesterday I went with my brother, his wife and her mother to Eagles Mere, Pa. That's in the Williamsport area of the state. It was part of a church group road trip, which, is funny if you really know me.

I met them at his mother-in-laws, and we drove to the church to meet the others. It's about a 3-hour drive to Eagles Mere. It's in the middle of the forest and began, as a glass manufacturing center, and eventually a resort town. Including a stint as a religious campground. I could have used more time there. I didn't get to walk to the lake, nor did I get to visit the historic village. Maybe next time I'm in that area.

The second, and key spot was the Eagles Mere Auto Museum which has an aviation museum right next door. Both are located at the airfield. You can actually buy a two-fer ticket which saves a ton of money ($6 one, $8 two).

While the others went to the museums, I hike back down the mountain to the road to take a picture of the entrance. I didn't realize how steep the hill was until I walked back up!

The auto museum had a large collection of mid-century vehicles. Mostly 50s and 60s. They had daddy's Ford Galaxy. But no Ramblers. Lots of Chevy's, some Fords. A couple muscle cars from the 70s like GTOs, and a few older including a Model T. Most restored. Some not, like the one above. They also have toy cars and Schwinn bikes. I like my cars more in the 30s and the 40s. Beautiful lines and exquisite typography.

The Eagles Mere Aviation Museum is right next door.  There were vintage bi-planes and aviation related displays. The bulk of the collegetion was in one hanger, But other hangers had exhibits as well. We also watched a few of the vintage planes fly. They are loud.

One hanger was devoted to women in early aviation. I'm guessing that is the rotating "gallery". That was pretty cool.

All the planes had exquisite typography also! I took a lot of pictures. Most of the pictures suck because the planes are so shiny ... I'm in the reflection.

In the main hanger, there was a wall of display items from aviation. Books, magazines, toys, that kind of thing. The things that I'm interested in—package design.

I'm looking and I see this game. It's from the 30s, by Parker Brothers and is called "The Flying Four: The Great International Airplain Race", and below it "The Air Mail Game".

Wait, these look very familiar. They look like "Ticket To Ride", a very popular modern board game using the railroad. It get's pretty competitive and makes winning last week's Parchesse look easy. It makes me wonder if Alan Moon saw this in a museum or an attic or yard sale and said let's make this modern! If I ever meet him, I'll ask.

All in all I walked about 3 miles. Air fields are large. Was it at exercise pace. Proabably not. But that hill was exercise!

angel, it came!

My copy of Exploring the Appalachian Trail -- Mid Atlantic States arrived the day I left for vacation.

Why did I buy that, you ask. The teen doesn't like to walk in towns. She loves to hike in the woods. And hiking the AT was on her bingo card this summer. I did one section back in July, I think, that was hard, but not too rocky. I'm looking for similar hikes, and maybe closer to the 5-6 mile range. I'm not up for 10-12 mile hikes. Or at least ones that have an "out. And frankly my knees will not handle the rockiest portions, so I'm hoping this book will help. It came highly recommended.

When I first started looking for it I went many places. I like to shop in stores and keep the locals employed.  LL Beam didn't have it. Barnes and Noble didn't have it. The Moravian Book Store didn't have it. I had to order it thru the Amazon monopoly.

Why did I need a book-book? Did you ever try to get internet or cell service in the woods?

4 -- the scenic route home

Today I headed home. I left the farm at about six and headed north. It was way to early to stop at Stratford Hall. Next time I head south it's on my to-do list.

I pretty much drove straight thru this morning -- I only stopped for gas and a snack. I really wanted to avoid the Philly traffic. Traffic was light at most places, and I was about 30 minutes outside Willmington by about 11:15. That gave me enough time to do the New Castle Volkssport walk and still beat traffic. My goal time to be thru Philly was 2 pm.

I had difficulty with the instructions to the start point. To me they weren't clear. I stopped and asked an old man and he confirmed that I guessed right. I checked in and read the first instruction. It said to leave the the start point and turn left on Delaware. I did. I was supposed to turn at a school's parking lot.

There were so many cool colonial buildings I didn't realize how far I walked. But the Delaware Bay was facing me. No school. I looked at the directions. Nothing was right. I looked at the map. I was basically doing the route BACKWARDS. That's. I am pretty sure I'm directionally challenged.

I stepped on to the bike trail, that runs along the beach. The beach was covered with a hundred or more geese. Way more than a gaggle.They sat single file.

The turn around point was the boat house. I had to take a pic of it. This blog has way too much history in this time. Had to add a little art.

This is the oldest building in New Castle. I wanted to go in. But it, along with the other museums were not open. It was probably better, since I needed to get out of Philly before rush hour.

And I did it. I missed all the traffic. To reward myself I got off the Turnpike in Lansdale and went to the Wissihickon Green Ribbon Trail and did another walk. I did about 3 miles. One section of the trail was covered with shells and nuts. I'm not sure what kind. I thought maybe black walnuts, but there were no green casings. It was hard to walk on them.

After I returned to the turnpike and forgot I was now heading north. As I turned into the southbound lane I realized I was wrong and it was too late.  Crap. The first exit was in Plymouth Meeting. A mecca for shopping centers and office buildings. I was headed back to Philly. Just in time for rush hour.

Miles/Steps: About 6. Not bad since I spent 8 hours in a car
Weather:      gorgeous
Wildlife:       more than a gaggle of geese. There must have been over 100.
Extras:         At Jo's I've been sleeping on the couch. There are also three cats in the house and they all have distinct personalities. Dobby is the lover. He was always trying to get into bed with me. He's also a roamer. Jumping up and down off furniture all night. Rita is the quite one. She loves to be petted. And Arabella is the spy. The cat tower is right next to the couch and she sits on the highest perch and stares down at me. I think secretly that she's really a softie. Just noisy.

3 - a day at the beach ... and a battlefield

Like yesterday, we headed out for a walk in the woods. It didn't last long. Once we reached the swamp, we heard a man-made call of some sort. The hunting dogs would surely follow. We headed back to the house.

After breakfast we got in the truck and headed to Yorktown. Jo and her husband lived nearby before moving to the farm. They know the area well.

It's about an hours drive from the farm to Yorktown. We parked near the people beach, and walked Luna over to the dog beach. The dog beach is actually nicer than the people one because it's filled with broken shells, seaweed, and things of that nature. Things that should be on a beach.

Then we took the Tobacco Trail up to the Visitors Center and saw three doe next to the trail. (They must be used to people because they didn't run. Even though we had Luna with us.) After I signed in for the Volkssport walk, we headed out thru Historic Yorktown, and back to the beach.

Then we walked the River Trail to the Museum of the American Revolution, past the barriers in the reeds set by the British to keep the colonists away. I can't remember the name.

On the way back we saw this Dutch windmill. Why it's there, I'm clueless.

This is the cave that they house Cornwallis after his capture.

Then it was back to the beach to watch the water and the boats. There were even people in bathing suits swimming.

Upon returning to the farm, we drug some chairs out by the chicken coop and watched the "chicken Ballet". It was a day of slow "television". And another cutthroat game of Parcheesi.

Miles/Steps: About 5
Weather:      gorgeous
Wildlife :      three doe, a minimum of three dolphins. They are kind-of hard to count. It didn't appear to be a whole pod.Extras :        Near Jo's house, there was a dead carcas and vultures were all over it like a cheap suit. There was always birds of prey in the area. Then one took off and it was an eagle.
 

2 - president jefferson

Today wJo and I went to a speech by the president of the United States—Thomas Jefferson. Anything is possible in Virginia, as long as you are at Colonial Williamsburg.

The day began and ended with a walk in the woods. The first was on my their property. We took the Luna. Her husband has cleared trails thru the woods to the swamp. He has also cleared an area for future guests to pitch a tent, including lawn chairs and a fire pit.

When we returned, we packed lunch and headed to Colonial Williamsburg. Our first stop was the Best Western to sign into the Volkssport walk. But instead of walking from the hotel to CW, we drove and parked the car in one of the lots. You can walk the colonial area free, but if you want to go inside anywhere you need a ticket. Since Jo works at CW, so she had a pass for me. It said “Employee Guest” on it. She acted as my personal docent. She knows a lot about all the buildings and the people from working there. 

We did a portion of the Volkssport official walk on the William and Mary campus and found a great bridge and dell. We stayed on campus for an organ recital on a period organ. It was informative. The organist was a professor.  I know know the origin of "tell-tale". We planned to see the president at 2, but the organ recital ended early, so we were able to see the president speak in the morning. When we arrived it was packed, but we managed to find seats. It was a great speech. Sometimes it was difficult to tell whether he was speaking about the revolution or the present. . The man is an orator. He even dealt with the train passing thru. Something that was not around in his day. I’m told that this the best of the  “old” Jeffersons. They also have a “young” version. (This hold true for many of the founding fathers.)

We walked a lot. We were up and down the main streets numerous times. After Jefferson we went to the print shop where he was printing on a Gutenberg-style press (top). After lunch we followed the Junior Fife Core down the middle of the street to the Governor’s palace. The final program was a storytelling event. You hear the back story of the interpreters.  Ours was a house slave —Eve. OMG it was sad. 

Then it was off to the museum and the insane asylum. Yes, the entrances are thru the same door.

On the way home I saw  sign for the Wahrani Trail, so we stopped. Jo's husband had been there with the dog on a number of occasions. It is a natural trail and had a solar powered outhouse with a composting toilet! Yes, I did check. We didn’t walk far on the trail, just enough to know it’s natural. Not quite as natural as the ones at her house, but close. And it’s well marked.  Maybe next time.

 My old school game.

The modern game. Blue is elephants, yellow camels and green water buffalos.

After dinner we played a rousing game — actually two — of Parcheesi. It had plastic animals that didn’t stand well instead of the pawns. But the colors were the same. Since I always take yellow I had “camels”.Her husband won both. Jo took the elephants and her husband the tigers. It went quickly because there was only three animals in play. The second round her husband took the the water buffalos as well. It was ruthless. We weren't really sure it would end. We set a quit time. It did end with Jo's husband winning.

Miles/Steps: Not quite 8 with the three events
Weather:      gorgeous

1 - following brown signs

I haven't had internet access for a few days. I was visiting friends in a dead zone. They have internet, it just is weak. My phone picked up no signal either. So I've been writing on my laptop meaning to cut/paste in the information.

But this afternoon when I was doing my final walk I started thinking these are not just walking posts. They are more like the annoying slide shows relatives would show when they got home from someplace cool like the Grand Canyon.

I apologize. I can't tell these stories without the vacation part. They need to be put into perspective.

My friend works on the internet, but personally stays off the grid. So all names are made up. She'll chuckle -- I hope -- at the references.

_______________________________

SEPT. 29

Today I left on an epic adventure. Okay. It wasn’t epic, nor really an adventure. It was basically a road trip to see an old friend at her farm near Williamsburg. I left at 6 am hoping to beat the Philly traffic. I didn’t.

Jo emailed me directions, and I drew a map in google.  I had the printed map with minimal information, the directions, and the ever popular shorthand directions taped to my dash board. With the exception of the traffic in Philly and Delaware, I had little trouble getting here.

The plan was to make an 7.5 hour trip last 12 hours. I was going to stop randomly and either walk or tour something. The big brown highways signs would be my guide. And I was headed for Virginia. I don’t think you can spit there without hitting something historic—both revolutionary and confederacy.  (Rt. 301 is littered with the white historical markers. None which I could read because I was driving.)

My first idea was to walk in New Castle, Delaware. It’s a Volkssport walk. But I really couldn’t read the directions and handle the traffic. I ditched that plan and continued. Once I got to Route 301 the traffic was gone. Then I started reading signs. There were a few things that interested me, but I didn’t know what they were. For example, what’s a ES Museum? (Turns out it's Eastern Shore) I was all the way at the Chesapeake Bay when I finally stopped at the Heritage Center. It was a visitor’s center with a little museum, and then a network of trails. I took the one that went thru the marsh (on a boardwalk) and then followed the beach around the inlet. It felt good to be moving.

I had been in the car about an hour when I started looking for the next stop. That’s when I saw a sign for the Indian Head 

Rail Trail. It’s a 13 mile rail-trail, and twhere I parked was actually the end point. I think it was in Virginia. It was a huge trail head with a lot of parking, shelter, bike racks, and a port-o-potty. I walked for a half hour, and then turned around and came back. I wasn’t nearly as stiff because I had stopped less than two hours previously.

My third stop was supposed to be James Madison’s plantation Belle Grove. When I looked on the map I thought it was at Rt. 301 and the Potomac Bridge. It would make sense because rich people live along the rivers. But I must have drove right by it. Odd, because I was looking for it.  It’s only open from 1-4 so I can’t get it on the way home. (I looked for it on the way home. It's still hiding. How can you hide a plantation?)

Instead I followed the sign for the National Park Service for “George Washington’s Birthplace”. I gave it 10 miles before I was going to turn around. At the 10th mile was a stoplight and then another sign. I turned again. It took me right into the park. The entrance has a huge obelisk. You can’t miss it. (To clear things up -- at Mt. Vernon, he lived as a small child and then again, after his brothers death. That leaves a third farm where he was a child and teen.) I did the tour of the house, then walked around and peaked into the other buildings, as well as walking a bit of the trails. Including another boardwalk.

The last stop was just down the street—okay 6 miles—James Monroe’s birthplace. But it wasn’t the plantation. It also wasn’t fancy like George’s place. It was just a small obelisk and a plaque.  

It was another 9 miles to Robert E Lee’s birth place Stratford Hall on Route 3. It's actually the home of four generations of Lee's beginning in 1717. The graphic design on the signs is excellent. I'm more than a little curious to know if slavery is mentioned on the tour. One of the gardens listed is the "Slave Garden", so perhaps.  I’ll stop there on the way back if they are open.

I arrived at the farm about an hour early. I’m actually typing this in TextEdit because there is no internet or cell service here. As mama would say, I’m in God’s country. And the dog, Luna, is very confused. Who is this person in my house, and why doesn't she have treats?

Tomorrow we’re headed to Williamsburg after taking the dog for an early morning hike in the woods. Jo works at CW and has passes. Sunday, we’re going to Yorktown, I think.

Miles/Steps: 5 Not bad since I spent 8 hours in a car
Weather:      gorgeous