The Wright Brothers Were Here

We went to the Outer Bank and saw some more Wright Brothers history.  We discovered the Black Pelican restaurant where we had lunch was the same spot the Wright Brothers telegraphed the news of the first flight.

Elizabeth City Coast Guard Station

We have the privilege and benefit to stay at military post RV parks.  This is the first time we have stayed at a Coast Guard station.  At Air Force Bases you hear fighters practicing.  At Weapons Stations you hear boom boom boom!!!  At a Coast Guard station you hear, yes, you guessed it -- helicopters!!    

Speaking of helicopters, today I was swimming at the Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers Pool and at the other end there were Helicopter Rescue Swimmer students working out...they were grabbing hold of each other like a panicked victim and the rescuer had to pull his victim under and pull him around so they could both "survive".  Fascinating.

And everywhere you look there is lots of WATER!!!!

I did not expect to find cotton fields here let alone harvest time.  Pretty cool to see!

Yorktown Virginia - Where the British Surrendered during the Revolutionary War

General George Washington and Admiral Francois De Grasse Commander of the French Fleet - at the site of their joint victory over Cornwallis which led to the end of the American Revolution 

This church was established in 1634 and the Church was built in 1697.

This is the Alliance which gives tours around the bay.

You will find the Mariner's Museum.  In front of museum is a model of the British Ship the Betsy -- When the British lost the war they sunk in the the Yorktown harbor to prevent the American from using it.

Yorktown Victory Center and Battleground

This is the cave Cornwallis hide for three nights after the British lost the battle at Yorktown.

This statue is the Goddess Nike of Samothrace which is the most famous "Winged Victory" to survive from the ancient world.  Nike has been used by both the ancient and modern worlds to symbolize significant military victories, such as the decisive American victory over the British at Yorktown in 1781.

Yorktown Encampment

At the Yorktown Victory Center is a reproduction of the Yorktown Encampment that the Americans stayed in during the fighting with the British.

 This is the cooking area.  Each tent -- which held six men -- choose someone to cook for the whole group. 

  Many shoulders would bring their families who would do washing and other chores.

 This is the weapons area. 

Yorktown Naval Weapons Station

Between Williamsburg and Yorktown this missle cruiser docked.  If you look real close on the bottom picture, you will see an orange flag.  That means they are loading munitions.

Jamestown Virginia Settlement

On May 14th 1967 a group of 104 colonists disembarked from the three samll sailing ships to establish the first permanent English Settlement in North American.  This settlement, called Jamestown, is where the United State of America really began.  The motivation to come to America was to obtain goods for trade and find a trade route.

The Jamestown Settle Visitor's Center is a beautiful complex with movies and galleries filled with artifacts and lots of information about the settlement



 In the settlement is an Indian village like the one encountered by early settlers. 

The first settlers came over in three small sailboats - The Elizabeth, the Susan Constant and the Discovery.  These ships have been recreated as part of the Visitor's Center.  

The fort that the Jamestown settlers lived in.  The near by tribes of Indians were friendly at first but then disputes broke out.  At one point there was a ten year war with the Indians.  Here is a gardener in the traditional dress of the time and one of her gardens - tobacco.

Washington Girls

My Friend and Cousin, Lynda put this in her Facebook.  I loved it because I know a bunch of Washington girls who are true Washington girls.  I miss them all.

IF YOU'RE A TRUE WASHINGTON GIRL

Tough girls come from New York. Sweet girls, they're from Alabama and Georgia, but us WASHINGTON girls, we have fire and ice in our blood…. we can ride motorcycles and horses, be a lady, throw a left hook, go drinking, hunting, fishing and camping with the boys, all the while…. making iced tea and blackberry pie. If we have an opinion, …….you're gonna hear it!

When You are Near a Weapons Station

We have stayed at many Air Force Air Base RV parks.  We actually love the sound of the jets practicing.  It is quite a patriotic feeling.

This is the first time we are near a military weapons station.  It is quite a different sound!!!!!

Well, maybe not quite that BIG!!!!

Richmond Virginia

Richmond is another beautiful city.  This is the Old City Hall.

 The Richmond Capital building, statues and a Bell Tower on the capital grounds and...

...Main Street Station -- a really old and amazing building.

"Give me Liberty or Give Me Death"  Yes, this is St. John's Church, a national historic landmark, which became famous as a living memorial to American liberty. It is during March 1775 that Patrick Henry said those famous words.  

Edgar Alan Poe Museum

As I was traveling around Richmond and saw the Edgar Alan Poe Museum.  He lived nearby in the same neighborhood.  This museum contains the largest collection of Poe's artifacts.

The Museum is "The Oldest House still standing in Richmond"  They believe it was built around 1797.

Friends of Poe built this garden which was like the one Poe had at his home.