Gettysburg

Heading back from Lancaster to Dulles Airport and the end of our American road trip, we decided to pause for an hour or two at Gettysburg, scene of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War and Abe's famous battleground speech. Its quite spread out, so we didn't have time to see all of it. Oh and we looked for the address but there were hundreds of them.

Riding along in my automobile

When in Rome....

Bird in Hand

Up to PA, to the quaintly named town of Bird in Hand, where we spent a couple of delightful hours among the Amish. Those carriages are heavier than they look.

Fenwick Island

This is the very wonderful Fenwick Island Lighthouse built in 1859. They had said they would be open to go up in it but when we got there all seemed shut.
When we were staying in Ocean City MD, we drove up the road to the state line and found this somewhat anomalous lighthouse. Anamolous because Fenwick Island isn't actually an island. Maybe it was once but it sure ain't now. And another thing, you can't see the lighthouse from the sea. Maybe you could once but you sure can't now. It lies in the middle of a quiet street, leading down to the coastal road and from then another walk to the dunes. Goes to show the impressive land reclamation that has taken place here.
I have placed this photo in Delaware because the far side of the street is in Delaware, where thelighthouse is. This side of the street and the tree in which I'm precariously perched, is in Maryland, but you know what I mean.

Mount Vernon, Virginia

Home of George and Martha Washington and all his slaves, we're back into Virginia to Mount Vernon, situated on the banks of the Potomac between DC and Chesapeake Bay. The two of them (and the slaves) are buried here.

Annapolis, Maryland

Into Annapolis, after a big traffic jam from Ocean City on a bank holiday! Lovely and sedate and very expensive, Annapolis is the state capital and boasts a famous naval base. It appears that all State Capitols have domes for some reason. Maybe it's enshrined in the constitution?

Ocean City Beachfront

Let's go fly a kite! Here we are in Ocean City, Maryland, not to be confused with Ocean City, New Jersey, though I'm sure many have been caught out. Big long stretch of beach here, souvenir shops by the hundred, crazy golf, bars, attractions etc etc

Virginia Beach, VA

To this dude, spotted dog is a delicacy, so don't move a muscle. He's called Neptune and hangs out on the front in Virginia Beach at 31st Street.

Dismal Swamp State Park, North Carolina

Do you know the way places are often named in order to entice people to come and settle? Greenland, Happy Valley, Los Angeles etc? Well, the PR team for Dismal Swamp could really take a leaf out of their book. Where shall we go on holidays, darling? Dismal Swamp sounds nice, dear...

Lots of wildlife here apparently, though we only really saw snakes and turtles. Plenty of tics though, as we discovered afterwards.

Oh, and a bar. ('A bar' is Dixie for 'a bear.')

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Nettsie and me got into trouble in Colonial Williamsburg for not ordering grits, so they threw us in the stocks. (Actually I could have hopped out quite easily but decided to tell jokes to Nettsie to lessen her anxiety)

Jamestown, Virginia

So this is where it all began, the English colonisation of America. Four hundred years ago, after a long sea journey, the survivors landed near Virginia Beach, found it a bit gaudy and decided to move into Chesapeake Bay to this point up the James River, where they proceeded to starve to death. With the help of the native Americans, including my friend Pocahontas (above), a few survived and the rest is geography.

Appomattox Court House, Virginia

Heading across Virginia now and we stopped off at Appomattox Court House where General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant, effectively bringing about the end of the Civil War. Quite a serene spot. Seems incongruous it played such a pivotal part of US history.

Lazy Days Winery, Virginia

Speaking of wine (see previous posts) we visited this winery in Virginia. Apologies for my appearance. I wasn't driving.

Monticello, Virginia

This is Monticello, the hilltop home of the aforementioned Tommy Jefferson, one of the founding fathers, key author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United States. More importantly, he produced a pretty good wine too.

Skyline Drive, Virginia

Skyline Drive is a scenic route in Virginia along 100 odd miles of the Appalachian Mountains with great views on either side. However, it must be said, after 40 odd miles you more or less see mainly the same views and you start to tire of it. Better to cross the Shenandoah Valley into West Virginia where you get basically the same views for free.

These bottom two photos are actually taken in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, while we were on the trail of the lonesome pine. The Blue Ridge route is actually a free continuation of the Skyline Drive.

The United States Capitol

The United States Capitol right after I gave my speech to the house of representatives. I was very politely received but I don't think they're going to extend the vote to stuffed animals any time soon.

The Jefferson Memorial

This is looking across to the Jefferson Memorial from the MLK Memorial. Washington is a great city for memorials. Tommy Jefferson was at home but like Lincoln, (see previous post) he wasn't giving much away.

The White House

There's only one thing stopping me becoming president. I'm not American. And I'm not strictly speaking human. Two things. Two things stopping me becoming president. Not American, not human, and I never stood for election. Three things....

The Washington Memorial

They were going to stick me on top of the Washington Memorial in the heart of downtown DC, but I made such a fuss they stopped just in time. I'd like to see them skewered by that yoke.

The Lincoln Memorial,Washington D.C.

Here I am, having a dream at the Lincoln Memorial - not the first to do so, by all accounts. Lincoln's sitting inside but he's not too loquacious these days.

The Potomac River, Virginia

May 2016 and here I am on the banks of the Potomac River on the Arlington Memorial Bridge, which links Arlington Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial, which can be seen on the other side of the bridge. Note the Washington Memorial just above my head. God bless 'Merica.