COLONIAL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK - JAMESTOWN & YORKTOWN

We left the Skyline Drive and headed south-east through rolling English style countryside. We thought we were back home with towns and counties called Chesterfield; Lancaster; Northumberland; Westmoreland; Essex; Kent; Isle of Wight; Chester; Richmond; Gloucester; Portsmouth; Middlesex; Suffolk; Norfolk and Southampton. They must really have been homesick when they all arrived here! 

 
Our journey took us on the Colonial Parkway, visiting Berkeley Plantation - birthplace of a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a United States President. On to the Colonial National Historical Park where we explored the first permanent English settlement in North America at Historic Jamestowne and discovered Yorktown Battlefield, site of the last major battle of the American Revolution. We both learned so much, quite shocking that we have reached the ages of 63 and 64 and knew so little about our own history, it was absolutely fascinating. As usual we ran out of time!

Arriving at a campsite in the dark is no fun! Why are there always big trees in the way?
Next day we went to see the beach on the site then drove over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel. 17.6 miles shore to shore, with three bridges, two tunnels and a viewpoint and cafe at the 4 mile point - quite an engineering feat! Following the Eastern Shore of Virginia and into Maryland then Delaware - first state to join the Union and the second smallest.
Our next day, we drove across Delaware and over the Bay Bridge towards Washington DC. We had been told about a National Park site called Greenbelt Park - just 12 miles from Washington centre - an oasis in the middle of the urban jungle. 

Berkeley Plaantation

glass blowing at Jamestown

Yorktown

Victory Monument in Yorktown

Moore house where terms of surrender were agreed

Chesapeak Bay Bridge-Tunnel - this bits one of the tunnels from part way across

Chesapeake Bay bridge - tunnel

Surrender Field in Yorktown

FROM BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY TO SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK

Fallingwater cascades

Eastern Bluebird

Battery Creek Lock near James River

Roy with his fire - in pensive mood

Junco

Dark Hollow Falls

White tailed deer

massive moth about the size of my hand

Roy pretending to fish in James River

Day 5 dawned sunny and 12o higher than yesterday. We continued our journey northwards stopping to do a walk to Fallingwater cascades. Saw the James River, largest in Virginia and the lowest elevation of the Parkway at 649ft and discovered a lock used by barges in byegone days. Virginia from the Parkway is not as dramatic as North Carolina, more like the rolling hills of England.
We have not found a campsite or Visitor center open along the length of the Parkway (May is opening time) so we were delighted to find Otter Creek campground open, a night on the Parkway at last, quite appropriate as it was our last night of the Parkway drive.

Sun and blue skies for our last day along this amazing top of the world road, sad to leave the tranquillity and return to the real world of traffic, but not just yet. After a brief visit to Walmart we returned to the end of the Parkway road and continued on to the 105 mile Skyline Drive (a continuation of the Parkway) in Shenandoah National Park. We are camped at 3598 ft at Big Meadows Campground in the middle of the Shenandoah for 4 days and enjoying some hiking to Lewis Falls and along the Appalachian trail and White Oak Canyon to Upper White Oak Falls.

old logging railroad - he'll do anything I ask!

Wigwam Falls

Tree Farm - shaped Christmas trees - only in America!

Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park

Upper Whiteoak Falls Shenandoah

Upper Whiteoak Falls

life on the edge!

Showy Orchis

Skyline Drive as we left

Skyline drive as we left

Roy "in love" in Skyland, Shenandoah

DAYS 3 & 4 ON THE PARKWAY INTO VIRGINIA

Falls Creek cascades

first rhododendron

Some rain and low cloud marred many of the distance sights, including views of Grandfather Mountain and the viaduct that winds its way round the mountain.
We found some more pretty falls and a rhododendron in flower, everywhere is covered in rhododendron bushes, but too early to flower yet.

We had a detour off the Parkway for about 20 miles. We found out there were some unsafe rock areas.
Everything went slightly downhill then, as we got up the wrong roads twice - all I can say is my man is amazing at turning our 50ft rig round in small spaces. That's not what I was saying at the time! 

After an evening spent at Stone Mountain State Park, we wound our way back to the Parkway with temperatures of 2oC - 4oC, sun and snow - how I miss Hawaii!

However we had a good 4th day on the Parkway seeing Mabry Mill, some Appalachian cabins and stories of old timers, lots of azaleas, 5 wild turkeys and 2 ground hogs (which look like marmots to us)

anyone for some moonshine?

   

Puckett Cabin - read next photo about this amazing lady!

Strong women in those days

Roy pretending to be a donkey at the Sorghum mill

Mabry Mill

Trail's Cabin at Smart View - not smart today as misty!

wild turkey for dinner?