November 2011

Wednesday, November 2

Danielle, Kent and I went to Annapolis to tour the Naval Academy.  It’s a beautiful campus. 

We started in the Visitor’s Center, then went to the Levy Center and Jewish Chapel.  From there we went to Tecumpseh Court to watch the noon meal formations for the "Brigade of Midshipmen. " 

We left the Academy to have lunch at Buddy’s Crabs and Ribs.  When we came back, we went to the Main Chapel which has beautiful stained glass windows and a pipe organ.  

The crypt of John Paul Jones is beneath the chapel.  The last building we went in was Preble Hall which houses the Naval Academy Museum.

Saturday, November 5

Had lunch at California Tortilla.  Danielle and Josh left for an overnight trip while we stayed with Megan.

Tuesday, November 8

We left Danielle and Josh’s and moved to The Club at Lake Gaston Resort, VA.  Lake Gaston is bordered by both Virginia and North Carolina.  We had to go into NC then back into VA to get to the resort.  It’s a beautiful area.

Wednesday, November 9
We drove around the area and came across a farm growing holly trees -- something we had never seen before.

We also passed several cotton fields.

And we saw lots of fall colors.

Friday, November 11

Had dinner at The Club restaurant. 

Sunday, November 13

Attended Sunday School and church service at Pleasant Hill Christian Church in Gasburg, VA.  Very friendly, more traditional type service.  Ate lunch at The Pointe at Lake Gaston in Littleton, NC.  Food was really good.  Had calamari for an appetizer—cooked perfectly.  Both of us had fish, fries, and cole slaw.  Drove to Warrenton to find a place that was supposed to have good chicken gizzards, but couldn’t find it.  Nice drive.

Tuesday, November 15

Drove around the countryside and to Emporia.  

Wednesday, November 16

Had Thanksgiving buffet at the Randezvous Restaurant at the resort.

Monday, November 21

On the way to breakfast we passed a cotton field that had been partially harvested.  Got pictures of the huge bales of cotton and the equipment.  

Ate breakfast at Virginia Diner (a DDD) in Wakefield.  Really disappointed in the food.  Then we took a ferry to see the original Jamestown settlement location. 

It was interesting to see where they are doing archaeological digs, see the original church tower, the old cemetery, and tour the Archaerium (archaeological museum).  

Then we took the ferry back and drove to Smithfield.  Disappointed that tours are no longer given at Smithfield Meats.  

Wednesday, November 23

Baked dinner rolls and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies to take to Danielle’s.

Thursday, November 24

Left early in the morning to go to Danielle’s for Thanksgiving.  Helped her with Thanksgiving dinner.  Melissa and Rebecca Vinyard also came.  Had a great visit.  We spent the night. 

Friday, November 25

Left in the afternoon after Megan got up from her nap.  When we stopped for diesel, the hose came loose as Kent was starting it and he got diesel on himself and clothes (mostly his shirt).  Minor delay at that stop.  

Sunday, November 27

After church we had lunch at The Pointe.  Great food again.

Tuesday, November 29

Moved to Crosswinds Family Campground in Linwood, NC.  

Wednesday, November 30

We toured the RCR Racing Museum.  Saw several No. 3 cars that were driven by Dale Earnhart.  

There was also a portion of the shop that was available for viewing.

Ate dinner at Lexington Barbecue which had been featured on a Food Network Show.  Kent really liked the food, but I don't like all the vinegar in "Carolina barbecue."

October 2011

Saturday, October 1

Went to Mammoth Cave National Park and took two tours – New Entrance and the Star Chamber.  The New Entrance Tour took 2 hrs, ¾ mile, and had 500 stairs.  It included the complete Frozen Niagara Tour route and a portion of the Grand Avenue Tour route.  The Star Chamber Tour was at night and by lantern light.  Lanterns were given to about every 5th person.  It was 2 ½ hrs, 1 ½ miles, and 200 stairs.

Sunday, October 2

Attended worship service in Cave City.  Had dinner at the Mammoth Cave hotel restaurant.

Monday, October 3

Went to Bowling Green and took the tour of Lost River Cave.  We had to hike down to where the river flowed into the cave and took a boat ride to tour the cave.  

From there, we wanted to tour the Corvette assembly plant, but it was closed for a couple of weeks.  Went to the National Corvette Museum.  Ate lunch at the Corvette Café.  It was advertised as a 50’s diner, but it was in décor only and not the menu. 

Tuesday, October 4

Toured the Diamond Cavern.  

Then went to Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site in Hodgenville.  

Wednesday, October 5

Had breakfast at the Watermill Restaurant in Cave City.  Then went to Mammoth Cave and listened to a Park Ranger give a talk about the history of the Cave during the Civil War.  Then we took the Historic Tour which was 2 hrs., 2 miles, and 440 stairs.

Friday, October 7

Headed to West Virginia.  Stopped for lunch at the Smokey Valley Truck Stop (featured on DDD) in Olive Hill, KY.   

Arrived at the Huntington/Foxfire KOA in Milton, WV.

Saturday, October 8

Had lunch at the Central City Café (featured on DDD) in Huntington.  

Took a drive to Hawk’s Nest State Park.  

Sunday, October 9

After church, we went to Hillbilly Hot Dogs in Lesage.  It looked like a junk yard, inside and out.  If this had not been featured on DDD, I wouldn’t have wanted to eat there.  People were waiting for it to open.  Two school buses had been converted to the “dining rooms.”  A strange place, but good hot dogs.  Kent had one with lots of stuff on it, and I had a pizza one—topped with pizza sauce and pepperoni.  

Monday, October 10

Had breakfast at Tudor’s Biscuit World.  Went to Blenko Glass and watched the glass blowers.

Left Milton and drove as far as Morgantown.  Spent the night in the Walmart parking lot.  

Tuesday, October 11

Arrived at Gettysburg Battlefield Resort in PA.

Wednesday, October 12

Drove to York and toured Wolfgang Candy.  

Then we toured the Harley-Davidson assembly plant.  

Had dinner at the Railside Family Restaurant in Hanover.

Thursday, October 13

We had breakfast at the Old School House Restaurant on the way to Hanover.  

In Hanover we toured Utz Snack Foods and watched potato chips being made.  

Then we went to Hershey’s Chocolate World for their tour.  

We had lunch at Lititz Family Cupboard.  After lunch we went to Sturgis Pretzel, learned the history of the pretzel shape, how to roll and shape a pretzel.  

Went to Randy (Kent’s cousin) and Cindy’s home.  They took us for a drive around Lancaster County.  We stopped in Intercourse and looked around the Amish shops.  On the way back, we went to a couple of covered bridges.   One of the bridges was closed because during a recent storm it was severely damaged.  Ate dinner at Randy and Cindy’s.

Friday, October 14

Went to the National Civil War Museum.  Bought an audio tour CD to use at Gettysburg Battlefield and then did the tour.  

Driving around we came across Sachs Covered Bridge, built in 1852, which is the most historic covered bridge in Pennsylvania.  It's near the Gettysburg Battlefield.

For dinner we ate at the Hof Brau Haus in Abbottstown.  

Saturday, October 15

Moved to Skyline Ranch Resort near Front Royal, VA.  

Sunday, October 16

Went to church in Strasburg (Disciples of Christ).  Had lunch at Jalisco Mexican Restaurant.  The food was great.  

Tuesday, October 18

Drove Skyline Drive.  It was beautiful.  Ate lunch at the Skyland Lodge.

Thursday, October 20

Packed up the food from the refrigerator to take to Danielle’s.  Stopped at Jalisco Mexican Restaurant in Front Royal on the way.  Met Danielle at Your Space Storage in Waldorf, MD and checked it out.  Had dinner and a short visit with Danielle and Josh before heading back to Front Royal.

Friday, October 21
Walked around the historic area of Front Royal.  Belle Boyd was a Confederate spy.  She was living with her aunt and uncle when the Union Army took over their home.  Belle eavesdropped and then was able to get information to the Confederates.

House where Belle Boyd lived.

Saturday, October 22

Moved the fifth wheel to Waldorf and parked it in storage.  

   

Sunday, October 23

Went to the Garage Church where Danielle and Josh attend.  Josh fixed chili for dinner.

Monday, October 24

Josh and Danielle went with us to tour Mount Vernon.  All of the tour was “self guided” except for the mansion which was led by tour guides.  It’s a beautiful view of the Potomac River from the back of the mansion.  

We ate lunch at the Mount Vernon Inn where the servers were dressed in period costumes.  We had an appetizer of fried green tomatoes.  Kent had chestnut-peanut soup which was very different and a ham sandwich.  The chips served with the sandwiches were fresh, thinly sliced, deep-fried potatoes.  I had a smoked turkey club; Danielle had the duck & sausage cassoulet; Josh had the colonial pie.  Then we drove to Washington’s mill and distillery to learn about it.

Thursday, October 27
Megan helped make banana bread by mashing the bananas.

Friday, October 28

We rode the Metro into DC and went to the International Spy Museum.  Danielle and Josh went with us.  It was really interesting and informative.   

We walked a couple of blocks to Clyde’s  Restaurant for a late lunch.  It was a very old, “stately” building.  Kent had a crab cake lunch, Josh had a crab cake sandwich, and Danielle and I had the Puerto Rican steak sandwich.  Very good food.  

Sunday, October 30

Went to church with Josh and Danielle.  

Monday, October 31

Kent, Danielle and I went to Arundel Mills Shopping Mall near Baltimore.  Shopping was mostly clothes for Megan.  Stopped and got candy for trick or treaters on the way back.  After dinner Danielle was getting Megan ready for bed, so Kent passed out the candy until Danielle was free.