East or West, Home Is Best

Memorial Day Getaway Part III

We spent the final day and a half of our vacation driving through and camping in Shenandoah National Park. Skyline Drive twists and bends along the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountains with viewpoints every couple of miles (we slowed down for almost every one) and several crossings of the Appalachian Trail.

Despite having spent a lot of time in the car already we were more than content to take in the beautiful scenery, keep an eye out for deer, and belt out Country Roads with John Denver. We stopped at a picnic area along the way where Gavin and Chad tossed the baseball after our yummy lunch. Later that afternoon we hiked to one of the most beautiful (and photogenic) waterfalls we’ve encountered (see also our blog header photo) where a millipede fascinated Gavin and Arwen with its many legs. Gavin’s Junior Ranger worksheets kept us attuned to the plants and wildlife all along the trail.

That night Gavin and Arwen were all but jumping up and down with excitement over the chance to sleep in their tent at the Big Meadow campground. After improvised hot dogs (Chad and I each thought the other had picked up the buns, and we left the condiments in the grocery cart) we settled down for a good night’s sleep. As I poked my head out of the tent the next morning a deer was munching some leaves only a few feet away.

We took off quickly for a second hike before leaving the park. This time it was up, up, up to the highest point you can hike to in the park. We climbed around on the rocks and spotted a ranger trying to photograph some hawks.

On our way back to Sarah and Joel’s house we took a detour through Lancaster County. I bought strawberries and home-brewed root beer (an acquired taste) from some Amish folk at the Green Dragon Market. Along the back roads we spotted five horses hooked up to a plow. We passed a couple of Amish buggies and saw several simply clad men and women riding bicycles. I’d love to get back there again and learn more about the Plain people.

Our evening back in Philadelphia with Sarah and Joel included some amazing burgers on the grill, yummy salads, and delectable fruit in season. Sarah’s lettuces and tomatoes inspired me as our growing season is a bit behind theirs. Saturday morning we were up and on our way home. As we finally pulled into our garage Gavin’s comment was “Let’s do that again sometime”. I think we will!

Memorial Day Getaway Part II
After saying goodbye to the Steadmans we drove across Virginia to Blacksburg where we met up with the Aldriches and the Allreds at the Olers’ place. On five acres surrounded by trees, lawn, and views Mitch and Laura have quite a place. After arriving we enjoyed lunch (sandwiches on homemade whole wheat bread compliments of Eric!) and some nostalgic conversation on the deck overlooking a farm and so much green. It had been about four years since we’d all been in Seattle together.

Talk turned naturally to the ins and outs of academic careers, Chad having started at Connecticut College and Mitch at Virginia Tech this year and Eric working on a PhD at Duke. We exchanged views on the upcoming election and heard the merits of going barefoot – everywhere – from Eric who had been out on his morning run sans shoes.

After lunch we visited a Nature Conservancy preserve where we took a short hike, watch the children wade in the brook, and checked out some caves. Gavin and Arwen had a blast seeing friends Eric and Brigham, Eva and Nathan, and Katia, Alysha, and Jonathan. Once back at the house, they were all great fans of the playroom and especially the trampoline. I enjoyed the chance to catch up with Katie and Laura and to see Sarah again.

After the Aldriches and the Allreds left, we enjoyed some down time and a tour of Virginia Tech with the Olers before packing it all up again. Then we said our goodbyes and embarked on the last leg of our journey – on our way home through Shanandoah National Park.

Memorial Day Getaway Part I
Ever since our neighbors moved to Virginia we’ve been looking for a way to get down their direction for a visit. An open invitation from some friends from Seattle now also in Virginia gave us the oomph we needed to take on the drive. The Friday before Memorial Day we started our journey, making it to Philadelpia before bedtime where we crashed at Sarah and Joel’s house while they were out of town. (As fun as it is to be there all together we found staying there on our own also had its plusses. More space, toys, and amenities than a hotel without the need to keep the kids quiet!)

The next morning we drove the remaining five hours (stretched to seven in traffic) and had an energetic reunion with Jessie, Dyllan, Becky, and Todd. The kids disappeared behind piles of toys in Jessie and Dyllan’s rooms and we sat around enjoying the space and beauty of our friends' new place. Sunday morning we enjoyed church services with Becky and the kids and then passed a restful afternoon exploring the woods behind their house and otherwise gearing up for the Memorial Day festivities.

Monday morning we packed into their Suburban and drove two hours to Yorktown, the site of the 1781 British surrender to American and French forces under George Washington which ended the Revolutionary War. There we checked out the recreated Continental Army encampment and witnessed the firing of the mortar, Chad’s favorite part of the day. My personal favorite was the 1780s farm.

Next we were off to colonial Williamsburg where we wandered the streets looking at historic buildings. (We learned you can live in one at very low cost as long as you’re willing to keep everything looking period-appropriate from the street.) The kids ran up and down the paths through the community garden and were particularly fond of Wythe Candy where we got the most amazing caramel apples I’ve ever seen or tasted.

We finished our last evening together with some serious family togetherness. Chad, Gavin, Jessie, and I had a four-player Wii tournament – racing cars, flying paper airplanes, and playing dodge ball. It was my first participating introduction to the Wii and it was great!

The next morning déjà vu hit as Becky drove off with the kids who had missed the bus just before we left for the next segment of our journey. Lots of smiles and hugs and promises to be in touch. And then, as the Suburban pulled onto the road, the tears. We miss you Jessie, Dyllan, Becky, and Todd!