June Travels (Quilt Pic at End)

The June mini-vacation was a full day shorter than the one we took in May, but the history was richer and the lasting images carry much greater impact. Like all our plans for 2021 summer travels, the itinerary is very loose; we plan nothing too specifically. We determine two or three 'absolute musts' and from there we pretty much wing it.

One primary goal for all the trips we take this summer is avoiding interstates. We are not interested in getting anywhere in a hurry; we want to take our time and soak up all manner of stuff along the way. So far, this has served us well. Minor state routes, even county and township roads have provided some gorgeous sights and interesting historical tidbits that we Google while we ride. (If a signal is available!) We look at houses, landscapes, farms, small town architecture, historical markers - anything that interests us. Being in the mountains this last trip, we saw breathtaking vistas both from the valleys looking up, and from the mountain tops looking down.

Another goal is to visit National Parks whenever possible. In May we bought a NP Passport book to keep a record of the parks we explore, and since we are of an age where we qualify for senior admission, we intend to take full advantage of the Lifetime Pass.

Last month we got our passport when we visited Congaree National Park just south of Columbia, SC. I didn't share much other than the Pat Conroy /Beaufort highlight from our first trip, but Congaree was our first stop on the May vacation.

On this recent trip, we visited three National Parks - Shenandoah National Forest, Harpers Ferry, and Gettysburg. And, we saw amazing sights all along the way - West Virginia, Virginia, a tiny bite of Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Just exactly our kind of get-away.

Twisty, curvy Rt. 33 through West Virginia afforded us these views of Seneca Rocks on the eastern panhandle of the state just before entering Virginia. It is located in the Monongahela National Forest, part of the Appalachians. We did not stop; just enjoyed the view from the road, and learned about it from the internet, a history and geography lesson in the comfort of the car.

One of the highlights and the first National Park of this trip was a drive along Skyline Drive from Swift Run Gap to Front Royal. What scenery. Built during the Depression, the engineers and builders anticipated that people would want to stop and take in those views, so dozens of pull-offs were built alongside the road for doing just that. We stopped at several, and were treated to the most glorious mountain views. A particularly breathtaking setting sun capped the drive as we neared Front Royal. (see 3rd picture below)

My prior knowledge of the significance of Harpers Ferry was minimal. However, the 1859 heroics of John Brown in this quaint little town located at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers signaled a major step in the fight to end slavery. 

Gettysburg National Military Park was our final National Park highlight. I was not prepared for all we encountered here. Oh, my, what history surrounds and engulfs the visitor! While we have all learned about the battle of Gettysburg in our history lessons, up close and personal it becomes quite sobering. This national historic site is a tangible connection to the massive loss of life which occurred over the course of three days, and the devastation that remained for years to come for residents in this quiet place. We took in the Cyclorama (combination surround sound movie and diorama) and then the auto tour. The Cyclorama provided very moving details and helpful visuals which we drew on as we drove around the various points of interest. The entire site easily requires two days minimum to see everything, but it is so utterly overwhelming, I was content to have done just the bit that we did in one afternoon and evening. Here are some highlights.

The fields are parts of ordinary farms still used as such today, many just recently harvested of wheat and straw. Gently rolling hills are just that to the unaware passerby. Those fields, hills, and ridges have names: The Wheatfield, The Peach Orchard, Devil's Den, Cemetery Ridge, Round Top. We viewed each peaceful field or ridge or hill in the comfort of our air-conditioned car, and read about hellish battles fought by men and boys on July 1, 2, and 3, 1863. Monuments and cannons are sprinkled throughout the entire area, honoring individual regiments and highlighting locations of attacks and assaults that left over 51,000 dead, injured or missing. Staggering.

Ohio erected several monuments recognizing specific divisions involved in the battles.

In the historic town of Gettysburg the site where Lincoln finalized his famous address is highlighted with a marker. The Gettysburg Address was delivered in November of 1863 at the dedication of the National Soldiers' Cemetery, also a part of the National Park. 

Well, if you have stayed with me through all of that vacation recap, then you should be rewarded with at least one quilt picture!

Long-time readers will recall seeing this quilt from 2016. I have no more creative name for it than 6-Pointed Star. I hand pieced the entire thing, and then hand quilted it, too. All the fabrics were from my fat quarter stash, and they seem rather appropriately representative of the colors and style of the Civil War times. 

Happy Quilting, Friends!