Virginia and Maryland

Two states in FIVE days?? Sometimes you have to make tough choices. While we have spent weeks in some states, we have only spent days in others. Why? It depends. Sometimes we have passed through a state during bad weather or the wrong season. Other times we were drawn to something in particular in another state. This time we needed to keep moving north to make a flight connection later in the month.

We chose one highlight in Virginia, Monticello. However, we needed some exercise first. Bear Creek State Park in Cumberland proved to be a great launch pad for a long off-road biking day of single track, logging and gravel roads. Just beautiful and not a soul in sight. Our own private forest. What could be better!











History lessons here we come. Monticello. First lesson, Thomas Jefferson was tall and wore hot boots. Imagine, he was so debonair and yet a bachelor most of his life. Hmmm, looks like Philip was cold that day or was he looking for...well, never mind.



Jefferson owned a large estate with lots of farm land and slaves, but he always struggled with finances. At his death he was in debt. His slaves were sold, with just a few being freed. The house and land were sold. His library was already in Washington, D.C.

During it's heyday, Monticello was a hub of activity always filled with guests whenever Jefferson was home. Jefferson studied agricultural sciences. Rather than plant cash crops such as tobacco, he chose less profitable crops that preserved the quality of the soil. As most of you know, Jefferson was fascinated with architecture. He designed the house and continued to make changes and improvements for years.


Gardens.


Cabbage.


Mountain laurel.



Do visit Monticello when you have the chance. Then stop in nearby Charlottesville for good food and a little shopping.



Sorry Virginia, next time we will stay longer. Our next location was Dunkirk, MD to visit my brother Bill and his family. Bill and Lynn took us to Annapolis for a scenic boat trip on the Chesapeake Bay.














And dinner at a great seafood restaurant with their daughter Megan.



On Mother's Day, Bill prepared a feast for all of us.



Here's Megan and her husband Scott. They are expecting a daughter this August! All in all it was a fun weekend of shopping, site- seeing and FOOD!




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad.