It Used to Be Legal to Shoot Bank Robbers in Virginia

    Friday Nov 8th  - Staunton, VA 

This is how our trip works: We have a map where we placed pushpins on places where we might want to go. 

But the trip is also very loosely planned because of the scope and not enough time before we left. 

So in addition to what we sort of planned, we sometimes stop at a local visitor center along the way to see if there is anything interesting in the area. 

Just about every place has something interesting, though few would merit a special trip.

Staunton, Va was an exception. It would have merited a special trip. 

After spending the night in the local Walmart parking lot (more on this in a later post,) we stop off in the morning at the visitor center, We get a whole bunch of suggestions from the charming local ambassador. We decide on the glass blowing shop and the self-guided architectural tour of the historic downtown. 

Jason making Christmas ornaments 

Glow in the dark glassware!

Historic Downtown. The self guide pamphlet told us about most buildings. History, style of architecture, what was unique about each one, etc. 

   

Our favorite building was this bank: 

The tellers were given handguns to use in case of bank robbery

 But the president and cashier got shotguns

The bank used to print its own  money

But after the Federal Reserve Bank was created, only the federal government could mint money. 

This painting is of President Woodrow Wilson signing the Federal Reserve Act on Dec 23, 1913 

Fun fact 1: Woodrow Wilson was born in Staunton and his Presidential Library and Museum is in Staunton
Fun fact 2: I used to work for the Federal Reserve Bank (sometime after 1913) 

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We ended our walking tour with the Reform temple House of Israel. It was founded in 1876 by former major in the Confederate army. The Temple was running a program, "Did your ancestor serve in the civil war?” 

Fun fact 3: I can state unequivocally that none of our ancestors fought in the civil war. 

Charlottesville, Virginia University of Virginia and Monticello

Wednesday Nov 6th and Thurs Nov 7th - 

University of Virginia and Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia  

University of Virginia was founded by Thomas Jefferson as a retirement project. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Student tour guide Miriam from Brooklyn is excellent. Talks about Thomas Jefferson’s “Academical Village” vision and educational theories. Refers to slaves as “enslaved people”. One of the members of the tour group keeps trying to recruit her for his company.  Jefferson is obsessed with Roman and French architecture. The college originally ran on slave labor, or "enslaved people" labor.

So much for “All men are created equal.”

Monticello (pronounced Montichello)

Thomas Jefferson’s home and plantation. A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Run on slave labor, including Jefferson’s own children by slave Sally Hemings, who was half-sister to his deceased wife. 

So much for “All men are created equal.”

Fun fact 1- There is a painting of Jefferson in practically every room in his house, but no picture exists of his wife Martha, or Sally Hemings.  Uriah Phillips Levy

Fun fact 2 - My friend Ina points out that were it not for 2 Jewish men, Uriah Phillips Levy, and his nephew Jefferson Monroe Levy, Monticello as it is today would not exist. See www.monticello.org/thomas-jefferson/a-day-in-the-life-of-jefferson/all-my-wishes-end-at-monticello/the-levy-family-and-monticello/ for the fascinating history.

Fun fact 3 - Especially relevant since this post was published on Veterans Day - Uriah Phillips Levy was the first Jewish Commodore of the United States Navy. For more about him, see www.history.navy.mil/research/library/research-guides/z-files/zb-files/zb-files-l/levy-uriah.html   

Mulberry Road where the slaves lived and slaved

Guide Susan smiles widely after everything she says

Shenandoah National Park HIkes

These are the hikes we took in Shenandoah. Two of them included sections of the Appalachian Trail. We can now say that we have hiked the Appalachian Trail.

Stoney Man

There were no ranger programs available to us at this time of year, but I listened in on the very entertaining program these school kids got. 

Ranger holding up a photo - "Anyone know which national park this is?"
One of the Kids - "Yellowstone!"
Ranger - "Uh, it's actually a little closer..."
Kids - "  ? "
Ranger - "A lot closer. Actually you are standing in it"
Kids-  "  ?  "

Ranger holding up a photo of a bison with a geyser spouting in the background - "Anyone know which national park this is? 
Kids - "  ?   " 
etc...

Dark Hollow Falls 

This waterfall is the one that appears on the vintage park poster

Blackrock Summit 

The best hike we took. Great views, interesting geology. Also interesting, well, whatever they are. Lichens? 

The only problem was that we got lost (figured out later that we went straight where we should have veered left) and it was late afternoon. As I was watching the sun sinking lower in the sky I was wondering if we were going to be spending the night in the wild. Also was scanning the woods for edible nuts and berries, and inventorying how much water we had with us. Fortunately, Bob figured out which way to go. While it was still light out.  

Our Campsite is Infested

Sunday night through Tuesday Morning, November 3rd-5th

Our campsite at Big Meadows Campground in Shenandoah National Park is infested with deer.

Made us feel right at home. 

Shenandoah National Park!

Sunday, November 3^rd, continued, continued (it was a busy day) 

We arrive in the afternoon.

We see the movie at the visitor center. Now, there are 51 slow miles to drive on Skyline Drive to get to Big Meadows Campground, preferably before dark. And hopefully, we will get a campsite.

We don’t stop at every scenic pull out... 

and almost make it before dark.

And got a campsite! Whew! 

Skyline Caverns, Front Royal, VA

Sunday, November 3rd, Continued

Fun Quiz #1

How do you know that a cave qualifies as a Tourist Trap?

 A. Hokey names given to formations

 B. Colored lighting used

 C. Overpriced

 D. Has a huge gift shop

 E. Underground pools stocked with trout

 F. Tour guide says he is only allowed to lose one tourist per month, and he has already lost one, so please stay with the tour

 G. Most of the above

 H. All of the above

It is the busiest day of the year in Shenandoah National Park at the Front Royal, VA entrance because it’s a gorgeous fall Sunday and last weekend was pouring. 

The backup to get in is so long the traffic cops are not allowing any more cars to get in line, in order not to block the road. 

So, we go to Skyline Caverns, a mile away, and will come back later when the line is shorter. We are cave junkies and have been to some spectacular ones, and I was not expecting much.  

As far as the quiz, let me see…

 A. Hokey names given to formations

  a: Not many hokey names given to formations mostly

      because there were not many formations 

The Capital Dome

B. Colored lighting used  √

C. Overpriced  √

D. Has a huge gift shop √

E. Underground pools stocked with trout √  Seriously!

F. Tour guide says he is only allowed to lose one tourist per month, and he has already lost one, so please stay with the tour

  a: Guide Joshua was actually pretty good with a great “radio announcer” voice. No stupid jokes. I have heard the “Lose one tourist per month” joke in other caves, not this one. Maybe I should have told it to Joshua? 

So - The answer to the quiz is G

Otherwise, the cave had an underground slot canyon feel which was cool, the “anthodites” cave crystals were very good, and saw lovely formations reflected in shallow pools. 

My recommendation, however, see Luray Caverns instead.

We’re off on our new adventure! Parentals Going South This Time!  #PGSTT

I don’t know why I always get a new camera right before I go on a trip but that’s how it happens. This results in some missed and/or badly composed shots at first.

Exhibit A

Friday, November 1st to Sunday morning, November 3rd 

We load everything we own (at least it seems that way) into Our V and take off much later than we had planned. Heading South to Silver Spring, MD for Shabbos.  We're in such a rush I forget to take a picture.  

We can't take the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel in Our V and try to force Waze to redirect. Only options are "Avoid freeways", "Avoid toll toads", "Avoid ferries", "Dirt roads - avoid long ones", and "Avoid difficult intersections".  Note to Google: Add "Avoid tunnels".

Very cool Frances Scott Key Bridge 

Excellent time with Ina and Larry! 5* hospitality as usual. Thanks for a lovely Shabbos.

Taking advantage of civilization while we still can. 

Bakery Café Silver Spring