A day off in Virginia and on to Seaford, DE

Our concert in Severna Park, MD on March 10th was rescheduled to March 16th which afforded us an extra day off (but it will be 3 days in a row of concerts later). We took advantage of the "window of opportunity" by driving to our next concert in Delaware on a route that is not the most direct. It is what I enjoy most.
We left Lancaster, OH and drove through West Virginia. The rolling hills of Eastern Ohio were just showing tints of green. The hills became larger as we crossed the Ohio River and entered West Virgina. West Virginia was beautiful. The roads seem to follow a line of Northeast to Southwest due to the direction of the "folding" of the Appalachian Mountains. We noticed the deep, darkness of the dirt at the surface while riding in the van due to the great amount of coal in the soil.
We stayed 2 nights in Richmond, VA. I enjoy history. Before checking out the local history, we had to visit the Virginia Harp Center because I was out of 2 strings for my harp. In Lancaster after the last concert a string broke. I discovered I only had one more extra string which I used. I always carry a complete set of strings. Since replacing my string, I didn't have an extra 3rd octave E. Great fortune for me to be in Richmond where there is a harp store. There aren't too many places were I can get a harp string!





There is an amazing amount of history in Richmond, both from the Civil War era and the Revolutionary period. We spent a day at the Confederate Museum and Hollywood Cemetery. Two Presidents of the United States are interred in Hollywood Cemetery who are James Monroe (5th President) and John Tyler (10th President) as well as Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederacy. It is also the resting place of 25 Confederate generals, the most of any cemetery in the country as well as many confederate soldiers.

My personal thought is that it is good to visit cemeteries once in awhile. It gives me a reason to think about my priorities and what is important. Especially military cemeteries. I appreciate those soldiers that gave their life for their country and fellow citizen and wonder if I have the strength to do the same. One never knows until the time of decision is at hand. I like to think that I would give my life to save someone else for the cause of liberty and freedom. I commend all of our past veterans who have served on my behalf and for all of those soldiers currently doing likewise.



We visited St Johns Church where Patrick Henry gave his "Give me Liberty, or give me Death" oration on the church porch the close of the Virginia Convention. It was given March 23rd, 1775 and is credited with persuading the Virginia House of Burgesses to pass a resolution to send troops to the Revolutionary War. Thomas Jefferson and George Washington were supposedly in attendance. At the end of Patrick Henry's speach, the crowd roared "To arms! To arms!"





The next morning we departed Richmond for Deleware via the Tyler Memorial Parkway where John Tyler's home and plantation was (and is). It continues to be owned and occupied by direct decendents of John Tyler. The farmland is also being farmed. One of the house's claims to fame is the length of the house; over 300 feet. It is supposedly the longest single beam house ever made.



The parkway continues on to Jamestown, the first settlement in this country. What hardship they endured. Another personal thought is that we are spoiled wimps in this country. Two-thirds of the people died in the settlement. The building that continues to stand is the church. Our country was built on faith and by faith. All history points to that fact. I found it curious that Jamestown ended because of rising sea levels. Did global warming start with Jamestown?
We drove to Delaware via the 15 mile bridge and tunnel on the south end of Chesepeake Bay. It was a bit creepy descending under the water. As I pushed on the gas peddle, Katherine asked what the speed limit was to which I responded, "Not fast enough!"