It's always nice to get to a new location and this is a great one. There is more to do in this area than where we were. After connecting up the utilities we relaxed on our patio for the rest of the day.
It's the end of the season here so there are no activities going on at the campground but there is a lot to do in the area.
Wednesday 9/26 We headed back to the little town of Colonial Beach to check out the area.
This is a large restaurant on the Potomac River.
Cold Beer to go, how great is that.
All the birds resting on the poles.
We enjoyed our walk out on the pier for the great views of the Potomac River. See the power plant in the distance.
Hotel or Condo
After our walk around the pier we continued to drive around the area seeing the sights and checking out the large water front homes. While we were in Colonial Beach we decided to eat out and found a great little restaurant, Ola's Country Kitchen. We had a great home style meal and will definitely return. Oh the Coconut Pie for desert was great.
Thursday 9/27 we headed out to George Washington's Birthplace National Monument. It's only a couple of miles from our campground. The Memorial Obelisk is a miniature of the Washington Monument.
George Washington was born Feb. 22, 1732 at Popes Creek, in Westmoreland County, VA to Augustine and Mary Ball Washington.
Driven by duty and ambition, Washington spent much of his life in public service. But through his years as military man, elected representative, and president he was at heart a farmer. His Popes Creek childhood and early years on family plantations fostered in him a love for the land that always pulled him back to Mount Vernon.
In the visitor center we saw a short 14 minute video and then toured the grounds.
The grounds are spectacular. We followed the loop walk from the visitor center past a historic red cedar grove to the Washington Birthplace site.
Popes Creek
When we reached the sight of his birthplace a Ranger gave us a very informative talk overlooking the outline of the foundation of the original house where George Washington was born.
Outline of original foundation
Outline of original foundation
Next the Ranger gave us a guided tour of the Memorial House, Colonial Kitchen, and Colonial Garden.
In the 1920's the Wakefield National Memorial Association, with help from John D. Rockefeller, acquired more original land, and the grounds became a national monument in 1930. The group built a Colonial Revival-Style house at the traditional birth site in 1930.
View of Popes Creek out the back door.
What a great place to live with a view like this out your back door.
The Memorial House built in 1931, the structure represents a typical upper class Colonial Revival-Style house - probably a bit finer than the house where Washington was born. Bricks for the house were handmade with clay from a nearby field, furnishings evoke the 1730 -1750 period.
The house looked nothing like the original residence but was built as a memorial and build on what was thought to be the original location of the house. In 1936 the foundation of the actual birth house was unearthed. The foundation was later outlined with shells to mark the location. It's a good thing the Memorial House was built in the wrong location otherwise the actual foundation and surrounding grounds would have been destroyed. They have found a lot of valuable artifacts in the original location.
The kitchen is an accurate representation of the kitchen George Washington known as a child. Most likely slaves were the cooks.
The Colonial Herb and Flower Garden had herbs that were used for medicines (rosemary, foxglove, lambs ear); cooking (thyme, sage, basil); scents (lavender, rue penny royal); and dyes (yarrow, balm, parsley). Typical flowers of the period were hollyhocks, lilies, narcissus, forget-me-nots, and roses.
We continued following the loop walk around the rest of the grounds viewing replicas of typical colonial farm buildings and crops of the Colonial Farm. They actually have Oxen on site and a Ranger is currently training them however we did not get to see them.
Black Smith Shop
Check out the pigs, yes they are real.
Check out the gourd for a head.
A view we are use to in Connecticut, a Tobacco Barn
Back yard view of Popes Creek
Another view of Popes Creek from the back yard
Popes Creek connects to the Potomac River which was the main highway of the day.
We continued on the loop back to the visitor center.
Our next stop was a short ride to the Washington Family Burial Ground. When John Washington (George's Great Grandfather and founder of the Washington Family in Virginia) settled here in 1664, he established a family burial ground near his house. Thirty-two burials have been found here, including those of Washington's half-brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
John Washington: George's Great Grandfather
Lawrence Washington: George's Grandfather
Augustine Washington: George's Father
Mary Ball: George's Mother
It was a very enjoyable day, the sights were great and we learned a lot about the "Father of our Country". How great it is to be able to see the sights that were our history. It is so much better than reading history books.
Of course after hiking around we both were hungary so off we went to Ola's Country Kitchen again for another great meal. Now you know I had Coconut Pie for desert and it was fantastic. Thank you Ola.
Back at the campground we relaxed in front of the TV. All RVers must have their Direct TV. The heck with sitting around a campfire swatting mosquitoes when I can watch NCIS.
We are so lucky to have this great lifestyle.
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