I left South Carolina this morning after being filled with toast and eggs by my gracious host. Bidding Katie and George farewell, I headed back out on the open road. The pines thickened, as North Carolina quickly came and went. Crossing into Virginia felt a bit like coming home. My grandmother's family has been here for generations, of which familial roots intertwine tightly with the history of the state it's self. Tinker and Pat welcomed me into their beautiful home, which sat nestled under a thin canopy of deciduous trees. Tinker took me out to see a local civil war museum, which had been painstakingly filled with artifacts by a family that saw the historical significance of the battle site remnants back in the sixties. While most farmers were plowing over the remains of old encampments, they were out there hauling back everything they could find. The displays hold some of the most complete and plentiful collections I have ever seen. Among the displays was a picture taken at Belle Plain of roughly 10,000 confederate prisoners. Tinker took me to visit the site as it looks today. You can see from the pictures how little the scenery has changed. This is not uncommon, and is one of the most haunting and beautiful aspects of Virginia.
I have only known Tinker and Pat for a short time, but they already feel like family. Connecting with my Virginia roots alone made this trip worthwhile, and I hope to return next summer, but for a couple weeks instead of a day.
Tomorrow I will be veering wildly across Maryland and Pennsylvania, shaving off the top of New Jersey, before finally careening into the middle of Connecticut. This is a deviation from my original itinerary and will set me back a day (I will update the itinerary on my blog tomorrow), but will also allow me to see two more states than I originally planned.
While this journey has been immensely rewarding and exciting, I am eagerly looking forward to reconnecting with friends and family at home. Absence is nothing less than bittersweet, and certainly makes the heart grow fonder.
Dad, I threw in this picture of a mechanical bear. It is Pat's and looks a lot like the one that you kept from your childhood.
Cool pics Cameron! The east coast is so different than out here. Awesome that you get to catch up with family and old friends. We will look forward to hearing the stories in person. Safe travels to CT...let me know if you want some suggestions...spent four years in New Haven....great town!!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to tell you about it! You are gonna be miserable! Might even make slides! bwahahaha....JAJAJAJA
DeleteThose pictures are amazing!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cookie!
DeleteI couldn't help but think of your own collection of bottles and stuff from your backyard when I saw that picture of the museum display, it makes since that your family is from Virginia considering your ability at collecting. Great before and after pictures, what are in the log buildings in the modern picture? Are they examples of civil war type dwellings?
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly what they are. They are replicas (but made to the same specs, with the same tools) of the housing at the site. It is cool because they are actually built partially underground by a few feet!
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