Day Nineteen

Day Nineteen

July 8, 2008

Coast to Coast to Coast USA Alger Tour of America

Hello Everyone,

Day 19 had us waking up in Washington DC and proceeding to Charlottesville, VA. The long way. I decided to skirt the northern side of the Potomac River to try and find the last ferry operating across the river. Well, after an hour or two of riding on virtual two-tracker roads (The Big Rig handles real nice in off-road situations), we eventually found The Jubal Early, the only remaining ferry that operates on the river. The ferryboat operation has been privately owned and continuous since 1782. Here's a shot of The Big Rig and Grace waiting for the ferry to return from the Virginian side. It was a real cool spot. The General Store had canoes for rent and a real nice picnic area. If we weren't held to such a tight schedule, it would have been a real nice spot to spend a day.

 

Here is another foto looking across the Potomac toward Virginia. Maryland is in the foreground. When I drove the RV onto the ferry, I evidently made a major mistake, because the ferry operator rudely told us that we shouldn't have driven to the left side of the boat because "it makes the boat go like this," whatever that meant. I calmly informed her that some kind of direction may have helped avoid the situation. She still took our money and took us over the river into The Confederacy. Russell decided she must have been "secesh." I think so too.

In an earlier post, Russell pointed out one of Thom. Jefferson's discarded Gatorade bottles in Philadelphia. Well, lo and behold, when we arrived later in the day at Monticello, guess what we found? You got it! A genuine piece of thirst-quenching litter, left by none other than the Author of The Declaration of Independence himself! There's no other way to explain it, now is there? An empty Gatorade (fruit punch) in Philly AND an empty Gatorade (orange) at Monticello? I wonder if Ben, John, and George littered too or were they just terribly embarrassed by Thom's untidyness. Oh well, here's the proof.

A view of the back portico of Monticello. An amazing place. Visit if you ever get a chance. Spent the night at a nice KOA where the kids enjoyed a movie and we all got one of our infrequent showers. The Big Rig may be developing an interesting tang but we sit in it all day and don't seem to notice.

your friend,

Cali John