WE HAD AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE FOR STOPPING in Virginia. Of course we wanted to see old friends Steve and Roz but we had also arranged to have our South Dakota absentee ballots forwarded to them in Fairfax. This year especially, voting—forgive the expression—trumps renewing friendships.
Stone House, Manassas National Battlefield
Civil War Canon, Manassas National Battlefield
The obligatory exchange of health details takes longer with each visit—more ailments and more doctors—but keeping in touch by email and social media has shortened the strolls down Memory Lane. After some “what ever happened to so-and-sos” we spent most of the at-home time reviewing Steve’s obsession with pin-hole camera photography and old-timey developing techniques. Then his interest in Civil War battles took us to the Manassas National Battlefield Park, site of the first major battle of the War. Despite its history, there isn’t much left to see, just Stone Bridge, a few buildings and some scattered artillery pieces but it’s a great place to walk, and walk and walk—about nine miles for the day.
Old Town Alexandria
A slice of Americana, Old Town Alexandria
Winchester VA, the most contested town in the Civil War
Johnny Reb and Civil War Museum, Winchester
Patsy Cline's home, Winchester VA (I Fall to Pieces)
Keeping in mind Ben Franklin’s comments about guests and fish, we checked into the Best Western in Alexandria and explored the centuries old architecture, brick-lined streets and cobblestone alleys of Old Town on our own. On Friday we drove to the Shenandoah Valley, hoping—in vain—to see some fall colors. We visited Winchester VA for a walk around the 45-block National Register Historic District. Winchester, at the convergence of nine roads and turnpikes plus a railroad, was the most contested town in the Civil War. Perhaps more relevant, Winchester was the home of singer, Patsy Cline.
