A Beautiful Day in Fredericksburg

November 6-10, 2016
Glen Allen, Virginia

After our usual Sunday of chores and football, Monday we head up to Fredericksburg to see some sights.

In a small area is a big amount of colonial history. We opt for the Trolley Tour to see as much as we can in the few hours we have. Waiting for our ride, we walk around the pretty downtown.

Signs of the Ho Ho Ho holiday

While nature holds out for more Fall

At the back of these long entryways

are more pretty entrances.

Diane is a wonderful guide and driver, barely taking a breath as she shares SO much about what happened by who, while living or staying where. Wow. 

The weather is perfect and there are only four others on our trolley. The wooden seats are polished and I slide back and forth at each turn :-) The open sides give unobstructed views. This was a really good idea.

Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) has an interesting history, including a Black congregation who were required by law to have a White minister. 

The open sides make for great viewing while out of the wind.

This 1700's warehouse is still four stories tall on the river side, but here the road bed has been raised over the years to the top floor.

Chatham Manor, across the Rappahannock River

The site of a prolonged battle over a bridge being built by the Union. Diane's description is so detailed I can see it all playing out in front of us. 

Can't remember who lived here, but I love the ornate porch.

Older than the house, and the Revolutionary War, this gnarly tree is still growing.

The first stately home built in Fredericksburg - For Sale today.

Washington never slept here, it's where he woke up.

No historical significance, I just like the property.

Happy to have her own seat and watch for fur buddies.

The last original street in Fredericksburg, Rocky Lane, leading to Washington Ferry

The home of Mary Washington. George's mom.

Honoring Richard Kirkland, the Union soldier who was given permission to take water across the lines to wounded Confederate soldiers.

Authored by Thomas Jefferson, and the precursor to the First Amendment, The Statute of Religious Freedom is said to have been one of his favorite works.

Fredericksburg Battlefield Cemetery

Several historic buildings proudly display their cannon balls. This one at the James Monroe Museum.

Mary Washington's grave

She's a really big deal here.

Speaking of really big, this old tree is incredible,

and part of the town's history as Diane shows us in this photo.  She has several that add to the details of the tour.

We use our trolley discount at The Virginia Deli just before they close for the day. Their sandwiches are delicious. 

Unfortunately the rest of our time here is spent doing a lot of driving on I-95. Navigating medical care 2600 miles from home is not fun, and quite stressful. I've decided to just fly back to my doctor in California rather than continue this craziness. 

We turn west toward Kentucky where Bill and Tessa will mooch-dock on friends' property. We'll make a couple stops and get out to see what we can see.