tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21931279916619934322024-03-13T15:33:29.958-07:00The Fourth Corps of DiscoveryOne family's discovery of America in the 21st CenturySheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-47703507844690342132017-07-07T07:40:00.001-07:002017-07-07T07:40:41.233-07:00United We Rock!<br />
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When we heard Styx, REO Speedwagon and Don Felder of the Eagles and their "United We Rock" tour was coming to town, we had to get tix! What luck that the concert just happened to be on the last day of school for our youngest . . . a perfect way to kick off summer for a kid who loves rock! He has already posted many of the photos and concert videos on his Facebook account, so some of you might have already seen some of these. For those who haven't, we thought we'd share his concert recap and a few of the most tasty vids for your listening pleasure!<br />
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<b>Guest Blogger: </b></div>
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Our Rock and Roll Enthusiast!</div>
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"The concert was a blast! Sunlight Supply Amphitheater was a great venue! I liked how particularly low-key the setting was there and how it didn't try to be flashy and over the top like Jiffy Lube Live back in Virginia. The services were really great for patrons, as the security staff let us sit up closer because of my disability. Isn't that nice? I definitely think this is a great venue for live concerts.<br />
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Also, the bands still were great, even after over 40 years in the biz! Turns out this was the first night of the United We Rock tour, so they were really ready to rock. The legendary Eagles guitarist Don Felder and his backing band made it a great opening with his hit "Heavy Metal (Takin' A Ride)" as well as a small but regardlessly catchy collection of singles from the Eagles. <br />
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However, Styx completely stole the show from Felder, performing "Gone Gone Gone" and "Radio Silence" from their new album The Mission as well as some of their greatest hits, specifically stuff from their album The Grand Illusion, which is celebrating it's 40th anniversary.<br />
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It's amazing how well the band's voices have stayed intact all these years! Even REO Speedwagon, which was merely OK when they opened for Def Leppard back in Virginia because of how exhausted they were, seemed more comfortable and performed much better this time around. All in all, it was a spectacular night!"<br />
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VIDEO CLIPS</div>
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<i>(Sorry some of these are so short, but it will give you the flavor!)</i></div>
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Don Felder of the Eagles performing "Hotel California":</div>
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Styx performing "Renegade":</div>
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Styx performing "Too Much Time On My Hands"</div>
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REO Speedwagon performing "Time For Me To Fly":</div>
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REO Speedwagon performing "Riding the Storm Out":</div>
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ROCK ON to the bands of the '70s and '80s that are still killing it on tour and making millions of fans like us happy with their music! 💜💜💜</div>
<br />Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-32237906889745773022017-07-05T22:57:00.001-07:002017-07-05T22:57:12.832-07:00Great Joy!<br />
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"Great joy in camp we are in view of the Ocian . . . </div>
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this great Pacific Ociean which we been so long anxious to See."</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">William Clark, November 7, 1805 </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(mistakes in original--his reputation as a bad speller was legendary!)</span></i></div>
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We felt that same great joy as we arrived safely at the beach at the great Pacific Ocean with Sacajawea still in tow behind us. It had been a white knuckle drive for hubby the first half of the trip, with fairly strong winds causing a lot of trailer sway, even with the weight distribution hitch, anti-sway bar and newly installed stiffer shocks on the truck. <br />
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Our destination for our second travel trailer adventure was Thousand Trails campground in Seaside. We were looking forward to having a "full hookup" at our site so we could try out our "slinky" and sewer hose set-up (yes, that's "slinky," not "stinky," and I'll spare you the many euphemisms we already have for those hoses and equipment, lol!). <br />
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Given that it was only our second TT (travel trailer) adventure, we were bound to have something go wrong. This time we managed to leave our youngest's trip bag at home, and we didn't discover it until we were unloading at the campsite. Too bad the missing bag belonged to the kid who needs the most supplies!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The missing bag (!), safe at home where we left it.</td></tr>
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There were still some good spots at the campground when we arrived there in the late afternoon, so we grabbed one with some partial shade and proceeded to set up camp. <br />
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Hubby has been experimenting with our GoPro and made a quick video to give you a feel for the scene in camp . . . check it out!<br />
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There was a heat wave across most of Oregon that weekend, and we sure didn't escape the heat by being at the beach. The high temp of 97 degrees was about the same as it was in Portland. So glad we have A/C in the travel trailer or we would have melted! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a quick game of Rummikub</td></tr>
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We had planned some fun north coast excursions for Saturday. Our first stop was Fort Clatsop, which is the historic fort where Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery wintered over after reaching the Pacific Ocean at the end of their journey west.<br />
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The Corps of Discovery camped about two miles up the Netul River (now the Lewis & Clark river) and began to build a fort that they named after the local Indian tribe, the Clatsop.<br />
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The Corps of Discovery stayed at Fort Clatsop from December 1805 through March 1806, trading with the Indians (mainly the Clatsop, Chinook and Nehalem) and preparing for their long journey home, back to St. Louis, Missouri.<br />
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When they left in the Spring to head back east, they gave the fort to the Clatsop leader, Chief Coboway.<br />
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We had been to Fort Clatsop when the kids were little, but that was before we began our "Fourth Corps of Discovery" adventures, so we were eager to see it again after following in the footsteps of the original Corps of Discovery and visiting many of their historic sites on our own journey westward last fall.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Visit to Ft. Clatsop in 2003 (pre-Fourth Corps of Discovery!)</td></tr>
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The visitor's center at Fort Clatsop is small, but it has some neat artifacts and sculptures, and there are also several different movies that provide some good historical info.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2e8DA3wmvT-XGBxqR9nNb0olY-UaAPKMPGtOZ-6YVH06erTKuwExhOTaedEkoSk-yY6M4ONgTwavDJFYlMVYFH-1xUk0F8exibH8mkTSq8tpCz5nw2msDi21AAr9PFeIUaEhv7YLqdDV/s1600/IMG_9900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2e8DA3wmvT-XGBxqR9nNb0olY-UaAPKMPGtOZ-6YVH06erTKuwExhOTaedEkoSk-yY6M4ONgTwavDJFYlMVYFH-1xUk0F8exibH8mkTSq8tpCz5nw2msDi21AAr9PFeIUaEhv7YLqdDV/s400/IMG_9900.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Arrival" (Lewis, Clark, a Clatsop Indian and their dog Seaman)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replica of canoe used by the expedition</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcNFr7ooW9uDSeI8LNaReaQQO522wfO5RQuMYZTR9SqdiGErbbjdgnj7lEUTbk50Ij4G_SCCJayz5gXJOlGDq95EXSXfTimKNJsIhxaGErW6GjSu_dVDEBvXT1TRYoxTLHEuidcrlu1_3/s1600/image5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcNFr7ooW9uDSeI8LNaReaQQO522wfO5RQuMYZTR9SqdiGErbbjdgnj7lEUTbk50Ij4G_SCCJayz5gXJOlGDq95EXSXfTimKNJsIhxaGErW6GjSu_dVDEBvXT1TRYoxTLHEuidcrlu1_3/s320/image5.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sacajawea and Pomp</td></tr>
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As you can see from the photo below, being anywhere near the coast is our happy place! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy explorers</td></tr>
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<br />We used to go to the beach a lot . . . and we used to be tent campers, too. We were pretty adventuresome when the kids were little, but after a while we found ourselves going camping less and less frequently because it was a lot of effort to gather and pack all the equipment and supplies we needed to have on hand to support our youngest's health care needs.<br />
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We've been dreaming of having a travel trailer to make camping easier for years now, and with Sacajawea's help, this return to camping thing might just work out!</div>
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After enjoying Fort Clatsop, we continued north to Astoria, where we had a delicious seafood lunch down at the marina, did a drive-by of the house where The Goonies was filmed, and then headed south to Warrenton to get some supplies at Fred Meyer. </div>
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We also made several excursions to "The Prom" in Seaside, which is a mile and a half long concrete boardwalk that borders the beach. The statue of Lewis & Clark at the turnaround in the middle of the prom is pretty cool! </div>
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We used to come to Seaside when I was a kid, and my most vivid memories of those trips is riding a tandem bike up and down the boardwalk with my brother. When he was on the front of the bike, he would terrorize me by driving up on curbs and generally driving like a maniac while I was stuck on the back of the bike, barely able to see where we were going. When I insisted on sitting at the front of the bike and steering, he would take both of his hands and grab me under the armpits while we were riding around, tickling me for all he was worth and saying "sound the horn," knowing I would scream and also knowing I wouldn't let go of the wheel for anything because I didn't want to crash. Love my Bro', bless him, always keeping me on my toes, ha! </div>
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The prom has really fancied up since we were last there. Many beautiful homes and yards . . . including this one with the bird scroll fence and elaborate gate that caught our eye: </div>
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The evening light was especially beautiful on our last night there! <br />
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Goodbye, Seaside and Northern Oregon coast. Look forward to seeing you again soon!</div>
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Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-68165739858561410172017-07-04T13:58:00.001-07:002017-07-04T17:03:02.455-07:00A Life in Photographs<br />
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<i>We find delight in the beauty </i></div>
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<i>and happiness of children </i></div>
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<i>that makes the heart </i></div>
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<i>too big for the body. </i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Ralph Waldo Emerson</b></span></div>
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We held this blog post for a while, thinking that the reality of our oldest graduating just had to sink in and then we'd have some incredible insights or revelations we could share. <br />
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Ha! Weeks have gone by, he has crossed the Rubicon into adulthood and is moving ahead with his life, and we are still bewildered and trying to catch up. <br />
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What we do know is this:<br />
1. Our first born is a prince of a kid, and we can take no particular credit for this. He was loved and supported by so many in our "village" of friends and family in his first 18 years. Thank you to everyone who poured your love and wisdom into this kid and helped make him who he is. <br />
2. He has a giant heart, and he fearlessly wears it on his sleeve. <br />
3. He learned compassion at a very young age through his very pure and fierce love of his younger brother, who is an amazing human being himself.<br />
4. We are very proud of the young man he has become.<br />
5. We’re incredibly excited for his future!<br />
6. We can't wait to see where the opportunities he'll have in life will take him.<br />
7. We’ll miss having him here at home.<br />
8. We're glad he's only going to college a few hours away so he can come home often. <br />
9. We're going to try to let him have his independence at school so he'll WANT to come home often (lol!).<br />
10. We are glad he's going to our alma mater, and we plan to see a lot more Ducks games in the next four years!<br />
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To those who have kids younger than ours, be prepared, and know that you can’t even fathom how fast it goes. You'll be at this same place one day soon looking at photographs, and you'll wonder how time could possibly go so fast. <br />
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Thought we'd share a shortened version of a "digital scrapbook" we put together for him a few weeks ago. <br />
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Enjoy, and carpe diem! <br />
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<br />Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-12766945070699527782017-05-29T22:02:00.000-07:002017-05-29T22:02:15.557-07:00Sacajawea (Carpe Diem Part 2!) After a blog hiatus for the last half year or so while we were living on separate coasts (hubby mobilized to active duty for one last unaccompanied stint), your intrepid adventurers are REUNITED and we're ready to seize the day and have some adventures again! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97oX_Nf7Un64NqIQ5uT0wEr8_ma2ULseWuPr-oOkA65ESlsXTFIDIqj61gwwdXTyjqxzWctDZ_srHL5Nv9oTLllHDXB-xUluPSpJ7g06cRY6Q8BUqzBfyZjyiUJ0CHN7VQcT9JZSxKHXC/s1600/IMG_9620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97oX_Nf7Un64NqIQ5uT0wEr8_ma2ULseWuPr-oOkA65ESlsXTFIDIqj61gwwdXTyjqxzWctDZ_srHL5Nv9oTLllHDXB-xUluPSpJ7g06cRY6Q8BUqzBfyZjyiUJ0CHN7VQcT9JZSxKHXC/s400/IMG_9620.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And we have a surprise . . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVocK6VzZEFSBs8f_CWp-E7K4yMqqORuSu4GWW8fSRS2iwAa_7XybX45xc7XF_9zkkDHcA4s7QSN7fwgV1jpVJ-3qjZlw9dD8UaYDG_N6U64KNR9QAs4wPKyjYel3r2dbZsu4vnX7WEGW/s1600/7195617_1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVocK6VzZEFSBs8f_CWp-E7K4yMqqORuSu4GWW8fSRS2iwAa_7XybX45xc7XF_9zkkDHcA4s7QSN7fwgV1jpVJ-3qjZlw9dD8UaYDG_N6U64KNR9QAs4wPKyjYel3r2dbZsu4vnX7WEGW/s400/7195617_1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We christened her "Sacajawea." She weighs in at a healthy 6,000 pounds, and she is 21 feet long (25 feet "all in," including the tongue). <br />
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We are counting on her to accompany and guide us on many family adventures in the years to come.<br />
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Ain't she a beaut, Clark? ;) Here are a few pics of some of the amenities she offers:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKNHobr76H1XqHq3hiQZwuamBJyy5rKnKGDWFfFMeB_uvtkIPfiRw_rKPKcsB3W8qAFqfkuk95HRLrMzzVWAOAP-raeG9KH5Dd0ZCzsxFhHdhfnfgm_TOVUL336XFbpXIt4aEoE8E40T0/s1600/7195617_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKNHobr76H1XqHq3hiQZwuamBJyy5rKnKGDWFfFMeB_uvtkIPfiRw_rKPKcsB3W8qAFqfkuk95HRLrMzzVWAOAP-raeG9KH5Dd0ZCzsxFhHdhfnfgm_TOVUL336XFbpXIt4aEoE8E40T0/s320/7195617_4.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYi3Mp_JM-Lzp80HQ_r8OhcQTKsYnjIsBJY8O-dXjpqJhrzIFFeGQvV1UFzHpNufjQmwvIM7172eanjQYjkcAza0P_p8-vvNOnsKS-rqatWRWBABCuT2Ri_QdgUABtxX3UIhtsC2m-OtLS/s1600/7195617_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYi3Mp_JM-Lzp80HQ_r8OhcQTKsYnjIsBJY8O-dXjpqJhrzIFFeGQvV1UFzHpNufjQmwvIM7172eanjQYjkcAza0P_p8-vvNOnsKS-rqatWRWBABCuT2Ri_QdgUABtxX3UIhtsC2m-OtLS/s320/7195617_5.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsF_qq0NdNsxFvOOpV20uCa4WJE0pJX2v2oyxJYnCP6SUby13DGG9qfpRL0FntqEtTm4kbqXv7YvxME43CDysoMh8wqiGd4tkhwKoaJYOIT_bYYi1tr-rrrwtJYo8Z4y_1OJqzRSaSxJu/s1600/7195617_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsF_qq0NdNsxFvOOpV20uCa4WJE0pJX2v2oyxJYnCP6SUby13DGG9qfpRL0FntqEtTm4kbqXv7YvxME43CDysoMh8wqiGd4tkhwKoaJYOIT_bYYi1tr-rrrwtJYo8Z4y_1OJqzRSaSxJu/s320/7195617_6.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbSkYj5s0MoGY8qyfDBqIO_WtRUou5MT1OH-l4X-HCyI2kCjGignCHnboZg5kPKXGaSH0nmbNCnDFCiJ6p5j4Xdz62ltOS0gFAs_YXs1_HNYhpmyuYCeI9Kd6oB3hqkqO5X9YBjeJj9tD/s1600/7195617_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbSkYj5s0MoGY8qyfDBqIO_WtRUou5MT1OH-l4X-HCyI2kCjGignCHnboZg5kPKXGaSH0nmbNCnDFCiJ6p5j4Xdz62ltOS0gFAs_YXs1_HNYhpmyuYCeI9Kd6oB3hqkqO5X9YBjeJj9tD/s320/7195617_7.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFq4qVPFlMHvQ6UsOmykVET-35luB6VaO1vrPQLoe9oWs_fYK3Epn1lGaZ1VzHAX-iKsxNkP_X5zeua6c4fO_mpRdjNRERX3lkTeetZO8NvSEyRI2KEJ96WKYygrqOSHvPlYZG-7AgMl1S/s1600/7195617_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFq4qVPFlMHvQ6UsOmykVET-35luB6VaO1vrPQLoe9oWs_fYK3Epn1lGaZ1VzHAX-iKsxNkP_X5zeua6c4fO_mpRdjNRERX3lkTeetZO8NvSEyRI2KEJ96WKYygrqOSHvPlYZG-7AgMl1S/s320/7195617_8.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2FwYeSrbHaGJPXjUK7fcAx937DDbWYxSvYuIXL1ec6kVaemDY-aokzU1s_0iagGOUFY-JL1BG5orjIBvRdNyV5oAOrlUkoKpHk8HAHXsBoNH7s9r8_GnyK3R8QIUg3rq6kh1Vn92A3LE/s1600/7195617_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2FwYeSrbHaGJPXjUK7fcAx937DDbWYxSvYuIXL1ec6kVaemDY-aokzU1s_0iagGOUFY-JL1BG5orjIBvRdNyV5oAOrlUkoKpHk8HAHXsBoNH7s9r8_GnyK3R8QIUg3rq6kh1Vn92A3LE/s320/7195617_9.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Some might call this next evolution of our carpe diem lifestyle "glamping," but hey, we're in our 50s now, so we felt like we deserved a little comfort. <br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQr6E3ID_EjfqntIeuoSFkoZ0SrENol0EK-yt0thm0QouboN6zPFK_za4Viow1zVa_VypjFLR5b_xGTOmJRLub0euCWb5Y2buQ51Fqn8AkCf3100KpVheWhwP741WCMeExDzWVaY5l-8Wd/s1600/IMG_9568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQr6E3ID_EjfqntIeuoSFkoZ0SrENol0EK-yt0thm0QouboN6zPFK_za4Viow1zVa_VypjFLR5b_xGTOmJRLub0euCWb5Y2buQ51Fqn8AkCf3100KpVheWhwP741WCMeExDzWVaY5l-8Wd/s400/IMG_9568.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hubby feeling triumphant after getting it parked at the RV storage place</td></tr>
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We couldn't get reservations at any of our favorite coastal parks over Memorial Day weekend, so Sacajawea's maiden voyage was to nearby Champoeg State Park, which is on the Willamette River, about 15 minutes from our house. <br />
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Of course, it wouldn't be an adventure without something going wrong! Thankfully, my hubby is resourceful, and the dead trailer battery (What the heck??? It was only sitting for a couple of days!) didn't keep him from figuring out how to manually raise the leveling and tongue jacks, and after much checking and rechecking of our "what to do" before you start driving list, we were on our way!<br />
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He backed it into our spot perfectly on the first try . . .<br />
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and before too long, we had her all set up!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFugHxl8vyQWFU8hcFth_qtyt9-PqF1o8xlk6hEyaX62tL1lQ5tSJWgPZEhre4x8tDV6q-xGE-tIl4M2yn53oWKomIm-zdC7tfxCtv00-BnLNQzowaE-sZQmNNtP5owsIXgSTjedEsJ11O/s1600/IMG_9616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFugHxl8vyQWFU8hcFth_qtyt9-PqF1o8xlk6hEyaX62tL1lQ5tSJWgPZEhre4x8tDV6q-xGE-tIl4M2yn53oWKomIm-zdC7tfxCtv00-BnLNQzowaE-sZQmNNtP5owsIXgSTjedEsJ11O/s320/IMG_9616.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Having the pop out dinette area is nice because it makes it feel extra roomy on the inside. <br />
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Although we didn't get to spend much time here, beautiful Champoeg Park was a great way to break her in and get our confidence up. Time to get some shut eye and start dreaming about the rest of our summer adventures! <br />
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Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-30413011280617279312016-12-19T19:02:00.000-08:002016-12-19T19:02:36.354-08:00Westward Ho! (The Journey Home)<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>Part of the reason we delayed writing this final blog entry about our big move back to Oregon is because it felt like capturing it in a blog entry would really close the door on the "East Coast" chapter of our family's life . . . and we were a little sad that it was ending. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">(And admitting that doesn't mean we aren't also SUPER happy to be back home and reconnecting with family and friends!)</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">What we have come to appreciate since being home is that our time on the East Coast has given us a broader perspective and some life lessons that will <u>always</u> be with us, among them the "carpe diem" spirit and our family's sense of adventure. We learned a lot about ourselves, and perhaps most importantly, we discovered that our kids are a lot more resilient than we thought they would be . . . not just surviving but actually thriving during our time away. </span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Life always keeps moving on to the next thing, whether you acknowledge it or not. Before we forget the details, it's time we share a retrospective on </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">the pack out, move and our epic nine-day, 3374-mile, "Westward Ho!" cross-country adventure that brought us back home to Oregon. For those of you who want to join us on the ride, read on . . . .</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">* * * * * * * * * * * *</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; text-align: left;"> </span></div>
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Part 1: Preparing for Launch</h2>
In 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were tasked by President Thomas Jefferson to lead an expedition up the Missouri River in search of a water route to the Pacific Ocean. In planning our journey home (and in a nod to our namesake, Lewis & Clark's "Corps of Discovery"), we decided we would endeavor to follow in the footsteps of the their Expedition and see as many of the key historic sites from their journey as we could squeeze in along the route home. <br />
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Remember these (mentioned in a recent blog post on our last visit to Monticello)? <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bicentennial Geodetic Marker</td></tr>
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Thankfully, their footsteps would be easy to follow and well marked with these Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery Commemorative Disks. They are actually geodetic markers that were placed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) during the bicentennial celebrations that took place between 2003 and 2006. <br />
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With our route home planned, we turned our attentions to other preparations that had to be made before we could launch on our epic "Westward Ho!" adventure.<br />
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Thankfully, we didn't have to build a fort like the original Corps of Discovery and winter over while we acquired supplies for the journey. In these modern times, we were fortunate enough to receive assistance with packing and loading <u>and</u> we were able to send our stuff ahead to our ultimate destination! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for the help, Uncle Sam! </td></tr>
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Although Captain Meriwether Lewis's big black Newfoundland "Seaman" accompanied the Corps of Discovery on their expedition, we decided to NOT have our faithful companion, a big black lab named "Spike," accompany us on the journey west because of the heat and because of some health challenges he'd been having. Spike got to fly home in air conditioned luxury, and he spent about 10 days being pampered at Gramma C's house . . . lucky dog! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWe2awdMViBaIEQuGHg17X5XiTf0qGntaIC_MCtbloDOTir5339oW_5RNTodJBfxToGAhM4ic6M3TPOWd246mJmjoHGm6FawZIK01UWAOVV0YO72-X6HfFKc39ktk4iy9KWy9cB3EY6g4K/s1600/IMG_8223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWe2awdMViBaIEQuGHg17X5XiTf0qGntaIC_MCtbloDOTir5339oW_5RNTodJBfxToGAhM4ic6M3TPOWd246mJmjoHGm6FawZIK01UWAOVV0YO72-X6HfFKc39ktk4iy9KWy9cB3EY6g4K/s400/IMG_8223.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spike ready for his big adventure</td></tr>
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Last but not least, we had to acquire our modern-day version of a “keel boat” to carry our most prized possessions and the essential supplies we would need both on the journey west and in the weeks after arriving at our destination, in case the rest of our possessions did not arrive in a timely fashion. <br />
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Apparently it was college weekend in Northern Virginia, so U-Haul "keel boats" and other such equipment were in very short supply . . . and also fetched a handsome price from helpless consumers. We were finally successful in renting a suitable vessel for an exorbitant price just a few hours before we had to give our landlord the keys to our temporary home away from home. <br />
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Unlike the affectionately-named "Rusty Scupper" used on our journey East, this vessel was a full on LAND BARGE with no gas-mileage-sparing aerodynamics whatsoever, but it had good tires and plenty of room and we cheered our good fortune that we were able to get one at all! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZQFmsXo2upcau07PE9l-PdypjN5VwvIp2OIk3fs5-33sQwZ4ocxsnAhALfzc3oCQkXB3mdl1qs0phJndhFMwgcbmcgxptiQBOToxCHWb4XXtvDZLfnPF1zvNpy4JlZjqPl8MNPXzVwT6/s1600/IMG_8252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZQFmsXo2upcau07PE9l-PdypjN5VwvIp2OIk3fs5-33sQwZ4ocxsnAhALfzc3oCQkXB3mdl1qs0phJndhFMwgcbmcgxptiQBOToxCHWb4XXtvDZLfnPF1zvNpy4JlZjqPl8MNPXzVwT6/s400/IMG_8252.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Land barge in tow</td></tr>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Part 2: Heading West</h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yfmVvmA0CTJFyjBGms5S1bWbzjUOPAeTwIC5J-1w0Dce1eGOgqYK8rdMhI6DqItmNBx1-zAYE79H1TV-fGwvHCPRVAkvRkMnH1QAETYHVMLfCQ7uhRK8oUkbGsj9ZFOKJ9gIUlVx2HZr/s1600/IMG_8443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yfmVvmA0CTJFyjBGms5S1bWbzjUOPAeTwIC5J-1w0Dce1eGOgqYK8rdMhI6DqItmNBx1-zAYE79H1TV-fGwvHCPRVAkvRkMnH1QAETYHVMLfCQ7uhRK8oUkbGsj9ZFOKJ9gIUlVx2HZr/s320/IMG_8443.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern day gizmo to keep us headed in the right direction</td></tr>
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<b>Day 1--Fairfax, VA to Lexington, KY</b><br />
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The day of our departure dawned sunny and bright. Our spirits were high as we stowed the last of our possessions in the land barge and set sail away from the Residence Inn in Fairfax, VA. <br />
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We pulled into the current with the other weekend travelers on I-66 and headed due west. An hour later, we said our goodbyes to the beautiful Shenandoah mountains that we had visited so many times and took I-81 down the Shenandoah Valley, crossing the Blue Ridge Mountains into West Virginia. <br />
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Quite honestly, the rest of the drive through West Virginia was a bit of a blur . . . most memorable were the coal mining operations (still a huge industry there) and the vast and endless fields of CORN. At some point we got on I-64, which would take us all the way into Missouri. <br />
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The Ohio river figured big in Lewis & Clark's initial journey west, so we stopped briefly in Huntington, WV (home of Marshall University--"We are Marshall" for those of you fans out there) to get a glimpse.<br />
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There was a Corps of Discovery commemorative marker in David Harris Riverfront Park, right on the West Virginia side of the scenic Ohio River, looking across at the great state of Ohio. Sadly, we were thwarted in our attempt to see it because the local "Rails & Ales" festival and a lack of trailer parking kept us from disembarking to track the marker down. We saw the river, though, and got a sense of the place before getting back on the road. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cloudy skies as we went through Charleston, WV</td></tr>
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We made it through West Virginia and arrived at our first night's lodging in Lexington, KY . . . horse capital of the world (!). . . just as the sun was setting, having driven 542 miles on our first day. Perhaps more noteworthy, we stopped for gas THREE times. The land barge really took a bite out of our usual fuel economy!<br />
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<b>Day 2--Lexington, KY to St. Charles, MO</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmL9PEClP7nKhsOmX0znKuBzriwWMpDPjEbv_IIhyphenhyphenAe5iFb8nxh4k3bT3ms0tBOrk8lC-CT5iXDioMGrAZCVOEl7ZcHiS6ZN2WsNKcvLujGxL-9q__wpidJ_WO7DNmBHCAe-jnlhN-B_F/s1600/IMG_8257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmL9PEClP7nKhsOmX0znKuBzriwWMpDPjEbv_IIhyphenhyphenAe5iFb8nxh4k3bT3ms0tBOrk8lC-CT5iXDioMGrAZCVOEl7ZcHiS6ZN2WsNKcvLujGxL-9q__wpidJ_WO7DNmBHCAe-jnlhN-B_F/s400/IMG_8257.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kentucky corn as far as the eye could see</td></tr>
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We were chomping at the bit and eager to get started that second day. We hit the road and drove through Kentucky for what seemed like hours past vast fields of corn that alternated with vast horse estates, orderly paddocks and barns that were as nice as houses! <br />
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The other thing we noticed as we chugged along was that there were LOTS of motorcyclists riding on the freeway without helmets. Who knew that other states didn't have helmet laws?!? And who in their right mind would ride a motorcycle without a helmet? Apparently a lot of people based on the numbers we saw that day. <br />
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Although tempting, we resisted taking a detour to check out the Kentucky "Bourbon Trail," and before long we were crossing the Ohio River at Louisville, KY, which reminded us of Portland because it had a nice waterfront with riverboats and lots of bridges.<br />
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When we got to the other side of the Ohio River, we found ourselves in Indiana, the Hoosier state.<br />
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After driving a few more hours, we finally arrived in Hartford, IL, the location of our first significant Corps of Discovery historic site! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4utAwTNlp6jFGAr_pgIkfgTB3XAKPVSy_W-m8lvnOtWJIF7wnQjGOUAYkLk9oE4vnWrs3B3Anm_lqh81tj8QiSLMg1ocPfciAWZUSIOtwhY6GEjVH7hkN9GPdjXrta9hDf7Zjrn0vhAjT/s1600/IMG_8265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4utAwTNlp6jFGAr_pgIkfgTB3XAKPVSy_W-m8lvnOtWJIF7wnQjGOUAYkLk9oE4vnWrs3B3Anm_lqh81tj8QiSLMg1ocPfciAWZUSIOtwhY6GEjVH7hkN9GPdjXrta9hDf7Zjrn0vhAjT/s320/IMG_8265.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lewis, Clark and Seaman</td></tr>
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The Lewis & Clark State Historic Site at Camp River Dubois, where the mighty Mississippi and Missouri rivers join together, is considered to be the point of departure of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3YAgJkN66qc73pgWPx-_kALr8Boqu3CFv8elttdf6ujWCLuZ_Fu9UyoGKPo7osbLD_TBxWIvEKJoypNlYW5tfLJ6uoVHbAYyHlLD3Wb1y8UQXqBi1p7sg6Sp6hKLozKxbX5mergDkzI7/s1600/IMG_8290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3YAgJkN66qc73pgWPx-_kALr8Boqu3CFv8elttdf6ujWCLuZ_Fu9UyoGKPo7osbLD_TBxWIvEKJoypNlYW5tfLJ6uoVHbAYyHlLD3Wb1y8UQXqBi1p7sg6Sp6hKLozKxbX5mergDkzI7/s320/IMG_8290.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marker at Camp River Dubois</td></tr>
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It is here where Lewis & Clark built a fort as their winter camp and spent the winter of 1803-04 preparing for the journey.<br />
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It wasn't easy to find, but we did eventually locate the Corps of Discovery marker buried in the grass out by the winter fort. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIakDD0y4xPSCFF9bUOx0-3rrtjJksAVqC0ydAs-WOb4I9_96bK-EEN-i_c6VasfIQNgcXjd6pTHNG1KfzYT1t28T_wycPFDyNtcpzAJD6-DHyHBQtY_IkYkxc28jlNojg-70fq3liw39/s1600/IMG_8280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcIakDD0y4xPSCFF9bUOx0-3rrtjJksAVqC0ydAs-WOb4I9_96bK-EEN-i_c6VasfIQNgcXjd6pTHNG1KfzYT1t28T_wycPFDyNtcpzAJD6-DHyHBQtY_IkYkxc28jlNojg-70fq3liw39/s320/IMG_8280.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another geodetic marker!</td></tr>
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The State Historic Site had a great Visitors' Center, and consequently we spent quite a bit of time in there!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hgZvTQ6qMUDen8aNZ9gMOAqldZmzyXAA3_A_iP_-lczb3z65P-9GrMoyZ0yn3pdrqfHwueS23Y4G8Ffwwh0Wf1OB8c5flD7Cew0ukcOzy7_LAH5pj4MPCm3mG7fg_AcIgWC-IoYRGzJq/s1600/IMG_8266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hgZvTQ6qMUDen8aNZ9gMOAqldZmzyXAA3_A_iP_-lczb3z65P-9GrMoyZ0yn3pdrqfHwueS23Y4G8Ffwwh0Wf1OB8c5flD7Cew0ukcOzy7_LAH5pj4MPCm3mG7fg_AcIgWC-IoYRGzJq/s400/IMG_8266.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replica of a Keel Boat on display</td></tr>
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We also learned a few fun facts!<br />
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Fun fact: Many of the members of the expedition were soldiers, and daily army rations in those days included a pound of salted beef or pork, beans, bread or cornbread, and a gill (1/4 pint) of whiskey. The Corps of Discovery members supplemented their meals by hunting, fishing and trading with the local farmers.<br />
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Another fun fact: The Corps of Discovery spent more money on presents for the natives (clothing, blankets, weapons, tools, tobacco, whiskey, peace medals, etc.) than they did on any other category of items for the trips. <br />
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It had definitely seen better days, but there was also a replica of the winter fort and quarters the Corps of Discovery constructed within walking distance of the museum. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvCxG-nTCX3AnlyeI8NJd7Je3nA07Mjj2glZG1sTwryBGxgsrHd8wijA6lq1mZHayJEGJPU9FoR6afBQrAmY_HLrrcduFMdkzR2YhgLQf5Ov86IFsWlYA6B-P1uVvO4cTCEP1Bas12XD7/s1600/IMG_8279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvCxG-nTCX3AnlyeI8NJd7Je3nA07Mjj2glZG1sTwryBGxgsrHd8wijA6lq1mZHayJEGJPU9FoR6afBQrAmY_HLrrcduFMdkzR2YhgLQf5Ov86IFsWlYA6B-P1uVvO4cTCEP1Bas12XD7/s400/IMG_8279.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replica of the winter fort</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3Esg839YVd6IxUK0ybyTTPjNYxY7rMHzkCj26pDJKX6PV3I13PTus-F1WgCohAALcp7Ou0efRjEYa1KXlbxVOkb-0xl3EXVVNlg2CkFDq_AdgnZumtCk3lw1xMKt03aoGeiva8HNmWZg/s1600/IMG_8281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3Esg839YVd6IxUK0ybyTTPjNYxY7rMHzkCj26pDJKX6PV3I13PTus-F1WgCohAALcp7Ou0efRjEYa1KXlbxVOkb-0xl3EXVVNlg2CkFDq_AdgnZumtCk3lw1xMKt03aoGeiva8HNmWZg/s320/IMG_8281.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the Winter Fort</td></tr>
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The Corps of Discovery left Camp River Dubois on May 14, 1804, determined to reach the Pacific Ocean. Although they had no idea at the time, they wouldn't return for two and a half years! Their expedition journals and maps, a national treasure, contain detailed records of their trials, tribulations and triumphs along the way. It was pretty cool to be right there where it all began and imagining how those brave souls felt as they set out on their important journey. We felt very lucky to be able to walk in their footsteps and follow along! <br />
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When we were done at Camp River Dubois, we drove down the road to the Lewis & Clark "Confluence Tower," which was a tourist attraction erected at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5ZsYiRxWJM4949kZGlwqxiodaKnGZ9qvZAXlzUHoHjKzcXc0zEmYiu5-t49YpwfrrVi_7mzJNEnG-1n5RfG-0rzI_-hasApHQ_Njtbv45TfaUEww5ksVHoNPGjo8wNrJq6MfxLfK-aj3/s1600/IMG_8287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5ZsYiRxWJM4949kZGlwqxiodaKnGZ9qvZAXlzUHoHjKzcXc0zEmYiu5-t49YpwfrrVi_7mzJNEnG-1n5RfG-0rzI_-hasApHQ_Njtbv45TfaUEww5ksVHoNPGjo8wNrJq6MfxLfK-aj3/s400/IMG_8287.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Base of the Confluence Tower</td></tr>
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The tower has an elevator that lets you out at several different platforms to enjoy the view, culminating in a stop at the top, which is 150 feet above the confluence of the two great rivers where Lewis & Clark began their westward journey. What a great view! If you looked carefully, you could just make out the St. Louis arch in the distance. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADo_804REuFUJy1jWH4SmBrJIQBrVvCV7il2pkyRK7z64GirUOyPvHiG0EJPOysvdn1KAnnNsnUrL1f1Nr0Xtnk6ytPNZYFt09sia3_arD-5uNG3NvishjeALiA4Lmb1EOjDZ4D9A6dx6/s1600/IMG_8291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADo_804REuFUJy1jWH4SmBrJIQBrVvCV7il2pkyRK7z64GirUOyPvHiG0EJPOysvdn1KAnnNsnUrL1f1Nr0Xtnk6ytPNZYFt09sia3_arD-5uNG3NvishjeALiA4Lmb1EOjDZ4D9A6dx6/s400/IMG_8291.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the view from the top</td></tr>
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We decided not to venture into downtown St. Louis to see the arch up close because we would have been in the evening rush hour traffic. Instead, we took the freeway around St. Louis to historic St. Charles, just west of the city, where we bedded down for the night. To top off another good day of travel, we ate at Texas Roadhouse, only a mile or two from our hotel and one of our faves!<br />
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<b>Day 3--St. Charles, MO to Kansas City, MO</b><br />
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We awoke to rain the next day, which sadly put a damper on wandering around the quaint, historic downtown St. Charles. <br />
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We drove by the Lewis & Clark Boat House and Nature Center, though, and didn't let a little rain thwart our attempt to find the Corps of Discovery commemorative marker, which was located just outside the Boat House and near the river.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CjImspdKhdpqR_T2pPbjQYIdpjgs4ZPC_iI8kU2Vc2wIxkureKSBa8W9YecUJXABwcglY2loXUJS7EF44eN1lpIVapMevkJva2H42936BY_fbUFf07nCFaQqo2-_OPApqheGF19FjyCH/s1600/IMG_8297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CjImspdKhdpqR_T2pPbjQYIdpjgs4ZPC_iI8kU2Vc2wIxkureKSBa8W9YecUJXABwcglY2loXUJS7EF44eN1lpIVapMevkJva2H42936BY_fbUFf07nCFaQqo2-_OPApqheGF19FjyCH/s320/IMG_8297.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commemorative Marker at the Boat House</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Boathouse wasn't open, but we peeked in at the keel boats and other vessels they had in there. It was evident that these were the "real deal" and were boats that were actually used in reenactments on the river. Very cool! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKdAbP5XvGLGMTszJ8egK9phQopK_ls9dFgn2U2J380lw3Fhqe78NlPbZAZJMAnPRjdlgDLoqxOiZmbBZimki5imv7P62vbZ6uk6M6XY16HMZ20-YJrPadrTPakb1X8FenzMZMm5ZExRG/s1600/IMG_8301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKdAbP5XvGLGMTszJ8egK9phQopK_ls9dFgn2U2J380lw3Fhqe78NlPbZAZJMAnPRjdlgDLoqxOiZmbBZimki5imv7P62vbZ6uk6M6XY16HMZ20-YJrPadrTPakb1X8FenzMZMm5ZExRG/s400/IMG_8301.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replica Keel Boat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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From St. Charles, we hit I-70 west and set the GPS for Cass County and Austin, Missouri, the final resting place of an ancestor we wanted to pay tribute to who had a long and distinguished military career during the Civil War. <br />
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Would you be surprised to hear that we saw a lot of CORN along the way? Unbelievable amounts of corn. Makes you wonder who or what is eating all this corn?!? <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUtwEN2BTaQR7jowQW5PTQxGCPkaTFUF4zi7AOnwJ3VGpcEDFwoJn-nwL8wlP1UxWN1shgVH3CtlUfctMOmHXkkrAW4i_PJosJa3zeTMQrR_Z30JFnJd5jmKn2KnSUxJlblapL1e_U3Sg/s1600/IMG_8308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUtwEN2BTaQR7jowQW5PTQxGCPkaTFUF4zi7AOnwJ3VGpcEDFwoJn-nwL8wlP1UxWN1shgVH3CtlUfctMOmHXkkrAW4i_PJosJa3zeTMQrR_Z30JFnJd5jmKn2KnSUxJlblapL1e_U3Sg/s640/IMG_8308.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missouri corn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Too bad we didn't have time to stop and take in the Missouri State Fair as we were passing through Sedalia, Missouri. We did have a great Mexican food meal there, though! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEaois96w18eGy2FgBsvSxNoDUMESmviV6U1p1OhpxVW1eu6ximUXBq3yd2FJF7yg7gFQ7vffuM6KYOjZeDJshNE6-51-U6xlsBg8Vo7YZs2FnqgcWpbvon4XgjyVFBwDbBFYSTzXCCKh/s1600/IMG_8312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEaois96w18eGy2FgBsvSxNoDUMESmviV6U1p1OhpxVW1eu6ximUXBq3yd2FJF7yg7gFQ7vffuM6KYOjZeDJshNE6-51-U6xlsBg8Vo7YZs2FnqgcWpbvon4XgjyVFBwDbBFYSTzXCCKh/s400/IMG_8312.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was completely off the beaten path, but we did finally find Austin Cemetery, where hubby's great- great-grandfather was laid to rest, a Captain in the Army who had fought in many Civil War battles including the Peninsular Campaign (several battles), Fredericksburg (Marye’s Heights), Chancellorsville, Gettysburg (Wheat Field), Wilderness, Petersburg, and later the Western Campaign (1865). He was wounded in the war but recovered and lived to be a ripe old age. We found the gravestones and paid our respects to all the family members buried there. Another powerful moment to be so close to the people and place that were important in hubby's family history. Awesome! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBK_Oc0CgsdqZ0zObWUO-semVBhHoy57Nuqk4_JzodnlDX3QTzz3J_vaZAKOqNFPwq98ZLZ24rjkMu8y253JQm8uSZQe-3Wr7x36LRFGSYsZqb4wr8UthMEgX5KJaOlLLFgE4whkzJvsHA/s1600/IMG_8313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBK_Oc0CgsdqZ0zObWUO-semVBhHoy57Nuqk4_JzodnlDX3QTzz3J_vaZAKOqNFPwq98ZLZ24rjkMu8y253JQm8uSZQe-3Wr7x36LRFGSYsZqb4wr8UthMEgX5KJaOlLLFgE4whkzJvsHA/s400/IMG_8313.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-jfsAIrA9_AZlODDuOGUrPVP6D0iBmHHz1RpO89r5cVKR99pL-fEkBvE8SZN8EPZ1xa8sTux-c_ILuxtt0Myk18_ZBE2-3OoKlrjcNU0JJtMvEgVAtI6xhLDMOYVHwTlqdbBVhU65Yp-/s1600/IMG_8323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-jfsAIrA9_AZlODDuOGUrPVP6D0iBmHHz1RpO89r5cVKR99pL-fEkBvE8SZN8EPZ1xa8sTux-c_ILuxtt0Myk18_ZBE2-3OoKlrjcNU0JJtMvEgVAtI6xhLDMOYVHwTlqdbBVhU65Yp-/s640/IMG_8323.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Epic quest successful--we found it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5bZ6hwwnFoGRmRE6rxwvJY8eYvFTzYVLz4KxkUGmFTg-B1xeat_BlMRJtyoTVf-4lyHAz5kAQtqoQtCHnPZcvHVkWqTzr8BGSGSeAZcMv6Cq3236pbJHZ5R2Muu-dFfizCaEep88WSgj/s400/IMG_8324.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a military marker, too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From Austin, we continued on to Harrisonville, the seat of Cass County, Missouri. The county courthouse and town square seemed to be from another time in small town America.<br />
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From there, we made a beeline for Kansas City, taking one of the many bridges there that cross the Missouri River and finally ending up at our home-away-from-home for the night near the Kansas City airport. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the Missouri River at Kansas City</td></tr>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<br />
Part 2: Following in the Footsteps (the Missouri River)</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Day 4--Kansas City, MO to Chamberlain, SD</b></div>
</div>
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What you don’t realize until you drive across the country is how much CORN is grown in the United States. Yes, it makes one think of how much HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) we consume, but also how important corn is for the BioPharma industry (biofuels . . . like ethanol). Not only did we see vast amounts of land planted with corn, we also saw huge plants for processing the corn. It's hard to fathom how big an industry this must be, but if you're paying attention as you drive across the country, you'll get an idea.<br />
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From Kansas City, our journey up the Missouri River took us through NE Nebraska, where Lewis and Clark continued their exploration. <br />
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Our first destination on Day 4 was Fort Atkinson State Historical Park in Fort Calhoun, NE, which was just north of Omaha, NE.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoAZPKQU1f4ys5Aif6Ih8sCJemjQ5PuyVrjNY7D2ocsnifEX_0kNVxEEherAWziomJMjhbf70VDx3iqdkAp5WlsczFsx6WylTEjOwBUP7AZeqAIm1oi6PbSLJ6z_YxJlrXaxm1gucgMf9/s1600/IMG_8341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoAZPKQU1f4ys5Aif6Ih8sCJemjQ5PuyVrjNY7D2ocsnifEX_0kNVxEEherAWziomJMjhbf70VDx3iqdkAp5WlsczFsx6WylTEjOwBUP7AZeqAIm1oi6PbSLJ6z_YxJlrXaxm1gucgMf9/s320/IMG_8341.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carving of the Peace medal given out by the Corps of Discovery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Fort Atkinson, a military fort built in the 1820s, was the first US military post west of the Missouri River. It was originally identified as a good site for a fort by Clark during the Lewis &<br />
clark Expedition. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzpTOEjz4kOOyFg4C4PXNZvBtL9HMxzNIT37qfq9sxynp29Zgzp5G_JmnV4lAMbERqMUC1dL2PpjYVtC51IUhh4vZ2ADG4Om6VkBJKIEYDv1b10zmsjUi8hBW_ijZHR_eUxEaQVLME3f6/s1600/IMG_8345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzpTOEjz4kOOyFg4C4PXNZvBtL9HMxzNIT37qfq9sxynp29Zgzp5G_JmnV4lAMbERqMUC1dL2PpjYVtC51IUhh4vZ2ADG4Om6VkBJKIEYDv1b10zmsjUi8hBW_ijZHR_eUxEaQVLME3f6/s400/IMG_8345.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Site of the first council with native tribes in 1804</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The fort is located on a bluff above the Missouri River (which has since changed course and is three miles away), and although named "Council Bluff," it is not to be confused with the nearby town of Council Bluff, IA. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0Kr6q6Qg6Fde2FAGAEmUr1l5gDT490pNj5H2P6WZ_SU8mxcz3xOCWXn20Za1iLjX68BZ4desiqf0wDeSQE9pg0azc1U3AcPNyUiOV2mdicIXJRvmeDNvHzwU_YChNl4waoXlPKePM_Uw/s1600/IMG_8348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0Kr6q6Qg6Fde2FAGAEmUr1l5gDT490pNj5H2P6WZ_SU8mxcz3xOCWXn20Za1iLjX68BZ4desiqf0wDeSQE9pg0azc1U3AcPNyUiOV2mdicIXJRvmeDNvHzwU_YChNl4waoXlPKePM_Uw/s400/IMG_8348.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking up to the massive replica fort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The fort was named Fort Atkinson after Col. Henry Atkinson, the commander of the Yellowstone Expedition, who constructed the fort in 1819.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYK2EqCZ1AEFdvTc7ZowWsg9ypZNODM8Dqxy_WrWQEINbgcTP4RretWXCoaolSkW6_LhIvmuzNTA9SaAZfiJiWSZ4rRhKWwZ4rytFBw9HxT7no0ppAhR_S12Z3-MsYZQF9ZxzpEJKwzAE/s1600/IMG_8351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYK2EqCZ1AEFdvTc7ZowWsg9ypZNODM8Dqxy_WrWQEINbgcTP4RretWXCoaolSkW6_LhIvmuzNTA9SaAZfiJiWSZ4rRhKWwZ4rytFBw9HxT7no0ppAhR_S12Z3-MsYZQF9ZxzpEJKwzAE/s400/IMG_8351.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In its heydey, the fort garrisoned over 1000 men and was the center of commerce for the fur trade. It played an important role in the opening of the western frontier by mountain men and fur traders. <br />
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When Congress failed to allocate the $3,000 needed for repairs, the fort fell into disuse and the Army realigned its forces to protect the more southerly routes west. Restoration of the site began in 1961 and continued over the next 20+ years. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnuRzExSdShOVOvy9K9bRtg64IaWaJlGYRHSlslqiZ7XJ5Gd52QGCbamnySZq88TAARwrWVmhoMGldcPuc05n_prXSUruO_aHJVVEh302F9dWeeO6ZKxBnVO-UdxTEKKegCFJUFxCOEqZ/s1600/IMG_8342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnuRzExSdShOVOvy9K9bRtg64IaWaJlGYRHSlslqiZ7XJ5Gd52QGCbamnySZq88TAARwrWVmhoMGldcPuc05n_prXSUruO_aHJVVEh302F9dWeeO6ZKxBnVO-UdxTEKKegCFJUFxCOEqZ/s320/IMG_8342.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We found it--the Corps of Discovery marker at Fort Atkinson!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The Missouri River basically forms the border between Nebraska and Iowa. From Fort Atkinson, we headed north to our next stop, the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City, Iowa. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJqi_pSFjgS7h2p9mMxepl2IqA2QcrmE4gwKw19opant_0jm7BKSrBy2xTML-AmHj3GJ-4mo7b_AyDdEBQZhwWHNjfd3GZyHiKNVylfINvJJD4kzjPxjHqpY3CffqmC4ld_uK6bNaaq5u/s1600/IMG_8359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJqi_pSFjgS7h2p9mMxepl2IqA2QcrmE4gwKw19opant_0jm7BKSrBy2xTML-AmHj3GJ-4mo7b_AyDdEBQZhwWHNjfd3GZyHiKNVylfINvJJD4kzjPxjHqpY3CffqmC4ld_uK6bNaaq5u/s400/IMG_8359.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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This was a great museum, especially for younger kids, and it had a lot of sculptures on the grounds surrounding the museum building.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1Ekvn4UzIGpVjQhmWMy9ejJe6rbHaP7hW9T42udi27iZO7VJriVJmSnEBo5XV1elr-1ttGKommwt-DqOUzpjgIXkXDKwJP3xTe8xbJ8cb8rib2CkcAMSD773fplO1LCpYnnHYT5_CC9k/s1600/IMG_2738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1Ekvn4UzIGpVjQhmWMy9ejJe6rbHaP7hW9T42udi27iZO7VJriVJmSnEBo5XV1elr-1ttGKommwt-DqOUzpjgIXkXDKwJP3xTe8xbJ8cb8rib2CkcAMSD773fplO1LCpYnnHYT5_CC9k/s640/IMG_2738.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge sculpture of Lewis, Clark and Seaman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We checked another Corps of Discovery commemorative marker off our list here, although this one was almost impossible to find as it was buried in the grass near the above statue, and the docents and other volunteers at the museum weren't any help because they had no idea the disk was even there. It made us a little sad that these markers weren't more well cared for. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRINSK9J5tmc1vlOUXZNYKHqpvtVvsw8oKGdPWiCxQ19Pa-T2D_q-uzXVl7AyIT0xFSuiZdO1in_OCc-AJx8i15r7FKAezY-Vx9O-Iv-0-gjaCHxcXyFzf24PmqF1TfYFm1IWA9DY8_gO/s1600/IMG_8369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRINSK9J5tmc1vlOUXZNYKHqpvtVvsw8oKGdPWiCxQ19Pa-T2D_q-uzXVl7AyIT0xFSuiZdO1in_OCc-AJx8i15r7FKAezY-Vx9O-Iv-0-gjaCHxcXyFzf24PmqF1TfYFm1IWA9DY8_gO/s400/IMG_8369.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We finally found it! </td></tr>
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Inside the museum, there was a cool expedition map, and the picture below shows you the portion we were doing (basically from Camp River Dubois in Hartford, IL to Chamberlain, SD, where they continued following the Missouri river into North Dakota and we continued heading west). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYy7HuH9LLQyNUVHnDkj7kKHyGhsLtDi03KM6iDiDN7cSFhTVwy0eEtQNn4XonEu6_NwvLaeIwXZPpqe0XyM-ruNeUykHxu76KnhATbcsnnC-RtwykxhTnz4X2_O8-VJFj0ED-2c7Xma9/s1600/IMG_8363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYy7HuH9LLQyNUVHnDkj7kKHyGhsLtDi03KM6iDiDN7cSFhTVwy0eEtQNn4XonEu6_NwvLaeIwXZPpqe0XyM-ruNeUykHxu76KnhATbcsnnC-RtwykxhTnz4X2_O8-VJFj0ED-2c7Xma9/s400/IMG_8363.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our portion of the expedition</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once we got on I-90 headed west (and even before), we started seeing signs for the famous "Wall Drug."</span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_G2dDWW1Mn9pDOY_kwofuvwgAcoPBeSEJlAIL4ewNEPRgIR3TupTk-xchWNVkPHtl27h_DDqEIOQ8g7GVhXlxZBXyX8_e6pPt5wKFAlIsgWZ2PKQbirAl8mmT1P7T5E30c-LcwNMtF6A3/s1600/IMG_2744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_G2dDWW1Mn9pDOY_kwofuvwgAcoPBeSEJlAIL4ewNEPRgIR3TupTk-xchWNVkPHtl27h_DDqEIOQ8g7GVhXlxZBXyX8_e6pPt5wKFAlIsgWZ2PKQbirAl8mmT1P7T5E30c-LcwNMtF6A3/s320/IMG_2744.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOt_a8xArAn2mOb8D1j4isidNlvrN_k-Adx9d7aPnDcp1KjVUMDHbwFLgTgz-M-2cOF9n1FAQmtT3cNHqb2qN1RIcyAQZAbJPMSsepqEU_WOzFKGEQUaoFnyH24WswonzVgJjPewh-LmEX/s1600/IMG_2748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOt_a8xArAn2mOb8D1j4isidNlvrN_k-Adx9d7aPnDcp1KjVUMDHbwFLgTgz-M-2cOF9n1FAQmtT3cNHqb2qN1RIcyAQZAbJPMSsepqEU_WOzFKGEQUaoFnyH24WswonzVgJjPewh-LmEX/s320/IMG_2748.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I-90 is so straight you don't need to hold the steering wheel!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMK-F5ElkHlx1akKEC057FAlRF6m4yVIqDtBvfLF_xf6Wt2PH4qd6KRiOetD5HViaTpYP3x2jNEi8U8S2NNKWVjtwpNkNAO-r_aEmg0SsM9QRVYEErJlAh-PQAik1czUZTKOB-uJGG2FMN/s1600/IMG_2746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMK-F5ElkHlx1akKEC057FAlRF6m4yVIqDtBvfLF_xf6Wt2PH4qd6KRiOetD5HViaTpYP3x2jNEi8U8S2NNKWVjtwpNkNAO-r_aEmg0SsM9QRVYEErJlAh-PQAik1czUZTKOB-uJGG2FMN/s320/IMG_2746.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy cloud formations/thunderheads</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If we had a "corn-o-meter" to measure the amount of corn grown in each state, South Dakota would have that thing pegged . . . to quote Will Ferrell, there's a "mind bottling" amount of corn being grown there. The most corn yet by far! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEFac6z0NNsqSO_cR2nSoRCtt4J0Wgp-e7rt-uCoGBC0buSHJwCvpnEuWtOYredLq-MVAY0kugtTqiGUBpAUQoERSSRlgLZ-9lKZFwMXX0YOR4m5ljSa37M7CgUXaVzQXMxE9jIDsYF2d/s1600/IMG_8355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEFac6z0NNsqSO_cR2nSoRCtt4J0Wgp-e7rt-uCoGBC0buSHJwCvpnEuWtOYredLq-MVAY0kugtTqiGUBpAUQoERSSRlgLZ-9lKZFwMXX0YOR4m5ljSa37M7CgUXaVzQXMxE9jIDsYF2d/s400/IMG_8355.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Dakota corn</td></tr>
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We drove through Mitchell, South Dakota, home of the "Corn Palace," which is a tourist attraction and concert venue decorated entirely with corn on the outside. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQYUcWxxUpRYyS30ar2VXIlFsJSOf2xWY_OdU-2EChLBInTtqqwNpA947Td2w5QEkNq22w4wQOQwqFdSG61SPuCNnpJ_jEudmzt7up_GQIYu8V6voHp6z5edgNy5sjaKbzRR50WhyXkcN/s1600/IMG_8370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQYUcWxxUpRYyS30ar2VXIlFsJSOf2xWY_OdU-2EChLBInTtqqwNpA947Td2w5QEkNq22w4wQOQwqFdSG61SPuCNnpJ_jEudmzt7up_GQIYu8V6voHp6z5edgNy5sjaKbzRR50WhyXkcN/s400/IMG_8370.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup, that's a lot of corn!</td></tr>
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We stayed in nearby Chamberlain, South Dakota, that night, and drove in to our hotel parking lot just in time to see a spectacular sunset on the great plains. Chamberlain was pretty sleepy, but it is rumored to be the pheasant-hunting capital of the world. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMo_UtvqzVw35MBZb0kJgoIq_FcQ08ZNZ_d2gzweBgMc_wJUcJvZZAZoWBOQbp5ueJwVXqKtwAHJiBtu3x0bSlx6S1JPJPdzCz48k5KQhVFRUlAG3q1VNyZcCCQqfM300SxMg8d3CNcyu/s1600/IMG_8373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMo_UtvqzVw35MBZb0kJgoIq_FcQ08ZNZ_d2gzweBgMc_wJUcJvZZAZoWBOQbp5ueJwVXqKtwAHJiBtu3x0bSlx6S1JPJPdzCz48k5KQhVFRUlAG3q1VNyZcCCQqfM300SxMg8d3CNcyu/s400/IMG_8373.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 5--Chamberlain, SD to Rapid City, SD</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We started our sightseeing in Chamberlain itself, at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, which is basically a museum at a rest stop off I-90. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLp1n721ZaknCnDgn80OTy8A8kGmnzcdhizDlfj5tUBuBwGuKdDEfZldKScLI_AnhMfhqc3KBwWFRT2XysDc1PuKfFLZfoUIQw5k_DiDsbKqozkMOfbJsFjGMqNi3VQUjOzhyphenhyphenMFdNREBM/s1600/IMG_8378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLp1n721ZaknCnDgn80OTy8A8kGmnzcdhizDlfj5tUBuBwGuKdDEfZldKScLI_AnhMfhqc3KBwWFRT2XysDc1PuKfFLZfoUIQw5k_DiDsbKqozkMOfbJsFjGMqNi3VQUjOzhyphenhyphenMFdNREBM/s400/IMG_8378.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It had a great view of the Missouri River as it heads north into North Dakota. We managed to find the Corps of Discovery Commemorative marker, even though once again the museum staff didn't know anything about it being on site. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1A2QRztQs3qonIpJOp6nOLcItHdLAJUekMtclUbucczav0LFKaxCGFbyII21oHt-2k8SZDyOnDKrqH0IVj5n-RlA6ixM1fHqMEFVPdP-Ws4yWN7ArmBgojoU6K0hgyGWMmzfD-9G_2Hc/s1600/IMG_8385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1A2QRztQs3qonIpJOp6nOLcItHdLAJUekMtclUbucczav0LFKaxCGFbyII21oHt-2k8SZDyOnDKrqH0IVj5n-RlA6ixM1fHqMEFVPdP-Ws4yWN7ArmBgojoU6K0hgyGWMmzfD-9G_2Hc/s400/IMG_8385.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Another commemorative marker and beautiful overlook</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This Interpretive Center had a lot of neat exhibits. What did we learn? That the k</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">eel boat was 55 feet long but still couldn't carry all their supplies for the expedition, so they also had two "Pirogues" (riverboats) that had oars and a sail and could carry lots of supplies. The keelboats and pirogues could be propelled in four different ways: rowing, poling, sailing and towing (by men walking on shore or in the river pulling a rope). Given that they were headed upriver, they no doubt used each and every one of those methods of propulsion depending on the weather and circumstances. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After we were done at the Interpretive Center, we hit I-90 and continued heading west. The "bright spot" on the journey between Chamberlain South Dakota and Cactus Flat, South Dakota was the miles and miles of bright yellow sunflowers that were in full bloom . . . a nice change from all those endless fields of corn! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mzvVc19RfZKRq2X5K6iAO-70-4ufUx4q0eb6PvztFRuXHUMPqSOf9ocHBNHFxJR8G3Bb57Ko2gboNpruINr1BlXsDTFhUotavlVwVWZz5q-08qK-rkngyMnYCiQoDkSducoZfKTZvAFJ/s1600/IMG_8393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mzvVc19RfZKRq2X5K6iAO-70-4ufUx4q0eb6PvztFRuXHUMPqSOf9ocHBNHFxJR8G3Bb57Ko2gboNpruINr1BlXsDTFhUotavlVwVWZz5q-08qK-rkngyMnYCiQoDkSducoZfKTZvAFJ/s400/IMG_8393.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Beautiful fields of yellow</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We got to the South Dakota<b> </b><b>Badlands </b>at midday. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIL-xjQRtIFlqroHWOsMEnq5ImxalZeqLzgCpD_TV7RVebrwqmGWilfeMz9aBVua6pGaesTl0bG3cFB_Q428-HxehjI7c8gQS6H-UoNoUhiKhcY0ij1f55UW9zb5ZVvZzXeC_YjES8G1cE/s1600/IMG_2757.JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIL-xjQRtIFlqroHWOsMEnq5ImxalZeqLzgCpD_TV7RVebrwqmGWilfeMz9aBVua6pGaesTl0bG3cFB_Q428-HxehjI7c8gQS6H-UoNoUhiKhcY0ij1f55UW9zb5ZVvZzXeC_YjES8G1cE/s640/IMG_2757.JPG.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Badlands are part of the National Park System and are 244,000 acres of protected prairie ecosystem. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1arkSHj9V1DNAyuVIZKtdSLrs1pCkdsg0POGSHpHetp7h_ZZGtVMktAkhJ9Tqyl94JQc629GD2N6F4n9k81qJC13muGFbEB_LrcVV5yqZ9Luwgd-uGHDCtwYqMZxSycWkPD5VKt9K1j8/s1600/IMG_2756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1arkSHj9V1DNAyuVIZKtdSLrs1pCkdsg0POGSHpHetp7h_ZZGtVMktAkhJ9Tqyl94JQc629GD2N6F4n9k81qJC13muGFbEB_LrcVV5yqZ9Luwgd-uGHDCtwYqMZxSycWkPD5VKt9K1j8/s400/IMG_2756.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We got off I-90 at Cactus Flat and took Scenic Highway 240 to enter The Badlands at the Northeast Entrance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We drove the Badlands loop road, U-Haul in tow, and enjoyed the incredible views while looking for wildlife. We saw bighorn sheep, bison and prairie dogs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The multicolored rock layers are a result of deposition going back about 75 million years. The Badlands didn't start eroding and exposing these layers until about 500,000 years ago. Apparently the erosion is ongoing and therefore the landscape is constantly changing, which makes it a living laboratory for geologists and paleontologists. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Wall Drug </b>in Wall, SD is quite a contrast to the natural wonder that is the Badlands. Apparently it has been luring people off the road since 1931. We'd been seeing signs for Wall Drug for hundreds of miles, so naturally we had to stop and check out the "free ice water" and friendly hospitality. What started as a simple drug store was now a mega roadside attraction that takes up several city blocks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can find pretty much anything you want or need at Wall Drug. We had shakes and floats with homemade ice cream at the old fashioned soda fountain and bought a few souvenirs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also took a photos with some of the oddities, like the giant Jackalope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We arrived in Rapid City, South Dakota, and settled in our hotel just in time to see another spectacular sunset filtered by rain and thunderstorms over the black hills. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Day 6--Rapid City, SD to Spearfish, SD</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were all especially excited to get going on Day 6 because we were finally going to see Mt. Rushmore! Eric had seen it as a kid many years ago, but the rest of us had only seen it in pictures.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We left Rapid City and eagerly headed toward the <b>Black Hills</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We learned that they are called the Black Hills because they are so thick with trees that they appear black when viewed from a distance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once in the Black Hills, we headed south to <b>Custer State Park</b>. We drove the </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wildlife Loop road, which was mainly grasslands, and we definitely saw some wildlife including lots of pronghorn, a deer being chased by a coyote (!)--happened too fast to get pictures, bison, wild burros and prairie dogs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From there, we took the Needles Highway, which winds through granite boulders and spires in quaking aspen and pine forests. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some of the passages through the rock formations in the Needles were single-lane, which was especially interesting with a trailer . . . but the stress was worth it for the breathtaking views!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From the Needles Highway, we took Iron Mountain Road to <b>Mt. Rushmore</b>. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First glimpse of Mt. Rushmore</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mount Rushmore is a massive monument carved by Gutzon Borglum. As he put it, "A monument's dimensions should be determined by the importance to civilization of the events commemorated . . . . Let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what matter of men they were. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until the wind and the rain along shall wear them away." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Borglum chose the four leaders who brought the nation from colonial times to the 1900s. It took 14 years and 400 men to carve the monument. Borglum died in 1941, and his son supervised the completion of the heads. Work stopped in October 1941, and the US entered into WWII shortly thereafter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We enjoyed the exhibits at Mt. Rushmore, and we highly recommend the Buffalo Stew and Buffalo Chili at the cafeteria. Yum! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's surprising how close you can get to the monument if you walk the loop trail, most--but not all--of which Owen was able to access in his wheelchair. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We left Mount Rushmore and drove through other parts of the Black Hills National Forest as we headed north to Spearfish. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On our way, we went through Deadwood, a small mining town that was the home of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok. We drove through the historic part of city, and it was like a trip back to the wild west, complete with cowboys and gunslingers standing on street corners.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were tired but satisfied as we retired to our comfy hotel in Spearfish, SD. </span><br />
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Part 3: The Final Leg</span></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Day 7--Spearfish, SD to Bozeman, MT</span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had a couple of hard driving days ahead of us to finish out the trip. We awoke to rain and fog, so we skipped a planned detour to <b>Devil's Tower </b>(featured in the 1970s Spielberg movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"). <b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We looked for Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goats and Elk as we zipped along I-90, but we didn't see much of anything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, we DID stumble onto Little Bighorn Battlefield as we were searching for gas somewhere in southeastern Montana, and we're so glad we stopped!</span><br />
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The national monument at Little Bighorn memorializes the battle fought in 1876 between the US Army, led by George Custer, against a group of Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho indians led by Sitting Bull and also Crazy horse and other indian war chiefs, who were camped along the Little Bighorn River. <br />
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After many treaties and broken promises, the government had ordered the Indians be removed to the great Sioux reservation in the Dakota territory, and if they wouldn't go, they were told they'd be treated as hostiles by the military. <br />
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The Indians chose not to comply and fought to preserve their right to pursue their traditional way of life on the plains hunting buffalo. Custer, with only 225 men plus some civilians that were traveling with him, was badly outnumbered and met death and defeat at the hands of several thousand indian warriors. <br />
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Last Stand Hill is where Custer and about 40 men shot their horses for breastworks and made a stand.<br />
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The thing that's especially eerie about Little Bighorn is that the bodies are buried where they fell. There are 249 white headstone markers erected across the battlefield to show where Custer's men had fallen. <br />
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Although there is a specially-marked stone for Custer, his remains have actually been disinterred from the battlefield and reinterred at the US Military Academy at West Point, NY. <br />
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Red granite markers have been erected by the Park Service at known Cheyenne and Lakota warrior casualty sites throughout the battlefield. <br />
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We took another brief stop off I-90 in Livingston, Montana, and we were lucky enough to get to see this beautiful statue of Sacajawea and Pomp called "At the Yellowstone." Sacajawea played an important role the Lewis & Clark Expedition, traveling with the Corps of Discovery from North Dakota to the Pacific Ocean and back, acting as an interpreter. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjjX-lgtBAgxOyM4NJa4G77uXlX2U2UKlORwHDctXnDNcK5EBsUlCswfDTx5hfbDYwtsVpTD3B9AstJKIss2NjmODvKEpmu4pUiCGrT3s4_zJzJVoSIhsXsDaDZ5WQ1GZqisOgPDuQRvD/s1600/IMG_8453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjjX-lgtBAgxOyM4NJa4G77uXlX2U2UKlORwHDctXnDNcK5EBsUlCswfDTx5hfbDYwtsVpTD3B9AstJKIss2NjmODvKEpmu4pUiCGrT3s4_zJzJVoSIhsXsDaDZ5WQ1GZqisOgPDuQRvD/s320/IMG_8453.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still heading west into another beautiful sunset</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Day 8--Bozeman, MT to Richland, WA</b><br />
<b><br /></b>By Day 8, we were all ready to get home and eager to be done with our cross-country road trip. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnkvuaoLREJJY3nGHeO5isM2RAbQVQGBqB9Tnkfntx1LMzFHH6TBekRain6BOADf2_RjuQtAykYcu7bh3ZbSq-aAxq66KFuKknL2jpgJXAUNbNuLWQiSycBSkU18n2dDMHs7Qy-gPM0n7/s1600/IMG_0903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnkvuaoLREJJY3nGHeO5isM2RAbQVQGBqB9Tnkfntx1LMzFHH6TBekRain6BOADf2_RjuQtAykYcu7bh3ZbSq-aAxq66KFuKknL2jpgJXAUNbNuLWQiSycBSkU18n2dDMHs7Qy-gPM0n7/s320/IMG_0903.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We left Bozeman, and it was hot and dry . . . turning into an inferno after we passed Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUg8Lk5m3sAB53OVa8MF2bwzTXqG06CHxNyYlg0gailo_haLyxeGiDCVY1GyqCPGxrPIW7xSJIUbIVIPCAVITBWcRqOyahaXlo6M9ORo2-MzvbTsZCEAWEH7JXT7fmmJV-fjHSHiI5EO6/s1600/IMG_0909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUg8Lk5m3sAB53OVa8MF2bwzTXqG06CHxNyYlg0gailo_haLyxeGiDCVY1GyqCPGxrPIW7xSJIUbIVIPCAVITBWcRqOyahaXlo6M9ORo2-MzvbTsZCEAWEH7JXT7fmmJV-fjHSHiI5EO6/s320/IMG_0909.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqORjzuUtrr5Ke7VNkOHDzawpnsQanfJhYqYOzEjsjhHcCIkyVQaREk27HGOC3jXINGUIgWjhSPxop2wbS8g3SPMgH957DV-5AlCkYGNgA6vZlYXE7iTP6E56Bt_Vr7v6RhDUZeNwfhatO/s1600/IMG_0912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqORjzuUtrr5Ke7VNkOHDzawpnsQanfJhYqYOzEjsjhHcCIkyVQaREk27HGOC3jXINGUIgWjhSPxop2wbS8g3SPMgH957DV-5AlCkYGNgA6vZlYXE7iTP6E56Bt_Vr7v6RhDUZeNwfhatO/s320/IMG_0912.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Once we got past Spokane, the winds kicked up, which made for some interesting driving with the trailer. We saw lots of big dust devils swirling around as we continued through the vast fields of Eastern Washington.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0M7GFoZahXutOAiYmUquUWwOIr0qhQWj1CIZQzQA0Z9e8cqJmVWVB-DtYt0lZJkz1iMVh8JHqZv2xkrR81KNcJrx4qbCqXODiUeO3In5bu3JagG0rJbQ8owQTTq-GsoMOyrYdVxgb1J8N/s1600/Frame-18-12-2016-01-46-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0M7GFoZahXutOAiYmUquUWwOIr0qhQWj1CIZQzQA0Z9e8cqJmVWVB-DtYt0lZJkz1iMVh8JHqZv2xkrR81KNcJrx4qbCqXODiUeO3In5bu3JagG0rJbQ8owQTTq-GsoMOyrYdVxgb1J8N/s400/Frame-18-12-2016-01-46-13.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<b><br /></b>
<b>Day 9--Richland, WA to home!</b><br />
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Like a horse that can smell the barn, we woke up super early and quickened our pace on our last day of travel. <br />
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Here are some pictures of some of the sights along the way:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjp-I96YngRQHk6ImYXUTRRwaszDskytAkdVtdLVOyqg1l7debgpspG5o6FnPNDHokipZUMd8Qi7mHZ4L08mHYwZbAdh_yZ39IpGmMrYYueHGNPc1y5DRmkcveoNF1KYOs-hEal-r7FEn/s1600/IMG_2796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjp-I96YngRQHk6ImYXUTRRwaszDskytAkdVtdLVOyqg1l7debgpspG5o6FnPNDHokipZUMd8Qi7mHZ4L08mHYwZbAdh_yZ39IpGmMrYYueHGNPc1y5DRmkcveoNF1KYOs-hEal-r7FEn/s320/IMG_2796.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the Columbia at Umatilla</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgk6FVPbQQdRZ06UVlBHIY6AdnPtnUkE81CdNcRNV4YNoDTq_6qa2zovh1SZ1-rw0nMpxzRTT96QV7nQlAwPCz6ZsIudOGS_GxLGA8jfPokATPZVUfusXBdBW3v8XA4cgiAqlHU6mlnnQE/s320/IMG_0914.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mighty Columbia River</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PfCPuu1P0TVXpJcplRzZ8jaK0bFKAu4k3JPs4QFV-SSsTpfcUSz4fP3kv2-auaOE6qKb08zXHqCkbnXePXGqFwzUBAtoVaxvY0G_p5LsZuz2O6F04Utq2Z9_qoBnYmLkvlaqw_7xIREu/s1600/IMG_2797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PfCPuu1P0TVXpJcplRzZ8jaK0bFKAu4k3JPs4QFV-SSsTpfcUSz4fP3kv2-auaOE6qKb08zXHqCkbnXePXGqFwzUBAtoVaxvY0G_p5LsZuz2O6F04Utq2Z9_qoBnYmLkvlaqw_7xIREu/s400/IMG_2797.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Oregon!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvBxwKLcDLl6cNdVeTyvDWgUa5hZJqH_59Je2pegRl_xG-81SuEHak5oxCRfToUx5kDfHfR_GEYeaC9RFGj5J2noS5u7d0hEu2-jYRW9smfIPm3Ir4WHQN4x2U5eA_q4JrUFxBT9Fz0ao/s1600/IMG_2799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvBxwKLcDLl6cNdVeTyvDWgUa5hZJqH_59Je2pegRl_xG-81SuEHak5oxCRfToUx5kDfHfR_GEYeaC9RFGj5J2noS5u7d0hEu2-jYRW9smfIPm3Ir4WHQN4x2U5eA_q4JrUFxBT9Fz0ao/s400/IMG_2799.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful moon in the Columbia Gorge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6wH4YDtfLQvXCWOaI0NnTptd1sC5zA-cKFnJX2WHXVwkAZbZoUPPyNH7pAg5EtpUi5KIDOFZTMCKqE-2r6u0MRK4LaGihY__uCBtn1eb8hxGXxuOFmb72xPJyM6QZ6GL5EyEVUWOYPxD/s1600/IMG_2800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6wH4YDtfLQvXCWOaI0NnTptd1sC5zA-cKFnJX2WHXVwkAZbZoUPPyNH7pAg5EtpUi5KIDOFZTMCKqE-2r6u0MRK4LaGihY__uCBtn1eb8hxGXxuOFmb72xPJyM6QZ6GL5EyEVUWOYPxD/s320/IMG_2800.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mount Hood in the distance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnftRzQcacgrHt-MWrK9bYnLVMhcdh-SJ9GIG3ul0QdxE1zO_rbsBgc1KqZqKerSDBR8KOXWPHbrdTahjwltwejaarEouo-HWd2XRLkW2NifoUoRjI1-QV9LQqv7h1eSPUH_E4hyphenhyphenRIsp70/s1600/IMG_8498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnftRzQcacgrHt-MWrK9bYnLVMhcdh-SJ9GIG3ul0QdxE1zO_rbsBgc1KqZqKerSDBR8KOXWPHbrdTahjwltwejaarEouo-HWd2XRLkW2NifoUoRjI1-QV9LQqv7h1eSPUH_E4hyphenhyphenRIsp70/s320/IMG_8498.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Endless windfarms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3DGUDVAL3h86YKc2tGX1LevWT_e5XnxRWitPmNfTe4ycUzMWtUFzKUbriZ6vlRJ3FlhSs_Q9Y6eRQiuap4MBAQrse5SKWfaDcZjlwqpk8TwRCH0ulVlNleUdzBpZd2zo_tzQBKOnpBsi/s1600/DSCN2831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3DGUDVAL3h86YKc2tGX1LevWT_e5XnxRWitPmNfTe4ycUzMWtUFzKUbriZ6vlRJ3FlhSs_Q9Y6eRQiuap4MBAQrse5SKWfaDcZjlwqpk8TwRCH0ulVlNleUdzBpZd2zo_tzQBKOnpBsi/s400/DSCN2831.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made it to Vancouver--almost home! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We stopped briefly to get some sustenance and give hugs to family in Vancouver, and pick up our faithful four-legged companion, and then we were on the road again for the last hour of our journey home.<br />
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What a surprise to pull in the driveway of our little farmstead and be greeted by all kinds of flowers and fresh plantings and the place was mowed, blown, trimmed, tidied and looking absolutely amazing! We will never be able to fully repay the kindnesses shown toward our family during our time away by our many wonderful neighbors (you know who you are!), but we count you all and your generosity and support among our greatest blessings. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyWHttAHSbloGuSTMWPMHtIWwLAGfRGk7VtcJAhhlJ5M45uzEDlZfiet44rLSfEnl1Stmsj47nnbe7L99e0jkGlMeocMFxVzDXo1fFqFi5-BF2aXz3QAKkRZSKzHAyOAoAbyQMbpm1kpk/s1600/IMG_8505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyWHttAHSbloGuSTMWPMHtIWwLAGfRGk7VtcJAhhlJ5M45uzEDlZfiet44rLSfEnl1Stmsj47nnbe7L99e0jkGlMeocMFxVzDXo1fFqFi5-BF2aXz3QAKkRZSKzHAyOAoAbyQMbpm1kpk/s320/IMG_8505.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-50Kt7mGIHyg3-Sne1iec_9T5sKNCkBsQ2u7pOi6Yvfzn_Pz6TSj-7E853w1LgikMm0aoyxLLjNtcSEOMOTCk3quWP4UC3LdUmfX29h3vtQJV43Z7CPjlwlO_CvsryDhbWUAOREwxPuw/s1600/IMG_8507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-50Kt7mGIHyg3-Sne1iec_9T5sKNCkBsQ2u7pOi6Yvfzn_Pz6TSj-7E853w1LgikMm0aoyxLLjNtcSEOMOTCk3quWP4UC3LdUmfX29h3vtQJV43Z7CPjlwlO_CvsryDhbWUAOREwxPuw/s320/IMG_8507.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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There truly is no place like home!<br />
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<br />Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-14266193051346659662016-08-24T22:01:00.001-07:002016-08-24T22:01:34.940-07:00Def Leppard<br />
Winning two FREE tickets to the Def Leppard/REO Speedwagon concert on the radio . . . lucky!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvsGSExFW7bv9U_2PSRmAjyOTZgD7_x22r828Z_sG7rDAmkF_hptrIHgz9eDhC714Plq6U2gmDWRUO-XrBTbAgnAQJ-Hlr8zeRQDPDvaaSy0Zkfqc1nH2fRpof1Ct0KdFTaJrXfqmun37/s1600/IMG_8200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvsGSExFW7bv9U_2PSRmAjyOTZgD7_x22r828Z_sG7rDAmkF_hptrIHgz9eDhC714Plq6U2gmDWRUO-XrBTbAgnAQJ-Hlr8zeRQDPDvaaSy0Zkfqc1nH2fRpof1Ct0KdFTaJrXfqmun37/s320/IMG_8200.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Buying two additional tickets to the concert so the whole family could go . . . $137.30.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SmtXYFZ0WNcoypGVdOqE2LGwr4TKuz1tLL9si1Ygs3aAcrIxEKa1Dfw86zrCGEQz9Kb8HypJBHEtHyThbfdwyEt6hPLsjn_CLsHpKv8K_ZrahsUkJJHFGbI33keHqZIBBj3rofrM0tzM/s1600/IMG_2681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SmtXYFZ0WNcoypGVdOqE2LGwr4TKuz1tLL9si1Ygs3aAcrIxEKa1Dfw86zrCGEQz9Kb8HypJBHEtHyThbfdwyEt6hPLsjn_CLsHpKv8K_ZrahsUkJJHFGbI33keHqZIBBj3rofrM0tzM/s320/IMG_2681.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Souvenir t-shirts for the kids to remember the experience by . . . $80.00.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2fpMhfw4-q-Gq3Caqi1mzsJ9FjRNCO7bNVmyGn6vXTRyZVMeHwE8jsmGh5W1MsfJM0J6l8l8I5_HG9e6J6b8jj6bnGpEdDvm7XkOvOShyDFKxTvKSFgReuwqteCu9prP3heNAcsnr21S/s1600/IMG_8193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2fpMhfw4-q-Gq3Caqi1mzsJ9FjRNCO7bNVmyGn6vXTRyZVMeHwE8jsmGh5W1MsfJM0J6l8l8I5_HG9e6J6b8jj6bnGpEdDvm7XkOvOShyDFKxTvKSFgReuwqteCu9prP3heNAcsnr21S/s400/IMG_8193.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Chick-fil-A dinner before the show . . . $36.00.<br />
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Overpriced drinks at the venue so we wouldn't expire in the 100+ degree heat . . . $47.00.<br />
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The look on our rock drummer's face during the bonus meet and greet session with the band . . . PRICELESS!<br />
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Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-19383359190748013292016-08-24T22:00:00.000-07:002016-08-24T22:00:40.894-07:00White House & DC Day<br />
We had several lucky things happen in our last few weeks living in DC. <br />
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One of them came along right when we were in the midst of packing and moving. After trying four different times, and thanks to a persistent staffer in U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici's office, our request for a White House tour was FINALLY granted. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnTPM4vqhkat0ZNY1IwvzzBU7Cgdlj8BjAxR_Y5figcde159fdCIhGUrHmnVCRyWHVsO3S3Yep1n79EG_KbERYrfQFZit3ZiGN-uWA97ZAXWsbL8H9K3wM3Jf_dlDyJTNqOt3da5eEfYw/s1600/IMG_8028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnTPM4vqhkat0ZNY1IwvzzBU7Cgdlj8BjAxR_Y5figcde159fdCIhGUrHmnVCRyWHVsO3S3Yep1n79EG_KbERYrfQFZit3ZiGN-uWA97ZAXWsbL8H9K3wM3Jf_dlDyJTNqOt3da5eEfYw/s400/IMG_8028.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo op before getting in line for the tour</td></tr>
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Although our "to do" lists at work and home were as long as our arms (just one week before the big move), we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to do one last “DC Day” and check off a few more items on our East Coast Bucket List. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting in line and ready for the tour</td></tr>
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We showed up outside the White House at the appointed hour and, after multiple rigorous security checks, we were eventually granted access to begin our self-guided tour. <br />
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While we didn't see the Obamas or Michelle's mom or even Bo or Sunny (the Obamas' dogs), our youngest got to see a little bit of behind-the-scenes cooking action as he passed through the kitchen on his way from the back elevators to the self-guided tour route.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6Jx5b6rq7z3t9HtM8KRdWOavyurGJ8a2jxvs6w4xvLY0QgCkQW98cQqsDeGoeQ7SiB6iiIqQXF5OZuHl8saQWSOIbqyxRCsgXFhoEqUE0fSdx5j0FzFlFNcd1EHidjUUMVM_XJjX5cdA/s1600/IMG_8041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6Jx5b6rq7z3t9HtM8KRdWOavyurGJ8a2jxvs6w4xvLY0QgCkQW98cQqsDeGoeQ7SiB6iiIqQXF5OZuHl8saQWSOIbqyxRCsgXFhoEqUE0fSdx5j0FzFlFNcd1EHidjUUMVM_XJjX5cdA/s400/IMG_8041.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Obama's State Dinner Service</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFkoYdFbf8UxDEvKqH6WOFkju3eO8gipFpB59xWyffjZsZQP6B5142fdG3W_ogf0-aB-5OrEec2rbGZDdUsmBc9TlK5ccW59jjWOmmPMioMfIjwBNgzuE_HJtIwqzdeL-U_MreI1W_B7I/s1600/IMG_8042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFkoYdFbf8UxDEvKqH6WOFkju3eO8gipFpB59xWyffjZsZQP6B5142fdG3W_ogf0-aB-5OrEec2rbGZDdUsmBc9TlK5ccW59jjWOmmPMioMfIjwBNgzuE_HJtIwqzdeL-U_MreI1W_B7I/s320/IMG_8042.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The library</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxBc9BtEzYSlXndvzDCJ7T6hmXDjbXHwiiGyJVMk-s9MQv1c8BAtAFkBZJDP3c8R3kiPpOmqRu9_9TTeZ_uAxh2XklsQD-qEWVnqV5WOoe2Icswc5HCWLp2t76D_9uP9voEhuar_fWfFN/s1600/IMG_8045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxBc9BtEzYSlXndvzDCJ7T6hmXDjbXHwiiGyJVMk-s9MQv1c8BAtAFkBZJDP3c8R3kiPpOmqRu9_9TTeZ_uAxh2XklsQD-qEWVnqV5WOoe2Icswc5HCWLp2t76D_9uP9voEhuar_fWfFN/s320/IMG_8045.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East Room (site of state dinners, receptions, concerts and other events)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXP3E-wjoBweZJsEJB9Ex4_unzZp4snFJxiAgGL9ufHwtXZOn_ePyHZrQWTQq8Xkr9EjHX4bjLW0Gjkt4mA6hPcwGfArh1F1QaLFd9kfYqVl5v5izI2BWrxjqwg3JCHJL-yBpzlnH0BUe/s1600/IMG_8048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXP3E-wjoBweZJsEJB9Ex4_unzZp4snFJxiAgGL9ufHwtXZOn_ePyHZrQWTQq8Xkr9EjHX4bjLW0Gjkt4mA6hPcwGfArh1F1QaLFd9kfYqVl5v5izI2BWrxjqwg3JCHJL-yBpzlnH0BUe/s400/IMG_8048.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of General Washington (saved by Dolly Madison <br />
before White House burned in 1814)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_Y0BFH5G_carPRVVT2zD1KCRre5kDDnQd1rGqojL4ZNTZvhqPCPOPXLyw0iIDKVR5UqwVivr77FW_bmezRtxBdRh-FcMir264qCJRNCLOJiTb9CgmCNYROFgUHj17VWEqIU-0lsMOdom/s1600/IMG_8052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_Y0BFH5G_carPRVVT2zD1KCRre5kDDnQd1rGqojL4ZNTZvhqPCPOPXLyw0iIDKVR5UqwVivr77FW_bmezRtxBdRh-FcMir264qCJRNCLOJiTb9CgmCNYROFgUHj17VWEqIU-0lsMOdom/s400/IMG_8052.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Green Room (Thomas Jefferson hosted dinners in this room)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzg2NIgjdnd1WI5Ki-Iu4MHXA8FOcD7erFUyVZNLqzhSG8kWHqOyRoA4h547wMmRxE-JG2BGV7G46QRiFYr6anabks1V1Nd5f2Z_Y6UWtZqVlv16kPxG2W1QDnNuh_HrFb4eQIrjQcHec/s1600/IMG_8056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzg2NIgjdnd1WI5Ki-Iu4MHXA8FOcD7erFUyVZNLqzhSG8kWHqOyRoA4h547wMmRxE-JG2BGV7G46QRiFYr6anabks1V1Nd5f2Z_Y6UWtZqVlv16kPxG2W1QDnNuh_HrFb4eQIrjQcHec/s400/IMG_8056.jpg" width="321" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glimpse of Washington Monument through one of the many rooms</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgSr1okOYgEdSzrSDrr3nQj3jmQLo-z3xvAkfSh9HIxv71Fpza9uKGuq8wEqnyzXwNLy1D1agX7W3TVwR_k9TFHZesK_OwvJzfuLwleiyw0GEGiypRhG0M50lLJMfi5ZH4DOSOsYgUTZh/s1600/IMG_8057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgSr1okOYgEdSzrSDrr3nQj3jmQLo-z3xvAkfSh9HIxv71Fpza9uKGuq8wEqnyzXwNLy1D1agX7W3TVwR_k9TFHZesK_OwvJzfuLwleiyw0GEGiypRhG0M50lLJMfi5ZH4DOSOsYgUTZh/s400/IMG_8057.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful tapestries in the Blue Room, an <br />
elegant oval room used for receptions</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-gMNERqiyXbtO-glIH4OmfG5CccjE0683SDBAJ0JqxKZuQRrJSMsrg-7DOsSG1_fiH6hE9PqHa28hJfX6FT2q2ATt6Ir2BXEZXyflshpHKEw-gEdMzN7e_prFScrhLr8nb97pwkbEP2t/s1600/IMG_8060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-gMNERqiyXbtO-glIH4OmfG5CccjE0683SDBAJ0JqxKZuQRrJSMsrg-7DOsSG1_fiH6hE9PqHa28hJfX6FT2q2ATt6Ir2BXEZXyflshpHKEw-gEdMzN7e_prFScrhLr8nb97pwkbEP2t/s400/IMG_8060.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Red Room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6Tktll0o_4t8geXqBWC8dHHzWhewS9LZDhhxrg6D5iVY7crspXetkduwf6Xb-rSA53bXgYlOUzPxfYpQqYbdBJgTaVn19VojukS_JmTZe7W75S-WvyjZFrhT5l9gzUj4sH0ar7es7Mo5/s1600/IMG_8065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6Tktll0o_4t8geXqBWC8dHHzWhewS9LZDhhxrg6D5iVY7crspXetkduwf6Xb-rSA53bXgYlOUzPxfYpQqYbdBJgTaVn19VojukS_JmTZe7W75S-WvyjZFrhT5l9gzUj4sH0ar7es7Mo5/s400/IMG_8065.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The State Dining Room </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZ_P_6FbBSZakZYNjG-KiATNAI6IlBgpqjNnTEdcOE52iP_BcagZr4kEzTaKYzSFOgP7nAgv_oPMbL-8ovzFD0DDAyTzjLm5rhWfwkCYYOYxzz_6zeEMD1DszGk-HTDFMdc0qTP26qTw3/s1600/IMG_8069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZ_P_6FbBSZakZYNjG-KiATNAI6IlBgpqjNnTEdcOE52iP_BcagZr4kEzTaKYzSFOgP7nAgv_oPMbL-8ovzFD0DDAyTzjLm5rhWfwkCYYOYxzz_6zeEMD1DszGk-HTDFMdc0qTP26qTw3/s400/IMG_8069.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flowers from the Singapore State Dinner<br />
a few days before were still on display!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiljqfOK_SVZYVE1dFB-pST2Isfi1uC2oCEpwEnloTxykq72oPH-rSW4qziV4cHifi8ViUqDD-zaz0wEfudlfV6Aw3vDaNtT6JRCkyxv8hCDZaWehPkjAvMI1pK4h9Vt2RYK95iGlbpkQo/s1600/IMG_8077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiljqfOK_SVZYVE1dFB-pST2Isfi1uC2oCEpwEnloTxykq72oPH-rSW4qziV4cHifi8ViUqDD-zaz0wEfudlfV6Aw3vDaNtT6JRCkyxv8hCDZaWehPkjAvMI1pK4h9Vt2RYK95iGlbpkQo/s400/IMG_8077.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful harpsichord in the entryway</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7L_6VlgytK8Zav_LGpSn9NbgX8HvcjuBaoFtWw_N-d6RdPXorkPAjy5EilZGZ-lDGb3v22QaoUit6-68BmrJjpiIrGCZeXusC9gCqWV7MTWmgVn_D_xVfeKDXs0_hY4174GVJyjcUSo8/s1600/IMG_8078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7L_6VlgytK8Zav_LGpSn9NbgX8HvcjuBaoFtWw_N-d6RdPXorkPAjy5EilZGZ-lDGb3v22QaoUit6-68BmrJjpiIrGCZeXusC9gCqWV7MTWmgVn_D_xVfeKDXs0_hY4174GVJyjcUSo8/s400/IMG_8078.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lantern hanging in the North Portico</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBH3aAXonkY3YHtaKFVs8bnf2c6RXRGnvQJKi0RPJZOaF-t_niolN7k3nrApoS_KMY5KR2P6OgQucH6xvHXcBgRvwF2wwO7gqw90czDrl38_R_DXeicaoHEj6abcZEMxZYWwaisGUJtw6i/s1600/IMG_8085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBH3aAXonkY3YHtaKFVs8bnf2c6RXRGnvQJKi0RPJZOaF-t_niolN7k3nrApoS_KMY5KR2P6OgQucH6xvHXcBgRvwF2wwO7gqw90czDrl38_R_DXeicaoHEj6abcZEMxZYWwaisGUJtw6i/s400/IMG_8085.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last look before heading out</td></tr>
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After our tour, we headed to one of our favorite casual DC eateries (Merzi in Penn Quarter; www.merzi.com/), and then we continued on our whirlwind tour of some sights on our DC Bucket List that we hadn’t gotten to yet.<br />
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Next stop . . . the National Archives. We really only had time to see Charters of Freedom (the originals of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights), but they were well worth it! Go see them if you get a chance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie976pBDdWINy3_TcSTVSPgmyeBAO63rC8jgBgGuYiRcguyC2_AnT6k5rKuGbc04b3ydes2w0iIETHAfD4rEEHDWlv7O_qe1BDWiNTCXOLvdMjIcQeVpqp4t70LSqwL94mjm0fMieNRQ4O/s1600/IMG_8088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie976pBDdWINy3_TcSTVSPgmyeBAO63rC8jgBgGuYiRcguyC2_AnT6k5rKuGbc04b3ydes2w0iIETHAfD4rEEHDWlv7O_qe1BDWiNTCXOLvdMjIcQeVpqp4t70LSqwL94mjm0fMieNRQ4O/s400/IMG_8088.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Next stop . . . the U.S. Supreme Court. While we'd walked by it many times, we had never seen the inside of the building. As luck would have it, we got there just in time to join in on a tour of the courtroom. It was packed, so we had to make our way all the way to the front row of the courtroom, which gave me a chance to reach out and touch the actual "bar" that separates the lawyers from the spectators . . . as close as this lawyer will ever get to that bar in her lifetime! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJtTpfA75oqevLR9SuMMFroJouyHDU3lzgEe0APw67Pz1AKbmbKP5kRJV5GVdm2h5XSBPPAPMBBpf1HIFGXSZ4zuez1L8sSMyPuxuUM-Fy8ffvTp2B3okp4oplFoulXxzr2IiT5Ynli6m/s1600/IMG_8089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJtTpfA75oqevLR9SuMMFroJouyHDU3lzgEe0APw67Pz1AKbmbKP5kRJV5GVdm2h5XSBPPAPMBBpf1HIFGXSZ4zuez1L8sSMyPuxuUM-Fy8ffvTp2B3okp4oplFoulXxzr2IiT5Ynli6m/s400/IMG_8089.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Last stop . . . the Library of Congress. We had wanted to see the Jefferson Library ever since we visited Monticello and learned that Congress bought Thomas Jefferson's library to replace the collection that was lost when the British burned the Library of Congress in 1815. <br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsR99yViiJTHKwsEh5-_iO5L-R9n184vdpzzgRIRlN-abWqv8OzUn2wkW-vmFeBqMJ5aNzn6v3cKp3yaf7rGf1LdtkEmVQX4F6yJ9RcYZyeX8JolTzlOACYoykSjmlYTMY7rhP2hkBiY5I/s1600/IMG_8097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsR99yViiJTHKwsEh5-_iO5L-R9n184vdpzzgRIRlN-abWqv8OzUn2wkW-vmFeBqMJ5aNzn6v3cKp3yaf7rGf1LdtkEmVQX4F6yJ9RcYZyeX8JolTzlOACYoykSjmlYTMY7rhP2hkBiY5I/s400/IMG_8097.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Jefferson Library</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmxzYS4kBJAE5m8XWp0XF0Q9xmFLzqMeF6IVM9calhBYYDZSipx2LYK_jlNocB45Ncwf2OJAq845yGt5pX77h4MBJthEK2ayiOc_yXTO6LtFikB0_iaF6UeP__oNaFNy82g3AkjUELttz/s1600/IMG_8098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmxzYS4kBJAE5m8XWp0XF0Q9xmFLzqMeF6IVM9calhBYYDZSipx2LYK_jlNocB45Ncwf2OJAq845yGt5pX77h4MBJthEK2ayiOc_yXTO6LtFikB0_iaF6UeP__oNaFNy82g3AkjUELttz/s400/IMG_8098.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Some of the volumes in the Jefferson Library</td></tr>
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What we didn't expect was to see such an incredibly beautiful building on the inside. Wow! The photos don't really do it justice. See this one in person if you can! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1R6O-IRkl7v-psTQDqZ6Vlgk4Io2C9ykzLQKsF044ZBs7ksJ0Zvv9GIqsmhUdWyZVN42DJxYbELsSyzv6HmvDYME3eV3i56V00aNIYGo3Re-ZFObKELgSr0Tigbv0aljOhG01lNPUKOGi/s1600/IMG_8095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1R6O-IRkl7v-psTQDqZ6Vlgk4Io2C9ykzLQKsF044ZBs7ksJ0Zvv9GIqsmhUdWyZVN42DJxYbELsSyzv6HmvDYME3eV3i56V00aNIYGo3Re-ZFObKELgSr0Tigbv0aljOhG01lNPUKOGi/s640/IMG_8095.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-89627464370979101582016-08-24T21:58:00.000-07:002016-08-24T21:58:43.047-07:00Baltimore & Annapolis<br />
With only a few weeks left in our stay on the East Coast, we made one more trip to Baltimore in early August to check in with our youngest's amazing surgeon, Dr. S.<br />
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Thankfully, he was very pleased with how everything was healing 11-weeks post-surgery, and we got our final marching orders and reluctantly said our goodbyes to Dr. S and his staff. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZS9x0fJaz8CsBM-br_fvq9f3KUqMTzNVZCp6mR8UjHCz1mvP42Q-1lZTXKqpFtWNXBsB9VsoIdzB5xZtLfqL8OvHLFyD1MlzQ6wH2bqLjFNjFpw0lJvdVBv-i_usx46FLXnt9PtrJ9Tdf/s1600/IMG_8008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZS9x0fJaz8CsBM-br_fvq9f3KUqMTzNVZCp6mR8UjHCz1mvP42Q-1lZTXKqpFtWNXBsB9VsoIdzB5xZtLfqL8OvHLFyD1MlzQ6wH2bqLjFNjFpw0lJvdVBv-i_usx46FLXnt9PtrJ9Tdf/s400/IMG_8008.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonded through three surgeries in a year--hard to say goodbye!</td></tr>
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As we've done with previous surgeries, we celebrated the good news by once again heading down to Baltimore's Inner Harbor to take in the sights and have some lunch.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-C9HgvZiF7YcEIoZMUSr8-QC8v-0KOe66IxH5X_LSII69ymqMhwPBt0Ptw0Gs_sQaf-0jkA9h49l_vgkARvV72U15edOmnoP9UqTBm5zmpY-I5NvO_b__1qOAzmXCGNA9_GeIu0AOMPRe/s1600/IMG_2631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-C9HgvZiF7YcEIoZMUSr8-QC8v-0KOe66IxH5X_LSII69ymqMhwPBt0Ptw0Gs_sQaf-0jkA9h49l_vgkARvV72U15edOmnoP9UqTBm5zmpY-I5NvO_b__1qOAzmXCGNA9_GeIu0AOMPRe/s400/IMG_2631.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">USS Constellation (1797-1853)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLd5vpf1mgiAtv9B_TvujNL-YFcs6saGgd7yN6Je15UL_Qa2S8E90wzs-lmnJGx_paHkvZzRfsfQZkT4K8hO3tMQfU9DqtXYkG96nua_yv5V_1kjfnWJ7PmVXPAjtZuq6a0prjRFTP1VCJ/s1600/IMG_8009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLd5vpf1mgiAtv9B_TvujNL-YFcs6saGgd7yN6Je15UL_Qa2S8E90wzs-lmnJGx_paHkvZzRfsfQZkT4K8hO3tMQfU9DqtXYkG96nua_yv5V_1kjfnWJ7PmVXPAjtZuq6a0prjRFTP1VCJ/s320/IMG_8009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When in Baltimore, enjoy seafood! </td></tr>
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We decided to extend our adventures that day by heading home through Annapolis, which has been on our East Coast "bucket list." It was hard to really see the Naval Academy without actually going on campus, but we peeked through a few of the entrances and saw some of the Plebes wandering around town in their summer whites as we explored the historic waterfront area, which gave us a feel for the area and some of its inhabitants.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKtwquRk0MrOLfkyn5plWBDzpnRVl7ynjS4AQ5aFxnLR0gTizI4uHskN0yd6Nsb6DhEYG_j_li6kfAVw_9wFDiimbpeUcG6vsMlVh3MzT3CdCffehNjUgGLtzbRUZ4ol5hfxuHxXAEln-/s1600/IMG_8012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKtwquRk0MrOLfkyn5plWBDzpnRVl7ynjS4AQ5aFxnLR0gTizI4uHskN0yd6Nsb6DhEYG_j_li6kfAVw_9wFDiimbpeUcG6vsMlVh3MzT3CdCffehNjUgGLtzbRUZ4ol5hfxuHxXAEln-/s400/IMG_8012.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One of the side entrances to the Naval Academy</span></td></tr>
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It was oppressively hot that day, and being near the water added to the heat and humidity. Thankfully, there's an inordinate amount of ice cream shops in the town to help one keep cool.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1CNvjHcWvjbsYeYnm8SASWBrBIKmE7HUl8H_9QaO5IClcrrnc5fFdgIq9z1hmTrUSwIdFrb3oI8YiYPI2apQxy70dklwa0JmBbqWJUKnooOQBKMwgj0dOcLqcjffcYk6pDnC774B8VJD/s1600/IMG_8016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1CNvjHcWvjbsYeYnm8SASWBrBIKmE7HUl8H_9QaO5IClcrrnc5fFdgIq9z1hmTrUSwIdFrb3oI8YiYPI2apQxy70dklwa0JmBbqWJUKnooOQBKMwgj0dOcLqcjffcYk6pDnC774B8VJD/s400/IMG_8016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Historic Annapolis</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3m5dISh0hNePmUVdOYx46c0clwSVHQd2fTritDeZZmlUU85q9fF51__CQiwn1vlgksaMzYkGYLJSa8sOutBIDHbtBnLCxvyzRrch0Xhx6lFzo3hlHEVWFb8YeLXAjIpGXzr9GQ68i7lk/s1600/IMG_8020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3m5dISh0hNePmUVdOYx46c0clwSVHQd2fTritDeZZmlUU85q9fF51__CQiwn1vlgksaMzYkGYLJSa8sOutBIDHbtBnLCxvyzRrch0Xhx6lFzo3hlHEVWFb8YeLXAjIpGXzr9GQ68i7lk/s320/IMG_8020.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One of the many historic buildings in Annapolis</span></td></tr>
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We especially enjoyed seeing the Maryland State House, which has many claims to fame including that it is the only state house to serve as the nation's capitol, and during the time that it did (1783-1784), George Washington came before the Continental Congress to resign his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. It is the oldest continuously-operated state capitol building in the nation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPW-bM4nloBqVjzgRuV9maOI5pTcssHcv1hwP3NcXSNx4fRSxiENLYsTTuUUACu5YnIfXC30RldxxQYg6nuHs3Mqm6Xc368qKrX0KDmVUtqs0uvv_EYKOq-tGmKz8DlaaN9TAfQZ-f49fo/s1600/IMG_8018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPW-bM4nloBqVjzgRuV9maOI5pTcssHcv1hwP3NcXSNx4fRSxiENLYsTTuUUACu5YnIfXC30RldxxQYg6nuHs3Mqm6Xc368qKrX0KDmVUtqs0uvv_EYKOq-tGmKz8DlaaN9TAfQZ-f49fo/s400/IMG_8018.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Maryland State House (c. 1772)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoG_MMMVJ7vdy1jJOWHyDMtnZbqG8QaOiVQL501CUxubS-YMHoyQiDnGqh17bUWtCH43lrTJ9TAc0Qd8Oydm9C3thCNxd1edA5ozqI1wmNM3m1Ort5xn8-c04oVehQykzrb1LQREACsXr/s1600/IMG_8023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoG_MMMVJ7vdy1jJOWHyDMtnZbqG8QaOiVQL501CUxubS-YMHoyQiDnGqh17bUWtCH43lrTJ9TAc0Qd8Oydm9C3thCNxd1edA5ozqI1wmNM3m1Ort5xn8-c04oVehQykzrb1LQREACsXr/s320/IMG_8023.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Exploring the State House grounds</span></td></tr>
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We're adding Annapolis to the list of fave places discovered in our wanderings around Maryland. Hope we get to come back here and do more exploring another day! </div>
Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-40457734857431770662016-07-14T04:04:00.000-07:002016-07-14T04:04:01.389-07:00One Step at a Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has been two months since his third major surgery, and our youngest wanted to give everyone a quick update and share a few pictures to let you know what he has been up to.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQF0FxHfrMhTmf6Eax8WV6hZqtHFd2rwxms_gSlpDTIM_dq3ji0VBnpXN3OWUrNNcxfv8sn7cachpcAJKRZaJTXnU3MtlUv0_2P3yf8uiKVErINkIyLLaI80swxT065YGCmXB7ymnDpShv/s1600/IMG_7967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQF0FxHfrMhTmf6Eax8WV6hZqtHFd2rwxms_gSlpDTIM_dq3ji0VBnpXN3OWUrNNcxfv8sn7cachpcAJKRZaJTXnU3MtlUv0_2P3yf8uiKVErINkIyLLaI80swxT065YGCmXB7ymnDpShv/s400/IMG_7967.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling good at two months!</td></tr>
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It has been a LONG two months (but who's counting, ha!). True to form, he has been a trooper the entire time. <br />
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He was able to begin bearing weight on his legs fairly quickly because everything had been "rigidly fixated" with plates and screws, but it was easier said than done with both legs in short casts and knee immobilizers. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp03nWwrg-5xEzn1uwpTC7fpHZt0tJoXoSl_yTbGUlV6JC3T3Wc9A8hXnIeJ6Xmy0EOxnUKg-y1PLeAb99-2c_T3NlcloRzLYyfVsM0svcRUOFdSraYglBkU_bPaczLw63amq3ZhG2uqQH/s1600/IMG_7885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp03nWwrg-5xEzn1uwpTC7fpHZt0tJoXoSl_yTbGUlV6JC3T3Wc9A8hXnIeJ6Xmy0EOxnUKg-y1PLeAb99-2c_T3NlcloRzLYyfVsM0svcRUOFdSraYglBkU_bPaczLw63amq3ZhG2uqQH/s400/IMG_7885.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing and initial steps</td></tr>
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After a few weeks, we felt comfortable enough to get him out of the house (with much effort, since he was basically non-weight bearing), and we headed up to Maryland to start his PT!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuymVthsEs-tVGuGk9XJkVyOfBVEm5vNF-qOAU3hze3ZCsU2k30wHOpp7n9P7Zz9iRd4U1NdU1onf2iRQY6r98QPYw1EF_MbGvwvHKDvnbQuUAaWwBQl8qZXMIKpGZO0vzRnZywClOofo/s1600/IMG_7890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuymVthsEs-tVGuGk9XJkVyOfBVEm5vNF-qOAU3hze3ZCsU2k30wHOpp7n9P7Zz9iRd4U1NdU1onf2iRQY6r98QPYw1EF_MbGvwvHKDvnbQuUAaWwBQl8qZXMIKpGZO0vzRnZywClOofo/s400/IMG_7890.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ready for his first PT session</td></tr>
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Much of the first six weeks was spent keeping his legs straight and hanging out in his wheelchair. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2qFbvqCLdUUtnzjl-U1dSgaGhQYpYnf-Pw6XiZqyfCqAmsW6_tat_NpzFSuLArw2Ty6gUghc9ZsknY3z3hTLZ1vpKwDEUdEg3tBjSvanXZGAkvtHjusq9Zwz1VydpS_xnDFlAhF6_I9g/s1600/IMG_7854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2qFbvqCLdUUtnzjl-U1dSgaGhQYpYnf-Pw6XiZqyfCqAmsW6_tat_NpzFSuLArw2Ty6gUghc9ZsknY3z3hTLZ1vpKwDEUdEg3tBjSvanXZGAkvtHjusq9Zwz1VydpS_xnDFlAhF6_I9g/s400/IMG_7854.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His usual daytime set-up</td></tr>
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School here didn't get out until June 23rd, so there was still lots of school work to be done. He studied on his own during the day and then met with homebound instructors after school five days a week.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh51zK1_00-T0MN8CUeme-AX0TWHhP6MEMxqivTOrH84gQhjUMcu7q3PHMKYzahFeIBt9X2UaybVahuTY2Cy_VfNnLEDsVoHNNR2NlNGWsd2Z3XQymcY4uuri-GYcV59wTtDCQBCIKEKQL/s1600/IMG_7855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh51zK1_00-T0MN8CUeme-AX0TWHhP6MEMxqivTOrH84gQhjUMcu7q3PHMKYzahFeIBt9X2UaybVahuTY2Cy_VfNnLEDsVoHNNR2NlNGWsd2Z3XQymcY4uuri-GYcV59wTtDCQBCIKEKQL/s400/IMG_7855.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working hard to keep current with school from home</td></tr>
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He also figured out creative ways to keep his drum sticks moving. He can't wait until he can cut loose on the drum set like he used to before the surgery. The first two songs he plans to play when he sits down on the throne are Queen's "The Show Must Go On" and Led Zeppelin's "Ramble On."<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK970G3b0zjC3grsG3pMart25pu4-DxjCzDFnQZNwy5j1GoLnjcaFdyIhQfpHrvovWLJlTWX-z6Qi4hfW_o40f05MC6SeYnrQ0Ln390RgC9VKQvU6rX1fxKaApdHqSsKNG5jm_mOXIVoPT/s1600/IMG_7883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK970G3b0zjC3grsG3pMart25pu4-DxjCzDFnQZNwy5j1GoLnjcaFdyIhQfpHrvovWLJlTWX-z6Qi4hfW_o40f05MC6SeYnrQ0Ln390RgC9VKQvU6rX1fxKaApdHqSsKNG5jm_mOXIVoPT/s400/IMG_7883.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practicing his paradiddles</td></tr>
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We've also had some laughs with friends who wanted to drop in and say "hi." </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJocK-xCH6pjEW6A7-RFLinmXjZ5lw3nWaRClryzUDJbpOzFoBJWz9yY1X2faChr30sP6ZUzK7x7oZrOX9uUmEdJXJqcv6O1xpOwpMEkN7anInHfKd_adiWzbToMqu4oSxYoVVuK8y9Zw/s1600/IMG_7898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJocK-xCH6pjEW6A7-RFLinmXjZ5lw3nWaRClryzUDJbpOzFoBJWz9yY1X2faChr30sP6ZUzK7x7oZrOX9uUmEdJXJqcv6O1xpOwpMEkN7anInHfKd_adiWzbToMqu4oSxYoVVuK8y9Zw/s400/IMG_7898.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having a fun visit with some faves from WT Woodson</td></tr>
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At the six-week mark, we headed back up to Baltimore for his first post-op appointment with his amazing surgeon. Dr. S. took lots of xrays and thought things were healing well enough that his casts could come off and he could switch over to walking air casts that are removable. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZsw8r8r3CUev7Cc6PyXQT2wYup8UEEeeU_wWc_Ah6-h3n15GYFgFpUnvHMvpgGm_lOqPoZKq7EjQP3CbbFByPu38ShjwiHZjKXwKvxn819XzkYG4bFqta32yarzXMawbdzUX-PltAfda/s1600/IMG_7905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZsw8r8r3CUev7Cc6PyXQT2wYup8UEEeeU_wWc_Ah6-h3n15GYFgFpUnvHMvpgGm_lOqPoZKq7EjQP3CbbFByPu38ShjwiHZjKXwKvxn819XzkYG4bFqta32yarzXMawbdzUX-PltAfda/s400/IMG_7905.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharing a laugh at the post-op</td></tr>
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Talk about a life changer! These removable casts have been made life so much easier!! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAn22II2DgS8XcCxHGSBLLKyR_Yj08l-wLV600kpOKI93sq5MVJridrXRk9X9CjEVwhCGSeS-G6qH6eIgYacYXMpzgi7POjR5efjhNQM5mQR0TrQZzFA6oA4ytkLq3NzUMY1sygtqrRwL/s1600/IMG_7909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAn22II2DgS8XcCxHGSBLLKyR_Yj08l-wLV600kpOKI93sq5MVJridrXRk9X9CjEVwhCGSeS-G6qH6eIgYacYXMpzgi7POjR5efjhNQM5mQR0TrQZzFA6oA4ytkLq3NzUMY1sygtqrRwL/s400/IMG_7909.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removable air casts</td></tr>
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In the last week or so, we got him a new walker that he's using as he learns to walk again. He's doing great with it, but he is eager to start walking on his own again, without assistance. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziaFvqM_K8WzNykNGrLisSC_NGg2yUHzPCbjcXcF3AGA6nGLI6_HOJ9XzHwac4mSDMazRqL4khJwYXxVIw71lVUEKTPA0xy2yCFLiRct1yNrHE6Jc2LaPzT7-ybxeOQlAaDBpC__UDaAH/s1600/IMG_7964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziaFvqM_K8WzNykNGrLisSC_NGg2yUHzPCbjcXcF3AGA6nGLI6_HOJ9XzHwac4mSDMazRqL4khJwYXxVIw71lVUEKTPA0xy2yCFLiRct1yNrHE6Jc2LaPzT7-ybxeOQlAaDBpC__UDaAH/s400/IMG_7964.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Recovery and rehab from this one has been challenging, but this kid is determined, and he'll get there, one step at a time! <br />
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Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-84847357817717369872016-07-14T03:59:00.000-07:002016-07-14T03:59:06.835-07:00Evening Parade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Once a Marine, always a Marine . . . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nc3SWFQ_EWAHVVSw77h_hm1JBajE9wVY4Pb47yLtGICdQa-XJl85DAc566T_Diq7BTI2zSlIBgy82lXaHtAQ8hNAxIMBaFxEqW5OA_PkTZBtGDlzC8hIOYCW7Iemo3yMSYtrMonS95xp/s1600/IMG_2569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nc3SWFQ_EWAHVVSw77h_hm1JBajE9wVY4Pb47yLtGICdQa-XJl85DAc566T_Diq7BTI2zSlIBgy82lXaHtAQ8hNAxIMBaFxEqW5OA_PkTZBtGDlzC8hIOYCW7Iemo3yMSYtrMonS95xp/s400/IMG_2569.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We couldn't think of a better thing to do with our former (but always a) Marine on his 50th birthday than watching the Evening Parade at the USMC Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C. Known locally as "8th and I" due to its geographic location, this post was established in 1801 and is the oldest post of the Marine Corps.<br />
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Every Friday night during the summer months, Marine Barracks Washington puts on an evening parade and drill that is open to the public.<br />
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As luck would have it, the not-uncommon-in-the-summer afternoon thunderstorms and rains let up just hours before the parade was set to start, and we even caught glimpses of the sun and beautifully colorful skies as the sun was setting.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcm8rjwBqAW4FX_JjHEbLq4M0XP9yO5pQdFjmj9roRC9IbjtIwlx1ahhx9ENLfdVQkQVrvO4jzxld8ParcnocozLDOqdsAcoOzJ2EbDO3JLOKX93_thrX3582IrIGNJvG8ipbablUEBm4/s1600/IMG_7945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcm8rjwBqAW4FX_JjHEbLq4M0XP9yO5pQdFjmj9roRC9IbjtIwlx1ahhx9ENLfdVQkQVrvO4jzxld8ParcnocozLDOqdsAcoOzJ2EbDO3JLOKX93_thrX3582IrIGNJvG8ipbablUEBm4/s400/IMG_7945.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweltering in our seats as we waited for the Evening Parade to start</td></tr>
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Marine Barracks Washington is the home of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and our seats were at the end of the parade ground quite near the beautiful Commandant's Residence. The Commandant's Residence, constructed in 1806, has been the home of each of the Commandants of the Marine Corps since it was built, and it is the only original building still standing at this post.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3Flbo9u0qy1DJ-8i7CasmtggXfJAa3xbR6nZxMtKQvktNn0DCcldmuuG4wOCAAt3Rirjy9bWDsm80-S59LvY5NHwcilAgxPgbZrW5gnEAXS3QFk8VC25XOvR7o2wy2KDAqEV1xxeFqBe/s1600/IMG_7944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3Flbo9u0qy1DJ-8i7CasmtggXfJAa3xbR6nZxMtKQvktNn0DCcldmuuG4wOCAAt3Rirjy9bWDsm80-S59LvY5NHwcilAgxPgbZrW5gnEAXS3QFk8VC25XOvR7o2wy2KDAqEV1xxeFqBe/s400/IMG_7944.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Commandant's Residence at the edge of the parade ground</td></tr>
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Marine Barracks Washington has also been the home of the U.S. Marine Band since 1801, and it was here that John Philip Sousa, while serving as Director of the band, wrote many of his marches.<br />
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The Evening Parade featured concerts by both of the resident bands: the U.S. Marine Band ("The President's Own"), and the U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XHUwMumdxqeVBRDycnUibJm1ODBlUH_3U0nWYCrYD_esyZ6RfNORuZMrkd4bQ3_UGjWdyzGx3N-rAkC0zwhZXG6_DrM2gKutHpKqiGdpalyNvjSBIARc__PYQBm-JirFJc_aKKBWby6C/s1600/IMG_7947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XHUwMumdxqeVBRDycnUibJm1ODBlUH_3U0nWYCrYD_esyZ6RfNORuZMrkd4bQ3_UGjWdyzGx3N-rAkC0zwhZXG6_DrM2gKutHpKqiGdpalyNvjSBIARc__PYQBm-JirFJc_aKKBWby6C/s640/IMG_7947.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Beautiful skies at the start of the parade as the sun was setting<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJntC25aFLD04c6KSBUO7hBSc-yvQbxGhNcNzhMIo75hEfHjapgP0RO-5OZYci5CnaaKSd54YLC0eEtNrLVony3ANGUBDJeCUUj3h3sjeZvcCaK7n9IcbP9yCTIzS7Xf7EvWsjmunjI8b/s1600/Frame-12-07-2016-03-05-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJntC25aFLD04c6KSBUO7hBSc-yvQbxGhNcNzhMIo75hEfHjapgP0RO-5OZYci5CnaaKSd54YLC0eEtNrLVony3ANGUBDJeCUUj3h3sjeZvcCaK7n9IcbP9yCTIzS7Xf7EvWsjmunjI8b/s400/Frame-12-07-2016-03-05-30.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">"The President's Own" (U.S. Marine Band)</td></tr>
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Here's a brief snippet of the U.S. Marine Band passing by to give you the flavor . . .<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6JMqk-Tit0M/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6JMqk-Tit0M?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe><br />
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as well as a short video from the Drum & Bugle Corps concert later in the evening:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9XVblWOuxGg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9XVblWOuxGg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Oz2gEa8H2WEGN_nBQnaNie9pZ73jIEew13D2z-JxZk7P3whbG3oSZpHb79fB8Up0nnz7ys4vsXdQ946KjNPrP-azhe_b1zSUDF9d86G982325fC1vMEWInv9YvXzMtDOx_JvSPTyUcgq/s1600/IMG_7946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Oz2gEa8H2WEGN_nBQnaNie9pZ73jIEew13D2z-JxZk7P3whbG3oSZpHb79fB8Up0nnz7ys4vsXdQ946KjNPrP-azhe_b1zSUDF9d86G982325fC1vMEWInv9YvXzMtDOx_JvSPTyUcgq/s400/IMG_7946.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting to know a member of the Drum and Bugle Corps.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUa5oQLBzbEnEhPeZTzv_A2KtmfRouWBjeWjiih7GAmV1x2QwuGskbpzIBid5myMpG8n2i_oeXfo6Hga0AZRVoSV25ITapUTtrTCEuHm-owG6TVnXLYvptJeF6qDFt5jckp8KtsmFPlHT/s1600/IMG_7952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUa5oQLBzbEnEhPeZTzv_A2KtmfRouWBjeWjiih7GAmV1x2QwuGskbpzIBid5myMpG8n2i_oeXfo6Hga0AZRVoSV25ITapUTtrTCEuHm-owG6TVnXLYvptJeF6qDFt5jckp8KtsmFPlHT/s400/IMG_7952.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The President's Own"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9X3ZxUFRlN-wzoKIm7XjLovPHw8eCacl9QFJq4jzpRj45qDEYuaqnLCKLGGm2IFMY1a8MF3NAMx5Ii7wyHk8WiS-4dhmpnWTmyX5n4I0zZIqEvYHJHt3XH2zordBaFRF8IJNNbEPQfKh4/s1600/IMG_7954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9X3ZxUFRlN-wzoKIm7XjLovPHw8eCacl9QFJq4jzpRj45qDEYuaqnLCKLGGm2IFMY1a8MF3NAMx5Ii7wyHk8WiS-4dhmpnWTmyX5n4I0zZIqEvYHJHt3XH2zordBaFRF8IJNNbEPQfKh4/s400/IMG_7954.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both bands combined</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another highlight was watching the "Silent Drill Platoon" perform. They were mostly on the other side of the parade ground so we didn't get any good pictures to share, but we were mesmerized by the coordination and precision with which they flung and spun their 10.5-pound rifles (with bayonets fixed, which added even more weight!). Thankfully there were no mishaps.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDmiDydLeNH-UAFlxXVoYH4SUAO4HRC3TFhpvmDhJyd-x5Q0laDsWFxO1bmmsmF8VPxS4PX9mNUttMBGLIrDoj8Sa4Q06UvGojkuLvrSn6FPIYllRbxMyTQia2YbUg3HrlfSwyAiQ5Gje/s1600/IMG_7955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDmiDydLeNH-UAFlxXVoYH4SUAO4HRC3TFhpvmDhJyd-x5Q0laDsWFxO1bmmsmF8VPxS4PX9mNUttMBGLIrDoj8Sa4Q06UvGojkuLvrSn6FPIYllRbxMyTQia2YbUg3HrlfSwyAiQ5Gje/s400/IMG_7955.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forming up the Battalion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before retiring the colors and playing "Taps" to conclude the evening, we got to see the entire Battalion march before us in the "Pass and Review." It was an impressive sea of identical bodies, all moving as one. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNL4dHNvTdBilPQU9fN6PpuJj4P3tCNPC9Y1xQH2I9uJWNOW7Fk2X1Qr_uv1zz8-GXT3nxo3R9XZ_nH7t76wTUra3QYmtQoRMGQ3NlQ7IpLJxwIJYL8uiNtViqQ-GWDtjuPqy-tYQlh5tT/s1600/IMG_7958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNL4dHNvTdBilPQU9fN6PpuJj4P3tCNPC9Y1xQH2I9uJWNOW7Fk2X1Qr_uv1zz8-GXT3nxo3R9XZ_nH7t76wTUra3QYmtQoRMGQ3NlQ7IpLJxwIJYL8uiNtViqQ-GWDtjuPqy-tYQlh5tT/s400/IMG_7958.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pass in Review</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What a great way to spend a summer evening . . . "oorah" to the Marines and Semper Fidelis!</div>
Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-76205154492540227752016-07-14T03:54:00.000-07:002016-07-14T03:54:07.776-07:00Celebrating Our Independence<br />
Even the rainy weather couldn't put a damper on the 4th of July celebrations down at George Washington's lovely Mount Vernon estate last week. We don't have any photos of our own to share because our reenactors were busy reenacting and their phones stayed hidden in their haversacks, so we are sharing, with permission, a few of the beautiful photos taken by fellow First Virginian, Troy Corbett, to give you the flavor of the day.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnh8oJv272SGA7hasGY_-hDYg9MyzTozzJS6bO46F2Hlz7PAXYGtdSbl0Bfws_MuXV-OMk5anifPE9ooLkX4iW2LXD76HLau58Lv6TPfmCYOyukbeIj-V6AdBBjfCDAlom-eJ5jPRhGlt/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnh8oJv272SGA7hasGY_-hDYg9MyzTozzJS6bO46F2Hlz7PAXYGtdSbl0Bfws_MuXV-OMk5anifPE9ooLkX4iW2LXD76HLau58Lv6TPfmCYOyukbeIj-V6AdBBjfCDAlom-eJ5jPRhGlt/s400/1VA4Jul2016-43.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The esteemed General once again hosted the festivities. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPHrmkbGp4WPnzyiOx29fBIrzhObM5BmBVDo8HQXAjXng1JxZPG_EMXn_WZyztGr66WH4iF8Xl4MK0Q8re9ajikJG_Rnjwuy7JL-zaxYKiqm4Hi_RQEimFRjQHftsv0jlae0Yd3YHYzMS/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPHrmkbGp4WPnzyiOx29fBIrzhObM5BmBVDo8HQXAjXng1JxZPG_EMXn_WZyztGr66WH4iF8Xl4MK0Q8re9ajikJG_Rnjwuy7JL-zaxYKiqm4Hi_RQEimFRjQHftsv0jlae0Yd3YHYzMS/s320/1VA4Jul2016-138.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxmyhOkSK99Ml7KEcampHeXNukTW7q2WNde4GIGtXbyibmS2FQoWOXYu-b-hL5dA1zAd-2pqHQLacKFI0ZRnbe9MCKPWoc86fM-IRwIgcUIMREahuFiWfh1mCrYmYXjMFSFlyz1Syab_C/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxmyhOkSK99Ml7KEcampHeXNukTW7q2WNde4GIGtXbyibmS2FQoWOXYu-b-hL5dA1zAd-2pqHQLacKFI0ZRnbe9MCKPWoc86fM-IRwIgcUIMREahuFiWfh1mCrYmYXjMFSFlyz1Syab_C/s640/1VA4Jul2016-38.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Benjamin Franklin was given the honor of reading the Declaration of Independence. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeOKGvxNK9EpYO7z6k74Gh4LjjJU5om2xnj-7ZIwwCcaeyU4JyIMkcg2OKBGSM_KY4LNqcEvzB1N830XwRdA7ndO-cFSfOrgee9wiGLofMTIQDJaSn4W8VAeByxa7aFWHckajoH1o6aDD/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeOKGvxNK9EpYO7z6k74Gh4LjjJU5om2xnj-7ZIwwCcaeyU4JyIMkcg2OKBGSM_KY4LNqcEvzB1N830XwRdA7ndO-cFSfOrgee9wiGLofMTIQDJaSn4W8VAeByxa7aFWHckajoH1o6aDD/s320/1VA4Jul2016-17.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The First Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line was there to help add excitement.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76GrLHYe62by9kY1aVgB4-u9c4GhXg5YAUPFASoTqhgyzFEspofrS9hYZPnsMSoUxxL1aEJbc_a7nYW77PflqEXR5fDCEX4-4kTw2AIScW0At7vYXngoM9Dvx9xBnkGqnIWOa8pN3TE-N/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-92.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76GrLHYe62by9kY1aVgB4-u9c4GhXg5YAUPFASoTqhgyzFEspofrS9hYZPnsMSoUxxL1aEJbc_a7nYW77PflqEXR5fDCEX4-4kTw2AIScW0At7vYXngoM9Dvx9xBnkGqnIWOa8pN3TE-N/s640/1VA4Jul2016-92.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGsPktHZlIJnWx8cfkq9YaPFLwLHuTOBM-gAcDbOhCBmry1GWYiTFTmcrgNBVQ3WUyBHQQe5mabwWQ3hO9ODWfb65j4vfX3n_xYLeCPq2ku3Jr8UaIMiLzxMASvMwzEcTVp4pgYyz-9Au/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGsPktHZlIJnWx8cfkq9YaPFLwLHuTOBM-gAcDbOhCBmry1GWYiTFTmcrgNBVQ3WUyBHQQe5mabwWQ3hO9ODWfb65j4vfX3n_xYLeCPq2ku3Jr8UaIMiLzxMASvMwzEcTVp4pgYyz-9Au/s400/1VA4Jul2016-15.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwszrWJakJh_pCscfs7Q0n9-2rns5-1X7ZXkV7Ecb8MTxMjDguX7RVjloIZG1ZPkl2ajAowqHoN-rR9eIMaSBN0CFRq7SdYpuRFPp1bMX7hxV26tKiVIxK3Vr5d1sFjb7jPt4e2yY9Vr-/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwszrWJakJh_pCscfs7Q0n9-2rns5-1X7ZXkV7Ecb8MTxMjDguX7RVjloIZG1ZPkl2ajAowqHoN-rR9eIMaSBN0CFRq7SdYpuRFPp1bMX7hxV26tKiVIxK3Vr5d1sFjb7jPt4e2yY9Vr-/s400/1VA4Jul2016-20.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
They conducted military drills . . .<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhil9A8VxYFJvXKGptyx93quhGwbXAKY5dq9Mh_xtCmsjozsfOoDLjloouyRDBOK-m0KnEQD8QqfO9D2jHY-rZEiCYdIxaursRLagy2zl-Y6pwUNy0WtKACqQWK_EowQhm0ljNnDRJFYnLC/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhil9A8VxYFJvXKGptyx93quhGwbXAKY5dq9Mh_xtCmsjozsfOoDLjloouyRDBOK-m0KnEQD8QqfO9D2jHY-rZEiCYdIxaursRLagy2zl-Y6pwUNy0WtKACqQWK_EowQhm0ljNnDRJFYnLC/s400/1VA4Jul2016-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8Yka-d7SAPC2r3cYCrbaEC-RJtzga2w3y-CVxroETh0uPfnT0uK3-SStPB8TDSbi91juuWNdIC7zseH3DWOlsIJbX2V90CggI9oJ2i3nZn-mJKayFj470gNPRWQ5qGbQva77v9W99mxY/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8Yka-d7SAPC2r3cYCrbaEC-RJtzga2w3y-CVxroETh0uPfnT0uK3-SStPB8TDSbi91juuWNdIC7zseH3DWOlsIJbX2V90CggI9oJ2i3nZn-mJKayFj470gNPRWQ5qGbQva77v9W99mxY/s400/1VA4Jul2016-170.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5AoXAaiSiwKkFI9HGhHN4Ek3qCAYE790I_4gVVZUwmwMyD0gqGkPgNFXkDLxemhbeJ-5aT2r8SMxmI56rUqzRPeSlvphtS2SNFpBir6lzBWCT0_tU2SiYSuq-KNHmSdLh5z7T9PyWG0T/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5AoXAaiSiwKkFI9HGhHN4Ek3qCAYE790I_4gVVZUwmwMyD0gqGkPgNFXkDLxemhbeJ-5aT2r8SMxmI56rUqzRPeSlvphtS2SNFpBir6lzBWCT0_tU2SiYSuq-KNHmSdLh5z7T9PyWG0T/s400/1VA4Jul2016-175.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
and firing demonstrations . . .<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTSMsymVYog7MgTNdkeXQxowH4KjE06OmdTw8_BQ4h6k0zH05h2wP-zDOl1Tww5ljPjHcThtRcxG9yMJdv3DDtjGw5S8R9lD5TiF3zo8L879fu4L7ubDmaZOsxiThUD0BL8RTHoqdvwVy/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTSMsymVYog7MgTNdkeXQxowH4KjE06OmdTw8_BQ4h6k0zH05h2wP-zDOl1Tww5ljPjHcThtRcxG9yMJdv3DDtjGw5S8R9lD5TiF3zo8L879fu4L7ubDmaZOsxiThUD0BL8RTHoqdvwVy/s640/1VA4Jul2016-45.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqqANM69Xvuoxg-pNiWgPlNXA02uF5AFRV4D1Tzf6bHRX34ZJ4YEmK4zfGsQFKsA7ZGYd89RJ_lNVD_KRkih_NnLjoKYdG8jh4gKZSmdzDUul6au2bJ411fuuJROPRvyZIyyz00dC8oYv/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqqANM69Xvuoxg-pNiWgPlNXA02uF5AFRV4D1Tzf6bHRX34ZJ4YEmK4zfGsQFKsA7ZGYd89RJ_lNVD_KRkih_NnLjoKYdG8jh4gKZSmdzDUul6au2bJ411fuuJROPRvyZIyyz00dC8oYv/s400/1VA4Jul2016-46.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigt6VdY06Vu01iszbkFpaKI_T_7icFAH1qu_o97Ch-5almczopLv8Hm-wAyQkVehSPD3QrOuMfLhZMX9TZlWYIyw4lrSiUX24rsNi1grB1BnkSr4TdtLoNUDJLaBUaqFXP_1ofXtv9z-OS/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigt6VdY06Vu01iszbkFpaKI_T_7icFAH1qu_o97Ch-5almczopLv8Hm-wAyQkVehSPD3QrOuMfLhZMX9TZlWYIyw4lrSiUX24rsNi1grB1BnkSr4TdtLoNUDJLaBUaqFXP_1ofXtv9z-OS/s400/1VA4Jul2016-48.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-o_1oawB5p5X27e7OGw7Nu1j3DKSn94RTYD_kt_8JH_Yn2fm5dhBpBQpnMgTU4LTm2kLyEVhQ0bG9ZlUqzsoVoO_4Lkooyv5WYVLErA4VCV5rYLstdk_-qYDDFc0z1mp_uLol47NOE4wb/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-o_1oawB5p5X27e7OGw7Nu1j3DKSn94RTYD_kt_8JH_Yn2fm5dhBpBQpnMgTU4LTm2kLyEVhQ0bG9ZlUqzsoVoO_4Lkooyv5WYVLErA4VCV5rYLstdk_-qYDDFc0z1mp_uLol47NOE4wb/s400/1VA4Jul2016-161.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
and even posted guards to stand watch at the front of the mansion.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIGbyhq-Fdd7wU_PnXMdySN8o9gWa-JlATz7f3CGArxK4_cCvBds8ntX4BTg8V_wYSM8xLhuhaW7_qVnHteN4tShYmfBm4n4b4bNHeblTBjB-rW1UHWBrZ7ScwbPvDcujML8byQyaG63K/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIGbyhq-Fdd7wU_PnXMdySN8o9gWa-JlATz7f3CGArxK4_cCvBds8ntX4BTg8V_wYSM8xLhuhaW7_qVnHteN4tShYmfBm4n4b4bNHeblTBjB-rW1UHWBrZ7ScwbPvDcujML8byQyaG63K/s640/1VA4Jul2016-98.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXJt6kYi5pgzlVXAlaTKsh7r4D4QFXw140kSQYNd6LAOHPZ7myS8oZuTk8fCsvtf25BGUMqueB76Zp8ViakL0A0H2JYSS_f-c4VXcpoN9eeDIlpbh0fU64r4CqKabVy8LkirCx4jJ4BiR/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-99.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXJt6kYi5pgzlVXAlaTKsh7r4D4QFXw140kSQYNd6LAOHPZ7myS8oZuTk8fCsvtf25BGUMqueB76Zp8ViakL0A0H2JYSS_f-c4VXcpoN9eeDIlpbh0fU64r4CqKabVy8LkirCx4jJ4BiR/s640/1VA4Jul2016-99.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
General Washington also took advantage of the opportunity to inspect his troops, making sure to point out those who were in violation of the facial hair regulations (including our oldest son, much to his chagrin, though he wasn't the most flagrant violator that day). <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9Y3b29zG0QW4B2Mghbt3R7-xo2iSUf_qnCviwL3x20JRrRbtrANuzKW-Y7NxFTIqIipqkCr6J6AcpQvhFmyEU1ravCjjNCXZ9IORtKjCB0asqg99pbW849EqIh3liEM6pR0FMjXxxGl7/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9Y3b29zG0QW4B2Mghbt3R7-xo2iSUf_qnCviwL3x20JRrRbtrANuzKW-Y7NxFTIqIipqkCr6J6AcpQvhFmyEU1ravCjjNCXZ9IORtKjCB0asqg99pbW849EqIh3liEM6pR0FMjXxxGl7/s400/1VA4Jul2016-33.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was a day filled with good cheer and an appropriate amount of reverence for the sacrifices of our forefathers that resulted in the founding of an independent nation based upon ideals of basic rights and freedoms that we still enjoy today. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih550VESQMbFRfmxtj0TUea98XKxuLG5hmEV0j8evSXfNaMiLR1oC5ycx2qykPRkqUyTjgorKiog6lGQUL3EJ38f8GxWJV3IatoaRdunnx3eT2YZ4EHX9dhy4_KkymynXG7urrhYoLqwKj/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih550VESQMbFRfmxtj0TUea98XKxuLG5hmEV0j8evSXfNaMiLR1oC5ycx2qykPRkqUyTjgorKiog6lGQUL3EJ38f8GxWJV3IatoaRdunnx3eT2YZ4EHX9dhy4_KkymynXG7urrhYoLqwKj/s640/1VA4Jul2016-158.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUE86w-TQMrdUhffiUUiVUNNOOqs-fj_aikmW4AGVylAuOsGMSLO6fCWQFmKsC0yMU870K2Y7CfIBbUPnLXOwajouMFP18-7ZBwpRdyevundCXteS7Bf9qH3SXYsoFpCgIkEpCb4zKzCN1/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUE86w-TQMrdUhffiUUiVUNNOOqs-fj_aikmW4AGVylAuOsGMSLO6fCWQFmKsC0yMU870K2Y7CfIBbUPnLXOwajouMFP18-7ZBwpRdyevundCXteS7Bf9qH3SXYsoFpCgIkEpCb4zKzCN1/s320/1VA4Jul2016-76.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Troy Corbett</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BUk2j8aipEQq_5d1P2RieEkXyAjI7PQ8swBwxxAtY9d1COpozMozcr_nIoIQeEx2jIgIYCqikZNVSpJI9us2MUrIorhvxUUpCOH6Ko7HIIBHFph7T9j_8zime-fWJaLZ4pqD2uVuFR0E/s1600/1VA4Jul2016-130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BUk2j8aipEQq_5d1P2RieEkXyAjI7PQ8swBwxxAtY9d1COpozMozcr_nIoIQeEx2jIgIYCqikZNVSpJI9us2MUrIorhvxUUpCOH6Ko7HIIBHFph7T9j_8zime-fWJaLZ4pqD2uVuFR0E/s400/1VA4Jul2016-130.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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For those of you who want to see more photos from the event, including photos of the daytime fireworks and the naturalization ceremony for 100 new citizens, here's a link to an album posted by Ninja Pix (Buddy Secor) on Facebook:<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Ninja-Pix-542902639063759/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1209783369042346" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/Ninja-Pix-542902639063759/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1209783369042346</a><br />
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Or if you prefer live action video, here's a link to news story that aired on our local NBC station:<br />
<a href="http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Celebrating-Independence-Day-at-Mount-Vernon_Washington-DC-385577511.html" target="_blank">http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Celebrating-Independence-Day-at-Mount-Vernon_Washington-DC-385577511.html</a><br />
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Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-40641288858397183772016-07-04T14:44:00.001-07:002016-07-04T14:44:09.592-07:00Keeping Vigil<br />
While the rest of us were sleeping on the eve of Memorial Day, the members of the First Virginia Regiment were keeping watch in the rain at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution in Alexandria, VA.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pA3AP7PYTMzstj7i5sa_xCx-8MRanwsB_musnZZFd2tYE-6O0DMP127mKfjqek9Ui7rxTM1DZubUxfYQiEIkwGGsD0FQrZfYiFfskFuefKwW0RK6znoEMDRyUBKQmsLR5pYhnFLMqfcc/s1600/13320747_10209705884232827_7749186437732045096_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pA3AP7PYTMzstj7i5sa_xCx-8MRanwsB_musnZZFd2tYE-6O0DMP127mKfjqek9Ui7rxTM1DZubUxfYQiEIkwGGsD0FQrZfYiFfskFuefKwW0RK6znoEMDRyUBKQmsLR5pYhnFLMqfcc/s400/13320747_10209705884232827_7749186437732045096_o.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Andrea Cochrane Tracey</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The tomb is discreetly located in the corner of the churchyard cemetery at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House. <br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3OUiPOyzqe5PhMq6iCG87oWNj9YuIWQAh9D_BrHN1LeE5nnoLGRMjWwSkVz2E7OAZ_YLi186iMBf67uEQtJH-K2dO5bH_AWN92UHOkN0izlJUcafH-iIz0AIRnbqEW1Q9M5ntwk62c9v-/s1600/13329760_10207070410058794_1926432782_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3OUiPOyzqe5PhMq6iCG87oWNj9YuIWQAh9D_BrHN1LeE5nnoLGRMjWwSkVz2E7OAZ_YLi186iMBf67uEQtJH-K2dO5bH_AWN92UHOkN0izlJUcafH-iIz0AIRnbqEW1Q9M5ntwk62c9v-/s400/13329760_10207070410058794_1926432782_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Michael Itamura</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unlike the tomb of the unknown soldier at Arlington National Cemetery just down the road, this tomb only gets a handful of visitors each day. For those of you interested in learning more, the following links will tell you more about the site:<br />
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<a href="http://www.legion.org/magazine/64818/unknown-revolutionary" target="_blank">http://www.legion.org/magazine/64818/unknown-revolutionary</a><br />
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<a href="http://blogs.weta.org/boundarystones/2012/11/13/less-known-unknown" target="_blank">http://blogs.weta.org/boundarystones/2012/11/13/less-known-unknown</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXi6tHj0MQcGLkzXIalx7-edu4AeRk_rVUecahblMFb70IkvAC1X9YNr5z9HJuIkmLMy9hfL_OjQ7XFrEvyhclG94HXrfeKSXAK_wvU3yXR3oXKGsM8jMribNY_jZTixBwXEdaWss6XzNI/s1600/13318437_10207070410018793_1654458341_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXi6tHj0MQcGLkzXIalx7-edu4AeRk_rVUecahblMFb70IkvAC1X9YNr5z9HJuIkmLMy9hfL_OjQ7XFrEvyhclG94HXrfeKSXAK_wvU3yXR3oXKGsM8jMribNY_jZTixBwXEdaWss6XzNI/s400/13318437_10207070410018793_1654458341_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Michael Itamura</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Members of the regiment that participated in the vigil stood at rigid attention with muskets shouldered, conducting shift changes every hour on the hour, for the entire 24 hours leading up to a wreath laying ceremony that took place on Memorial Day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8fcTfCY2BNxGsAfLjUvnknBdR7I8xg3JF-O9miCu11YZzjC-uLTA6Xu6n6Rlxm_Ic1yTQFUWYqSfFpOyG-6Ip6DoX3dpod3mUbQlNPVtdK1VEad0sQyTlrTuIkSZq9rFHRug-7_bncVx/s1600/IMG_2412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8fcTfCY2BNxGsAfLjUvnknBdR7I8xg3JF-O9miCu11YZzjC-uLTA6Xu6n6Rlxm_Ic1yTQFUWYqSfFpOyG-6Ip6DoX3dpod3mUbQlNPVtdK1VEad0sQyTlrTuIkSZq9rFHRug-7_bncVx/s400/IMG_2412.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Kitted out for the ceremony</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6J0bt-erXclvhBFikalMVIBQ63KPAjhXHyzBwBpthxdZo4HozWg5wT7yKuV_qkgHoZ4KevyJWmb1eyx1nyin7of73fqKTwOKa8uFsh86Y26xeTYcwNGcCJH2juvaG_zI_at_H5MmEg0S/s1600/IMG_2410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6J0bt-erXclvhBFikalMVIBQ63KPAjhXHyzBwBpthxdZo4HozWg5wT7yKuV_qkgHoZ4KevyJWmb1eyx1nyin7of73fqKTwOKa8uFsh86Y26xeTYcwNGcCJH2juvaG_zI_at_H5MmEg0S/s400/IMG_2410.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the ceremony to begin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTaBi2EJIYk-Z5ReNMqGiiy5CP2sOqGaY9L9DzeNk9A463VnUcowC_l1YJpGdm9qkqB9ESvnJggsFWPg704DOPgHqFggCL-AheWPzLZONPqqrjrzvowOwitKN4gQheQNsvHlN7a_MKeb3/s1600/13305132_10207074343677132_927975969481847781_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTaBi2EJIYk-Z5ReNMqGiiy5CP2sOqGaY9L9DzeNk9A463VnUcowC_l1YJpGdm9qkqB9ESvnJggsFWPg704DOPgHqFggCL-AheWPzLZONPqqrjrzvowOwitKN4gQheQNsvHlN7a_MKeb3/s400/13305132_10207074343677132_927975969481847781_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Raising the flag--</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Michael Itamura</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiabWMmXe3Pg-qWK2ZMbWQHI_wNPnKgOC8wK9OjPEck3eOYPFC7XDC13wpX-5CXyG_sNJTC7LW2XcAykA5BjeMaXHRYfSxjt9K-1hZ4CjKDvBJKC8UnHJHZQlzGIUvyYa1WZCNekG8flx-/s1600/13320831_10209486780872115_856821944947170085_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiabWMmXe3Pg-qWK2ZMbWQHI_wNPnKgOC8wK9OjPEck3eOYPFC7XDC13wpX-5CXyG_sNJTC7LW2XcAykA5BjeMaXHRYfSxjt9K-1hZ4CjKDvBJKC8UnHJHZQlzGIUvyYa1WZCNekG8flx-/s400/13320831_10209486780872115_856821944947170085_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Michael Itamura</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfWkhiRIBKI19SbDW6HzW1RRUWXnjzlkNlWpL7Vf9cVrgWsWNEwjh7uUYX7qJOkNv93lxUyn7bZtodpRtgV6rum8Rn4te2mwF8vxiuX-sJi1db-Q6tBajS7LFz27oxNtTaV3TrNov-sPv/s1600/13323356_10207074347277222_706922588266472719_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfWkhiRIBKI19SbDW6HzW1RRUWXnjzlkNlWpL7Vf9cVrgWsWNEwjh7uUYX7qJOkNv93lxUyn7bZtodpRtgV6rum8Rn4te2mwF8vxiuX-sJi1db-Q6tBajS7LFz27oxNtTaV3TrNov-sPv/s400/13323356_10207074347277222_706922588266472719_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Michael Itamura</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtHv80Znn5Hszn8HZNUxMbVTQpKryWRIqVq4r4JsDhWGp9Rx3i20ro2JBpVdMCfU1kKxhx4zBu_TgedsT0bmEHJt54NEtIFE7RbJMrN3bbs4bQpWGDkxyI1VPYfyMPWNz1UgQK_JZXv-h/s1600/13329517_10207074347317223_920650702684242966_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtHv80Znn5Hszn8HZNUxMbVTQpKryWRIqVq4r4JsDhWGp9Rx3i20ro2JBpVdMCfU1kKxhx4zBu_TgedsT0bmEHJt54NEtIFE7RbJMrN3bbs4bQpWGDkxyI1VPYfyMPWNz1UgQK_JZXv-h/s400/13329517_10207074347317223_920650702684242966_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Michael Itamura</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYFdYwUADuTgzHdmuDzQBlOOzJZ1H14Duscf-uXpG4pYjS1L94SWJqQvVbbpx1U02hAYyxj22gIdnB7H3ICJ1joqRYzls5N2E9NMfLlBC29M6tktkH905iOY95EqtjkTKqBQp9ZtfvxVI/s1600/13350326_10207074339637031_4985301912833259056_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYFdYwUADuTgzHdmuDzQBlOOzJZ1H14Duscf-uXpG4pYjS1L94SWJqQvVbbpx1U02hAYyxj22gIdnB7H3ICJ1joqRYzls5N2E9NMfLlBC29M6tktkH905iOY95EqtjkTKqBQp9ZtfvxVI/s320/13350326_10207074339637031_4985301912833259056_o.jpg" width="205" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Michael Itamura</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Z5s9Tsta9OJ7DMky3st9ovJbRj4uvRhRX1VxJ1bCd-6Li6ucgxQ6cJ-GLKhu13sqstrLcIwGbUDWlO7aCqmb9j5N2hmmZDcpDE5aoCdZKqdTLtw5vaImNUzP4EvfO4EoKxhHFrQudvUm/s1600/13305197_10207074357357474_6195058787840857160_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Z5s9Tsta9OJ7DMky3st9ovJbRj4uvRhRX1VxJ1bCd-6Li6ucgxQ6cJ-GLKhu13sqstrLcIwGbUDWlO7aCqmb9j5N2hmmZDcpDE5aoCdZKqdTLtw5vaImNUzP4EvfO4EoKxhHFrQudvUm/s400/13305197_10207074357357474_6195058787840857160_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Michael Itamura</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFDNESDjQNVDPD9OnkStpPODpWIp_Xn3BdDTbxQrLa84ArtZwN38aWv15uWa0WHu5414zH_eNY0zd_4z2FfdUSXExY0Ha_OZkmR_gqCyxI2osC6GkVCCRN4xKEPOSNgAy-YT8xverztY6/s1600/13308676_10207074355917438_4855502604101987846_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFDNESDjQNVDPD9OnkStpPODpWIp_Xn3BdDTbxQrLa84ArtZwN38aWv15uWa0WHu5414zH_eNY0zd_4z2FfdUSXExY0Ha_OZkmR_gqCyxI2osC6GkVCCRN4xKEPOSNgAy-YT8xverztY6/s400/13308676_10207074355917438_4855502604101987846_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">21-Gun Salate--</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Michael Itamura</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYMvwLTbu40uvO4tRKQnuYPTiNcpgroo6efMOLWuzR8UgUSAyiaMla-kCGoOUQ0xVQzRnUXPsHmsC4o33BXyyekR5oQwVFWUtPvC0U32sf7KMtzrm-RWEhC-BMFEOwAs1aONerENH42pj/s1600/13340176_10207074357237471_8424204785901663486_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYMvwLTbu40uvO4tRKQnuYPTiNcpgroo6efMOLWuzR8UgUSAyiaMla-kCGoOUQ0xVQzRnUXPsHmsC4o33BXyyekR5oQwVFWUtPvC0U32sf7KMtzrm-RWEhC-BMFEOwAs1aONerENH42pj/s400/13340176_10207074357237471_8424204785901663486_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Michael Itamura</span></td></tr>
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Our First Virginians report that it was an incredible honor to stand vigil over the tomb that represents the sacrifices our forefathers made to secure the freedoms and liberty we enjoy today. Our blessings abound! <br />
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<br />Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-12851209334555026852016-07-04T14:41:00.001-07:002016-07-04T14:41:47.752-07:00A Call to Arms 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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His Excellency the esteemed General George Washington once again opened his fine estate in early May to allow spectators to watch another major engagement of British and American forces at Mount Vernon. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_rd_52enkU7vep2q_FiDDe15nJmcoJUS6e_WDsusvs_RD9AUO2R8z4KppfbyqrYYKJXIbwJVaugCWQaVyz32BfC91rbIbJm8wA5qajiS2N9AghJlDNsv8G5L5bGNZfvsUl-hvIniRu2l/s1600/MtVernon-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_rd_52enkU7vep2q_FiDDe15nJmcoJUS6e_WDsusvs_RD9AUO2R8z4KppfbyqrYYKJXIbwJVaugCWQaVyz32BfC91rbIbJm8wA5qajiS2N9AghJlDNsv8G5L5bGNZfvsUl-hvIniRu2l/s400/MtVernon-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
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The First Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line, along with about 650 other reenactors from locations as far away as Ohio, Quebec and New Hampshire, encamped on the beautiful grounds of Mount Vernon. There were Redcoats, Patriots, Dragoons, Jaegers, Royal and Continental Artillery, Riflemen, Light infantry, surgeons, sutlers and even camp followers. The Marquis de Lafayette was also there to help the Patriots with their battle plans. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2ZUdHVG7krUbOpiuEvOA_E_OectfAOWDOmkdf_6rXxS2Flyy5UT6pg_K6lN4VhMUxbaTo84_324SAFAFuUHTvX2FsM8phMyRRFmrpH1rwr2nQyiQUMkjP6qZqrOUrKHvieNxO9gVh6vr/s1600/IMG_7765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2ZUdHVG7krUbOpiuEvOA_E_OectfAOWDOmkdf_6rXxS2Flyy5UT6pg_K6lN4VhMUxbaTo84_324SAFAFuUHTvX2FsM8phMyRRFmrpH1rwr2nQyiQUMkjP6qZqrOUrKHvieNxO9gVh6vr/s400/IMG_7765.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging in camp before the big battle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyMjLXWYMvoX-SGX5mk0nOocLj0DZlMb_PJD3I0DgM73xjgtbNUzoC8K5afAbi5kRrTns3fb24B0qeBU270NMpsctAlzzZDkVuh6BEud6va4y-okVWV5c9AJXjjIIyq2nskXmUU4fRhrO/s1600/IMG_7768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyMjLXWYMvoX-SGX5mk0nOocLj0DZlMb_PJD3I0DgM73xjgtbNUzoC8K5afAbi5kRrTns3fb24B0qeBU270NMpsctAlzzZDkVuh6BEud6va4y-okVWV5c9AJXjjIIyq2nskXmUU4fRhrO/s400/IMG_7768.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young members of the musket corps</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0yvaH9CfJmnf-P85pB6SFNEZWON7sgdBZkRNtZe7730_dg881t-okfK2nujhbbg9teCC_58hdSe-sWlDjB8teZYrtfiffkWV3Os6FdM9C2dte0fpDolsYjma0tLuahpsARuQE_0DTlkL/s1600/IMG_7669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0yvaH9CfJmnf-P85pB6SFNEZWON7sgdBZkRNtZe7730_dg881t-okfK2nujhbbg9teCC_58hdSe-sWlDjB8teZYrtfiffkWV3Os6FdM9C2dte0fpDolsYjma0tLuahpsARuQE_0DTlkL/s400/IMG_7669.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo op with the Marquis de Lafayette and his staff</td></tr>
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Spring had sprung at Mount Vernon, and there were signs everywhere. His excellency had even made repairs and put a fresh coat of paint on the old homestead. The Spring lambs with their helicopter ears reminded us of the many batches of lambs we raised on our old homestead. </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnxLEomleTjyRCFeS8sh3LrRMw1stcfHL-_RaFQJcbjjuSKZZNIJjpUUrp2Xm88Vvr3zYpMmXDLMR4fZy_A5ygeQkP62RA97XCvOR7_mW5UKRd2-vGQ6OilbxLZ2-s6opV2iChgrCbmmx/s1600/IMG_7663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnxLEomleTjyRCFeS8sh3LrRMw1stcfHL-_RaFQJcbjjuSKZZNIJjpUUrp2Xm88Vvr3zYpMmXDLMR4fZy_A5ygeQkP62RA97XCvOR7_mW5UKRd2-vGQ6OilbxLZ2-s6opV2iChgrCbmmx/s640/IMG_7663.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The scaffolding is finally gone!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9H720Sb3v8Fe1eOtKU66tWOTH9O3T9b0WqZn8a8RigTH6VAF59N_-GyLE-v004n1lYpTo57yNfwHZhIGfwSFAHP-aPBNe6BV6KHAH7zvIubtC1q6UHmFCA5qNidGznLTT9kSosPYoLPU/s1600/IMG_7662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9H720Sb3v8Fe1eOtKU66tWOTH9O3T9b0WqZn8a8RigTH6VAF59N_-GyLE-v004n1lYpTo57yNfwHZhIGfwSFAHP-aPBNe6BV6KHAH7zvIubtC1q6UHmFCA5qNidGznLTT9kSosPYoLPU/s400/IMG_7662.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBegW_mRJutDL14M8VrHd9tVN4GGglnjr0aorMMp0UU3tj4X4DqnEK_RU0y7jHmaYVAqH817pNueUoStT4g8SRo_kAJRWHqukPqWtDR4nHNtQgk2jbUCPcYSPfnIdbX5OKiT-W_fFt5To0/s1600/IMG_7665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBegW_mRJutDL14M8VrHd9tVN4GGglnjr0aorMMp0UU3tj4X4DqnEK_RU0y7jHmaYVAqH817pNueUoStT4g8SRo_kAJRWHqukPqWtDR4nHNtQgk2jbUCPcYSPfnIdbX5OKiT-W_fFt5To0/s400/IMG_7665.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The weather was dreary, but thankfully a little rain didn't keep the tourists away. In fact, Mount Vernon set a new daily attendance record of 8,000 visitors on Saturday and 5,000 visitors on Sunday, which tied its biggest day of 5,000 visitors last year. </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDPdOddjK72aIsJmkTvBxntdv_vwskzdKm8mWr2WqmqOAkqvV7VRoUf4iSFZAtKcG0965r_Pkt5nv1azRwk64jAbRLyrT2WX3o-ZUwS3VE-FB48vNuHgS6DT1TpHKCy5iWy5U_XI6_K_o/s1600/IMG_7672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDPdOddjK72aIsJmkTvBxntdv_vwskzdKm8mWr2WqmqOAkqvV7VRoUf4iSFZAtKcG0965r_Pkt5nv1azRwk64jAbRLyrT2WX3o-ZUwS3VE-FB48vNuHgS6DT1TpHKCy5iWy5U_XI6_K_o/s400/IMG_7672.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Stationed near the kitchen to engage visitors</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8E0Z5CfsrmxhDkQq-zicAZpVJNyhPzweHysgj47ApcobJs2pZBQFtIM2XX7RECIYlaSXqOlqQ3V3s3nCXeo3Ttqt7DuybHS-JFTm3sPOANpGrprNDf0Ts30XRVA_PY_mYLe1Wni9GpFz/s1600/IMG_7688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8E0Z5CfsrmxhDkQq-zicAZpVJNyhPzweHysgj47ApcobJs2pZBQFtIM2XX7RECIYlaSXqOlqQ3V3s3nCXeo3Ttqt7DuybHS-JFTm3sPOANpGrprNDf0Ts30XRVA_PY_mYLe1Wni9GpFz/s400/IMG_7688.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Bringing history to life</td></tr>
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For those of you most interested in the battles, we've included some photos to give you a flavor of the weekends' engagements. Many thanks to the professional photographer, Troy Corbett, who got close to the action and took pictures and gave members of the First Virginia permission to use them. You'll definitely be able to tell the professional photos from our photos, but credit was also given where due.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Soldier "rations" -- </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sneaking around during the evening tactical--</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit to Troy Corbett</span></td></tr>
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Fun facts we picked up in the excellent exhibits in the museum this time around:<br />
- Washington was one of the wealthiest men in America by the time he died, having built up his wealth with land acquisitions. He grew Mount Vernon into a five-farm estate of almost 8,000 acres, and he owned 51,000 acres of land across the country when he died.<br />
- Washington's teeth are actually NOT made of wood.<br />
- Unlike other founding fathers, Washington DID free the 123 slaves he owned at his death.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">General George Washington</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcG__CRV5OgdT5vAmIp9dEF85pVoVAn28K_GbddEZI2yk2zkyUOBv7xx8JdeDwaw_5eHnmz8ASROyRtYfr9oZMrY_RzhNlu2xSYmKYc-SJ4gRePll1R5cokOBXcRrcPvC9ujla6XLE-LF/s1600/IMG_7692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcG__CRV5OgdT5vAmIp9dEF85pVoVAn28K_GbddEZI2yk2zkyUOBv7xx8JdeDwaw_5eHnmz8ASROyRtYfr9oZMrY_RzhNlu2xSYmKYc-SJ4gRePll1R5cokOBXcRrcPvC9ujla6XLE-LF/s400/IMG_7692.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The General's choppers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Many thanks for your most gracious hospitality, General. We hope to be back again next year. It might take us a little bit longer to get there, though . . . could be an awesome Spring road trip from the West Coast! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPkMZl62XZBY900QOYsHJBltVotIAVGY2aWNSyAV8EpBYC1CYW9kXbRH2hxcL-3ilO04KE3O5_mJBV38aAOmpTyuV08FZeX46Aw4-3XJwmTgDJrCHnXsQib3juZOuwcBGD5YHFIv6ckGc/s1600/IMG_7673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPkMZl62XZBY900QOYsHJBltVotIAVGY2aWNSyAV8EpBYC1CYW9kXbRH2hxcL-3ilO04KE3O5_mJBV38aAOmpTyuV08FZeX46Aw4-3XJwmTgDJrCHnXsQib3juZOuwcBGD5YHFIv6ckGc/s400/IMG_7673.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-39105388268604046672016-06-30T19:36:00.001-07:002016-06-30T19:36:48.368-07:00Going "Old School"Our wanderings took us down to Williamsburg, Virginia in early May with a two-fold purpose:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Our main mission was to accomplish our high school junior's first official college visit (at a REALLY old school, which inspired the title of this blog post), and </li>
<li>We also wanted to take an opportunity to spend more time in and around the Historic Triangle, one of our fave destinations, before we move back to the West Coast.</li>
</ul>
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William & Mary, founded in 1693, is the second oldest college/university in the country. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij34xQ0Tf87KjGX9o_iOYQXIaWu9we-2ah_L8k6ljwkQs105RLa6hbkAfIzRKlTeJeIy1TABwqHLQrKWza3q1VVyvFjpuvPDu9vhwQmfa-5uxPrdKvbrf0VRfKw_dgmM0WQDCpim9NJVwF/s1600/IMG_7520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij34xQ0Tf87KjGX9o_iOYQXIaWu9we-2ah_L8k6ljwkQs105RLa6hbkAfIzRKlTeJeIy1TABwqHLQrKWza3q1VVyvFjpuvPDu9vhwQmfa-5uxPrdKvbrf0VRfKw_dgmM0WQDCpim9NJVwF/s400/IMG_7520.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Our college-bound, revoluntary-war-reenacting history enthusiast has narrowed down his search to about a dozen colleges and universities, and William & Mary is pretty high on the list because it offers a Colonial History degree! </div>
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There were several hundred other students at the Saturday campus tour and information session, but it clearly wasn't W&M's first rodeo, and they managed to herd, corral and lasso the students with ease and efficiency. </div>
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The campus is beautiful and historic, and our enthusiastic tour guide did a great job of giving us a feel for campus life and the rich, time-honored traditions that members of the "tribe" hold dear. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaqcTQRVDojuXPNeBlNcjkF80WFqkgt8qXbjbBxOt482zlrpSWxbrYkLwPuGgmRI6llhRTcDmbFodSCxwhPKv09e45NkaG8AKLBO_BjYbYuS5pHSlMmyYREUJwmBRvcTfsE4O-Do0F7FV/s1600/IMG_7495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaqcTQRVDojuXPNeBlNcjkF80WFqkgt8qXbjbBxOt482zlrpSWxbrYkLwPuGgmRI6llhRTcDmbFodSCxwhPKv09e45NkaG8AKLBO_BjYbYuS5pHSlMmyYREUJwmBRvcTfsE4O-Do0F7FV/s400/IMG_7495.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tucker Hall, one of the Academic buildings</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhbjyzZQ3T1w-C8zeBofvw-3e779H5mrIhVYTB54Bswt2Scrf9u19v3vpdvCrw_PHXCYIbM217zsKox3qiJTJtw7C-zqxRuu211rN2ZBXJkDGKss-8ctCji0sAoPTgvQeoRVu0OABmomQ/s1600/IMG_7497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhbjyzZQ3T1w-C8zeBofvw-3e779H5mrIhVYTB54Bswt2Scrf9u19v3vpdvCrw_PHXCYIbM217zsKox3qiJTJtw7C-zqxRuu211rN2ZBXJkDGKss-8ctCji0sAoPTgvQeoRVu0OABmomQ/s400/IMG_7497.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of beautiful trees around campus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMczyPFj_3BJkX-KeyuKOxrCh_J5fKJxeo8TZdN-X1Gm19y0_fFt7H7LeCBdBgOTXXQ5f7WJy54rkhEn2m4KDncnYF0Dx5bAlFsknwCR0i-FSPXwb6W1Ga_8Guj2Ygo7oDlBy_hqNIjrb5/s1600/IMG_7498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMczyPFj_3BJkX-KeyuKOxrCh_J5fKJxeo8TZdN-X1Gm19y0_fFt7H7LeCBdBgOTXXQ5f7WJy54rkhEn2m4KDncnYF0Dx5bAlFsknwCR0i-FSPXwb6W1Ga_8Guj2Ygo7oDlBy_hqNIjrb5/s400/IMG_7498.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thomas Jefferson started school here in 1760 (at the age of 16!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5QTMKFnnDolyTZwg1aW9Wn4j2irIxj4zrCGps1a1UFsbRbMzRj9W2fC0eUYW7c5rb9kjAuoZNI10QSA2pBn-NH3pp59B-plRW7iwK6PsDKrlSzUS0VQ9GXNgNQDrXiGRFBNhLFQ0DO19/s1600/IMG_7500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5QTMKFnnDolyTZwg1aW9Wn4j2irIxj4zrCGps1a1UFsbRbMzRj9W2fC0eUYW7c5rb9kjAuoZNI10QSA2pBn-NH3pp59B-plRW7iwK6PsDKrlSzUS0VQ9GXNgNQDrXiGRFBNhLFQ0DO19/s400/IMG_7500.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wren Building (c. 1695-99; restored in 1931 to what it looked like in 1732)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rFRLJe4wI2rWExDn36oa_wXdfJmy6WlhXlnNk3xYey4A_N0b9JWI3vB0d5NiJyC6y73jPl9JIQUkqXfaBsDikkb7DSzK91XhmW5OiNknnuJEuJtxOjJfx7m_ABvqpkyIa9DtOMwAFYax/s1600/IMG_7505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rFRLJe4wI2rWExDn36oa_wXdfJmy6WlhXlnNk3xYey4A_N0b9JWI3vB0d5NiJyC6y73jPl9JIQUkqXfaBsDikkb7DSzK91XhmW5OiNknnuJEuJtxOjJfx7m_ABvqpkyIa9DtOMwAFYax/s400/IMG_7505.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cupola on the Wren building</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zz4F-n4o_dTgYLDlAjKWb5k4kECpB4hnbRrWzl41gEfAHqfQn97-0JAvhltrDmqfqV7lz-Nz8a0fP6-ow9v0Ccwl_hoNTVzMudNzF4UtdNbhXO5zaZIxPA8S5zcVxp3lkXCxTvlDM12D/s1600/IMG_7516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zz4F-n4o_dTgYLDlAjKWb5k4kECpB4hnbRrWzl41gEfAHqfQn97-0JAvhltrDmqfqV7lz-Nz8a0fP6-ow9v0Ccwl_hoNTVzMudNzF4UtdNbhXO5zaZIxPA8S5zcVxp3lkXCxTvlDM12D/s400/IMG_7516.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Brafferton (c. 1723; originally erected as an Indian school)</td></tr>
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We were all a little wide-eyed after we finished the tour. Much to consider; the reality of him heading off to college very soon was dawning. But he's excited, and that's all that matters, right? Who knows, maybe he has found his tribe? Time will tell. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ic6Q138NI53QD73JB_GJzSqju7Ke62-YanfL1Kta0WVBzvxYe4iOV8f4YbTKLfO1F9hRarAEsG8aWLCR6Q4OvYLQju_i0ACwviMHc8QWOoq3IM8kJY3u8X46HNKIv-d8gZ7JgiE_7pmf/s1600/IMG_7512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ic6Q138NI53QD73JB_GJzSqju7Ke62-YanfL1Kta0WVBzvxYe4iOV8f4YbTKLfO1F9hRarAEsG8aWLCR6Q4OvYLQju_i0ACwviMHc8QWOoq3IM8kJY3u8X46HNKIv-d8gZ7JgiE_7pmf/s320/IMG_7512.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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After the tour, we headed in the direction of nearby Colonial Williamsburg, grabbing lunch at The Cheese Shop in Merchant's Square and pausing only briefly for a quick autograph from Thomas Jefferson along the way. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfZDGVC0LMIH4ukhennhcQhpxHTgdFh_sOcTt9BzHEOooMVBmIdqvLKz_sYbrO2dQNNKZpbjgEfWkHewA1HbPS0s1TciPMBOJPntn6GayrMYw8A_qeA9Bmo4ic5jtUuFxpWnSwk4rpwxz/s1600/IMG_7513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfZDGVC0LMIH4ukhennhcQhpxHTgdFh_sOcTt9BzHEOooMVBmIdqvLKz_sYbrO2dQNNKZpbjgEfWkHewA1HbPS0s1TciPMBOJPntn6GayrMYw8A_qeA9Bmo4ic5jtUuFxpWnSwk4rpwxz/s400/IMG_7513.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O getting TJ's autograph while he has his quill handy</td></tr>
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Knowing this might be our last time to Colonial Williamsburg in quite a while, we tried to take in the things we hadn't seen or done before as well as enjoying a few of our favorite things there. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASNHaEzUzfyDQjc9NZJ2N6ghE7z4gBeWsaquULuJzvmvYmzdECqdFz7_4c8QaM8OKeoyS1NDv8JGtgT6pcMb-QtSeVeVhvo4XJMYGe1wPJlxRR0LCQziH5ntBEj8GSz4d-IZ5Gu8NLNCl/s1600/IMG_7525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASNHaEzUzfyDQjc9NZJ2N6ghE7z4gBeWsaquULuJzvmvYmzdECqdFz7_4c8QaM8OKeoyS1NDv8JGtgT6pcMb-QtSeVeVhvo4XJMYGe1wPJlxRR0LCQziH5ntBEj8GSz4d-IZ5Gu8NLNCl/s400/IMG_7525.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weaving cloth used throughout Colonial Williamsburg</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxA99KV2Mvj-2RMtBm4s7ljMASszU119KGeAsw25TFqnm6jE9tI1ZUEw0ZxqaPJZQrpKa6TFWabpa6X0OiTL5UPuAD-zQ5OBTKV34_wtRHQXHkD4FZiez0o99y5E7_9X9aAPzzJWp8W6m/s1600/IMG_7526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxA99KV2Mvj-2RMtBm4s7ljMASszU119KGeAsw25TFqnm6jE9tI1ZUEw0ZxqaPJZQrpKa6TFWabpa6X0OiTL5UPuAD-zQ5OBTKV34_wtRHQXHkD4FZiez0o99y5E7_9X9aAPzzJWp8W6m/s400/IMG_7526.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ox cart slowly lumbering through town</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiad1Kb7zTKNjjfUIZReQUCOMrjOGL0mifYfVuX49OyW-ohqQGTxIUpsTZ0YZfydEchegZDjU0OUoysmeYwjP3uR6L2G9qAQVQzYuBYpNX6erZPs_2jP11bDvOsRhAIhQMrKuKpIWb87GOw/s1600/IMG_7528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiad1Kb7zTKNjjfUIZReQUCOMrjOGL0mifYfVuX49OyW-ohqQGTxIUpsTZ0YZfydEchegZDjU0OUoysmeYwjP3uR6L2G9qAQVQzYuBYpNX6erZPs_2jP11bDvOsRhAIhQMrKuKpIWb87GOw/s640/IMG_7528.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Williamsburgians taking a moment to enjoy the nice afternoon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKPRYvREQwB3UHF2uZOkaAqsTuhnoRl_VrSUWZhBxtaqwqHfC7zDrJs76S9NyeaGmOLynN8lUuzSFWxa67UrMvD2PdmiJ-3H9Ug4OCDNFNwEgP1GS5SHNO6MIukux7yyyKcB5qJEOPR5-/s1600/IMG_7530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKPRYvREQwB3UHF2uZOkaAqsTuhnoRl_VrSUWZhBxtaqwqHfC7zDrJs76S9NyeaGmOLynN8lUuzSFWxa67UrMvD2PdmiJ-3H9Ug4OCDNFNwEgP1GS5SHNO6MIukux7yyyKcB5qJEOPR5-/s400/IMG_7530.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chatting with Robert Prentis outside his fine shop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAfurTGsLXkxjXrXyveNo7rvp6cIy1GJA2MxkF2-Wu3RlespO6-JJ-7H-YVZFeskFWKlsXJy2i-1ArVbx4Pc1MtDvFC81yb0f3uevNbeWyB2RD7K6LmLN0bn7s8MKCPLfQJ9Bhdok8Tli/s1600/IMG_7531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAfurTGsLXkxjXrXyveNo7rvp6cIy1GJA2MxkF2-Wu3RlespO6-JJ-7H-YVZFeskFWKlsXJy2i-1ArVbx4Pc1MtDvFC81yb0f3uevNbeWyB2RD7K6LmLN0bn7s8MKCPLfQJ9Bhdok8Tli/s400/IMG_7531.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quaint colonial courtyard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeF8c0T87e89Cp3pAVAXe8WeKdiGP5Ob60DqTN5SOO4ZvSNUvFgzYXzPFT2n29W6KR9exDhjkaLbjXlGul5-nnuE5gv0uoR0vpoEoZtR-ujJAdZHa5GYiQD3pTE7VQgcyd-j11Le41rv3/s1600/IMG_7535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeF8c0T87e89Cp3pAVAXe8WeKdiGP5Ob60DqTN5SOO4ZvSNUvFgzYXzPFT2n29W6KR9exDhjkaLbjXlGul5-nnuE5gv0uoR0vpoEoZtR-ujJAdZHa5GYiQD3pTE7VQgcyd-j11Le41rv3/s400/IMG_7535.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our favorite backyard views</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CXpvn4K69v6PHWZs3C-syjiuXAD6SL8t9-6UjcbDD9OZoc_aJLTgduCB3NVz99pCyWPYuD3IkkR3869LmjFvYz22xxSOeoutWiup1PY0aME6Xzor-9U_eW9OvDQi6lYZZJttkgMuPruj/s1600/IMG_7538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CXpvn4K69v6PHWZs3C-syjiuXAD6SL8t9-6UjcbDD9OZoc_aJLTgduCB3NVz99pCyWPYuD3IkkR3869LmjFvYz22xxSOeoutWiup1PY0aME6Xzor-9U_eW9OvDQi6lYZZJttkgMuPruj/s640/IMG_7538.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tulips!!! We were so happy to catch some of the beautiful flowers still in bloom. </td></tr>
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We also had the good fortune to catch a musical performance commemorating the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare. Called "Well-Tuned Sounds: Music from Shakespeare's Time," the performers went through an amazing repertoire of English Renaissance music that would have been heard during the Elizabethan era and they also conveyed a great deal of history . . . and of course, they played it all on period instruments like the Cittern, Lute, Viola da gamba, Recorders, Fiddle and Tambourine. It was quite a musical treat! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6ZFJeQz4NcD3XMUmYQjqb35QHt0sWZl8bxPSBg0-sb0feO2PozdOAvhmmZlpzrxKdbyO-khRz5tBVjXUPhdaDeV75xgNFZlnNNovuRF6TW4DpuA8G6X8kZSJsx_VXN2JC7jcZCTqntfJ/s1600/IMG_7546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6ZFJeQz4NcD3XMUmYQjqb35QHt0sWZl8bxPSBg0-sb0feO2PozdOAvhmmZlpzrxKdbyO-khRz5tBVjXUPhdaDeV75xgNFZlnNNovuRF6TW4DpuA8G6X8kZSJsx_VXN2JC7jcZCTqntfJ/s640/IMG_7546.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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On our second day in Colonial Williamsburg, our reenactors donned their "kit," which is something they've always wanted to do while down there (not the military-style gear that they wear with the First Virginia Regiment but instead their "civilian attire"). The "impression" they were trying to make was that of a father and son who were "middlin'" folk (i.e., farmers) who came to town to discuss trade with the locals. Those of us who were still in the 21st century hung back and enjoyed watching them explore the town and interact with the citizenry. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrDKVoCEfgYFdJmtQwl8dTnYPkgL13wqSOUfiqMlQpuZVL1tq5jvRymyojn-b2BDQFxnfFmLkn90aCS4VVAz0YrdYV1WYXtAb82LhYzEbEreseZyQUmB7jqIeTeF8_kftnXDsQqQhqoIS/s1600/IMG_7550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrDKVoCEfgYFdJmtQwl8dTnYPkgL13wqSOUfiqMlQpuZVL1tq5jvRymyojn-b2BDQFxnfFmLkn90aCS4VVAz0YrdYV1WYXtAb82LhYzEbEreseZyQUmB7jqIeTeF8_kftnXDsQqQhqoIS/s640/IMG_7550.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The visiting farmer and his son</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg121rqgVpND9lAVbKXd_5q745rZEr1ghwDZYFDd9AtN4BJlebQ3kVpsdglqIYs8TOoRUoos3Pi44PZcJSy_Cv14RtyXVg5__tlbQx9dXXxMUHkXCuhvFc01F_LrCV9H8bz498affdKuN7i/s1600/IMG_7552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg121rqgVpND9lAVbKXd_5q745rZEr1ghwDZYFDd9AtN4BJlebQ3kVpsdglqIYs8TOoRUoos3Pi44PZcJSy_Cv14RtyXVg5__tlbQx9dXXxMUHkXCuhvFc01F_LrCV9H8bz498affdKuN7i/s400/IMG_7552.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of the courthouse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3_4Rsur-HIGXtHCFgS3PsNYuzPRE-rbkUQXkN1n_dAV-H8E6gMd1E-psxD4EQsr7qMi7k31HhZ5vNBGCquLmyQybkLOWpNL6O2FVI8Z5iibacK2OkZyE_1yrrk1EPRJyQKLD0PBzqVES/s1600/IMG_7554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3_4Rsur-HIGXtHCFgS3PsNYuzPRE-rbkUQXkN1n_dAV-H8E6gMd1E-psxD4EQsr7qMi7k31HhZ5vNBGCquLmyQybkLOWpNL6O2FVI8Z5iibacK2OkZyE_1yrrk1EPRJyQKLD0PBzqVES/s640/IMG_7554.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our favorite cottages</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwA2lBA7L2XIv9HWqGAiqOTeBcHg17AJV7oHWa4JFv3t6BJfsU-XVyWCTF5eGtThtkWWp928t4P6R9oOOqwMXZOOwCmNSA8gZmypcLZJv8v-ZR8c9s49ZKnZsN9ziERG8oTfuPBsRkpIw/s1600/IMG_7555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwA2lBA7L2XIv9HWqGAiqOTeBcHg17AJV7oHWa4JFv3t6BJfsU-XVyWCTF5eGtThtkWWp928t4P6R9oOOqwMXZOOwCmNSA8gZmypcLZJv8v-ZR8c9s49ZKnZsN9ziERG8oTfuPBsRkpIw/s400/IMG_7555.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Governor's Palace</td></tr>
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Although they are pictured by the front gates of the Governor's Palace below, if they had showed up dressed as they were to make an inquiry or seek favor, they would not have been allowed to enter through the front gate. "Middlin'" folk were usually ushered around the back and would likely have been received in the kitchen where they would have made their business known.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZLteoFlKIBxlS0trXjSvBseQ-TwxKoQfPtueT7JkNz7RBRXSIQCJllQvzKefEjG3M8TUom-3kb_F0FhE5kjAqplT8gyfkQl1blncTM_MgwDGGxlHF9ZjN5wBibs1FEULqJgc1yzkXBms/s1600/IMG_7556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZLteoFlKIBxlS0trXjSvBseQ-TwxKoQfPtueT7JkNz7RBRXSIQCJllQvzKefEjG3M8TUom-3kb_F0FhE5kjAqplT8gyfkQl1blncTM_MgwDGGxlHF9ZjN5wBibs1FEULqJgc1yzkXBms/s640/IMG_7556.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main entrance to the Governor's Palace</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGelQvxwhNjEcWR-p0VYBLvfh7cO4pyHnV5zdRcSSru26lKwKxy0Z2v34R-ewRd4oiHNbAZ_3M3f767eOQftwJgpcRwOWzbwmwQ_cTGz2uashszbtF3TzasWMdOdvh_0TPcNBXF88_PaD/s1600/IMG_7788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGelQvxwhNjEcWR-p0VYBLvfh7cO4pyHnV5zdRcSSru26lKwKxy0Z2v34R-ewRd4oiHNbAZ_3M3f767eOQftwJgpcRwOWzbwmwQ_cTGz2uashszbtF3TzasWMdOdvh_0TPcNBXF88_PaD/s400/IMG_7788.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring the grounds and gardens behind the Wythe house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrOeZirxxUbaSq1QqYQJEkvm-TRayuKnpK1TwrAahwrff5pss9ZjgVCXuEwkcpfhhsfHzHg98v3VfkOHAOiYQpAVLctza41dGHQex1s7BoRfMXqLbrP08kBdDXYPH4wlWAle41oTTBC9V/s1600/IMG_7812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrOeZirxxUbaSq1QqYQJEkvm-TRayuKnpK1TwrAahwrff5pss9ZjgVCXuEwkcpfhhsfHzHg98v3VfkOHAOiYQpAVLctza41dGHQex1s7BoRfMXqLbrP08kBdDXYPH4wlWAle41oTTBC9V/s400/IMG_7812.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backside of the Governor's Palace</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3H_KVkmNrgjOeSfz3KUFrj8kMjaBP5JWDCILGHJ4HA0b42MAyEWo04CIqgyhpXPOqnPZYNKkvgKLGQuxknUaSS21DfSppa_5VWzcIN7nTosYmyyZv4I1CAQxIZ5Uac1eXM5QT1m-wP8W/s1600/IMG_7819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3H_KVkmNrgjOeSfz3KUFrj8kMjaBP5JWDCILGHJ4HA0b42MAyEWo04CIqgyhpXPOqnPZYNKkvgKLGQuxknUaSS21DfSppa_5VWzcIN7nTosYmyyZv4I1CAQxIZ5Uac1eXM5QT1m-wP8W/s640/IMG_7819.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the gardens behind the Governor's Palace</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEJ4bvlbwcTlesVHH3cp8-1XQJfrU1nJ_fOrkxwZw6y5C1gxnmfaVDMkQFVM7HzJBpaUHCTo4puxVwYcHn4Bfvr4MB87Zh3amolJF_Nf2AckDFvkwKrEFW90t-eFn0S51SlafJ9DaKT4z/s1600/IMG_7564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEJ4bvlbwcTlesVHH3cp8-1XQJfrU1nJ_fOrkxwZw6y5C1gxnmfaVDMkQFVM7HzJBpaUHCTo4puxVwYcHn4Bfvr4MB87Zh3amolJF_Nf2AckDFvkwKrEFW90t-eFn0S51SlafJ9DaKT4z/s400/IMG_7564.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting to tour the Wythe house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMInCMiVieLW49R_IELaKNyBGvCl1mt9yTkXOn47BIlcmOYkmDUbXoug_upwrVIFeqmsYzU6OoPspehZ9R7jcj53tA7eZnnbi8R2c9EbaLbcf6xEEtk3DB_Jhon5SmKoD7-riGsXWLQGM/s1600/IMG_7566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMInCMiVieLW49R_IELaKNyBGvCl1mt9yTkXOn47BIlcmOYkmDUbXoug_upwrVIFeqmsYzU6OoPspehZ9R7jcj53tA7eZnnbi8R2c9EbaLbcf6xEEtk3DB_Jhon5SmKoD7-riGsXWLQGM/s640/IMG_7566.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Engaging in political discourse with James Madison</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4QZaZK09YF7Rs3Hvuw6RqjgiV3QPuhhS891nHA6lu4vrDWvjme66QxoL6EK0-NMk2oofO7NYOjhOe4l_5g4g7Sb7lcLeUhmjtHzPMbDaiT5M6na7q3m1b91mW6VpZzfj1LU1rr01dUrW/s1600/IMG_7569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4QZaZK09YF7Rs3Hvuw6RqjgiV3QPuhhS891nHA6lu4vrDWvjme66QxoL6EK0-NMk2oofO7NYOjhOe4l_5g4g7Sb7lcLeUhmjtHzPMbDaiT5M6na7q3m1b91mW6VpZzfj1LU1rr01dUrW/s640/IMG_7569.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exchanging colonial quips with Mr. Innes</td></tr>
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<br />
Another thing on our Historic Triangle bucket list was to get back to Jamestown one last time. We visited the Jamestown Settlement (state park) on a trip east in 2007, which is a recreated settlement that is <i>near</i> where the original settlement is located. However, we we had never seen Historic Jamestowne (the NPS site), which is located on the <i>actual</i> site of the first permanent English settlement in North America dating back to 1607. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2EaPeRbiQ0fAbpYqDYqHNdQIGbHqTbe5K6TAlf8U4z8nuaPWpTQiuBHSsqMeeN-ADGeBThZqxa4zmOlOFkLRCPJh_z4d77hlZlJFOd0_Qjfky7xHb14MWYZyi_0aAAiyAeHCU0hs6Mwx/s1600/IMG_7572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2EaPeRbiQ0fAbpYqDYqHNdQIGbHqTbe5K6TAlf8U4z8nuaPWpTQiuBHSsqMeeN-ADGeBThZqxa4zmOlOFkLRCPJh_z4d77hlZlJFOd0_Qjfky7xHb14MWYZyi_0aAAiyAeHCU0hs6Mwx/s400/IMG_7572.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamestown Memorial Church</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKfoAgxAS5-YXcVj2G1aYbol-Uc95FQGCrsK_QHmpJ4JBpK_FGt_dnoaDqglLbXVc6y7tklptSFuYcKtBscaTJWs3Y6uCokJGJz5556REf3HUf9kYSyWQEX__6jUdgsdvSupFIJBgo8AN/s1600/IMG_7573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKfoAgxAS5-YXcVj2G1aYbol-Uc95FQGCrsK_QHmpJ4JBpK_FGt_dnoaDqglLbXVc6y7tklptSFuYcKtBscaTJWs3Y6uCokJGJz5556REf3HUf9kYSyWQEX__6jUdgsdvSupFIJBgo8AN/s320/IMG_7573.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memorial to Captain John Smith</td></tr>
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Historic Jamestowne is still a very active archaeological site, with new discoveries of the original settlement being made regularly. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKfrOGMUP-0cSVql7Z4KohzCU0kbkqCvFT88i_FFlLufZYo5BIcvL6bOqpBZCQewuuvyaj7OdtZqxcYRTxuRaQvTFa8dX4Chdu82vle4HEiAeD2RUNWhJAr0YJPGdeMayLkI_krDaZgxK/s1600/IMG_7574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKfrOGMUP-0cSVql7Z4KohzCU0kbkqCvFT88i_FFlLufZYo5BIcvL6bOqpBZCQewuuvyaj7OdtZqxcYRTxuRaQvTFa8dX4Chdu82vle4HEiAeD2RUNWhJAr0YJPGdeMayLkI_krDaZgxK/s400/IMG_7574.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reconstructed palisade fence at James Fort, just a few feet from the James River</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-b89R9s6mF-64_8rz14il6iXXr-2GqFQ0P6iaEuodgppwTJEd5ppjBJ1cz20mrzK7fg4BHHP_0hvdWCzpsesEfpB4INkuBjPfGCWepdEohfFxocWAQKTySf1lbOH5gt8YOc0WDy9_GSQ/s1600/IMG_7575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-b89R9s6mF-64_8rz14il6iXXr-2GqFQ0P6iaEuodgppwTJEd5ppjBJ1cz20mrzK7fg4BHHP_0hvdWCzpsesEfpB4INkuBjPfGCWepdEohfFxocWAQKTySf1lbOH5gt8YOc0WDy9_GSQ/s400/IMG_7575.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memorial to the settlers that died in the early years of the colony</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kIlir7TS-l1sjkc5YIxb4NvDKQJNmFHkuRiqIFcS7CzFbAKiw3cBxc4d6u5zp008mWzSvr-jdwhX5E1DyuqlgyXeg_0wb7HA2g2DQ5ETJO-qT5_Ja6iWIujYq8M0Uyljq0_0jPfPcR8u/s1600/IMG_7577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kIlir7TS-l1sjkc5YIxb4NvDKQJNmFHkuRiqIFcS7CzFbAKiw3cBxc4d6u5zp008mWzSvr-jdwhX5E1DyuqlgyXeg_0wb7HA2g2DQ5ETJO-qT5_Ja6iWIujYq8M0Uyljq0_0jPfPcR8u/s640/IMG_7577.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tercentennial Monument (c. 1907)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paying respects to Pocohantas</td></tr>
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One last thing I'd mention for others in the military is that we finally got a chance to try one of the Navy Getaways properties that a friend had told us about, and we loved it! The Navy has a property in Yorktown called Cheatham Annex, which is just a few minutes from Colonial Williamsburg. We rented a comfortable two bedroom cottage right on the water with all the necessary amenities for a very reasonable price. Bring your mosquito repellent because there's water (and bugs) everywhere, but the views and setting are spectacular. We would highly recommend it! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">View of sunrise from our waterfront Cheatham Annex cabin<br />
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Stay tuned for more East Coast "bucket list" adventures to come before we begin our epic journey west in a few months! <br />
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<br />Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-88090843450949543552016-05-07T16:01:00.001-07:002016-05-07T16:01:13.877-07:00#Nats<br />
We have been talking about getting "cheap seats" to a Nats game since we moved out here a year and a half ago. It finally happened toward the end of April when we joined in on an outing organized for hubby's co-workers for a weekday game against the Philadelphia Phillies. <br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplsAIZdj2fjUqlnAK8X0747GTjUJSnsrNStOWb_0m4LJ5pp5QADYsm2V1cYLr7zQucGE90JrhtTg8xJs_5HstU2bqorggI9utB8nRS7HN2Lrg7NPzSZBmePlkZfsktWudlcwKiGiNv5-e/s1600/IMG_7806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplsAIZdj2fjUqlnAK8X0747GTjUJSnsrNStOWb_0m4LJ5pp5QADYsm2V1cYLr7zQucGE90JrhtTg8xJs_5HstU2bqorggI9utB8nRS7HN2Lrg7NPzSZBmePlkZfsktWudlcwKiGiNv5-e/s400/IMG_7806.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">View as we entered the stadium</td></tr>
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Spring baseball weather is unpredictable at best . . . but despite torrential rains earlier in the day <u>and</u> an inauspicious 40 min rain delay at the start of the game, they uncovered the field at the appointed hour, the rain mostly let up, and somehow they managed to get in all nine innings. <br />
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We had great seats on the right field side, in the lower rows pretty close to the field. But we (and many others) didn't even sit in our seats because they weren't under cover and the people that were sitting down there looked like they were getting pretty wet. Had it been warmer, we might have endured the rain, but it was in the 40s . . . too cold to be soaking wet! Instead, we hung out at the top of the section, under cover, with easy access to the mecca of concessions and beverages inside the stadium. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFouezHnuGX7QlWPL3zMZ03P7uQJLjzp7iHTjqRExQzHUZcHMBCdU_k1ownpd4WqHqgY7_xCIoDUzjBGFGrvsrgif6hlyOOJwlv1zdpi_DHNxb2kXiI6tEJLvChouafKgTkIT2-68iwEy/s1600/IMG_7588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFouezHnuGX7QlWPL3zMZ03P7uQJLjzp7iHTjqRExQzHUZcHMBCdU_k1ownpd4WqHqgY7_xCIoDUzjBGFGrvsrgif6hlyOOJwlv1zdpi_DHNxb2kXiI6tEJLvChouafKgTkIT2-68iwEy/s400/IMG_7588.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staying dry in our "adopted" seats</td></tr>
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Nationals Park holds about 40,000 people, but you can see from the photos that the stadium was only about half full, likely due to the cold and rainy weather.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">View from our under cover perch</td></tr>
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One of the entertaining things they do during the game is the "Presidents Race." The Presidential participants are the four founding fathers that appear on Mt. Rushmore (Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt), plus Presidents Taft and Hoover. The Presidents have costumes appropriate for their era, and they have gigantic foam heads. <br />
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For those of you who haven't seen it before, it's pretty hilarious! Here's a video:<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jBGjCCHF_nY/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jBGjCCHF_nY?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Presidents greeting fans after the race</td></tr>
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We also enjoyed getting to know the players by hearing the songs they chose for when they come to bat. O loved that many of them were classic rock songs from some of his favorite bands!<br />
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The game was really a battle of the pitchers until the 9th inning. With a base-clearing home run fresh under his belt from a recent game, Bryce Harper came up to bat with bases loaded again and hopes were high! Unfortunately, he got a big "K" (strikeout). Bummer. <br />
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Philly got their bats going and got a few lucky breaks in the 9th inning to score 3 runs, and it was game over. The Nats got blanked, losing 3-0 to the Phillies. This was actually the last of a three-game series with the Phillies, and the Nats lost all three games. But not long before that they were on top of the National League East, so maybe they'll get back in the groove on their upcoming 10-day road trip.<br />
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You can't see them, but we had on our Nats t-shirts under all the layers of jackets. Win or lose, we were excited to have an opportunity to take in a game and root for the home team. Go Nats!!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awkward family selfie with the stadium sign</td></tr>
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Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-77749217388644555552016-05-07T13:44:00.001-07:002016-05-07T13:44:04.188-07:00Fort Frederick<br />
As luck would have it, Fort Frederick, a classic 18th century star fort outside of Hagerstown, Maryland, happened to be hosting a three-day Annual Market Fair a few weeks back! <br />
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How timely, because we hadn't visited the fort yet, plus our favorite reenactors needed to pick up a few items for their "kit" before the big Revolutionary War weekend down at Mt. Vernon at the end of April. <br />
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The weather was absolutely miserable on the day we chose to go up there, so the two reenactors braved the trip on their own, determined to browse the wares of each of the 150+ sutlers until they found exactly what they needed. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sutler tents as far as the eye can see!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patriot recruit at the quartermaster trying on a French-supplied Lottery Coat</td></tr>
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The boys found almost everything they needed at the sutler shops . . . among the acquisitions were sock garters, whisk and picks, spatter dashers, shoe buckles and similarly obscure 18th century replica items you can't find at your local JoAnn craft store. With half their mission accomplished, they eagerly headed into the fort itself to check it out! <br />
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Fort Frederick has a varied and interesting history spanning over two and a half centuries. It was originally built by the Maryland colony in the 1750s to protect the area settlers from Indian raids and as a base for supplies during the French and Indian War (the same era as <a href="http://4thcorpsofdiscovery.blogspot.com/2015/11/upstate-ny.html" target="_blank">Ft. Ticonderoga and Ft. William Henry</a>, which we visited on our Upstate New York trip last October). During the Revolutionary War, Ft. Frederick was used as a prison for British soldiers. During the Civil War, it was used for gun placements intended to guard a nearby canal. After that, it fell into disuse and disrepair. The State of Maryland acquired it in the 1920s and began developing the area into a state park. The two soldiers' barracks inside the fort were reconstructed in the 1970s. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of one of the bastions</td></tr>
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The star forts we've seen during our time on the East Coast have all come in a variety of shapes and sizes. No two have been alike. Fort Frederick is a quadrangle with bastions on each of the four corners. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from one of the restored garrisons</td></tr>
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You can get a better feel for its shape and massive size from the second level of one of the restored garrisons. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glimpse of the sutler village just outside the fort walls</td></tr>
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Visitors can go inside the barracks and get a glimpse of what a soldier's life would have been like during the French and Indian War. The soldiers slept as many as three to a bunk!</div>
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The boys also enjoyed watching some hardy, rain-soaked French and Indian War-era British soldiers drilling on the parade ground.<br />
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Like any of the restored star forts, Fort Frederick is definitely a treasure. We hope to visit it again at the start of our great trip west, since our likely route will pass directly by it. Fingers crossed that we can catch it in some nicer weather on our next visit! Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-16175836681123915552016-05-07T06:12:00.001-07:002016-05-07T06:12:24.248-07:00Life, Liberty and HappinessIt has been about a year since our family made our first trip to Jefferson's Monticello in Central Virginia. Because we wrote a fairly lengthy blog post about it then (see "<a href="http://www.4thcorpsofdiscovery.blogspot.com/2015/05/jeffersons-monticello.html" target="_blank">Jefferson's Monticello</a>"), we won't repeat those details here. Instead, we'll supplement it with more photos and additional tidbits from our deeper dive into the "Jefferson Experience."<br />
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Lucky for us, the weather that day was spectacular and warm, which made it all the more enjoyable.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying Spring weather on the garden walk (the "nickel view")</td></tr>
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The views from the top of the mountain were endless!</div>
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And the massive gardens were just getting started.<br />
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We had a great tour of the house and a very knowledgeable tour guide. Sadly, there's no photography in the house, so we only got this shot out front before entering for the tour. <br />
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But let's be honest, it was worth the 2 1/2 hour drive to Charlottesville, just to see the flowers!!! It was a veritable RIOT of color, everywhere we looked!<br />
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Jefferson was very innovative in his design of Monticello in that he put the "dependencies" (such as the kitchen, wine cellar, beer cellar, laundry, etc.) all below the house, and the slave quarters and other tradesmen outbuildings were nearby along Mulberry Row, just below the house. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jefferson's slaves turned out elaborate French-inspired cuisine from the kitchen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Restored slave quarters</td></tr>
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We could have spent all day looking at the exhibits at the visitor's center, because they really give you a feel for Jefferson and the kind of man he was. Here are just a few of our faves:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "boisterous sea of liberty" interactive exhibit</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-FHH-fmg_Zy1-SO6jiKDentu88-Pv7VVP1WY0R3OBp2EiUFeBlUx618t6XC3P5tiS1VUfUZ2cCLsxLOmaaYpbKCWFrERcHXHfB7G76j_vtRBhCPDvgrSUWf53pMB5N6xbhygMjuAXUua/s1600/IMG_7421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-FHH-fmg_Zy1-SO6jiKDentu88-Pv7VVP1WY0R3OBp2EiUFeBlUx618t6XC3P5tiS1VUfUZ2cCLsxLOmaaYpbKCWFrERcHXHfB7G76j_vtRBhCPDvgrSUWf53pMB5N6xbhygMjuAXUua/s320/IMG_7421.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detailed models and information in the architecture exhibit</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0dVTY_AzPLVdntF9MYoV7GBmziGN9QeikFRIgeMdlB2at7PREpaD7VsiAD_eJ8fwHAD3KTgNS8UdTXwUvT4fsCXcbJdeeoLyi99EFEzvOOWVrOTvLdWPANASvyPPp9XJPTN8bm-3fE-f/s1600/IMG_7413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0dVTY_AzPLVdntF9MYoV7GBmziGN9QeikFRIgeMdlB2at7PREpaD7VsiAD_eJ8fwHAD3KTgNS8UdTXwUvT4fsCXcbJdeeoLyi99EFEzvOOWVrOTvLdWPANASvyPPp9XJPTN8bm-3fE-f/s400/IMG_7413.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A replica--the original is at the National Archives</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A 18th century "Stander" used by Jefferson--ahead of his time!<br />
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This deeper dive into Jefferson's world was fascinating on so many levels but also admittedly left us with some conflicted feelings and unanswered questions. <br />
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— If Jefferson was so opposed to slavery, why didn't he free his slaves at his death when he had an opportunity to do so, like other founding fathers did? <br />
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— And for someone who was so concerned about providing for his family and ensuring the future sustainability of Monticello, why did he live so beyond his means that he died with substantial debt (somewhere between $1 and 2 million), ironically forcing his family to sell Monticello in order to pay his debts and basically leaving them without a home? <br />
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Standing in our 21st century shoes looking back, it's easy to judge, but (unlike proponents of the modern "renaming" movement) our view is that history needs to be viewed in the context and time in which it took place; it can't be viewed through a modern-day lens. We try not to get "political" in this blog, so we're content to leave those questions unanswered and instead focus on the significant contributions this incredible individual made to the foundations of our modern democracy. <br />
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Want to know how to "Live the Jefferson Experience" today??? <i>(According to a t-shirt we saw in the gift shop, lol!)</i><br />
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- Declare your Independence</div>
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- Read Books</div>
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- Pursue Life</div>
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- Pursue Liberty</div>
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- Pursue Happiness</div>
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- Follow Truth</div>
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- Boldly Question</div>
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- Rebel a Little</div>
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- Dream of the Future</div>
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- Celebrate History</div>
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Yup, not bad advice and pretty much sums up the Jeffersonian values that are embodied and shared with visitors to Monticello. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwM1GF7CPtyVDsVdjzf4Co9iE-6SJvGi9XmT95eb8xXpHWA_vEhxO0bED_AbbSU6NvOD58ZrP6yRPQSZH2FzKItI_VTEPGTkL6RZgcWF9RvnSCD6XIjQvVgTkDXklV7lYsBpZBMbp7rSV/s1600/IMG_7449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwM1GF7CPtyVDsVdjzf4Co9iE-6SJvGi9XmT95eb8xXpHWA_vEhxO0bED_AbbSU6NvOD58ZrP6yRPQSZH2FzKItI_VTEPGTkL6RZgcWF9RvnSCD6XIjQvVgTkDXklV7lYsBpZBMbp7rSV/s400/IMG_7449.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The ritual photo with the man himself</td></tr>
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One last interesting tidbit we missed last time was the marker pictured below. It sits just off the garden path in the back and is one of over a dozen disks that were placed throughout the United States between 2003 and 2006 to honor the 200th anniversary of the surveying and mapping contributions of Lewis & Clark. <br />
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Our stumbling across this marker was meant to be! It made us realize that we need to spend some of the time on the drive back to Oregon following in the ACTUAL footsteps of the explorers that provided the inspiration for our own journey. Watch for more Corps of Discovery marker photos in blog entries we'll post later this summer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOL7up1sDA5vQ8NMmTH0J8GJPPwJNWplxxuwzFbiia4ZxsNPocNRqE0XU3qf6LD8ZX7Dq6FzI8tpyp8Iz1_r81TB_-ZntJq1zUCkYPgfiEKaBgRD2-vfhGhehP4YSNsqeQZuJ6DAj3iFpt/s1600/IMG_7428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOL7up1sDA5vQ8NMmTH0J8GJPPwJNWplxxuwzFbiia4ZxsNPocNRqE0XU3qf6LD8ZX7Dq6FzI8tpyp8Iz1_r81TB_-ZntJq1zUCkYPgfiEKaBgRD2-vfhGhehP4YSNsqeQZuJ6DAj3iFpt/s400/IMG_7428.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">200th Anniversary National Geodetic Service plaque commemorating<br />
the symbolic starting point of the Lewis & Clark Expedition</td></tr>
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Until next time . . . caaaaaaaarrrrpppppeeeee diiiiiiieeeemmm!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EU0w6EdfPNCl8kEszF0BUHEy12zpUMBxo2tMWyQI3OR2OGy2JFjFRqR4Cyw8x-vqnjcQRkKher8YAAWq8dwciWhJYwgQsKVOIimA-R1kueDnIQdc7VvSqqLu7aVPud9pgJeyPhg8Ecgn/s1600/IMG_7429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EU0w6EdfPNCl8kEszF0BUHEy12zpUMBxo2tMWyQI3OR2OGy2JFjFRqR4Cyw8x-vqnjcQRkKher8YAAWq8dwciWhJYwgQsKVOIimA-R1kueDnIQdc7VvSqqLu7aVPud9pgJeyPhg8Ecgn/s400/IMG_7429.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awkward family selfie (sorry O!)</td></tr>
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Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-53101592034538764512016-04-14T18:50:00.001-07:002016-04-14T18:50:16.238-07:00Southern MarylandMeanwhile in Virginia . . . in April . . . it SNOWED!!! (This while our friends in Oregon had 80 degree days this past weekend!)<br />
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Last Saturday, we had planned a day trip to do more exploring in and around Southern Maryland. Although we woke up to 32 degrees and light snow, we decided to not let that take the carpe out of our diem. We grabbed our winter coats and gloves, ate a hearty breakfast, and headed out the door.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow accumulation of about an inch on the side of the road in Maryland</td></tr>
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The snow itself wasn't that bad, but the strong winds made it a little more miserable than originally anticipated, at least in the morning while the snow was falling. </div>
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<b>Accokeek and National Colonial Farm</b><br />
We were basically starting our explorations in the area you can see on the other side of the Potomac River when you're looking east from Mt. Vernon (standing on the Virginia side of the river). <br />
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Near Accokeek, Maryland, an easy half hour drive from our house, lies Piscataway National Park, a 4,000+ acre nature preserve that is home to many diverse species of wildlife and beautiful natural habitats.<br />
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<i>(Note: We had been to nearby Fort Washington, just north of Piscataway National Park, on another day trip we took to Maryland last year--see blog post <a href="http://4thcorpsofdiscovery.blogspot.com/2015/03/oer-land-of-free.html" target="_blank">"O'er the Land of the Free"</a> if you want to read about that.)</i><br />
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The park, also home to the <b>National Colonial Farm</b>, is run by the <a href="http://accokeekfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Accokeek Foundation</a>, which was founded in the 1950s to preserve the shoreline across from Mt. Vernon and operate the National Colonial Farm as well as the Ecosystem Farm (a working farm that teaches sustainable farming practices). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dMogpSjzrywZUYYsXoEGUmyWM7sOmeubX2bmiF9bbBt7EVxHABpuWZbu-aj5MNS5oPmpuzI5JIMwKZi8EgoLVdE_Q1HUeVCT0Dm6g1r_13H_PWDF88jQr-0DLa4gm2MX7qBCnsNln04z/s1600/IMG_7299+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dMogpSjzrywZUYYsXoEGUmyWM7sOmeubX2bmiF9bbBt7EVxHABpuWZbu-aj5MNS5oPmpuzI5JIMwKZi8EgoLVdE_Q1HUeVCT0Dm6g1r_13H_PWDF88jQr-0DLa4gm2MX7qBCnsNln04z/s400/IMG_7299+%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastoral scene leading into National Colonial Farm</td></tr>
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The National Colonial Farm dates back to the 1770s. It's a reconstructed living history site with costumed interpreters designed to show what life was like for every day southern Maryland tobacco planters back in the 1700s. <br />
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Sadly, it was just too cold and muddy to be pushing a wheelchair around an outdoor primitive historic site, so we took a quick peek at the farm buildings through the falling snow and decided we would save further exploration of this intriguing treasure for another day. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8yFCux-g2b8M4q0SV5F32XtdYRcGXY8JJh1tO5Y01iRzVGCoYhz6xtoZLzhr4HWUq0qmrtY3nIh-sWmAruEPSCq-LHcUZX2Mxeiduo4VEn4GnMAHPWfXQIGk0yk5nIOLi8jzf1HIdoVS/s1600/IMG_7373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8yFCux-g2b8M4q0SV5F32XtdYRcGXY8JJh1tO5Y01iRzVGCoYhz6xtoZLzhr4HWUq0qmrtY3nIh-sWmAruEPSCq-LHcUZX2Mxeiduo4VEn4GnMAHPWfXQIGk0yk5nIOLi8jzf1HIdoVS/s400/IMG_7373.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Colonial Farm</td></tr>
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<b>Amish Country</b> (Charlotte Hall, MD and surrounding countryside)<br />
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We headed southeast from there toward so-called "Amish Country" in St. Mary's County, which is apparently the largest of three Amish communities in Maryland.</div>
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If the weather had been better, I'm sure the Amish Farmer's Market in the library parking lot in Charlotte Hall would have been packed. As it was, there were only a few farmers who had brought their wares through the snow that day, their horses and buggies tethered and waiting patiently for the end of the day. We marveled at their beautiful flowers, hanging baskets, hand crafts, homemade preserves and soaps, fresh eggs, and we hungrily eyed the huge variety of baked goods. The gluten-free folks in the family didn't partake, but those of us who tried the whoopie pies said they were delish!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharing the road with an Amish farmer later in the afternoon</td></tr>
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We ventured off the beaten path on some rural roads en route to our next destination and enjoyed the glimpses we got of the many Amish farms that dot the countryside in this area, which stood out in stark contrast to their 21st century neighbors.<br />
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<b>Historic St. Mary's County</b><br />
We planned to spend the rest of the day in historic St. Mary's County, where Maryland was "born." It contains the founding site and first capital of the Maryland colony dating back to the early 17th century.<br />
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<b>St. Clement's Island </b>is where it all began. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtK8cHPZ0mq_kXvZRhJxguQMQzB91rHMVfoSjzopqIklpyUaKVyaBNwQ0XaXd_B_EoM-RUf7jT3QHbDK0pjpwM8nDAZ1gqZ2X3yqITl36awcnltDERMiM6NDPqDD1IYzreRxOTQEEGPEyP/s1600/IMG_7303+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtK8cHPZ0mq_kXvZRhJxguQMQzB91rHMVfoSjzopqIklpyUaKVyaBNwQ0XaXd_B_EoM-RUf7jT3QHbDK0pjpwM8nDAZ1gqZ2X3yqITl36awcnltDERMiM6NDPqDD1IYzreRxOTQEEGPEyP/s400/IMG_7303+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>St. Clement's Island</b> (off in the distance)<br />
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King Charles I of England granted land to George Calvert (Lord Baltimore), which was situated just north of the Chesapeake Bay. About 140 Catholics, fleeing persecution from the Church of England, sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on two ships, the Ark and Dove, to colonize Lord Baltimore's land.<br />
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The colonists landed on St. Clement's Island on March 25, 1634. King Charles I had asked that the new colony be named after his Queen Henrietta Maria, so the colony was named "Terrea Maria," the land of Mary. The colonists celebrated the first Catholic mass in this new colony and took possession of what would later be called "Maryland" (Mary's land). Because they had been persecuted in England, the colonists founded the colony on principles of religious tolerance, and this act is now recognized as the first official separation of church and state in the new world. <br />
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St. Clement’s Island is a half-mile off shore and is only accessible by water taxi that runs during the summer, so we weren't able to explore the island itself and see the reconstructed version of a mid-1800s lighthouse. However, we did enjoy the St. Clement's Island Museum that is on the shore at the launching off point to the island. Lots of great facts and information and cool stuff on display! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGacmHmAnRa3B93-VOi563c8IvHwVWXq57XU0MEBRPEF3On_yk1DYNippuXHykzIMVwmigMrazY2eRrpApEF3_jONqtw5EXdMWTJCtTzA7glLVHqSIr1RZjQD4OJe_S2Tus5UyEj_DCcY/s1600/IMG_7306+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGacmHmAnRa3B93-VOi563c8IvHwVWXq57XU0MEBRPEF3On_yk1DYNippuXHykzIMVwmigMrazY2eRrpApEF3_jONqtw5EXdMWTJCtTzA7glLVHqSIr1RZjQD4OJe_S2Tus5UyEj_DCcY/s320/IMG_7306+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Potomac River Dory Boat </b>on display outside museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho61c-WRj80F4zMvv971UAn7KtLhJnpKXoBU9fvzPvZf8jRDwYlVOkwxDpfFOxmnDcgvUNz2hp2sdQWO9EJGqcEESq7XmMxqncP_5QOjtaseEx9OMomQf217C2K2EXAajp_s1KvsVoxPsa/s1600/IMG_7307+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho61c-WRj80F4zMvv971UAn7KtLhJnpKXoBU9fvzPvZf8jRDwYlVOkwxDpfFOxmnDcgvUNz2hp2sdQWO9EJGqcEESq7XmMxqncP_5QOjtaseEx9OMomQf217C2K2EXAajp_s1KvsVoxPsa/s320/IMG_7307+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Punt Gun and Skiff</b> (HUGE gun used for duck hunting)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17zM6eWpXeq_LgVnydoDagF7xy97q-3GPZbqdKYP7SYYqg5BJ9qdHWELVJPEW7KB2pNBXtB_JSH-Ut3fD8ZSDsUSBtL1LsgqgY9F5sEMHtO-q7Ab_j84hBeWTukPpBoo0R5KuJE214YBl/s1600/IMG_7381+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17zM6eWpXeq_LgVnydoDagF7xy97q-3GPZbqdKYP7SYYqg5BJ9qdHWELVJPEW7KB2pNBXtB_JSH-Ut3fD8ZSDsUSBtL1LsgqgY9F5sEMHtO-q7Ab_j84hBeWTukPpBoo0R5KuJE214YBl/s320/IMG_7381+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Little Red Schoolhouse</b> (c. 1820) next to museum</td></tr>
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<b>Point Lookout</b><br />
Continuing south, we drove all the way down to Point Lookout, which is at the southernmost tip of St. Mary's County. The Potomac River meets the Chesapeake Bay here, and the gusty winds, turbulent waters and stormy skies made for quite a wild scene.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZjMq5-XdJ1XupSoIztfR8VfYh98xicNAmlmFAkMvE_kbbGvhFrZDZ83KzTVv68hNfrCNWH0p3DNJzURX3hB7j6iMSLQRf7M7UfZUwyZrr6V71JqOsk3Po9hQLSHZ2zuL0LmT8PcCXhBy/s1600/IMG_7323+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZjMq5-XdJ1XupSoIztfR8VfYh98xicNAmlmFAkMvE_kbbGvhFrZDZ83KzTVv68hNfrCNWH0p3DNJzURX3hB7j6iMSLQRf7M7UfZUwyZrr6V71JqOsk3Po9hQLSHZ2zuL0LmT8PcCXhBy/s640/IMG_7323+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turbulent waters converging at Point Lookout</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoeE3yNZRYc3ZlJr2ra1oO0VMImFvNmIsr3PeqjiG8KxolwuWjrS7nBkXS39DpprQcu6kl5ZBoiCkvarEh2M7Xf0p9fDZUPIyJhZyg1rXv4PlZsG1BajEWYCIMHl4Ydv0proTMDRkjIM3/s1600/IMG_7325+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoeE3yNZRYc3ZlJr2ra1oO0VMImFvNmIsr3PeqjiG8KxolwuWjrS7nBkXS39DpprQcu6kl5ZBoiCkvarEh2M7Xf0p9fDZUPIyJhZyg1rXv4PlZsG1BajEWYCIMHl4Ydv0proTMDRkjIM3/s400/IMG_7325+%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Point Lookout Lighthouse</td></tr>
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For any "war" enthusiasts out there, there's also a lot of military history in this area. <br />
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During the Civil War, Southern Maryland was in Union territory but had a lot of Southern sympathizers living there with ties to the South. Although there's no evidence of it today, there was a large Union hospital right at the tip of Point Lookout, and after the Battle of Gettysburg, tens of thousands of Confederate soldiers were held in the prisoner of war camp set up at Point Lookout. We were disappointed that the Civil War Museum hadn't opened for the season yet, because we were hoping to see some of the artifacts and learn more about the role this area played in the Civil War.</div>
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During the War of 1812, the British fleet conducted raids all along the Patuxent and Potomac rivers, some of which were in and around St. Mary's County. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-xRgp_ss_ryN3jBBC6ond3qF2aBYIOfkg9or_hIyfDaaN4-gw0bPc1eWjj686nzIzUahedh-CZ_W-eA63CK3lFz9BUypoql_ouBY1NnqFH6kNdPq4-RP-cI_ieDfd1oqa4iTAOVfRN0q/s1600/IMG_7327+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-xRgp_ss_ryN3jBBC6ond3qF2aBYIOfkg9or_hIyfDaaN4-gw0bPc1eWjj686nzIzUahedh-CZ_W-eA63CK3lFz9BUypoql_ouBY1NnqFH6kNdPq4-RP-cI_ieDfd1oqa4iTAOVfRN0q/s400/IMG_7327+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>St. Mary's Chapel </b>(c. 1884, an Episcopal Church near Point Lookout)</td></tr>
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<b>Historic St. Mary's City</b><br />
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Our last stop of the day was Historic St. Mary's City, the site of Maryland's first capital, and also where St. Mary’s College, a public honors college, is located.<br />
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Historians have been excavating this historic city for the past 30+ years, having conducted more than 200 archaeological digs with more to come. The historic city serves as a training center for archaeologists and is also the home of a field school where students come study in the summer and help with excavation. <br />
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Who knows? This place might be the next Colonial Williamsburg in 30 years! But in the meantime, it's a great living history site where you can see the work in progress. They are painstakingly researching and reconstructing the historic capital city, building by building. <br />
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One thing we learned that was interesting is that unlike previous attempts to colonize the new world (such as the settlers at Jamestown), the English colonists who came to Maryland partnered with the Yaocomaco Indians to help them get started. They bartered land from the Indians and used their dwellings (called "Witchotts"--Indian longhouses) as shelter. The Indians gave them tools and taught them how to plan corn, which is probably why the settlers survived and stayed on to make a life here.<br />
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Here are a few pics from our quick tour around the historic city:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CJM2RO0pQ6SHqhhbHn_iDdUGvHfStofpyeGYGmFnZLVik7TgP1F5tfIUjdnJWkJkk_LqvnHc-73SrkxsdzotogyLHkavMTq8Ke4B3kgAZ_U8_Glfvz764YKzPH-DMhDZPEUgb_isvDBT/s1600/IMG_7329+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CJM2RO0pQ6SHqhhbHn_iDdUGvHfStofpyeGYGmFnZLVik7TgP1F5tfIUjdnJWkJkk_LqvnHc-73SrkxsdzotogyLHkavMTq8Ke4B3kgAZ_U8_Glfvz764YKzPH-DMhDZPEUgb_isvDBT/s640/IMG_7329+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The boys enjoying the walking tour through the historic city</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXi_aVL8piNsq_FWt257fAKUHtnqCHoC8mapSf5_XD5qZqymSyzfUT0ae7z9D4XMQDRwVIg5wsqHKMDPd4clvoTWaGh2fX_PHgdkiZ8kaQPdQb3H5DsMq6SvoIRyK0PpQH5nrzYyuelSK/s1600/IMG_7333+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXi_aVL8piNsq_FWt257fAKUHtnqCHoC8mapSf5_XD5qZqymSyzfUT0ae7z9D4XMQDRwVIg5wsqHKMDPd4clvoTWaGh2fX_PHgdkiZ8kaQPdQb3H5DsMq6SvoIRyK0PpQH5nrzYyuelSK/s640/IMG_7333+%25281%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Reconstructed Brick Chapel of 1667</b>, where Catholicism was founded in British North America</td></tr>
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During excavation of the chapel in the 1990s, archaeologists discovered three lead coffins containing the remains of members of the Calvert family, including Phillip Calvert, who served as Governor of the colony. These coffins were noteworthy because they were the first lead coffins found by archaeologists in North America (this was normally a burial practice of nobility in Europe).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kt4xHJxGlcOiEAwsln6HxdYtfbom8R_P8QAbjF_2kkZOK-t6MjXRmFHa6I9-TOhv_8OP8tQBIooIpDrdChZl2_BRAMXVYGAbfbAYsb1mygs1aVPxRcV2T1vRVFiPIP_jEcPRzexqfxHb/s1600/IMG_7331+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kt4xHJxGlcOiEAwsln6HxdYtfbom8R_P8QAbjF_2kkZOK-t6MjXRmFHa6I9-TOhv_8OP8tQBIooIpDrdChZl2_BRAMXVYGAbfbAYsb1mygs1aVPxRcV2T1vRVFiPIP_jEcPRzexqfxHb/s400/IMG_7331+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lead coffins </b>containing remains of Calvert family members</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvKF2lK94XsoRYTevxEFc-drRLryk8AvsmehSIfcf-W-_R6PGEewP-dFhbO1q_Y8Xc_EZsw3rC_JEr2Ic4xAWc-tFdgPTVSDQtyeeXXHhqtQniFoMknbmW5VA7xqrLRmA9I48_VlITDhM/s1600/IMG_7335+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvKF2lK94XsoRYTevxEFc-drRLryk8AvsmehSIfcf-W-_R6PGEewP-dFhbO1q_Y8Xc_EZsw3rC_JEr2Ic4xAWc-tFdgPTVSDQtyeeXXHhqtQniFoMknbmW5VA7xqrLRmA9I48_VlITDhM/s400/IMG_7335+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mackall Barn </b>(c. 1785, one of the oldest standing wooden barns in MD)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgQ9BkRkSTnvlcW9sBR04x8mrFb544hUslzgvuOnlp9DgX2URtM0dkSLhCLyDGEt_glmr6QllatURHLH_WDcdH5wOLhbZQwoxQmQZapjWeDyj2nSWuUcGgNaxS_9l1aOOSP1Kx6zy8rw_/s1600/IMG_7337+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgQ9BkRkSTnvlcW9sBR04x8mrFb544hUslzgvuOnlp9DgX2URtM0dkSLhCLyDGEt_glmr6QllatURHLH_WDcdH5wOLhbZQwoxQmQZapjWeDyj2nSWuUcGgNaxS_9l1aOOSP1Kx6zy8rw_/s320/IMG_7337+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">17th century <b>Demiculvern</b> (iron cannon, c. 1630s?)</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26sdXgsBpFoJpK3rOaDmiGiRVonyT94N5JLkYUQ0MrC59uLwH56249hBE8T0t7z-wFAV8POHPqIhd4CerLRoIsa1lDpHxRz5qR-W_W2-GSNJ9XRKai-T8kLbHQipaCCGN2kiYRXUVtpJc/s1600/IMG_7377+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26sdXgsBpFoJpK3rOaDmiGiRVonyT94N5JLkYUQ0MrC59uLwH56249hBE8T0t7z-wFAV8POHPqIhd4CerLRoIsa1lDpHxRz5qR-W_W2-GSNJ9XRKai-T8kLbHQipaCCGN2kiYRXUVtpJc/s640/IMG_7377+%25281%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Blooming dogwood outside <b>Farthing's Ordinary</b></td></tr>
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What's an "ordinary," you say? An ordinary was kind of like a motel and tavern and social gathering place all in one. Weary travelers (and their horses) could get a place to sleep for the night, a hot meal, and a chance to rest and settle in by the fire to hear the latest gossip. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDzIc2yeH7cpd8yMSyznO8vxaUSzIBS-dt25AR2J1a3XM48ya8vzri6sDiCdFznAsLkA8UV4CgSahgZi7spuxLIB0vS-VERGalWd2k_UgfJgQu3wBr9RfDKw6TE4XS5aTCMKwkv4oVEnf/s1600/IMG_7342+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDzIc2yeH7cpd8yMSyznO8vxaUSzIBS-dt25AR2J1a3XM48ya8vzri6sDiCdFznAsLkA8UV4CgSahgZi7spuxLIB0vS-VERGalWd2k_UgfJgQu3wBr9RfDKw6TE4XS5aTCMKwkv4oVEnf/s640/IMG_7342+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen and cooking area Inside the <b>Smith Ordinary</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aROcq6Ez4C9S1cQ5ceA8dGQNPCHtoXrZR7Bri6_CqalqNOcbOed2YFtBYoaNvHrzVSjfWp59RF5HiWPpa4axqbEzI-LiovvvyE0LhKoJ0ifqvjkdDIUgn4GBz1u_Wzq3Da_GtLNsMvQk/s1600/IMG_7378+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aROcq6Ez4C9S1cQ5ceA8dGQNPCHtoXrZR7Bri6_CqalqNOcbOed2YFtBYoaNvHrzVSjfWp59RF5HiWPpa4axqbEzI-LiovvvyE0LhKoJ0ifqvjkdDIUgn4GBz1u_Wzq3Da_GtLNsMvQk/s640/IMG_7378+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Speaking to the Tavern Matron inside the <b>Smith Ordinary</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzCvaBQdI6X-cVN23AnT_BHO1l1Sh7k3o3ZXeEKr7W2UsX57gG_K5KDvAUtKiSxPjVUFXTnllbcmU0QmK6-kOgicixjWZBOlEq22upkTRPFAYbX89bYVzHwl8LMY0OJDSswlddUhhB2Lb/s1600/IMG_7343+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzCvaBQdI6X-cVN23AnT_BHO1l1Sh7k3o3ZXeEKr7W2UsX57gG_K5KDvAUtKiSxPjVUFXTnllbcmU0QmK6-kOgicixjWZBOlEq22upkTRPFAYbX89bYVzHwl8LMY0OJDSswlddUhhB2Lb/s640/IMG_7343+%25281%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Trinity Episcopal Church </b>(c. 1800s but built from bricks salvaged <br />from the original Maryland State House (c. 1676)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQg42b8Li-3DUWtcmo3r1BQ_wwpGL6i0qibNMfOcXLVzAuJ2drdu9tvk0ffGHZLlH3pMKjYdDlv_U3WeQNIx34WlDRrYpTvB3TnBaIKBLZKKP9Riz2WaLlDv0pSd33587et7XscjMmrHZD/s1600/IMG_7375+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQg42b8Li-3DUWtcmo3r1BQ_wwpGL6i0qibNMfOcXLVzAuJ2drdu9tvk0ffGHZLlH3pMKjYdDlv_U3WeQNIx34WlDRrYpTvB3TnBaIKBLZKKP9Riz2WaLlDv0pSd33587et7XscjMmrHZD/s640/IMG_7375+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Maryland Dove</b> tall ship—similar to the one that brought settlers from England</td></tr>
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Full confession . . . our various preconceived notions about Maryland, whatever they were, have been way off the mark. Each time we venture into different parts of our neighboring state, we discover the coolest things. <br />
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Can't wait to see what we come across next time we get a chance to explore!</div>
Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-82353689768801616422016-04-03T16:44:00.000-07:002016-04-07T00:32:44.858-07:00Discovering DumfriesPrior to this past weekend, we didn't know much about Dumfries, other than it's along the I-95 corridor and is often mentioned as a reference point in the local traffic reports if traffic into Washington, D.C. is REALLY backed up (it's about 25-30 miles south of DC). <br />
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Like most every place around here, though, it has a rich history and apparently was the "epicenter of life" in Prince William County, just south of us, around the time of the Revolutionary War.<br />
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The First Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line was participating in the "Dumfries Revolutionary War Weekend," so our favorite reenactors donned their "kit" and our family took advantage of the opportunity to learn more about Dumfries and its historic past. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQjQAztj_YOIzCxZJXOXkHEwoRDfEkr1iirUA0ENZHfyg7waKZsbBx4Llciogh4oZLOUUsNBNLxY4n_0f0Iw-Ni2hyNZO7cY8SVQzgXjeIrkx-wLYVpynlP7Bq_q4uBcOQQRX230vH75E/s1600/IMG_7286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQjQAztj_YOIzCxZJXOXkHEwoRDfEkr1iirUA0ENZHfyg7waKZsbBx4Llciogh4oZLOUUsNBNLxY4n_0f0Iw-Ni2hyNZO7cY8SVQzgXjeIrkx-wLYVpynlP7Bq_q4uBcOQQRX230vH75E/s640/IMG_7286.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Members of the musket company on break</td></tr>
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The First Virginia set up an encampment and conducted living history demonstrations at the site of the Williams Ordinary, which was a tavern and gathering place for the local townspeople in the 1700 and 1800s. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP_Ah6Zxgy5QXYOohrYnFv0-8UUaJR9g3tcILNF3_ll0JH2hwCQIupVYg8J1l0zzQi3OkAegjRArIAaIvDO0xu1izfPxJGwQseNHQr5jtAjFcnvV8sj2lV3SWD84T3R2hPtPPkQYJAIg4/s1600/IMG_7291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP_Ah6Zxgy5QXYOohrYnFv0-8UUaJR9g3tcILNF3_ll0JH2hwCQIupVYg8J1l0zzQi3OkAegjRArIAaIvDO0xu1izfPxJGwQseNHQr5jtAjFcnvV8sj2lV3SWD84T3R2hPtPPkQYJAIg4/s640/IMG_7291.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The encampment</td></tr>
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The Williams Ordinary is now owned by the county and used as an office by its Historic Preservation Division, but for this celebratory weekend it was decked out as a tavern again, and it would play host to a festive evening of beer and cider, food, music and games. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Fqb_mgtuPmlxvpENyo9KNhLEl68vd-rD6zAjBY4_OT06KNykRJc9bNxbSdrWvwm87DLREkC_OvS0HJRUT6Wh46CClYN6l6xQ_l5NiN3DCrWe2C1zqKA8V16BRlrMWVl8HHm2vr6Gw0Ak/s1600/IMG_7287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Fqb_mgtuPmlxvpENyo9KNhLEl68vd-rD6zAjBY4_OT06KNykRJc9bNxbSdrWvwm87DLREkC_OvS0HJRUT6Wh46CClYN6l6xQ_l5NiN3DCrWe2C1zqKA8V16BRlrMWVl8HHm2vr6Gw0Ak/s400/IMG_7287.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Williams Ordinary, c. 1760.</td></tr>
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The First Virginia troops mustered for drill periodically throughout the day (our regiment was actually pretending to muster as the Third Virginia, which was the Virginia Regiment fielded from the Dumfries area during the revolutionary war).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYkKeyq_CrmDX4ZCLOU5iw1MSEkL9TND2TCtxhxX7X8k06Zf3di7t4krmdnF0coqcMJKJt_0CLv-hwMk4AifVkeQX-cOSOWxvK_VOHhi_cDzES-DadGleiCg7K8k3txUYlg1Lnw3DDFsB/s1600/IMG_7283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYkKeyq_CrmDX4ZCLOU5iw1MSEkL9TND2TCtxhxX7X8k06Zf3di7t4krmdnF0coqcMJKJt_0CLv-hwMk4AifVkeQX-cOSOWxvK_VOHhi_cDzES-DadGleiCg7K8k3txUYlg1Lnw3DDFsB/s400/IMG_7283.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fixing bayonets</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPT65w9LtXhAj8Dos-iFFt3BIt5wnMB6JZLET5fdkyye_6pkbUEKSlacXgspOodTOYMliKe5gC19G8LiSx2OslWqGitvi24sMsREERKoH39ftOGl1OdLIXl3d2DrU1MaU98XIKIqXBFSd-/s1600/IMG_7284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPT65w9LtXhAj8Dos-iFFt3BIt5wnMB6JZLET5fdkyye_6pkbUEKSlacXgspOodTOYMliKe5gC19G8LiSx2OslWqGitvi24sMsREERKoH39ftOGl1OdLIXl3d2DrU1MaU98XIKIqXBFSd-/s400/IMG_7284.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shouldering firelocks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOY6OeY0Ii3M1NVTPIsQUumpZHgm_5PCK7A_YLHcfIfQC1p8NKXYkQXpcQX9XTxhDE9lA8VpodJIglII2HDcRv96ULXZHJ1W9-BRIwHb4VsmIO7Vr-fgE_ZpPfwTwexbLvnC7KNK1kCS7/s1600/IMG_7285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOY6OeY0Ii3M1NVTPIsQUumpZHgm_5PCK7A_YLHcfIfQC1p8NKXYkQXpcQX9XTxhDE9lA8VpodJIglII2HDcRv96ULXZHJ1W9-BRIwHb4VsmIO7Vr-fgE_ZpPfwTwexbLvnC7KNK1kCS7/s400/IMG_7285.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing to advance in a bayonet charge</td></tr>
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Although it's not obvious today (because the Williams Ordinary does not appear to be near any large body of water), Dumfries was actually a seaport town and a major East Coast shipping port at the time of the Revolutionary War. Quantico Creek, which has silted in a great deal in the last 240 years, used to be a 30 foot deep harbor at Dumfries, allowing sailing ships to come right into town from the nearby mighty Potomac River. </div>
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Fun fact: Dumfries is also the oldest continuously chartered town in Virginia (according to the historic information on the Town of Dumfries website). Who knew?!? Every place has its story to tell, and we were happy to learn more about this little town with a big history this past weekend.</div>
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<br />Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-40672646187089463092016-04-02T08:16:00.000-07:002016-04-02T08:16:40.107-07:00Orlando (Day 6)--Universal's Island of Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We spent most of our last day in the parks at Universal's Islands of Adventure. Our first stop was back to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter--Hogsmeade.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbLPMHhCuWLBk7Eqd3ijP0dva27ddfDzNMZNcuay-fJh4-dRCetqxycFKEKJku5HvXvus3vgYBPqODXTQb5n_i6YUuo09SzguwSLH6m2iO5viI5Fm1KXgiVKvQ0Fj_56bwvgrcOuFT6NU/s1600/IMG_7148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbLPMHhCuWLBk7Eqd3ijP0dva27ddfDzNMZNcuay-fJh4-dRCetqxycFKEKJku5HvXvus3vgYBPqODXTQb5n_i6YUuo09SzguwSLH6m2iO5viI5Fm1KXgiVKvQ0Fj_56bwvgrcOuFT6NU/s640/IMG_7148.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Hubby and the older boy rode the Dragon Challenge (where you sit in a chair with your feet hanging down and the ride does 5 inversions and goes 57-60 mph!) not once but TWICE! We also all enjoyed the Flight of the Hippogriff rollercoaster ride. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys took on the Dragon Challenge! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvXii9MdvAzdesTVrlioZpI0xPF4WAiPzkSiD2hSN1eNSB6use8KiqhuwvWXDPuYS9jlwLsYg_G6HesIquH0cJR-RU_bWUaYTMdCb9gHOR817ebXdb1K0Gs2Tw47ctWLD2T0FG1OHaBSR/s1600/IMG_7150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvXii9MdvAzdesTVrlioZpI0xPF4WAiPzkSiD2hSN1eNSB6use8KiqhuwvWXDPuYS9jlwLsYg_G6HesIquH0cJR-RU_bWUaYTMdCb9gHOR817ebXdb1K0Gs2Tw47ctWLD2T0FG1OHaBSR/s400/IMG_7150.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monster Book of Monsters on display</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rDEmihOyjJIHNVtfEcDURJpjVxAGEFPiPwlvcy0PFmCkdBmr5jYrbI4sVBJdQBMAzsvEOcmxpko_iFxJvOwTVr0WdP7bsFGgIAp_DoAFdwpEoiDI3Gj5I_3srRFh5ovZ38C3CvhXMBlM/s1600/IMG_7158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rDEmihOyjJIHNVtfEcDURJpjVxAGEFPiPwlvcy0PFmCkdBmr5jYrbI4sVBJdQBMAzsvEOcmxpko_iFxJvOwTVr0WdP7bsFGgIAp_DoAFdwpEoiDI3Gj5I_3srRFh5ovZ38C3CvhXMBlM/s400/IMG_7158.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying Hogsmeade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBZFNw7aiiEloYcW3rJ7Dy8fnbJ4JnZa52vURnDwV1E0s3FGsMcIZnVDfW3yjO8clwjTcjrgL2zuLI9l_c-kPiaScOaJD0bCtQAD76sloVaiBHz9yLXkrpeZYgGbbbFgDxfIotOZFo8XU/s1600/IMG_7159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBZFNw7aiiEloYcW3rJ7Dy8fnbJ4JnZa52vURnDwV1E0s3FGsMcIZnVDfW3yjO8clwjTcjrgL2zuLI9l_c-kPiaScOaJD0bCtQAD76sloVaiBHz9yLXkrpeZYgGbbbFgDxfIotOZFo8XU/s640/IMG_7159.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hogwarts Castle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqzBXdxKsTEv31_CQaH4IZG72jUmuztprifKKytYBvrP-UE_0hSPp_klMPC66-V90EitVbkgp8XoePAMyreIje9DyVfm9-aeh7HrJxl6iwTmi4PAjw7NSQeRyyf0mfWM4WaegpDiVztjB/s1600/IMG_7226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqzBXdxKsTEv31_CQaH4IZG72jUmuztprifKKytYBvrP-UE_0hSPp_klMPC66-V90EitVbkgp8XoePAMyreIje9DyVfm9-aeh7HrJxl6iwTmi4PAjw7NSQeRyyf0mfWM4WaegpDiVztjB/s640/IMG_7226.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<br />
The Jurassic Park area was also very cool! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8K2LLAUmx68ftk7DjvqWI_okXsgRRw_Zj-wmk3Cg8e-9jZ2uOrMoKq42YBBiK6WdcdX1Dl1OATxqUgNQBGNKoKHuZ5SfL8C9RsevI4YPnfMThSH7W195CrJtCejV30ZYofGqJerSln7C/s1600/IMG_7161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8K2LLAUmx68ftk7DjvqWI_okXsgRRw_Zj-wmk3Cg8e-9jZ2uOrMoKq42YBBiK6WdcdX1Dl1OATxqUgNQBGNKoKHuZ5SfL8C9RsevI4YPnfMThSH7W195CrJtCejV30ZYofGqJerSln7C/s400/IMG_7161.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
O used his "Chris Pratt" powers to tame a velociraptor. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvI6Is1BoRMaAC98-PVXkD5DxPCy4ap19znsHaHiQiH28eD6AhyTXFjM15AsDje9PmuobJc1Mnz0hpkdDC2v-MiHaNcF8L0lopQNv5OG1SkX0bv-WC87kIJN_IvfFfOme_qXutAybVKiG/s1600/IMG_7166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUn7p9I5oZf6K3d3ep5YWutjb7itx1ewc4aC_GKqUw58CwzAHTMvSnKUy-5icPoscxurNoO4RfG4B0WxFJ2_owRnEdRXGdGR6fjdJ8NuKFcqhLo0KJmxprPAPE8Afd5cOp0dVzvejmSR1I/s1600/IMG_7167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvI6Is1BoRMaAC98-PVXkD5DxPCy4ap19znsHaHiQiH28eD6AhyTXFjM15AsDje9PmuobJc1Mnz0hpkdDC2v-MiHaNcF8L0lopQNv5OG1SkX0bv-WC87kIJN_IvfFfOme_qXutAybVKiG/s1600/IMG_7166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvI6Is1BoRMaAC98-PVXkD5DxPCy4ap19znsHaHiQiH28eD6AhyTXFjM15AsDje9PmuobJc1Mnz0hpkdDC2v-MiHaNcF8L0lopQNv5OG1SkX0bv-WC87kIJN_IvfFfOme_qXutAybVKiG/s320/IMG_7166.jpg" width="240" /></a><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUn7p9I5oZf6K3d3ep5YWutjb7itx1ewc4aC_GKqUw58CwzAHTMvSnKUy-5icPoscxurNoO4RfG4B0WxFJ2_owRnEdRXGdGR6fjdJ8NuKFcqhLo0KJmxprPAPE8Afd5cOp0dVzvejmSR1I/s320/IMG_7167.jpg" width="240" /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDb0glq-V4gG5Of4mppE7DFHWKlyfRmTIwd4QPM9u56CiFKNbjTAP1979pl004qXiLiLAhaWI5Tepqb9topRLGxaHMc2LdGBR72dD8l5x0-DPp9sIbgStTqzY_sR7Eqibuyz22Ol2VYgKS/s1600/IMG_7168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDb0glq-V4gG5Of4mppE7DFHWKlyfRmTIwd4QPM9u56CiFKNbjTAP1979pl004qXiLiLAhaWI5Tepqb9topRLGxaHMc2LdGBR72dD8l5x0-DPp9sIbgStTqzY_sR7Eqibuyz22Ol2VYgKS/s640/IMG_7168.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Hubby and the older boy took on Jurassic Park River Adventure and got soaked! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6B00oVWOoNMB-lT2J41F8uMh3kcAicH1t9Is05oUKFEPQYnnUQ1DMCSXwgs447Ru3GShd2Z4kWXccRU5kl006eSDLKQfHbaokxszNZamtS4pls-8KzvcusfsJApIp9k5JzWdfEV-bQZ_K/s1600/IMG_7189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6B00oVWOoNMB-lT2J41F8uMh3kcAicH1t9Is05oUKFEPQYnnUQ1DMCSXwgs447Ru3GShd2Z4kWXccRU5kl006eSDLKQfHbaokxszNZamtS4pls-8KzvcusfsJApIp9k5JzWdfEV-bQZ_K/s320/IMG_7189.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">85 foot waterfall at the end!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2bB3vKfVde-SteJqbp5El6SpcaeTUa_4zNiXVt4f31ES-6KVGN23nn3ru_3nfbMgIaitf5q0ZTnggj4bx-MCnARfOY3lKD9Mp4PFq7el_SxJ-MLq-iAwewE0ZApiA2w_ijQLCAO9ORj-/s1600/IMG_7190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2bB3vKfVde-SteJqbp5El6SpcaeTUa_4zNiXVt4f31ES-6KVGN23nn3ru_3nfbMgIaitf5q0ZTnggj4bx-MCnARfOY3lKD9Mp4PFq7el_SxJ-MLq-iAwewE0ZApiA2w_ijQLCAO9ORj-/s320/IMG_7190.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No one escapes getting wet on this one</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvbytLcrF7OxkcCRkHBTdutvJgKBDbyzaILZ2f-UEq5lDQUOID4RhIPFurR-sfRv379ewFSqXXpQV-ihL05qUmWVof5p5Av0AvV497HpyrXDmxcUNzPvrsqvLS9yPUQkT8gaQMyA0iLIN/s1600/IMG_7170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvbytLcrF7OxkcCRkHBTdutvJgKBDbyzaILZ2f-UEq5lDQUOID4RhIPFurR-sfRv379ewFSqXXpQV-ihL05qUmWVof5p5Av0AvV497HpyrXDmxcUNzPvrsqvLS9yPUQkT8gaQMyA0iLIN/s400/IMG_7170.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great ride!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRelTKJlO9YqAY0C3OEM22oCKeJJaZEGM-_uq58RFpIu-vKe2m-XIh-bYp5rZ9ZSzxIj7V36q6fhM9jz9l2T6ClnZOWim7R00u82_LpIB1wYyPlOl8uaOQA_MFkxVc336vTnF3rIy0L7Ot/s1600/IMG_7171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRelTKJlO9YqAY0C3OEM22oCKeJJaZEGM-_uq58RFpIu-vKe2m-XIh-bYp5rZ9ZSzxIj7V36q6fhM9jz9l2T6ClnZOWim7R00u82_LpIB1wYyPlOl8uaOQA_MFkxVc336vTnF3rIy0L7Ot/s400/IMG_7171.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nobody move a muscle!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We got our Marvel Universe "fix" on Marvel Super Hero Island, where we rubbed elbows with Super Heroes such as Captain American and Spiderman.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuLtPX7bHkYNn7WNplfRTSwv7aUg_5Kh9UGMdA7A3YyLePDcN33sPv1HXvwnpRkOCAkrf6B4X3pa1Z0OwE0Z6eJA2dwMG6VYMqcv4fm14S7xpjBDp_A3q0aTK_Yt1SBAGs8WhrFaqGIUX/s1600/IMG_7233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuLtPX7bHkYNn7WNplfRTSwv7aUg_5Kh9UGMdA7A3YyLePDcN33sPv1HXvwnpRkOCAkrf6B4X3pa1Z0OwE0Z6eJA2dwMG6VYMqcv4fm14S7xpjBDp_A3q0aTK_Yt1SBAGs8WhrFaqGIUX/s400/IMG_7233.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_oC3thRQ6YC79j_UD_SZTAQVYWhMD7p_LVr2EHV7s8Nto633AxF0U4XDOS1G6as0LVnCpa_hoUCvr7KqVfw6qOIuhhknvhkHV66Kgj-kxbdjSLK6x1qhuRtvPzNwm1ebiiiT5qddkwi0/s1600/IMG_7176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_oC3thRQ6YC79j_UD_SZTAQVYWhMD7p_LVr2EHV7s8Nto633AxF0U4XDOS1G6as0LVnCpa_hoUCvr7KqVfw6qOIuhhknvhkHV66Kgj-kxbdjSLK6x1qhuRtvPzNwm1ebiiiT5qddkwi0/s400/IMG_7176.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain America</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIuTBDBtgGGmt88r9Cq783ZK5x59KiCSzXjFV2ebD7MwBPJZCHSzD5C-VQU7NUMQGSBn7PIY_RV6Qoe_fYOmL4uj7eWKSsVQKuXgyNvb92OlJHRix5UNhYzOkCQltVoQOHTDHfNz3ENeI/s1600/IMG_7181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIuTBDBtgGGmt88r9Cq783ZK5x59KiCSzXjFV2ebD7MwBPJZCHSzD5C-VQU7NUMQGSBn7PIY_RV6Qoe_fYOmL4uj7eWKSsVQKuXgyNvb92OlJHRix5UNhYzOkCQltVoQOHTDHfNz3ENeI/s400/IMG_7181.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spiderman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoC41wS-g7C67LZjkyida5ZuRvAFBemTycw6FqpUkbXJRb2Q2zuDt7xhcdREj0AY2KSb0CAERkOgWEnKJTcaW1g1prjZoCNs1Sp5X1nzcA4HiDTyMnb-yvfQMaqG2LjF1ArONHY0xwxe6/s1600/IMG_7231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoC41wS-g7C67LZjkyida5ZuRvAFBemTycw6FqpUkbXJRb2Q2zuDt7xhcdREj0AY2KSb0CAERkOgWEnKJTcaW1g1prjZoCNs1Sp5X1nzcA4HiDTyMnb-yvfQMaqG2LjF1ArONHY0xwxe6/s320/IMG_7231.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Goblin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0Gway4cAAibwbvqaYKeKCkwSK_oa60C_aTIta0jiIwi6pamBSi5bBiEctIziY2W4WOTiJBUaUoMov_RBTbyw4tNlvoHSfFDKuFkPB-ngKWsUUN5Hq0EOFGTo9Sgu3CD-e5Xotc7rboPb/s1600/IMG_7232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0Gway4cAAibwbvqaYKeKCkwSK_oa60C_aTIta0jiIwi6pamBSi5bBiEctIziY2W4WOTiJBUaUoMov_RBTbyw4tNlvoHSfFDKuFkPB-ngKWsUUN5Hq0EOFGTo9Sgu3CD-e5Xotc7rboPb/s320/IMG_7232.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cyclops from the X-Men</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioi6iO2FNqgvWGN7YvBcvs1S3Ihj6HD2Lxypxq7QjlpZlgZmnxf8tBFQEy-JrHwstOUED40jNtU85VjAJyPm_B5bJPqw5W_YtA_GGoAFzZJgzym6pHs-6To1gICF2e1w7YulTqo_0As6Pr/s1600/IMG_7235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioi6iO2FNqgvWGN7YvBcvs1S3Ihj6HD2Lxypxq7QjlpZlgZmnxf8tBFQEy-JrHwstOUED40jNtU85VjAJyPm_B5bJPqw5W_YtA_GGoAFzZJgzym6pHs-6To1gICF2e1w7YulTqo_0As6Pr/s400/IMG_7235.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The X-Men's jet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then we "hopped" back over to Universal Studios to wander through Hollywood, see some characters, and catch the Simpson's ride (long and nauseating!).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLW08x8N0niEGEWkc32TE2rClSS8S1EpO-hoXfQ1TSXsELknQYYWf0Ui9wNZwqv_moy0ub3-GQ59QXz2zFV29lE47xBWNkY1xiI80AZFpcyU-r2YeyDuwvmcftAcE7WQkkxDi3sSGvjOg/s1600/IMG_7236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLW08x8N0niEGEWkc32TE2rClSS8S1EpO-hoXfQ1TSXsELknQYYWf0Ui9wNZwqv_moy0ub3-GQ59QXz2zFV29lE47xBWNkY1xiI80AZFpcyU-r2YeyDuwvmcftAcE7WQkkxDi3sSGvjOg/s400/IMG_7236.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Brown Derby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQeAC-lZiNwnZudEOLOrJVfRa_OvpB4o5uu9gOpQe3aDbwIrTjKCy-GopBFa8rhQGcMGQi4GvmEOKnl-DGVdvH-76Ox69NugUrQ-YNpclFKg9cT0rXkJhaj6iPlkxyhafcjomYVUjccme/s1600/IMG_7237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQeAC-lZiNwnZudEOLOrJVfRa_OvpB4o5uu9gOpQe3aDbwIrTjKCy-GopBFa8rhQGcMGQi4GvmEOKnl-DGVdvH-76Ox69NugUrQ-YNpclFKg9cT0rXkJhaj6iPlkxyhafcjomYVUjccme/s400/IMG_7237.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwu9X4MSgrBVdOeyy4IgB29sFT1XLqlshi2LlAJMceoe-lFErWw6sh3XwtuKCXcbyiYQnf8-ejVc398zcsHIOlyVmFX5NzmCD1BSOgFTigFn1Cw544U1uC2v9c7jEqMvLVFu-tyDhN90y/s1600/IMG_7238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwu9X4MSgrBVdOeyy4IgB29sFT1XLqlshi2LlAJMceoe-lFErWw6sh3XwtuKCXcbyiYQnf8-ejVc398zcsHIOlyVmFX5NzmCD1BSOgFTigFn1Cw544U1uC2v9c7jEqMvLVFu-tyDhN90y/s640/IMG_7238.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Minion Mobile from Despicable Me 2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7K8r9xYJiIEbp8qb9tg8uJ4_Ycu_IlG4v57GijP03FGCGzx-cYU79ncbwZX_jOe_fLBwWkLl70EXp04cYFuW1DOsWHNBLGMg563qW3ZSHAX6GlKYHUh0bVAbADz19wC_rznzvMxSwPSi/s1600/IMG_7271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7K8r9xYJiIEbp8qb9tg8uJ4_Ycu_IlG4v57GijP03FGCGzx-cYU79ncbwZX_jOe_fLBwWkLl70EXp04cYFuW1DOsWHNBLGMg563qW3ZSHAX6GlKYHUh0bVAbADz19wC_rznzvMxSwPSi/s400/IMG_7271.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minion Mobile</td></tr>
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And of course, we had to have one last round of Butterbeer in Diagon Alley!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Back at the Knight Bus outside Diagon Alley</td></tr>
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<br />Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-59409911215219170622016-04-02T08:14:00.001-07:002016-04-02T08:14:26.126-07:00Orlando (Day 5)--Universal Studios<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOJYxRpUhcMowjHo6Ph_VRp6ymlj6-qzgnNPgRX_74tFL-1QzheUGDB04xrsRgSg6nFfe-vVNdxfjwR8RTIX8h8pjc55Zp0XbFRaVEs7XOId1Xor5j2tT8NiX1LN0WhxO1GhNcScxNgR-/s1600/IMG_7217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOJYxRpUhcMowjHo6Ph_VRp6ymlj6-qzgnNPgRX_74tFL-1QzheUGDB04xrsRgSg6nFfe-vVNdxfjwR8RTIX8h8pjc55Zp0XbFRaVEs7XOId1Xor5j2tT8NiX1LN0WhxO1GhNcScxNgR-/s400/IMG_7217.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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After four days in the parks of Walt Disney World, we were headed to the Universal parks for our last two days in Orlando. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of the Knight bus at the entrance to Diagon Alley</td></tr>
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I think we could have spent an entire week just exploring The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in both Universal Parks. Universal has recreated Diagon Alley in the Universal Studios park, and Hogsmeade in the Universal's Islands of Adventure park, with the Hogwarts Express train running between the two, which you can ride if you have a park hopper ticket. <br />
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It has been a few years since we were "into" Harry Potter, but it was still pretty **magical** to wander around and immerse ourselves in these fantastic worlds again. The entrance to Diagon Alley was very discreet, as one might expect, but we finally found it (!) and went inside. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoOOBuEY69Jou9KUYjLI0vZN4ExlvXXmyotr2ztyO-Mxx66Lc5LNJfeqlindpyf4Mtv4nyvyg4zM-URLXFym5QTXRc-EhIImkxiwA0Co8kBWGWdnzC47TC5X2qZMULJMjCyGQbE_HbhE-/s1600/IMG_7109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoOOBuEY69Jou9KUYjLI0vZN4ExlvXXmyotr2ztyO-Mxx66Lc5LNJfeqlindpyf4Mtv4nyvyg4zM-URLXFym5QTXRc-EhIImkxiwA0Co8kBWGWdnzC47TC5X2qZMULJMjCyGQbE_HbhE-/s400/IMG_7109.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoulder-to-shoulder crowds in the alley</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8OG5lMlrJR_xz9Qyx7x-AfhuAWz0vyJHSUsAhPlh1zaWb5MVnRiU91cXQoD29fdT6D055FXxlhbCkEalYltD7pn1Hcecg3-EDj-h-c4EattS7JMBa81KpwPosSHs7YI_7J7LZLf9icgz/s1600/IMG_7111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8OG5lMlrJR_xz9Qyx7x-AfhuAWz0vyJHSUsAhPlh1zaWb5MVnRiU91cXQoD29fdT6D055FXxlhbCkEalYltD7pn1Hcecg3-EDj-h-c4EattS7JMBa81KpwPosSHs7YI_7J7LZLf9icgz/s400/IMG_7111.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up the street towards Gringott's</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV59jCn-AJVMbOZ3sIaVg5ZM2fsB-ZK53LVU0DvLGWDyXy3osAyzzTu7njhqbzCLmBTz8b1OJvpFec0doYukWxMHwWa4XhDTKlD6Kg110bY4r1hJL9ovP4I_-jmHzJAhKIk6EeBjtFmwv/s1600/IMG_7119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV59jCn-AJVMbOZ3sIaVg5ZM2fsB-ZK53LVU0DvLGWDyXy3osAyzzTu7njhqbzCLmBTz8b1OJvpFec0doYukWxMHwWa4XhDTKlD6Kg110bY4r1hJL9ovP4I_-jmHzJAhKIk6EeBjtFmwv/s400/IMG_7119.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire-breathing Ukranian Ironbelly dragon</td></tr>
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The line at Ollivander's wand shop stretched around the corner, and kids and adults alike were wearing their Hogwarts robes and using their newly purchased wands and maps to cast spells and perform magic (e.g., turning lights on, making water run off an umbrella, etc.). We didn't buy the robes or wands, but we did affirm our loyalty to Gryffindor house with other souvenir purchases. <br />
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And Butterbeer . . . someone should write an ode to the virtues of Butterbeer! Cold and creamy and insanely sweet? I don't even WANT to know how much sugar is in it, but one thing's for sure, it tasted amazing after two months of eating no sugar. We bought the souvenir mugs so we could keep getting cheap refills of the delicious concoction that is Butterbeer. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDupFcGOnQBRTMV0jCpW7ZPXPPM6Hfy-LgoPqZDSZ1xEzJC1Gb08EBJtdWZ7Vkn6j1ESKty_vhggDxfumo2Bk2QQ1ttXFGl90wv043MnaDNQAKPxtmf1fdFT9-zDM1dJmhXfLJ1aZjrGfI/s1600/IMG_7115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBet-yujb2HbGUEIG7RFemGLK9QjFkuLBTJPGeI62BHaRkUkwelaf1xdwHPQx2WDa05ImD7FLRhovgShU8Up8_q4oPZPq9IG9jIOZV_xZvmv5KQ55QHw6AjUwWfzxkV8owgNL4-4KjC7M/s1600/IMG_7112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBet-yujb2HbGUEIG7RFemGLK9QjFkuLBTJPGeI62BHaRkUkwelaf1xdwHPQx2WDa05ImD7FLRhovgShU8Up8_q4oPZPq9IG9jIOZV_xZvmv5KQ55QHw6AjUwWfzxkV8owgNL4-4KjC7M/s320/IMG_7112.jpg" width="240" /><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDupFcGOnQBRTMV0jCpW7ZPXPPM6Hfy-LgoPqZDSZ1xEzJC1Gb08EBJtdWZ7Vkn6j1ESKty_vhggDxfumo2Bk2QQ1ttXFGl90wv043MnaDNQAKPxtmf1fdFT9-zDM1dJmhXfLJ1aZjrGfI/s320/IMG_7115.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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We peeked inside the Leaky Cauldron as we passed by, but there was no hope of getting a table to eat there. We also took a walk on the "dark" side through Knockturn Alley, mainly because it was a cool place to escape the heat. <br />
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<i>[Side note: As we later found out (the next day), the "dark arts" in Diagon Alley were actually being practiced in broad daylight and not just in Knockturn Alley. Watch your credit cards if you go there! We charged our purchases at the Butter Beer shop and one of the souvenir shops, and someone must have "skimmed" our card info, because later that day we got notification that someone was trying to use our credit card at a Walmart in Michigan!] </i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Waiting at Platform 9 3/4</td></tr>
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Because we were so spellbound by Diagon Alley, we decided to board the Hogswarts Express at platform 9 3/4 at the King's Cross station to check out Hogsmeade right away, instead of waiting until the next day as previously planned.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the station with the Hogwarts Express</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aboard the train, which itself is a "ride"</td></tr>
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Hogsmeade was just as enchanting! We wandered around a bit and then ate a nice lunch at the Three Broomsticks before being caught in a tremendous thunder, lightning and rain storm that sent us hustling back to the train station to ride the Hogwarts Express back to Diagon Alley.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddC7fbxCof6HxVAO8AoyvZy1vTsDYYZgeUBGuNUXwJFRWV9esEWNFE5LhUZqKY_gwXdB1NxaAGIYuCu6GJtyWycxh2TJ4y18jFlV7iQP_ftsL8onwfSNj3o4SEphCjEr-SCtuNsMC_kd-/s1600/IMG_7125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddC7fbxCof6HxVAO8AoyvZy1vTsDYYZgeUBGuNUXwJFRWV9esEWNFE5LhUZqKY_gwXdB1NxaAGIYuCu6GJtyWycxh2TJ4y18jFlV7iQP_ftsL8onwfSNj3o4SEphCjEr-SCtuNsMC_kd-/s640/IMG_7125.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hogsmeade village</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7CDaaFwnPhKTMFDFOaLNWSbQG3ke9CndDo8tIAnzpvYiidUPeFcXK9HReARPUY9Vy9U-EmduAqvKYuHsPyMKow10cfFeTZbmVxt2PTnrfjkSrOkpqbPrUmnTBriY4Y1Jq-AbGQMo76El/s1600/IMG_7126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7CDaaFwnPhKTMFDFOaLNWSbQG3ke9CndDo8tIAnzpvYiidUPeFcXK9HReARPUY9Vy9U-EmduAqvKYuHsPyMKow10cfFeTZbmVxt2PTnrfjkSrOkpqbPrUmnTBriY4Y1Jq-AbGQMo76El/s640/IMG_7126.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch at the Three Broomsticks Tavern</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTA-a30lbetIqUY23EMwHAuIpXkHAX76nyNBzZb1HnZXNi2qworCsEv39HrnyPQgZrwo7u2TotBymz40JhyphenhyphenPbfAn8ulGxfq300cllutFBAtPFaCqhNx3LOliA-FiWVSIGPRAaZGyn2Lsow/s1600/IMG_7220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTA-a30lbetIqUY23EMwHAuIpXkHAX76nyNBzZb1HnZXNi2qworCsEv39HrnyPQgZrwo7u2TotBymz40JhyphenhyphenPbfAn8ulGxfq300cllutFBAtPFaCqhNx3LOliA-FiWVSIGPRAaZGyn2Lsow/s640/IMG_7220.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to Hogsmeade village</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UATkNgqVKYaW2O7MhndU0RfH2quUUWlOVDF4Perq0WFFJL8qPyg5RpefL5Uyp87DhWyEq1A2_qZYTU4X-qYEnGisP_cbM_crGNt52ogppHAxRPeZ6BEpRVrMHSALH8JIiS0Aui4nirA3/s1600/IMG_7128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UATkNgqVKYaW2O7MhndU0RfH2quUUWlOVDF4Perq0WFFJL8qPyg5RpefL5Uyp87DhWyEq1A2_qZYTU4X-qYEnGisP_cbM_crGNt52ogppHAxRPeZ6BEpRVrMHSALH8JIiS0Aui4nirA3/s640/IMG_7128.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hogwarts Castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1N-Ms-GatCTkTgu_5lYcAEy-lbcbPZSwOjs0LcZD8Nvx9YF3qu7hD884-NQEiM8ZO9OcZX5D2kVi-8PzgOo-TqaWuVoWjcgzZyDfaJ8uRBoISpM-mNBH7vJu6ecaS2YzVFBWSX8Ziap3/s1600/IMG_7129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1N-Ms-GatCTkTgu_5lYcAEy-lbcbPZSwOjs0LcZD8Nvx9YF3qu7hD884-NQEiM8ZO9OcZX5D2kVi-8PzgOo-TqaWuVoWjcgzZyDfaJ8uRBoISpM-mNBH7vJu6ecaS2YzVFBWSX8Ziap3/s400/IMG_7129.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo op with one of the conductors at the station</td></tr>
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Besides Harry Potter, we also enjoyed lots of other things at Universal Studios that day, including the Shrek 4D ride, Minions Mayhem, the Blues Brothers show, the Simpsons area and meeting SpongeBob! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeZjjCyX1ZB8zajXHtfpZN40IM-E2JVpLhTUnmSHV9JgpsWFinNczSTm6xeiuVaqmgYH2FFs75BLlW94d7WnmsInTSWSJBFCx31_0nicwAPk6HlCEp_cw9QnaOVDIJ1dAoVGqIeLReBh6/s1600/IMG_7130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeZjjCyX1ZB8zajXHtfpZN40IM-E2JVpLhTUnmSHV9JgpsWFinNczSTm6xeiuVaqmgYH2FFs75BLlW94d7WnmsInTSWSJBFCx31_0nicwAPk6HlCEp_cw9QnaOVDIJ1dAoVGqIeLReBh6/s640/IMG_7130.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barney the cop from the Simpsons</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7sAMhuoMrOGGr5kWbIsqjG1nU9GS5zgKVTUZ-csobDSrxUglGIZf1NFPJoy4k8F_cjYoLZH4FKMgVPJaicEyEK9eCJJutdOZ3PpeTK8AD0wBC1kvF6v8-QOwFN-1hjDN5t6ieQYsLOCL/s1600/IMG_7134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7sAMhuoMrOGGr5kWbIsqjG1nU9GS5zgKVTUZ-csobDSrxUglGIZf1NFPJoy4k8F_cjYoLZH4FKMgVPJaicEyEK9eCJJutdOZ3PpeTK8AD0wBC1kvF6v8-QOwFN-1hjDN5t6ieQYsLOCL/s400/IMG_7134.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O telling SpongeBob he was his favorite character</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxR-iO04tTqw6llct2yNUgt4uvctVwLCQIR6S8eFc74TCH0eu6mXFqNd75WEIktvaGGfvSXXM6TSgn4NWggdQzizDoW7yVAFw13JR87MWfBtZca1tlkh5mWP_eFTmBk0PwM0a2_uKJgo9/s1600/IMG_7135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxR-iO04tTqw6llct2yNUgt4uvctVwLCQIR6S8eFc74TCH0eu6mXFqNd75WEIktvaGGfvSXXM6TSgn4NWggdQzizDoW7yVAFw13JR87MWfBtZca1tlkh5mWP_eFTmBk0PwM0a2_uKJgo9/s400/IMG_7135.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"F is for friends who do stuff together . . . ."</td></tr>
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The weather was forecasted to be rainy into the evening, so we scurried back to our hotel and once again watched an amazing sky show of thunder and lightning accompanied by Disney parks fireworks from the safety and cozy comfort of our hotel rooms. <br />
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<br />Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-13614373387092352442016-03-31T18:16:00.000-07:002016-03-31T18:16:47.895-07:00Orlando (Day 4)--Disney's Hollywood Studios<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruIhw_ULKc0Xg7dd4-BX0-qpOXVFxAw4E8fDZEgiLD2VLpp0FUQ99WbirkfYq7r7e2w0br0HNl8zQmwdn7b0XTdqZW2ROWxnRBQGk1PmjcVN3wyrTVCtI0oXlaGxoBxmrJUcHSkBMjGL3/s1600/IMG_7187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruIhw_ULKc0Xg7dd4-BX0-qpOXVFxAw4E8fDZEgiLD2VLpp0FUQ99WbirkfYq7r7e2w0br0HNl8zQmwdn7b0XTdqZW2ROWxnRBQGk1PmjcVN3wyrTVCtI0oXlaGxoBxmrJUcHSkBMjGL3/s640/IMG_7187.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you're a big Star Wars fan like we are, you will love, love, LOVE the amount of Star Wars that's going on at Hollywood Studios! <br />
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One of our first stops was the <b>Star Wars Launch Bay</b>, where there are museum-like displays of Star Wars movie props like light sabers, costumes, models of various space craft, and other memorabilia, as well as games for kids to play. There's also a great short movie about the passion of the creative people who have been involved in the Star Wars franchise and are responsible for moving it into the future for generations to come. <br />
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We lined up with the masses and did the "meet and greet" opportunities with Kylo Ren and Chewbacca and then checked out the rest of the area. <br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzPUe6ykGGssYdPGVfQv93vVa8T3R-7WPxsithuK_Sy16p4GEyxDpyxglqG5Mn7t4rMKxlb-ihy0PejNGUnemcxRvkQkHyQtDqM0wOZ_GzVAMjyKul2R2ZTenV_Lla9S84XHqstne2xQi/s1600/IMG_7060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzPUe6ykGGssYdPGVfQv93vVa8T3R-7WPxsithuK_Sy16p4GEyxDpyxglqG5Mn7t4rMKxlb-ihy0PejNGUnemcxRvkQkHyQtDqM0wOZ_GzVAMjyKul2R2ZTenV_Lla9S84XHqstne2xQi/s400/IMG_7060.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Meet and greet with Kylo Ren (we kept our distance!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6QqJul7jPF6-aJEMfUpVd20KnPIy0pQWClyqrVfB2zk_qgqbmbHlE83bJ5J6a8PHoQUo1D4qZ4FCvTQCzFFkAXXcC76_namwG3xk4HsrQRWejwH4sPl7Ogvfxa3dFzYTajPf7Bw6z_IS/s1600/IMG_7077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6QqJul7jPF6-aJEMfUpVd20KnPIy0pQWClyqrVfB2zk_qgqbmbHlE83bJ5J6a8PHoQUo1D4qZ4FCvTQCzFFkAXXcC76_namwG3xk4HsrQRWejwH4sPl7Ogvfxa3dFzYTajPf7Bw6z_IS/s640/IMG_7077.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Meet and greet with Chewbacca</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dOl1guyAgaCnADFH6UYHKY_QPVOWSXkRwXVk9ZOu9sLrq57sRssrLVb0rIYWXxK3JiFSQCv8DPXTAtUevba4bCrw1m3DJchgn5pgnFI15QmECpy8UBDad2YpelgAAEsexz1Y0lnJUWr0/s1600/IMG_7080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dOl1guyAgaCnADFH6UYHKY_QPVOWSXkRwXVk9ZOu9sLrq57sRssrLVb0rIYWXxK3JiFSQCv8DPXTAtUevba4bCrw1m3DJchgn5pgnFI15QmECpy8UBDad2YpelgAAEsexz1Y0lnJUWr0/s320/IMG_7080.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">O doing "rabbit ears" behind the Jawa's head</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZlvpiwiK1b5WSb0_kbvh5gaLR_VktbTKcZx6CTFefjZktnVZIHJEKnrYOrfiPWimgS-XLx_23Z_w32s1gtTAF6Rr37xAD3KyfVRaJtm8TVjvOmRuL4BCzVpW1kzt8DeTDb7GHZzhDeFb/s1600/IMG_7213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZlvpiwiK1b5WSb0_kbvh5gaLR_VktbTKcZx6CTFefjZktnVZIHJEKnrYOrfiPWimgS-XLx_23Z_w32s1gtTAF6Rr37xAD3KyfVRaJtm8TVjvOmRuL4BCzVpW1kzt8DeTDb7GHZzhDeFb/s400/IMG_7213.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A game of Holochess, anyone?</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3DH04p85JIKcrykuGEyEazytMCSgMm8zxGEuBkyZTxLpEtP3BnrSOr4KjKLWGMsgn2Z9QubrzfJZfdM8kI4_GkZArLuFd89MS1oGmwKwQhu8Ye1Yji4R2wPirH9ZMCLUlRoQRNmXUDCZ/s1600/IMG_7214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3DH04p85JIKcrykuGEyEazytMCSgMm8zxGEuBkyZTxLpEtP3BnrSOr4KjKLWGMsgn2Z9QubrzfJZfdM8kI4_GkZArLuFd89MS1oGmwKwQhu8Ye1Yji4R2wPirH9ZMCLUlRoQRNmXUDCZ/s320/IMG_7214.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Stormtrooper on patrol</td></tr>
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Another highlight was the updated <b>Star Tours</b> ride ("Star Tours--The Adventures Continue"). We liked it so much we went on it twice, and it was different each time! And we weren't the only ones who liked it . . . all the riders erupted in cheers and applause after the ride was finished. <br />
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Our youngest had done the <b>Jedi Training Academy</b> in Disneyland so he enjoyed watching how they are currently training the young Padawans to be Jedis and catching a glimpse of Darth Vader. The <b>Path of the Jedi </b>movie was quite amazing. It was a 10 minute retelling of all the six Star Wars movies, including new footage from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZCn5KSNl5E57M84KqW9gLNFEMexLs4yijv_PF-3nQUOLH1p2u6xxOe9q5RQe_J7HIlmSXme8SfaNVjyZYrLMl-PhZHy6eYlga6G2mgDcaldyKZ-TCIPCUpUJfKmE_7Q0guETpzRC67pa/s1600/IMG_7089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZCn5KSNl5E57M84KqW9gLNFEMexLs4yijv_PF-3nQUOLH1p2u6xxOe9q5RQe_J7HIlmSXme8SfaNVjyZYrLMl-PhZHy6eYlga6G2mgDcaldyKZ-TCIPCUpUJfKmE_7Q0guETpzRC67pa/s320/IMG_7089.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Padawans doing light saber practice</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuZ0pN-0sHVy7hnOl3h6OOJS7ALuP-n81jPqRbvI2Q_PJ5rB-UWd2It1MPrNVPtiZreU-vMOz2A2tIx88DDuJpTqVY-C_RqA9kbQLMurrbXOa1nOMq334yz3C1moXkL8AIpA_A1crjxGV/s1600/IMG_7090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuZ0pN-0sHVy7hnOl3h6OOJS7ALuP-n81jPqRbvI2Q_PJ5rB-UWd2It1MPrNVPtiZreU-vMOz2A2tIx88DDuJpTqVY-C_RqA9kbQLMurrbXOa1nOMq334yz3C1moXkL8AIpA_A1crjxGV/s320/IMG_7090.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Darth Vader emerges from the temple</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Lord Vader menacing the audience</td></tr>
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One thing we heard while we were there is that there is supposed to be a new 14-acre <a href="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/08/star-wars-themed-lands-coming-to-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-resorts/" target="_blank">Star Wars Themed Land</a> coming to both Disney World and Disneyland. Wow, how cool would that be? If the crowds at the Star Wars attractions in the park were any indicator, they could probably support an entire separate theme park based on Star Wars franchise and not just a themed land, but hey, a separate land would be AWESOME! </div>
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Other memorable highlights of the day:<br />
- Muppet Vision 3D--who doesn't like the Muppets? <br />
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! This was a behind-the-scenes look at how they do some of the stunts in the Indiana Jones movies . . . with lots of pyrotechnics and explosives. O was so inspired by what he learned he went right to the gift shop to buy a "scene clacker" for his future movie-making ventures.<br />
- The Great Movie Ride--If you're a classic movie enthusiast (do you watch the Turner Classic Movie channel?), don't miss this journey through some of the most famous classic films.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIQV9gB2rKOJLvGWWAy4TNzYZCYtypfoDmXEvt-cmOQvvnv716a1_LlCCt52c2PCyF_6Ao4YwnxQOx3THGsEM2DKZanYApeUkn4ZN3jnkXguLkb7nneJWL5wJ10KS_l1a4zbXsfcVbgvI/s1600/IMG_7083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIQV9gB2rKOJLvGWWAy4TNzYZCYtypfoDmXEvt-cmOQvvnv716a1_LlCCt52c2PCyF_6Ao4YwnxQOx3THGsEM2DKZanYApeUkn4ZN3jnkXguLkb7nneJWL5wJ10KS_l1a4zbXsfcVbgvI/s400/IMG_7083.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Meet and greet with Mike and Sully</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGv02FQ5XQpH7Nm2zFsfY5WzlhpG-cXZKmeBpuO1g7mVLALFT-ddIHAnRZ-_MQzvObWJ7Z51uKAO-N9ZuqrRbZxz5mIKek70X7VFeuQmJpwsywrY6d_dBniCBuGiLMpxW6yxjyaVFjt1rv/s1600/IMG_7051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGv02FQ5XQpH7Nm2zFsfY5WzlhpG-cXZKmeBpuO1g7mVLALFT-ddIHAnRZ-_MQzvObWJ7Z51uKAO-N9ZuqrRbZxz5mIKek70X7VFeuQmJpwsywrY6d_dBniCBuGiLMpxW6yxjyaVFjt1rv/s400/IMG_7051.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Looking down Hollywood Boulevard at the Chinese Theater</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjam3ytJ4zOQ1of-zgrNpABqSs01Y5W_jag3TUJ3P45FzTOiLLL70WGVgDRn9wYUSxdyo2PIlm5cHN2b8_92Gqr57HrNgVoa_kxRBdKNg15A4SSr-tQE_WyxIPNY2YzzwR-LbszTEQkBssM/s1600/IMG_7084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjam3ytJ4zOQ1of-zgrNpABqSs01Y5W_jag3TUJ3P45FzTOiLLL70WGVgDRn9wYUSxdyo2PIlm5cHN2b8_92Gqr57HrNgVoa_kxRBdKNg15A4SSr-tQE_WyxIPNY2YzzwR-LbszTEQkBssM/s400/IMG_7084.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nob Hill in San Francisco (mural but very realistic!)</td></tr>
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<div>
Some of you also know that we were on a quest to ride the MOST AWESOME roller coaster in the world: the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, starring Aerosmith. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijp-EcyAUzv57jaj3Q_16vWqJm1jR75v_GgmJMsVYkJm6JgKq_vTXl35vavsYSjoKxm4OpJKZA0rgHES6qcV3DEmMHZbdpJFZHBFM4XevzMBhbye7sfdGcgv5U6h3Quhm_MohuZP_gMMq-/s1600/IMG_7215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijp-EcyAUzv57jaj3Q_16vWqJm1jR75v_GgmJMsVYkJm6JgKq_vTXl35vavsYSjoKxm4OpJKZA0rgHES6qcV3DEmMHZbdpJFZHBFM4XevzMBhbye7sfdGcgv5U6h3Quhm_MohuZP_gMMq-/s640/IMG_7215.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The holy grail . . . we're ready!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJnYoccqXye5ujVe2fl_5ChSbJAU7RvyIs0RVoLOZaCSqZ2resTYzIpTYJkmrmod6nmqW6FQCA02cxJPSfIbhRS22gxvVvw5mvOA0Ck_X8h2TZJttkzaRUQEltIxBdLb0AxS6bq6vB3pj/s1600/IMG_7097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJnYoccqXye5ujVe2fl_5ChSbJAU7RvyIs0RVoLOZaCSqZ2resTYzIpTYJkmrmod6nmqW6FQCA02cxJPSfIbhRS22gxvVvw5mvOA0Ck_X8h2TZJttkzaRUQEltIxBdLb0AxS6bq6vB3pj/s400/IMG_7097.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very cool entrance to ride</td></tr>
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The story behind the ride is that the riders are given back-stage passes to an Aerosmith gig, and they're late, so they jump in a stretch limo and race through the streets of Los Angeles to get to the arena, all the while accompanied by blaring Aerosmith music. The ride is basically a roller coaster that is mostly in the dark (like Space Mountain). It has two inversions, one corkscrew, and it reaches speeds of up to 58 mph, all in about a minute. In other words . . . it's EPIC!!! Riding this would be a huge stretch for our youngest, but he was determined to do it, mainly because he loves Aerosmith so much. We all mustered our courage, and before we knew it, we were seated in the limo, the bars came down, and we were off!<br />
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Note the look of SHEER TERROR on O's face as the camera captured his expression at take off. (In all fairness, the rest of us were pretty terrified, too!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7806hM4-EdiYlmIofBGpIcu5yYXVXWyIwFdv71RI2QhtwxoCFYMN9sDAb3KKdn4FTGKM0KbRhvFV1S42kPyLXrQLwPBQeH9LSfuLPbYq4B2RN3ALKXtJ-SgC1BOaw64TwTJMMrJ_VGis/s1600/STUDIO_ROCKNRCOASTERRIDE_382171189858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7806hM4-EdiYlmIofBGpIcu5yYXVXWyIwFdv71RI2QhtwxoCFYMN9sDAb3KKdn4FTGKM0KbRhvFV1S42kPyLXrQLwPBQeH9LSfuLPbYq4B2RN3ALKXtJ-SgC1BOaw64TwTJMMrJ_VGis/s400/STUDIO_ROCKNRCOASTERRIDE_382171189858.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We rode in the "Buh-Bye" car, which played portions of three Aerosmith songs including "Love in an Elevator."<br />
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When the ride was over, O said: "That . . . was . . . AWESOME!" Success, and another big fear conquered. After souvenirs were purchased, we headed back outside and discovered that the thunder, lightning and rain had settled in for the night, so we headed back to the hotel and watched a spectacular thunder and lightning show accompanied by Epcot and Hollywood Studios fireworks, which we could see clearly from the safety and comfort of our hotel room. What a great day! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyn2vyVZ07h7bu3WoAnGr0jmG2odSm7DDKv-PUX93NmJn9IjD8VkmqTOqJQYiQ9f-9a7BQSfJFEIYS3pwnim1LIxNL12BPXrJHhpBG881KbmQhdqYmxOLFXzHUl3Jn7O923h1Z-sJAUyZ6/s1600/IMG_7141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyn2vyVZ07h7bu3WoAnGr0jmG2odSm7DDKv-PUX93NmJn9IjD8VkmqTOqJQYiQ9f-9a7BQSfJFEIYS3pwnim1LIxNL12BPXrJHhpBG881KbmQhdqYmxOLFXzHUl3Jn7O923h1Z-sJAUyZ6/s400/IMG_7141.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys wearing their souvenir t-shirts from the day</td></tr>
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Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-2310820061101689742016-03-31T18:15:00.000-07:002016-03-31T18:15:38.951-07:00Orlando (Day 3)--Disney's Magic Kingdom<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFD8jKNdQUuEMOCh7KWYjaXWpJ-TqOT3I93y2EAHet3X3RIUj30nTFmzzYgq_830SjlMga7zoWN4MTdCDYyyX9O5zvmp4jurYVfFIB3DXec_jN-xMtfooErIHgF4oPNlVYkZQBpeHE64wN/s1600/IMG_7050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFD8jKNdQUuEMOCh7KWYjaXWpJ-TqOT3I93y2EAHet3X3RIUj30nTFmzzYgq_830SjlMga7zoWN4MTdCDYyyX9O5zvmp4jurYVfFIB3DXec_jN-xMtfooErIHgF4oPNlVYkZQBpeHE64wN/s400/IMG_7050.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cinderella Castle--Disney World's Magic Kingdom</td></tr>
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Disneyland's Magic Kingdom is one of our family's most treasured places on earth, so we were eager to see how the Magic Kingdom at Disney World would compare. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13JdLhjWQvZYUOI0onyfs7zDMDB09Y5W7X7_EVN6nGVsMS52Bwv4sx25RKRjx2jUtZ_zmANDRLHOr73OsRblP4h0SRwb7liXp9Tmlj0sIldcN9GMwpvZjaue_L1o2WFmmG-q0fMrcu_JY/s1600/IMG_7033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13JdLhjWQvZYUOI0onyfs7zDMDB09Y5W7X7_EVN6nGVsMS52Bwv4sx25RKRjx2jUtZ_zmANDRLHOr73OsRblP4h0SRwb7liXp9Tmlj0sIldcN9GMwpvZjaue_L1o2WFmmG-q0fMrcu_JY/s640/IMG_7033.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main St. USA</td></tr>
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The Magic Kingdom was the first park of the week where we really felt the crush of people on Spring Break. Oh, the humanity . . . wow, it was PACKED, and the lines for the rides were long! <br />
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Thankfully, we had booked some Fast Passes in advance and joined our youngest when he used his "DAS" pass privileges, so we managed to eventually get to most of the rides on our list, including many Fantasyland favorites like Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Peter Pan's Flight, It's a Small World, and (new to us) the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7MUwLKKjITf3JoWsjI5Z9IIrwSUMpmARobLrQYZLZ8_Bsv6pNAKRHZUNCzWRxUo5xtt0J368zNxefypFPje_9rSGMF5PqDMBMyJDSnQbAsmdpiq0zyqO3l9Xw8tW64-MXDfRZoCZZULi/s1600/IMG_7188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7MUwLKKjITf3JoWsjI5Z9IIrwSUMpmARobLrQYZLZ8_Bsv6pNAKRHZUNCzWRxUo5xtt0J368zNxefypFPje_9rSGMF5PqDMBMyJDSnQbAsmdpiq0zyqO3l9Xw8tW64-MXDfRZoCZZULi/s320/IMG_7188.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready after a long wait</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTi3BbDJYgATlJIV7-CSKzo0EG3S34XzWGuoIqpZy7Gl2ZCr9nfufHae6cja16lTtj5TQTzlS5tCsXeM9OM34PL03g64Ygv0YKbZi4jm0mcJeiLeq-XVj4V1Ysd7Ult6Bs3zrEtQbKbeE/s1600/IMG_7186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTi3BbDJYgATlJIV7-CSKzo0EG3S34XzWGuoIqpZy7Gl2ZCr9nfufHae6cja16lTtj5TQTzlS5tCsXeM9OM34PL03g64Ygv0YKbZi4jm0mcJeiLeq-XVj4V1Ysd7Ult6Bs3zrEtQbKbeE/s320/IMG_7186.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Dumbo--ready to fly! </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfPZeAk1srRZ8BNm6_7Hf2OK9tQ_x7bOr-IO0Azb4ZJwkts8fSiIYUYOr_OBOLX4PCgtdCjs2UJWKvWgkvcHomfryfc_vbhW6y67gKp_R4CGXZRfA4IXqsYK9Kac60TBr5Szd8N3oKd4S/s1600/IMG_7038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfPZeAk1srRZ8BNm6_7Hf2OK9tQ_x7bOr-IO0Azb4ZJwkts8fSiIYUYOr_OBOLX4PCgtdCjs2UJWKvWgkvcHomfryfc_vbhW6y67gKp_R4CGXZRfA4IXqsYK9Kac60TBr5Szd8N3oKd4S/s400/IMG_7038.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dumbo!</td></tr>
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We also rode many other rides in the park, including Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Tomorrowland's People Mover, the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. Lots of credit to our youngest, now 15, who conquered a lot of fears from years past by riding all of these rides with us. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2nQQRSDGa9Nb3CFi8iyZ103CcAysU_A0nT-b_IIWFtwy2NmiKEdUUlqHZlOiZ66F1Re0E5p0gBn9d-Gql11_ExWGyfUtEvPxyLRgFmoP1xfmgCxNpZ6gyTFAsQ2AVPUThKD7PflN9uYt/s1600/IMG_7044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2nQQRSDGa9Nb3CFi8iyZ103CcAysU_A0nT-b_IIWFtwy2NmiKEdUUlqHZlOiZ66F1Re0E5p0gBn9d-Gql11_ExWGyfUtEvPxyLRgFmoP1xfmgCxNpZ6gyTFAsQ2AVPUThKD7PflN9uYt/s400/IMG_7044.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the People Mover</td></tr>
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The boys also got an appreciation for modern technology by seeing Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress, a rotating theatre that shows how 20th century technology has improved our way of life (and oh how far we've come since this ride was completed!). More awesome Disney Animatronics, too!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeryM6Q3X4FJ0Nbcz9npX0R1QACQdSpELOThnfgBJTY52ifYRuBfBVDzkI51Q4Hk4t6YWUCFkbwTbYmwHEBCHoIhWPiJijimwd9BMQzTnKABO7FlnN-lRmie_oEBWgTq-4NxfZ4eTQasWh/s1600/IMG_7042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeryM6Q3X4FJ0Nbcz9npX0R1QACQdSpELOThnfgBJTY52ifYRuBfBVDzkI51Q4Hk4t6YWUCFkbwTbYmwHEBCHoIhWPiJijimwd9BMQzTnKABO7FlnN-lRmie_oEBWgTq-4NxfZ4eTQasWh/s400/IMG_7042.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Da boys in front of the castle</td></tr>
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It was a beautiful and hot day, so we danced with Mickey in the streets . . . and then cooled off with ice cream and Dole whips. Yummmmmm!! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGq6FeFhbGiVNlrs3fybsur805e2Kn9OK3uEm1Z-0j_DbztaUea9tZrYblKbrzQuz4ev3qcyhIyhwPCAUIWuyzui1G-wBZPwhAcUSrOyXlZeE-hSxSv7YB16GEg6RXZ_SV1U253ThiPVi/s1600/IMG_7048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGq6FeFhbGiVNlrs3fybsur805e2Kn9OK3uEm1Z-0j_DbztaUea9tZrYblKbrzQuz4ev3qcyhIyhwPCAUIWuyzui1G-wBZPwhAcUSrOyXlZeE-hSxSv7YB16GEg6RXZ_SV1U253ThiPVi/s400/IMG_7048.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mickey's Street Dancing Party</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJP5RJJQDH5-AD8feuXoFdiUFr5F1WLbhrChG9CBae1vqCL2ss_FzEvfzkD9D_gfTIKex-9kO1frD7nXEAnKrWH2DTtuKXYzBDHu9nqwsHhL37mOu2qgaO3wkRXtVoePY8cadRO_vdvx_/s1600/IMG_7043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJP5RJJQDH5-AD8feuXoFdiUFr5F1WLbhrChG9CBae1vqCL2ss_FzEvfzkD9D_gfTIKex-9kO1frD7nXEAnKrWH2DTtuKXYzBDHu9nqwsHhL37mOu2qgaO3wkRXtVoePY8cadRO_vdvx_/s320/IMG_7043.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking around Cinderella Castle</td></tr>
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We didn't make it to the evening fireworks, but it was a great day, and the magic is definitely still there for our family at the Magic Kingdom! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cinderella Castle</td></tr>
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<br />Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-85033496222370760822016-03-31T18:14:00.000-07:002016-03-31T18:14:06.767-07:00Orlando (Day 2)--Disney's EpcotOne day is not enough time to do justice to Epcot, but we sure tried! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyx7pu4Bi0M61LNIcHgXfdX99Kx8ZROV2_cTk57MRUzE4dBPvt5VNAlAst55gCKDvsvjY4SeagByFW1iJEBAty04hlgQNVqeih2kRW1rT93Yu57DPtyKorYyeDdQ9ubcnjmbeVPJXmgaMb/s1600/IMG_7185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyx7pu4Bi0M61LNIcHgXfdX99Kx8ZROV2_cTk57MRUzE4dBPvt5VNAlAst55gCKDvsvjY4SeagByFW1iJEBAty04hlgQNVqeih2kRW1rT93Yu57DPtyKorYyeDdQ9ubcnjmbeVPJXmgaMb/s640/IMG_7185.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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As you walk into the park, you are in the "<b>Future World</b>" area that has rides and shows and interactive exhibits. The "<b>World Showcase</b>" area, with a focus on the culture and cuisine of many different countries, surrounds the giant lake that's in the middle of the park.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighter than it looks! </td></tr>
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The rides at Epcot were awesome! <br />
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Among our favorites:<br />
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- <b>Test Track</b>--where you create your own Chevrolet concept car on the computer and then get to put it through its paces on the test track. We all came up with some interesting designs, and the final speed trial at the end was pretty exhilarating. We read up that it's Disney's fastest ride, reaching speeds of up to 65 mph! <br />
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- <b>Mission Space</b>--where we worked as part of a team of NASA astronauts on a mission . . . loved that it had an orange (more intense) and green (less intense) side so we could choose our level of excitement. <br />
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- <b>Spaceship Earth</b>--we liked this one so much we did it twice! This is actually the ride that's in the iconic white golf ball that everyone associates with Epcot. It's a slow moving ride that winds its way up to the top of the ball, taking you on a tour of human innovation since the beginning of mankind. The classic Disney Animatronics are awesome<br />
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- <b>Living with the Land</b>--another slow moving tour that takes you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the greenhouses of "The Land" where Disney uses innovative agriculture methods to grow much of the food that is served in the restaurants at Epcot. Very impressive!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys after conquering Mission Space</td></tr>
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We are also big Pixar fans, so we made sure to catch the Disney & Pixar short film festival in 4D.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixar fans waiting for the show to start</td></tr>
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What luck that our visit to Epcot coincided with its International Flower and Garden Festival! We were treated to gorgeous displays of flowers and countless amazing topiaries throughout the park. We caught a few pictures of some of our faves.</div>
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We wandered our way around the World Showcase several times, immersing ourselves in the "lands" of the various countries represented. We spent quite a bit of time in the United Kingdom area, and our youngest was thrilled to find a Led Zeppelin t-shirt to add to his collection of classic 80s rock memorabilia. We saw some beautiful movies in the Canada and France pavilions, and we enjoyed sampling the cuisine in France, Morocco and China. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vq8rh95s1U-IO2qm-I0Q5z4mdLMEYggkzTVT6-1QrWS2yNWxjq2ujDVA0SRWVexS0sZRrSZeLVy8YST362-JK59ckqqgMTxTFa7Jazb53V3nO4dvntI3sJS70Zvo9QaKZLww25uzkooj/s1600/IMG_7016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vq8rh95s1U-IO2qm-I0Q5z4mdLMEYggkzTVT6-1QrWS2yNWxjq2ujDVA0SRWVexS0sZRrSZeLVy8YST362-JK59ckqqgMTxTFa7Jazb53V3nO4dvntI3sJS70Zvo9QaKZLww25uzkooj/s320/IMG_7016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Torii Gate in the Japan Pavilion</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLnl8H1G88GzPrFZpRGZ2lqmadnpgZ1N3qnrZ1DCdKOt1E-U5vdEM73XnemU_nQGPSpEDVZ-3uWkKC4A1F0wLWxouhKWYKm8eJVCA-9NHUX4PJu8wLVcsG1hF1g3s3PmIUlpxOTJMNSUk/s1600/IMG_7015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLnl8H1G88GzPrFZpRGZ2lqmadnpgZ1N3qnrZ1DCdKOt1E-U5vdEM73XnemU_nQGPSpEDVZ-3uWkKC4A1F0wLWxouhKWYKm8eJVCA-9NHUX4PJu8wLVcsG1hF1g3s3PmIUlpxOTJMNSUk/s320/IMG_7015.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pagoda in Japan Pavilion</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temple of Heaven at China Pavilion</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZ1QaSfc79bIeCinDURAvz5dgsCED_z05oyTir6mLd0BqX5Rc0qNMQ9AhUk-9ce9Fh2uh_fDqQ7YSXhjVOxl8ZpetuNO7QDTlunBnUxHHMXbySg728Wz0iArbJlo3FDQFua-WxQniaUJ5/s1600/IMG_7018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZ1QaSfc79bIeCinDURAvz5dgsCED_z05oyTir6mLd0BqX5Rc0qNMQ9AhUk-9ce9Fh2uh_fDqQ7YSXhjVOxl8ZpetuNO7QDTlunBnUxHHMXbySg728Wz0iArbJlo3FDQFua-WxQniaUJ5/s320/IMG_7018.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stave Church in Norwegian Pavilion</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTPDnHhMGJ9KISz7mW9Pf2X117T6nvBiEwXxFx27m1nPnrakg3GL0hQRhWtPX6VixPY56_nHbFX1JBO3IrBTiC195i42ptolLDYL6lXlm5-R9HB8_DxPFP__ZF3E7FTv3dm2NUNBzRj67/s1600/IMG_7024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTPDnHhMGJ9KISz7mW9Pf2X117T6nvBiEwXxFx27m1nPnrakg3GL0hQRhWtPX6VixPY56_nHbFX1JBO3IrBTiC195i42ptolLDYL6lXlm5-R9HB8_DxPFP__ZF3E7FTv3dm2NUNBzRj67/s320/IMG_7024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Epcot at night</td></tr>
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We finished the day by joining the crowds around the lake and watching the Epcot fireworks and laser show. Spectacular! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggosDm5hjnZskTq-YwIuoxJP7Y10DBmM2PYiPFaD0M63USAXswBvE41puNs5YTGP5sD-TIlzHN9fwbAOJPuWvxz9QzxVv78f6U5D7ZXJAzbPO1A9Dms19Zm0n5hA5nLQpAmVQspiBYwHx6/s1600/IMG_7192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggosDm5hjnZskTq-YwIuoxJP7Y10DBmM2PYiPFaD0M63USAXswBvE41puNs5YTGP5sD-TIlzHN9fwbAOJPuWvxz9QzxVv78f6U5D7ZXJAzbPO1A9Dms19Zm0n5hA5nLQpAmVQspiBYwHx6/s400/IMG_7192.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the fireworks show</td></tr>
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We will definitely spend more time exploring and eating our way through Epcot next chance we get! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "golf ball" illuminated at night</td></tr>
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Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193127991661993432.post-32891573238852305712016-03-31T18:12:00.000-07:002016-03-31T18:12:28.979-07:00Orlando (Day 1)--Disney's Animal Kingdom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3J2s3cS9tKAqLapTi44I5-WZcO5wqCm5Jxluu6yJm9Xq5rPQSazVt4lnQZc0GZYoD_lXG2JsnuMYcyCFBDzD4jU1437Kcvivk6wvrZukhnhswd9D42cODFyMG7CXgxRJXN_2q502zqa5/s1600/IMG_6952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3J2s3cS9tKAqLapTi44I5-WZcO5wqCm5Jxluu6yJm9Xq5rPQSazVt4lnQZc0GZYoD_lXG2JsnuMYcyCFBDzD4jU1437Kcvivk6wvrZukhnhswd9D42cODFyMG7CXgxRJXN_2q502zqa5/s320/IMG_6952.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was cold but sunny when we ventured over to the Disney's Animal Kingdom to see the "wild side" of Disney. <br />
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One of the first things you notice when you walk in is the gigantic Tree of Life in the center of the park. <br />
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As you get closer, you begin to see that the gnarled trunk actually has all kinds of animals carved into it . . . what an amazing work of art! <br />
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We didn't do all the rides, but the ones we did were great! If you're a thrill seeker (or if you want to catch a glimpse of a Yeti) don't miss Expedition Everest! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXPD0j6cQShSrCKGhrNQdMA0uZSFc828pPtZgrbsF4Zb0NXaaQHegiBDZusUcKxLvrSZKfxzlIlJkQ9N5vgwtMn9IsKTziFgztIlg0salbtQSzWM27zKD8XW2FVrH4qEKkPlG-AA8utIt/s1600/IMG_6999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXPD0j6cQShSrCKGhrNQdMA0uZSFc828pPtZgrbsF4Zb0NXaaQHegiBDZusUcKxLvrSZKfxzlIlJkQ9N5vgwtMn9IsKTziFgztIlg0salbtQSzWM27zKD8XW2FVrH4qEKkPlG-AA8utIt/s400/IMG_6999.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After conquering Expedition Everest</td></tr>
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The Dinosaur ride was fun and reminded us of the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland. <br />
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As one might expect, we also saw lots and lots of animals, both on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride, which takes you on safari through the African savanna, and on the walking paths that meandered through the park forest. Here are photos of just a few of the animals we saw in the park:<br />
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There are also several great shows in the park. We caught the "It's Tough to be a Bug!" show in 3D in the theatre at the base of the Tree of Life.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O in his "bug vision" glasses</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZZUva8Yk7lOuaWToTVbQevUnNDzYAg-o3w0K7elkn_bVFU1Sb4Z4KDhVF2E8qAx18-bCtxP3easi526Rg5IG3zoPJHA8qhRkYHqFb0seroppyg_UXzF6o1GYqA0IQW5jUDo4bBVWOruj/s1600/IMG_7207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZZUva8Yk7lOuaWToTVbQevUnNDzYAg-o3w0K7elkn_bVFU1Sb4Z4KDhVF2E8qAx18-bCtxP3easi526Rg5IG3zoPJHA8qhRkYHqFb0seroppyg_UXzF6o1GYqA0IQW5jUDo4bBVWOruj/s320/IMG_7207.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Stopping to admire the tree after the bug show.</td></tr>
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The stage production of Finding Nemo--The Musical, was also impressive. We had a return time to see the Festival of the Lion King musical production, but when we arrived for the show, all the remaining shows for the day had been mysteriously cancelled. Later, we found out that there had been a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCVrn5HU180" target="_blank">fire during the previous show</a> (thank goodness it didn't happen during our show!). </div>
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We also did a lot of character meet and greets. Our oldest is pretty much taking a "pass" on these and disappears as soon as we get in line, but our youngest is still eager to have a quick chat and get a picture with some of his faves. </div>
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O couldn't resist playing rhythms on some authentic African drums. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2ZjxzaqS7Dw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2ZjxzaqS7Dw?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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And we caught a few "selfies." <br />
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It was a great first day . . . Hakuna Matata, Animal Kingdom . . . hope to see you again some day!<br />
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<br />Sheseaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980259234177947215noreply@blogger.com0