GW, Liberty, Flying, and BBQ

Mount Vernon was next on our trip. There was a Colonial Fair we enjoyed quite a lot on the front lawn area that had all kinds of things. We bought some roasted Virginia peanuts and munched on them as we looked at brooms, pottery and other crafts, listened to live music, as well as watched George himself giving a talk on freedom. Then we watched the militia march, charge, and shoot at us! After that excitement, we viewed the surrounding buildings of slave quarters, greenhouses, and storehouses, met Martha Washington, and then toured through the mansion itself. It was quite a house. I liked the farm motifs in the main room.

 

slave quarters, where they slept two to a bunk,
and some on mats on the floor

the militia charging at us







George and Martha's house

 

 Dr. Samuel A. Mudd's house was our next stop.  It is still owned by the Mudd family, but wasn't open for tours the day we arrived. 

On to Richmond we went to see St. John's church where Patrick Henry gave his famous "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" speech in front of the Colonial leaders igniting the Revolutionary War.

 

We camped out at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach. It was fun to think that we were camping quite possibly where the first Europeans arrived and camped in the US. The area was like a forest on the beach. We walked along the fine sandy beach, stood in the cold, Atlantic Ocean, and marveled at the horseshoe crab shells, and the other skittering crabs along the shore.  We saw several monarch butterflys in the area too. 

our little tent in the sandy woods

Further south, in North Carolina, we drove to the Outer Banks and camped for the night in Cape Hatteras. What a beautiful beach on the Atlantic! 

sunrise

 We went to Kill Devil Hills to see the Wright Brothers Memorial where aviation began. There were reproductions of their first planes in the Visitor's Center along with the history of their work in aviation, and plaques of people who were firsts in all aspects of aviation. The boulders marking where they took off on their first four flights was great to see, as well as the huge monument on the hill in their honor, and the sculpture of their first flight.

 

We had some eastern style North Carolina BBQ.  Little did I know that there are two kinds of North Carolina BBQ!  The whole hog is pit smoked and dressed with a vinegar sauce (with never any tomato). It was served with the meat finely chopped, with cole slaw, hush puppies, and sweet tea.  We got the plate with Brunswick stew and potato salad too.  It was all delicious!

 

 

 

We had to try some western, Lexington style North Carolina BBQ.  Since two places are arguably the best, we went to both, and they were both delicious!  BBQ is always pork shoulder which is smoked with a vinegar sauce that has tomato in it, and the slaw is red and spicy.  Cheerwine is cherry soda, and very good.

cheerwine, hushpuppies, slaw, and BBQ

hushpuppies, slaw and BBQ

 

We stopped at Shot Tower Historical State Park to see where shot was made for muzzle loading guns and muskets in the 1800s.  It was interesting how they made them by dropping the molten lead down 150 feet into a kettle of water.



 







the shaft inside