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Washington, D. C.

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 On the way home we stopped to see family in the D.C. area.  Everyone knows there are wonderful things to see here.  We only had a short time but happened to be close to The Manassas Battlefield National Park so we took a look. By the way, as usual, the National Park rangers/docents were excellent and at the visitor center was a 45 minute movie (very professional) explaining the two battles and how they were relevant in the larger conflict. In case you forgot, the First Battle of Bull Run (Union name) was fought at Manassas (Confederate name) April 15th, 1861; one of the first battles after the Ft. Sumpter takeover.  Union Forces, led by Gen. McDowell, wanted to secure an important railroad junction that would impair the South's ability to supply Richmond.  Bystanders from D.C. came out to watch the battle, which they thought would basically end the war.  Surprise, surprise, the Confederates, led by Gen P.G.T. Beauregard and Gen. Joseph Johnston, with suppo...

New York and Vermont

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Marlene's family is in the Troy, NY area.  She had not seen them for some time due to the Covid pandemic, among other things.  So we had a great couple of weeks visiting.  Below a surprise early birthday video for her at a restaurant with her brother, Austin and his girl, Reggie. Next, on to Vermont, which we had never visited.  Beautiful mountains, green pastures, wonderful vistas.  First stop Bennington, VT. Did you know how important the Battle of Bennington was to Colonial success in the Revolutionary War?  In August of 1777 British Gen Burgoyne sent his Col Baum to Bennington to procure food, supplies, equipment for his army.  Their grand plan was to divide the Colonies in two, separating New England from the rest of the Colonies.  At Bennington, colonial Gen John Stark, aided by The Green Mountain Boys defeated the British, killing Col Baum in the process.  Historically, they accomplished three important things:  1) Denying Burgoyn...
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 Sorry it has been a while since our last entry.  Gee, we are just having too much fun.  Actually I have to blame the poor internet speeds at some of the campgrounds we are at, plus my laziness.  Too much reading, too much Wimbledon, too much Olympics. Marlene said I need to include more pictures; so get ready for more. Below are some other shots from The Grounds of Sculpture, Hamilton Township, NJ, just outside Trenton, south of Princeton. We liked the lines on this female figure, enjoyed it while we were having lunch on the verandah. Some very modern sculptures. A head in a lake.      Churchill (with cigar) painting. Had a stop in the Quakertown, PA area, our old stomping grounds; got to play some tennis with my old buds, visit some family and some dear friends.  While there we went up to the remains of the old, gigantic Bethlehem Steel mill.  In one small section they have the Museum of Industrial History.  It has four galleries, the ...
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 Well, It's Summer 2021 and everyone is eager to get out/about again, a bit of a relief from Covid.  Let's hope the good times last and improve.    For us, this Summer is a chance to see family and friends in PA, NJ and NY that we have missed for the past couple of years.  Off in our RV we go. Just a quick share of some local highlights we came across.  I am constantly impressed by some of the sights we have available in the good old US.  Many wonderful things to see all over this country. First stop was Harrisburg, PA, state capital.  Not far from Gettysburg and Carlisle Army War College; however, did you know that Harrisburg also has a great National Civil War Museum?  Many dioramas, artifacts, weapons, stories and videos capture the good, bad and ugly about that primal conflict.  Maybe not as elaborate as WWII museum in New Orleans and the Nimitz one in Fredericksburg, TX, but very impressive nonetheless.  Highly recommend if you...