Road Trip to Virginia ~ Tappahannock, Fredricksburg, Rappahannock River

A few weeks ago ~ I was thrilled to take a road trip ~ just me, myself and I ~to see family in Tappahannock, Va.
I wish I could have traveled by sea but instead ~

it was via the New Jersey Turnpike.
Of course I am used to the usual 1 hour back up ~ always around Exit 8 for some reason.

I only wish I had not been so absentminded about my gas.

I was on empty and miles and miles of traffic ahead in a dead stop.

I did what I always do ~ prayed and asked the Lord for some extra grace for not having filled my tank.

One hour later ~ I made it right to the pump.

HE never lets me down!

I arrived at Tappahannock, Va ~ 9 hours after leaving Connecticut.

I had never been here but could feel I belonged.

Many of my ancestors from both sides of my family were from this area ~ fishing the Rappahannock River and raising their family's up and down this stretch of Va.

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Tappahannock.

This is a very small town and I didn't expect much but was pleasantly surprised!

It was spotlessly clean ~ many offerings for free including breakfast, pool, gym and computers in the lobby area.

The little Historic District was lovely.

This is the Rappanhannock River ~

I stopped my car under the bridge and tried to picture my ancestors going up and down this river.

It felt so wonderful to be here ~ kinda like having a dream of a place you loved when you were a child.

I felt like I was revisiting instead of visiting for the first time.
I had a wonderful visit with my family all day Saturday.

They are wonderful folks ~ down to earth, country through and through.

I left at dusk for the hour ride North to Fredricksburg, Va.

I arrived at dark so it took me a while to find my Inn ~ The Kenmore.

Many of the streets are one way so it was hard to find at night.

I was starving when I arrived but the only place that was still open to dine was the bar.

Oh darn ~ I felt funny going to a bar alone but hunger ruled. I remember thinking at 50 ~ I can do anything!

I ordered a salad ~ leaving my glasses in my room so the bartender had to read me the menu to me ~ how embarrassing.

After I ordered ~I noticed my glasses were hanging out of my shirt the whole time!

It was a very nice place and what interesting people !

I will start at one end of the bar and work my way around ~

- there was a woman who's Dad had been a pilot for many of our presidents.(Nixon was his favorite)

- A well known 80 something year old piano player and his attractive wife, (on his way out of the bar ~ he played a short but beautiful tune on the bar piano)

- a young couple who were celebrating there 1st wedding anniversary ~ both lawyers,

- a young cute curly haired kid who seemed to have consumed one to many energy drinks,

- a man who's brother in law almost beat the the Iron Chef on the Food Network.

We all had SO much fun and such lively conversation ~ I didn't get back to my room till midnight!

It was the most unexpected end to the most wonderful day ~ back where my life had began generations before me ~ I was home.

Now if only this could have been my house!

This was the chandler above my bed ~ (pic's of the room didn't turn out)

The dining room where breakfast was served ~

The front porch of my dreams ~ (I thought of my pal Pat Winter when I was sitting here)

After breakfast ~ I checked out early ~ left my car at the Inn as parking is difficult ~ and walked to the downtown area.

The homes along the way were beautiful......

with beautiful gardens to match.

I walked around for 2 hours in the 100 degree heat ~ waiting for the museums and shops to open

(it was Sunday)

...and ended up with a case of heat stroke!

I made it to one museum when I had to find an air conditioned restaurant and sit there for over an hour until I was up to driving.

I still had to drive to Lancaster, Pa that day so headed out on the road ~ ton's of traffic as I was in the Washington DC area ~ and prayed once again for God's grace and help to get me to my destination.

Here are a few other pic's I took in Fredricksburg before I got sick ......

gorgeous magnolia's.....

lovely alley ways ~ so common in these southern towns.

Even the trees are steeped in history.

By the time I reach Baltimore, Maryland ~ I started to feel better.

Just as I was within 20 minutes of my hotel in Pa ~ a terrible storm hit the area.

The black sky turned everything dark as night. Since I drive a convertible ~ I was concerned about falling trees.

I passed several but those wonderful angels kept me safe.

By 7:00 pm ~ I was rocking in the wooden rocking chairs on my hotel porch ~ as the sun pecked back out just in time for the sunset.

I reflected on the last few days, it truly did feel like such a wonderful adventure.

Tomorrow morning ~ I would be waking up in my beloved Amish Country.

Breakfast at the same place we always brought the kids. Their childhood seems as though it lives on here ~

I see their faces in the children whose glance I catch.

I feel their tug on my leg and hear there excitement as a Amish Buggy rides by.

Maybe it is these memories that draw me back to this place time and again ~ as much as it is my love for the people here.

for more info on the places I visited ~

http://www.baygateways.net/general.cfm?id=138

Rappahannock River

http://www.essex-virginia.org/ta_walk.htm

Tappahannock, Va

http://www.visitfred.com/

Fredricksburg, Va

http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/site/default.asp

Lancaster County, Pa