Eastern Shore Oct. 8

Day 15

OH MY, it's freezing cold and raining. Twenty-four hours ago, we were standing on the ferry from Ocracoke Island in our shorts and t-shirts, and we're now in pants and fleecies!

It was a day of history.

We drove in to historical Appomattox and went to the Visitors Centre and got lots of information.

We drove up to Appomattox Court House, where Lee and Grant signed the treaty of surrender which ended the Civil War. These Americans sure know how to commemorate their past. It's a beautifully reconstructed village:

These from the actual room where Lee and Grant signed:

Slave quarters:

Intriguing tree and grave:

We talked with this Northern re-creator:

He was in character so well. He horked and spat and David said we would not catch that on film. Instead of laughing or being embarrassed, he talked how the Doc told him to “balance his humours” and remove the phlegm. He asked where we were from, and vaguely heard of the British "Canada". He asked about Fleming College (on my fleecy) and said that was another “flem”. He wondered if it were the Finishing School I graduated from! He was amazing.

Another cemetery on our way out became the theme for our afternoon:

THEN we passed the “Bruce and STIFF Funeral Home”!

After a Wal Mart visit, we drove to Lynchburg to visit the Old City Cemetery I had read about. Amazing. Though the Visitors Centre was technically closed, the charming volunteer gave us so much information for the tour.

The cemetery was established in 1806 and is a public cemetery which always buried anyone, including African Americans, unlike most others. There's a tribute to African American graves:

Few people have been buried there since 1925. But there are 2,200 Confederate soldiers:

This is a beautiful “museum” with several displays and buildings like "The Pest House", some with accompanying audio. This is a must see.

And hopefully, you'll meet Arthur, the cemetery cat:

We keep seeing these side-by-side signs in Virginia:

Romney Ryan/Hurt Congress

I laugh (and wonder) every time!

Anyway, we got some fried chicken and have been watching old TV shows! No view from the chair (it's too cold to go back outside). Tomorrow will be warmer and we'll head to the Blue Ridge Parkway.