Monday, October 26-27, 2009

Day 50-51

We were up before the crack of dawn and after hugs and a tearful goodbye to Mom and Dad, we were on our way by 6:15 AM.

Our first stop was in Queensbury, NY, near Lake George, to have breakfast with my brother Harold and his wife, Judy and to say farewell. Since we had decided not to go to Connecticut, we programmed the GPS for Valley Forge, PA. It was a gorgeous, sunny day for traveling and the foliage in southern NY, NJ, and PA was still stunning. We were happy to arrive at Valley Forge after a long day. Exhausted, we were asleep by 8:30 PM and still managed to sleep in. Since it was raining, we took our time leaving for VF National Historic Park. We arrived on Gulph Road, the same road that George Washington and his troops came over in 1777. We stopped at the Visitor Center to watch a film and visit the museum. On the way in, we met a family from California traveling with 5 kids that were thrilled not to be in school. Otherwise, the park was quiet with few people. From there, we went on a self-guided drive around the park. As we drove past the Artillery Park, the replicated huts that served as encampments of the Continental Army,

 the many redoubts, and the National Memorial Arch,

we had a better appreciation of the sacrifices that were made for our independence. A highlight was George Washington’s Headquarters, a striking 247 year old stone house and stable (75% of the house is original) surrounded by beautiful trees and white tail deer roaming about.

It was an amazing and surreal feeling walking up the stairs with our hands on the same banister that George Washington held. As we walked past the quarters of the Washington’s special guard and throughout the grounds of this historic site,

there was absolute stillness and it seemed like an eerie presence of the soldier’s spirits. As we left, Bob adnd I shared the same thought, each day,we should all appreciate our freedom and be thankful to all of those who sacrificed so much.