Old Virginia: Family, Friends, and the Military

Leaving Hanscom Air Force Base, we parted company with Lloyd and Elaine, our Airstream buddies, with whom we had had fun traveling with for nearly two months. In addition to touring several states and two Canadian provinces, we played 52 games of Joker on those evenings when we were not exhausted from our touring. They headed to Plymouth Rock and other sites, while we drove on to Northern Virginia to get Jerry’s tooth repaired, pick up our mail, and see our daughter Robin’s family. “Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.” What beautiful words on the sign post. We had driven all day in the rain, and during the last 15 miles we dodged orange barrels, skimmed through narrow concrete-lined lanes, and were passed by huge trucks going all too fast in the dark. It was a great relieved to pull into a welcoming big Wal-Mart parking lot for a free night of camping.

The next afternoon, we arrived at Skyline Ranch Resort in the Shenandoah Valley near Front Royal where we have a membership. The next morning we drove to Vienna to see our dentist, visit an old neighbor, and shop. Then we spent the evening with Alejandro, Robin, and Samuel. Alejandro served a delicious Colombian dinner, which included plantain, yucca, chicken, and other goodies. After a day of rest at the ranch, we traveled to Virginia Beach to scout out a site for our 2010 family reunion. We camped at the Little Creek Amphibious Base Campground. We visited Ft Story and the Cape Henry Inn and looked at cottages and a hotel at Dam Neck, but we have yet to finalize our plans for next August. We also quietly celebrated our 52 years of marriage with a delicious seafood dinner served at a terrific restaurant overlooking the ocean. Upon our return to the campground, heavy rain pelted our aluminum trailer all night (top photo).

We awoke to sunshine and drove 265 miles to Salem, VA enjoying rich tree-filled hillsides and good roads. At the Salem Civic Center, we attended the Virginia WBCCI Commonwealth Rally, “Autumn in the Blue Ridge” with four Virginia units. Over 100 Airstreamers enjoyed fellowship, installation of officers, the Old Salem Festival, and several historic sites nearby. We were awed by the D-Day Memorial in Bedford. That small city lost the greatest number of troops per capita at the 1944 invasion of Normandy. That set the stage for ending the war with GEN Eisenhower the recognized hero. The community of Bedford has done a remarkable job of maintaining the monument with little or no federal aid. We recommend that this memorial become a National Monument. The Old Salem Days Festival is a huge draw. Thousands of people filled the length of Main Street to visit myriad vendor tents and gaze at antique cars/trucks galore. Handmade furniture, jewelry, painted glass items, pottery, and lots of food were just a few of the attractions. We returned to the rally site in time for “Happy Hour,” and the evening activities which included a delectable dinner and the installation of unit officers. The rally ended on Sunday with an ecumenical worship service. Eight couples from the Northern Virginia Unit, including us, and one Tidewater Unit couple then departed from Salem on a caravan, which will eventally take us to Jonesborough, TN.