Blogs from Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, North America - page 2

Ever since I was in grade school and first studied Thomas Jefferson I have been a student of the sage of Charlottesville, Virginia. We all know of his contributions to our fledgling country: author of the Declaration of Independence, member of the Continental Congress, minister to France, President and driving force behind the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson was a man of enormous talents and an expansive intellect. He was a philosopher, politician, violinist, horticulturalist, bee-keeper, inventor, bibliophile and architect, to name just a few of his myriad talents. But Jefferson was also a complex man of contradictions. He was, of course, a slave holder who fathered six children after the death of his beloved wife Martha with one of his slaves—Sally Hemings--who just happened to be the half-sister of his late wife (they shared the same father). ... read more

Goodnight Jim-Bob … Goodnight Mary-Ellen… Goodnight Mama…………. Goodnight Elizabeth. Ike Godsey, the Baldwin sisters, the Recipe, Charlottesville. If you don’t recognize any of these familiar words and names then you probably won’t want to read on any further. I’m on a good old-style road trip through 9 U.S. states, finding a part of America previously unknown to my eyes. Yesterday, leaving the musical fumes of country behind, we motored out of Music City, Nashville, in the early morning haze, heavy fog and mist layered like cotton-batting over the green deciduous hillsides. We headed east on the wide, truck-loaded freeways, escaping Tennessee, a few hours later finding ourselves in the state of Virginia. Every 5 to 10 miles there’s an off-ramp leading to an almost identical collection of gas depo... read more

Almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River Life is old there, older than the trees, younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze Bumpy roads, for too long at a pace that's all wrong West Virginia, motor momma, speed controlled, winding roads All my memories gonna save her, all that's missing is some running water Dark and dusty, painted on the sky, moths and humidity, sweat gets in my eye Forest roads, lacking streams, in the place we ride along West Virginia, getting hotta, take me home, country roads I hear her voice in the morning hour she calls me, the radio reminds me of my home far away And driving down the road I get a feeling that I could have blogged this yesterday, yesterday Country roads, take me home to the place ... read more

Left Washington DC and arrived in Charlottesville the same day as the Dali Lama. He was giving a talk in the town, unfortunately our bus was delayed and we didn't arrive until the speech was half way through. couldn't get a ticket but did listen to some of it from a bridge above the site however there was traffic going over the bridge so it was difficult to hear it. Charlottesville is a delightful little town, it has a very cosmopolitan feel, laid back and relaxed. have already found a great restaurant, the theatre and a concert hall. There was a country band playing in the street when I arrived and coupled with a beautiful day it was very enjoyable. Tha lady I am staying with is very musical and she plays several instruments, cello, violin, ... read more

We are excited to be here. We began our day with a walk in the woods with the dogs, returning for eggs and english cooked on an incredibly compact propane stove. The campground was typical and for those familiar with a certain environmental camp in New Hampshire: that can not compare for the number of flying "things" willing to relieve you of a bite or two of skin. But, all is well. We took off a bit later than we expected which caused concern about seeing Monticello. We drove to a town called Front Royal wherein is located one of the four entrances to Skyline Drive. As most of today's photos attest, the weather was mostly cloudy and humid, thus causing a deep mist to form over the valley, thereby blurring our view. Still, I shot, ... read more