Have you ever seen a water tower being constructed? It’s really neat to watch! First, they build a cement foundation. Then a pedestal made out of cement or metal is raised. Next, the reservoir is typically brought in as pieces and welded around the pedestal. Once the reservoir is in one piece, it is then painted then lifted to the top of the pedestal using hydraulic lifts. The lifting process can take an entire day (8 hours!) depending on the height of the pedestal. It is then attached to the base, sealed, and a top is added. It takes a typically 12-18 months to build a water tower!

What are the things you notice about when you transition from one region to another? For Kate, there are two things that really show the transition away from the South.

First, the people in other areas of the country do not have the same “Southern hospitality” engrained in them as those in the South. Much of the rest of the country is very direct, doesn’t just up and talk to strangers, and they certainly don’t freely give out smiles. They aren’t being rude or stand-offish, but if you are used to the overly welcoming nature of those in the South, it is definitely a noticeable difference..

Today we visited the Booker T. Washington National Monument, a place that tells an incredible story of perseverance, education, and leadership.

Located on the tobacco farm where Booker T. Washington was born into slavery in 1856, the site brings history to life through preserved landscapes and exhibits that trace his remarkable journey from enslavement to becoming one of the most influential educators and leaders in American history.

Booker T. Washington’s legacy lives on through Tuskeegee University , where, at only 25 years old, he was named the first principal of Tuskeegee at its opening in 1881. HIs legacy also lives on in the National Negro Business League (now the National Business League) that he helped found in 1900 to promote African American businesses. He was a huge proponent of equal rights for all people and pushed for change through his writing and speaking.

Appomattox Court House National Historic Park is located on such a beautiful piece of land - light breeze, rolling hills, and a major roadway within earshot… Even with the noise from vehicles passing, Kate found a rocking chair and took a few minutes to enjoy the peace and quiet of the grounds! Do you ever just take time to enjoy the little things like the breeze and the sunshine?

We drove southeast from Natural Bridge through the mountains to Appomattox Court House . This once bustling little village is now maintained by the federal government as a National Historical Park.

This is the place where in 1865, Robert E. Lee formally surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant bringing an end to the American Civil War . The surrender happened at the McLean House, the home of a Virginia Grocer who made a small fortune selling sugar to the Confederate Army during the war. Wimer McLean moved to Appomattox Court House in 1863 after fighting broke out at the first battle of Bull Run (which was practically in his back yard at his farm in Northern Virginia). He moved to Appomattox Court House to keep his wife and children safe and away from the war. Little did he know that in two years’ time the parlor in his home would be at the center point of the battle which led to surrender.

Do you collect pressed pennies?

Kate has been doing this since the 1990s. It is a cheap, space saving way to remember her travels. She has collected about 1 1/2 books of them since we’ve been on the road full time.

As pennies are no longer being produced, what is going to happen to this collection hobby?
We recently saw that the penny press machines are now being upgraded to press nickels! Have you seen these yet? Kate was a bit hesitant that the pressed nickel would fit in the penny book, but it seems to do so just fine.

Have you been to Virginia? The state motto is: Virginia is for Lovers. As part of a major Virginia tourism initiative, they began placing LOVEworks statues throughout the state in 2013. Today, there are more than 350 of them state wide! Each statue is at least 4’x4’ and reflects the community in which it is erected. We saw two of these - one in Wytheville and one at Natural Bridge. As we come back through Virginia in the fall, we’ll be on the look out for some more!

What a beautiful afternoon at Natural Bridge State Park ! Steve and I were last here in November 2015 after I attended a conference in DC. At the time the park was privately owned, becoming a park in 2016. There have been some renovations of the main office area and the park. Steve remembers taking a shuttle bus down and then back up to the office, but this time, we had to walk down about 14 flights of stairs…. And then back up!

Our last travel day was one of the bounciest we have had in a while. Because our kitchen is in the back, we usually see aftermath of a lively travel day most clearly evident here. But, even though the silverware was all over the place, the scissors were on the floor under all the drawers, one of my Ove Gloves bounced off a hook, and the contents of the fridge moved enough to upend a tension rod, we did not have anything in the fridge spill or break. So we’ll call this a win!