A wee break in the Lake District and the Eclipse!

We are not long back from a week in the Lake District of Cumbria. We were staying at the Grand Cumbria Hotel in Grange Over Sands.

It was comfortable enough. A bit old with creaky floors, and renovations going on. But at the price we paid, little to complain about.

On the Saturday before we left we were involved in a road accident. While stationary at red lights at the Edinburgh end of the M8, we were rammed from behind by a car that had not seen the red lights. We were shaken but fortunately no serious injuries.

On the Monday my car was uplifted by the insurance company of the offending driver, and we were supplied with a replacement vehicle. A Vauxhall Zafira Tourer. 

My car suffered £3000 worth of damage and I still await its return. Though the replacement vehicle is nice...and expensive, I am keen to have my car back.

So we spent a week touring the lake District. Weather was mixed. Sun, some showers, some hail and snow. And definitely cold. Halfway through I got the flu and lost my appetite. Food did not taste right, so I skipped a number of meals.

We were there on the day of the eclipse, a very cloudy day, but just before we went into morning mass, the clouds briefly cleared and I got a couple of photos.

   

Gordonsville

After 2 fantastic days in Lynchburg, it was time to head for my final destination....Fredericksburg.

I had spent time here on my previous visit, but there were some places I wanted to revisit, as well as seeing some new places.

It was a drive of about 140 miles and again the weather was beautiful and the roads not too busy. I was keeping my eyes open for any point of interest that might be worthy of a stop.

And so it was I espied an interesting looking building at Gordonsville advertising itself as a museum. I was glad I decided to stop.

It is a small town and gets its name from Nathaniel Gordon, the first Postmaster.
About 1794 he was granted permission to build a tavern which stood at the intersection of two important routes; The Fredericksburgh Great Road, and The Richmond Road.
Stage Coach passengers often used the inn for food, drink and accommodation .Later on with the coming of a Rail Road, the town became even more important and the Inn even busier.
During the Civil War it was strategically important because of its position.

It boasted many important visitors such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
But in 1859 it burned down. Richard F Omohundro who then owned the land rebuilt it and named it the Exchange Hotel. This is the building now standing.

During the Civil War, it became a receiving hospital and over 70,000 soldiers were treated there.

Today it is a Museum, and reportedly one of the most haunted houses in America. I am afraid I met no ghosts during my visit, but I keep closely looking at my photos just in case....



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordonsville,_Virginia

http://www.townofgordonsville.org/

Appomattox Town

After about 3 hours, it was time to leave Appomattox Court House. I was hungry and there is nowhere to eat in the Park.
So I head a couple of miles to Appomattox town. Once there I found parking right outside the Tourist Office. So that was my first port of call. I noticed a Coffee/Bookshop across the road and it was recommended by the Tourist Office.

I got useful information which blunted my appetite, and I decided to go for a walk round the town before eating. It was now about 2pm.

It was a most enjoyable walk. There is a huge variety of house types, which you can see in the photos. Some of them all ready for Halloween. I was following a trail leaflet I picked up from the tourist office. 

I did eventually find a museum, but it was closed. Understandable as it was almost November and tourists would be small in number.

I completed a circle tour round the town and ended up back at my car. So then it was into the coffee shop.

I had a nice latte, and piece of wonderful home made apple pie.
I perused the books and found a whole shelf of books on Catholic topics. I bought 2. One on great modern Catholic writers, and on on Medieval History.

http://www.townofappomattox.com/  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appomattox,_Virginia

https://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A9mSs24N.v5UxBEAG_FLBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBsYWhiN2NvBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2lyMgR2dGlkAw--?_adv_prop=image&fr=chrc-comodo&va=appomattox+town

http://www.townofappomattox.com/government/history/