Shenandoah Valley, Charlottesville, VA

The next day, we took a drive on a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and stopped to have a picnic.

But because it rained off and on, we were unable to see a lot from the viewing areas due to low clouds, but what we did see was beautiful!!


We got onto the Parkway close to our campsite, and went north. At the north entrance to the Parkway was a visitor center with a period farm.


In the afternoon, it started raining harder.... about the time we got to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s home. No inside pictures allowed, but was able to get some outside shots. And half the people on our tour had been evacuated!



Jefferson really put a lot of thought to each detail, and even then, remodeled extensively. A lot of his ideas came from France! Great ideas and forward thinking for the era!
This small “room” at the end of this terrace was the home he and his wife lived in while building the home. Below there are some rooms for slaves, wine cellar, beer cellar, and kitchen. There is another terrace on the other side of the house, and a building at the end of that which was his son-in-law’s office when he came.

He experimented with gardens. He documented 330 varieties of more than 70 species of vegetables. This vegetable garden is terraced, with retaining wall below it, 80 feet wide, 1000 feet long.

Mulberry Row, where the slaves lived and worked on wood and ironworks, above it.
He also planted 160 species of trees, laid out 20 oval shaped flower beds at the four corners of the house and along the walkways.
Unfortunately, Jefferson died a man in debt, and his home had to be sold. A small family plot was saved in which he and many family members are buried.


The area we are headed for tomorrow is on the outskirts of where Irene is today.
We added one more day to this area since we did not want to have winds while traveling. Guess what....Sunday morning, the sun is bright and shining!
Of course when it is not raining, we plan to just go to church, then stay around the campground. But I am getting caught up on the blog and Paul gets to take a nap!