Saturday, July 5 - Sunday, July 13
Monticello and then the Indiana Burgoynes

We started home this week, but along the way, we are stopping for visits with the Indiana and Wisconsin Burgoynes.  We also stopped by Monticello to visit Thomas Jefferson and to say "Good Night, John-Boy" at the Hamner House.

From the east coast of Virginia to Indianapolis, Indiana; we are headed home

Saturday & Sunday, July 5 & 6:

After our long week on the Chesapeake Bay reuniting with friends, we remained put, cleaned up, and relaxed the rest of the weekend.

Monday, July 7:

It is finally time to head west toward home.  We drove from Gloucester, VA to Greenwood, VA (158 miles) just outside of Charlottesville. 

We set up camp quickly so we could visit Thomas Jefferson at his Monticello house up on the hillside.  Unfortunately, we got there and found that he had just passed away 188 years ago.  Well, we still took time to visit his famous house. 

Did you know?

Of our main founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson authored the initial draft of the Declaration of Independence.  John Adams reviewed it and provided revisions.  Over the years, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were conspirators together, strongly opinionated, political opponents, and argued and fought about political issues.  They were strong rivals and had a heated contest for the presidency following George Washington where John Adams barely won.  Then John Adams lost to Thomas Jefferson for reelection.  Later, they mended their relationship and had a long friendship through correspondence.  They were the two final living founding fathers.  On the 50th anniversary--July 4, 1826--of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, both men passed away.

Monticello is beautiful and is built on a hill.  It overlooked Thomas Jefferson's plantation that he inherited from his father..

Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's architectural marvel, for him, always a work in progress

The view from Monticello

Thomas Jefferson's gravesite

April 13, 1743 - July 4,1826

After visiting Monticello, we took a drive to Earl Hamner's house--quite a contrast to Monticello.  Earl Hamner was the writer and inspiration for the TV show "The Waltons."  Earl is John-Boy and this is the house he grew up in and an inspiration for the show.

"Good Night, John-Boy" ... now go to sleep!

Tuesday, July 8:

We continued our trek west as we drove to Milton, West Virginia (268 miles).  

Wednesday, July 9:

With a break from driving, we spent the day relaxing, resting, and getting caught up.

Thursday, July 10:

It is now time to head off to see the Indiana Burgoynes: Matthew, Tasha, Asher, and Timothy.  We drove from Milton, West Virginia to Greenfield, Indiana (289 miles).  After setting up, we headed over to the Burgoynes in Fishers, Indiana, where the grandkids proceeded to wear us out and Tasha fed us well.

Friday, July 11:

We spent the day relaxing and playing.  Asher got training wheels for his bike.

Matthew studying the instructions.  Will they work?

Success!  And Asher leaves the others in his dust.

In the evening, Matthew and Tasha treated us to a night out at the Hollywood Bowl, ah, I mean the Symphony on the Prairie where the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra was joined by Time for Three--excellent two violins and a base.  Then, after intermission, the symphony played  Beethoven's Symphony No. 7.  During the intermission, Asher chased and caught "Lightning Bugs" to show Grand-mère.  It was a great venue and just as good as the Hollywood Bowl!

Indiana's "Hollywood Bowl" - Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie

Saturday, July 12:

Indianapolis has a fantastic children's museum.  It is huge with many, many well done exploratory rooms for kids.  Matthew and Tasha again treated us to an outing there with their annual membership.  The museum was hosting a special attraction of the "Terra Cotta Warriors" in their only 2014 U.S. appearance.  

 [From Wikipedia] The Terracotta Army or the "Terracotta Warriors and Horses" is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE and whose purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife. The figures, dating from approximately the late third century BCE, were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi province. The figures vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots and horses. Current (2007) estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pits nearby Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum. Other terracotta non-military figures were also found in other pits and they include officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians.

Indiana Burgoynes complete Terra Cotta Warrior puzzle

The fierce Terra Cotta Warrior emperor guard!

A real Terra Cotta Calvary Man and Calvary Horse

After a great time, the Burgoynes are headed home

Sunday, July 13:

We attended church together and watched the "Lego Movie" before going out to dinner and saying our good-byes.