While in New Jersey, we made several weekend trips to Washington, D.C.,
Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. But we couldn't stay
in New Jersey forever, as much as Jette loved hotel-life, so we drove westward to California via Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Scott chose these states so we would avoid cold weather (i.e., snow); we did pretty well except for a severe thunderstorm in Missouri (helps to make life more exciting!).
Thumbnail
(click to view
larger image) |
Photo description and comments |
|
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania - On Labor Day (September 2, 1996) we drove
to where George Washington and his army camped during the cold winter of
1775, while training for battle. This photo shows Washington's headquarters (a rented two-story house); the troops built their own cabins with whatever was available, so their quarters were much more primitive. We learned that troops only had what their home states sent, so many of them had no blankets, no shoes, and no food.
|
|
Washington, D.C. - We saw the city September 20-22 with our good friends
Kathleen and Peter Catherwood. This is the U.S. Capitol, where the Senate
and House meet. We snagged a ride on the "Members Only" elevator (fortunately, we didn't have to share it with any politicians). If you click on this thumbnail-size picture, the larger version will display showing Kathleen and Peter standing by the pool.
|
|
Washington, D.C. - The Capitol Rotunda ceiling has a large painting
that practically "deifies" George Washington. If you click on this thumbnail-size picture, a close-up will display showing George and the angels. Really! Scott took this photo of the ceiling without a tripod - he just held the camera VERY still.
|
|
Washington, D.C. - The Library of Congress is available to anyone for
research. We arrived too late on Friday to go on the public tour, but a
sympathetic guard gave us a private behind-the-scenes tour; we saw areas
that are currently being restored, such as this.
|
|
Washington, D.C. - This is a Cray-1 computer, in the Smithsonian Air
and Space Museum. The red bench encircles the computer; it was intended
for the engineers who would frequently work on this pioneer creation.
|
|
Exton, PA - Our good friends Bill and Laurie Diggins, formerly from
the VCF Anaheim in California. Please note that on September 29, 1996,
Jette drove Scott's stick-shift car all the way from New Jersey to Pennsylvania (and back!), and only stalled twice while pulling away from toll-booths.
|
|
Princeton, NJ - To get to our hotel from Princeton, we often drove
on Route 27, which took us by this beautiful fall scene. Some "locals"
told us that a successful Princeton alumnus felt the school needed a river
where the school rowing team could practice; so, he built them one. This
is it.
|
|
Mammoth Cave, KY - This is the longest cave in the world (i.e., has
the most miles of trails). In this photo, at the bottom of this hole is
a river that is home to some species of animals found nowhere else; the
water is so cold that it slows their growth rate and metabolism to the
point that they eat only once or twice a year. On the more strenuous cave
tours, you are required to wear knee pads, boots, gloves, etc. and carry
a lantern (too strenuous for us!).
|
|
{This was supposed to be a photo of the Saturn car plant in Tennessee,
but their visitor tours were completely booked until next year!
So, we drove to Missouri instead.}
St. Louis, MO - The St. Louis Arch, along the Mississippi River on a cold and rainy November afternoon. The elevator to the top was specially designed to accommodate the arch's curve. Five adults (plus small kids) cram into each tiny car for the ride; not for the claustrophobic!
|
|
Amarillo, TX - This is the world's only Cadillac Ranch. The owner planted
ten Cadillacs in his field guarded by a barbed wire fence; maybe he thought the cars would grow there. Only in Texas . . .
|