Tuesday, May 15, 2012 Road Junkies 0 Comments

ON THE HISTORY HIGHWAY: EPILOGUE
March 15-May 14, 2012
     
We couldn't have selected a better area of the U.S. for a history-seeking journey.  Since our agenda included all 13 of the original American colonies, our paths constantly took us to places significant in the early history of our country.  Moreover, almost three-fourths of Civil War battles were fought in the states we visited.  We were consistently impressed with the work that preservationists at all government levels, as well as philanthropists and volunteers in the private sector, have done to ensure that generations to come will have the opportunity to find these hallowed grounds much the way they were when they were at history's center stage.  (No, Williamsburg, that does not include you!) 
    

Since we've been home, we've put together some final trip statistics and a few "bests and worsts" of our History Highway trip.   After chasing it for 60 days, we have concluded that 
History Never Gets Old.

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Trip Stats
  • Days: 61
  • Miles traveled: 6,800
  • States visited: 18 + DC
  • Letterboxes: 224 found, 12 planted
  • Walked: 114.43 miles
  • Family members visited: 17
  • State Parks:  34
  • Forts:  24
  • Museums: 57
  • National Parks:  1
  • National Historic Parks/Sites: 15
  • National Battlefields:  7
  • Presidential Birthplaces:  4
  • Presidential Graves:  6
  • Cannons:  4,916
  • Bugs on our windshield/grill:  92,163
  • Woodchucks:  12
  • Ticks:  6
  • Snakes:  4
  • Road kill:  83
  • Pollen spores:  235,109,471,347,382
  • Kids on spring break:  193,522
  • Highest gas price:  $4.30, Arlington, VA
  • Lowest gas price:  $3.54, Blacksburg, SC 
Williamsburg, VA, the authentic colonial town with asphalt streets

Plymouth Rock:  Did Pilgrims see this stone and sail their ship toward it?

Certain historical figures crossed our path repeatedly.
We spent 2 weeks in Washington, DC, and could have stayed longer.
Worst Cities
  1. Manchester, NH
  2. Manchester, NH
  3. Manchester, NH
  4. ETC.
Favorite Cemeteries
  • Arlington National Cemetery (Arlington)
  • Hollywood Cemetery (Richmond)
  • Christ Church Burial Ground (Philly)
  • Burial Hill (Plymouth)
  • Old City Cemetery (Lynchburg)
Army caisson procession in Arlington National Cemetery
Independence Hall, Philadelphia 
Best Historic Sites and Museums
    (in random order, too close to rank) 
Max Patch Mountain, NC:  site of the first US letterbox
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Most Memorable Letterboxes
Places We Should Have Skipped
Surprises

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Best Meals
Worst Meal
Recurring Historical Figures

Both intentionally and accidentally, we repeatedly came across sites related to these men. 
  • Edgar Allan Poe
  • John Wilkes Booth
  • George Washington 
  • Abraham Lincoln 
  • Robert E. Lee
  • Stonewall Jackson 
Misery on the George Washington Bridge, NYC 
Not Our Favorite Days
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Best Days
And the Rest
  • Most overpriced:  Colonial Williamsburg
  • Best value: Washington's free museums
  • Next best value: National Park Pass ($10)
  • Best rest areas: Virginia
  • Best hotel: Hampton Inn, Exeter, NH
  • Worst hotel: HI Express, Brattleboro, VT
  • Best breakfast: Hilton Garden Inn, Saratoga Springs
  • Most embarrassing moment: Amish stalking
  • Worst teeth: President Wilson
  • Biggest tick:  2 wood ticks on Dianne's scalp 
  • Sorry we missed: Boston & New York
TUESDAY, 15 MAY 2012
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