Today we leave Williamsburg, VA and drive to West Virginia. We stopped along the way at Monticello.
Monticello is the home of Thomas Jefferson. He built Monticello when he was in his mid 20's and lived their until his death.
Our tour is about an hour after we arrive, so we take the time to have some lunch in the picnic area. After lunch, we ride the shuttle from the parking area to the top of the mountain.
The tour goes through all of the downstairs of the house. The upstairs is largely offices, so it's not really interesting (or restored). They have restored the house to near how Jefferson would have had the house. There is many famous works of art. Monticello itself is a work of art as Jefferson blended French ideas with his own needs of practicality. For example, his bed is in an alcove, but open on both sides with access to his bedroom and office.
After the tour is complete, the girls enjoyed trying their hand at quill pen writign. Then we walked underneath the house where all the work of the day was done, the ice house, the stables, the kitchen, the smoke house; all of these everyday areas where built underneath the house. This kept the view of the mountain pristine.
From Monticello we are back on the road to West Virginia. Driving through the mountains into West Virginia is beautiful. We stopped a few times to at some overlooks.
It's late fairly late when we arrived at Greenbrier State Forest. As we finish our dinner the weather is beginning to threaten. But Mackensie is determined to have some-mores. Before the rain starts in earnest, we all manage to get at least one some-more.
While we were by the fire, the lightening was lighting up the sky. Soon after, the rain started in earnest. It rained most of the night.
Tomorrow we are on our way to Kentucky.
Music of the day: Sam's Country Genre, Panic at the Disco, Cute is What We Aim For, Eagles, ELO
9 hours travel time for 237 miles
