We left Williamsburg on Saturday,  October 28, 2006, and headed west on I-64 to Richmond where we caught US 60 and made our way eventually to Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (see http://www.nps.gov/apco) , where the Civil War essentially ended on April 9, 1865. Many original buildings still stand although the McLean House, where the surrender was signed, and the Court House itself have been reconstructed.

Lorri and the entry sign and the, um, building

Printing presses like these were used to print 30,000 paroles for Confederate soldiers which they would need to return to their homes. On the right is a photo of  an interpreter who did an excellent job of portraying a Confederate soldier a few weeks after the surrender. In the background is the Court House.

The Court House, which doubles as the Visitors Center and the Plunkett-Meeks Store which is an original building, built in 1852.

The McLean House

The Confederate soldiers walked this road which was lined on either side by Union troops to lay down their arms.

We spent our first night back on the road at Paradise Lake Campground ( http://www.paradise-lake.com ), near Lynchburg, VA.

The next day we headed southwest on I-81 for a while, then cut down I-77 and got on the Blue Ridge Parkway ( http://www.nps.gov/blri ) a few miles north of the Virginia, North Carolina line.

The weather turned nice. It had been chilly and very windy. There was still some fall color on the trees and we had a leisurely ride, down to Ashville, NC. It has to be leisurely because the speed limit is 35, or sometimes 45 miles per hour, and there are so many interesting and picturesque places to stop and explore, it's hard to make any progress.

One of the places we stopped was the Brinegar Cabin and Loom, an old homestead that happened to be in the way of the Parkway when it came through.

Lorri had to stop to pet the horses.

On the left is Flat Top Manor. We spent the night at Price Park Campground and kept going south toward Ashville the next morning.

This is the Linn Cove Viaduct, an engineering marvel in it's day.

Next stop along the Blue Ridge was Linnville Falls, where we got out and hiked a mile or so to see the Falls.

More Fall scenery from the Blue Ridge Parkway