Petersburg National Battlefield (April 16)

After the massive storms of Saturday April 16 (which spawned tornadoes in both North Carolina and Virginia, killing many) awoke on Sunday April 17 to a day of blue skies. I went to Petersburg National Battlefield with two friends to see the site of the Civil War siege (which was the longest recorded on American soil). The battle lasted from June 9, 1864-March 25, 1865. Old Blandford Church, just outside the battlefield has buried among others some 30,000 Confederate Soldiers. Its windows are memorials to the states of the Confederacy and were done by Lewis Comfort Tiffany. The church was built in 1735.
Some 150,000 soldiers from both sides faced off against each other during the battle. The lines were some 30 miles long in all, and were heavily defended. At left is seen a recreation at the battlefield of what assaulting troops would have faced. Cannon, riflemen, and wooden defenses designed to defeat enemy assaults against the positions were highly effective. Union troops always greatly outnumbered the Confederate forces, but the lines held until the Confederates were defeated at the Battle of Five Forks which opened up the cities of Richmond and Petersburg to the Union Army. Following that battle the end to the Civil War was just a few days away.
Both the forces and Petersburg were bombarded by guns such as these from the Union forces. This weapon I read could launch a 215 pound shell for a distance of some two miles. Soldiers of both sides endured such weapons, snipers, disease, starvation (in the case of the poorly supplied Confederate forces), and other dangers. Many of them lived in small buildings as the Confederate forces and the cities were starved out in what General Robert E. Lee knew was only a matter of time. Both General Grant and General Lee knew the Siege would be effective. An offensive to break the Union Line at Petersburg was the last major offensive of the war for Lee's troops.
Seen here are one of the actual defensive positions of the battlefield. Gone are the wooden supports, and other defensive items seen in the photos of old; now they are little more than grass covered earthworks. Loss of life during the final campaign was heavy on both sides, as was the number of injured. Due to the weapons used, many of the injured lost arms and legs after being wounded. Richmond was the site of one of the largest Confederate hospitals in the Civil War, and had a much better than average (though still terrible) survival rate for wounded soldiers. Richmond was also the sites of two Civil War prisons.
Near the battlefield is Blandford Cemetery. It's oldest graves date to 1702 and among its many thousands of dead include soldiers from the Revolutionary War and other wars (including the previously mentioned Confederates in the first paragraph). This cemetery was the site of the first Memorial Day in the US which was held there in June of 1866.
This was my second visit to the battlefield and the cemetery. Few places have as much Civil War history in one area as Richmond, VA does...a terrible period in American history when brother fought against brother and so many gave all they had during that war.

Carolina Weekend (April 9-11)

Last few days of the vacation I spent at home in North Carolina. Went for a ride on April 10 with my friend Phil on the motorcycles. Got this photo at left of Gary's Barbeque in China Grove. Closed on Sunday (as many places in North Carolina often are) this place is packed when it is open. Barbeque is a way of life and a passion in North Carolina. Been on a few great rides to the home of North Carolina Barbeque (Lexington, NC to be exact) which has a very neat festival centered on pork in the fall. I believe in some of my older posts, some photos of that event which brings something like 500,000 people to that town for the one day festival.
During my vacation, I did a lot of work to this bike. I got new brake pads for the front wheel (though I will be putting those on) and also got a new rear tire (cause you only have two, and it was time for some new rubber on the back). Phil took this photo at RideNow in Concord, NC. I have had that bike since 2005 (purchased new) and have (as I write this) a bit over 24,500 trouble free miles on it. Part of it is that it is a very well made machine, the other part is keeping up with the maintenance. Motorcycle or car they last a lot longer, and give you a lot fewer problems when you take good care of them. I love riding in the Carolinas (North and South!).
Threw this in, another view of the mountains of North Carolina from the end of the trip to Indiana and Kentucky which can be seen in the previous few posts. That was a remarkable trip, and this vacation was a remarkable time indeed. Think this would certainly go down as one of my best vacations, had a great time on the road, a great time with family and friends in "Kentuckiana" and a great time with my family back home in North Carolina. Always good to be with people you love in places that mean a lot to you.

On the Road (April 4 and 8)

Figures, I got these sort of in reverse order. At any case, had a great trip to Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana (two previous posts) but wanted to share a few road photos. There are two ways to get to Louisville from North Carolina; one though Virginia and West Virginia and the other via Tennessee. On the way BACK we stopped in Berea, Kentucky. Made a stop in the town where I got the photo at left of the Daniel Boone Tavern. Berea is a college town, and a very interesting place to check out. My quilting wife Patty made a few purchases at the quilt shop there, and we also enjoyed a nice lunch. Eating along the way, checking out the sights; makes the trip fun.
In North Carolina, we had a fantastic dinner at the Moose Cafe in Asheville, NC. Great food, huge portions, and really nice prices. It is restaurant with a farmers market next door, so when I say good food, I mean...GOOD FOOD! From the parking lot I got this view of the Inn At Biltmore and a view of some of the mountains. We have been to the Biltmore (though not the Inn) and greatly enjoy visits to Asheville. Not only a very interesting city, but it also is at the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is one of the most amazing roads in America (and one of the top motorcycle roads in the US by the way). Asheville is a great place to visit, and well worth the trip.
One of our favorite stops in West Virginia is Tamarack. There is also a place like this at Berea; basically they are arts centers; you can see a lot of art and I have a few photos of both places in my Photo Page. West Virginia is really a pretty drive and we have made a lot of stops in the cities there along the way in this and previous trips. Sure a trip is about "getting there" (and getting home) but while you are on the road nothing is better than to check out a few of the sights along the way. You never know what you might come across, who you might meet, and the wonders that you might see. Along the road you can see some remarkable places!

Views of Southern Indiana

During the week of April 4 I also wandered with my wife Patty around Southern Indiana. Like the Louisville area (seen in previous post) some very old cities with an interesting history can be found there. Photo at left is the Candy Museum at Schimpff's Confectionery in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The Candy Shop (still in operation) has been family owned since 1891! The building dates to the period just after the Civil War, and they use a lot of "turn of the century" equipment to make their candy. The store has been featured on The History Channel. Some of their candy is both locally and nationally famous, and I can tell you first hand; they sell some great sweets!
View here is of downtown Louisville. When John Mellencamp talks of small towns, Jeffersonville is probably something he was thinking off (though he lived in nearby Seymour, Indiana just up I-65). The city has a great number of very old buildings though many were lost in a big fire downtown just a few years ago. Driving around though there are many historic places in the area. It is a quiet town for the most part, but is home to where the US Census is collected and also home to one of the largest inland shipyards (JeffBoat) in the US. Nice friendly people and a very interesting place to check out when in the area.
View here is from the Jeffersonville riverfront, looking back at Louisville, Kentucky. Along the Indiana side of the river are a number of very fine restaurants which I enjoyed visiting a number of while home and a number of very nice areas along the shoreline. Along the river are the communties (along others) of Jeffersonville, Clarksville and New Albany. Lots of parks, picnic areas, and a number of interesting museums can be found in those areas. It is also home to the fossil beds at the Falls of the Ohio which goes about as far back in history as you can, and are remarkable to check out. Neat to see creatures which have not lived for millions of years.
I am kind of an airplane nut, and took this photo at the Clark County Airport. The plane is a Korean War era Fury (based on the F-86 Sabre) flown by the US Navy. The airport largest airport in Southern Indiana and hosts a number of planes and aviation services. Some years ago I took (and greatly enjoyed) my first flying lesson there. The airport has been very controversial over the years, as the city has resisted funding many of the improvements it has needed. It lies officially in Jeffersonville but is also near Sellersburg, Indiana. Some classic warbirds from WWII are restored at VR Fighters located there, drop by and check out some great planes there!
Here is another look at the inside of the Candy store seen at top. Just a wonderful old place, it even has a working soda fountain. As I mentioned many more photos on my photo page. It was great to see family and friends during my visit home; Kentuckiana will always hold a special place in my heart, not just for the places which bring back so many memories, but for all the fine people I know and love there. It is a great an interesting place with a lot of things to see and do, and well worth a stop during whatever travels you may be on in the future. I hope you have enjoyed this look, and will next be taking a look at Carolina in my next post; love that area dearly as well.

VIews of Louisville, Kentucky

Made a visit to my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, and nearby Southern Indiana during the week of April 4. A very interesting town and a neat mix (like Richmond, VA) of old and new. I have posted many photos on my Photo site as well to check out, but seen here at left and along the bottom are five photos (five from Southern Indiana will be in my next post). At direct left is the H+B factory, the home of the famous Louisville Slugger. They have been making baseball bats virtually since baseball has been played. The giant bat outside the factory is actually made of metal, but don't think there is one bigger anyplace. Nice museum inside there!
Photo at left is The Belvedere. It has a good view of the river, but going to save that for my Indiana section. Statue is of General George Rogers Clark who is considered the founder of Louisville. Some of the big buildings of the city can be seen in the background. Like Richmond, VA the Ohio River is a big part of the city and a great focus of many fine activities. The big airshow and fireworks display "Thunder Over Louisville" will pack close to a million people on the river later this month but it is just one of many events held in Louisville. Derby Week (which is actually longer) is the big local event, it is worth checking out. A number of events are held around the Kentucky Derby.
Building at right is the KFC Yum Center, the new arena which is the home to the Louisville Cardinals. Louisville is a big hotbed (along with the University of Kentucky in nearby Lexington, KY) of college basketball. The arena replaces long used Freedom Hall and is one massive place. I did get a photo directly inside, but was not allowed to see the arena floor itself. It is right downtown and just off the "Second Street Bridge" (or as it is also known the "George Rogers Clark" bridge. Charlotte built a new arena for the NBA Bobcats, but this one is one massive undertaking. Wish they had the same luck building new bridges, the project to build two one ones remains stalled.
I liked this photo with the clouds reflecting. Its a bank building, and again one of the newer ones in the city (though a few years old now. Louisville is a real mix of the old and new and has some amazing places to see around town. Some of the more unique new buildings include the Humana Building (part of which can be seen at the far left in this photo) and quite a few museums downtown. I went to one while I was there, the Louisville Science Center to see the Star Trek Exhibition, quite a few original items from the tv series (all of them) and the movies based on the show. It was a really neat display. A great many people live and work in the downtown area. Sports is a big part, they also have a very nice and new ballpark for the AAA baseball team, and there is also Cardinal Stadium out near the sprawling University of Louisville campus for the football team which was built a few years ago and not long ago expanded. Louisville is a really good sports town, though geared more toward minor leagues and especially college sports. Always something to see and do there.
Along with the new is the old, this is a look at the old buildings along Main Street in Louisville. Love to see these old places, nice to have lived in cities which have a real since of history, and a desire to preserve it. Many of the old buildings are reworked and are the home to businesses as well as people. Richmond is also good at keeping the past, but Charlotte is more of the mindset of "lets tear that down and build a new thing there" sort of pattern. In that regard Louisville shares a lot with that other river town which is the capital of Virginia. I believe (by a narrow margin that Louisville is still the largest city in the State of Kentucky, it is for sure my favorite in the state.

Early April in NC

Nice drive on a sunny Saturday April 2 on the way home from Richmond, VA. I did run into a massive backup in Burlington, NC (which seems to be pretty common over the years) which was caused by a truck wreck, seen here as I finally got past it. Did a lot of damage to the guardrail, the truck and the tractor (which was being loaded onto a hauler as I went by. Hopefully the driver was not hurt. Have been pretty lucky on trips home, very few big backups over the three years I have been making this trip back and forth. Even better, I have been able to have no accidents (knock on wood). It is generally a really nice drive between the two cities.
Photo here is from the seat of my motorcycle, got another beautiful day and rode out to a couple of motorcycle shops in the area and also went to see the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall. Friend of mine from my Navy days has a brother who's name is on the wall in Washington, DC (and also this replica) and I was glad that I went to see it. Hope to see the real thing in Washington, while I am working in nearby Richmond, VA. Have a few things in the Nations' Capital I want to check out. Last stop today during the ride was to Charlotte Motor Speedway where I got a photo of the hand and footprint of one Richard Petty at the tracks "Walk of Fame". Had a great weekend at home, and have a few more photos on my photo page. Thanks for visiting my page!

Old Petersburg, VA at 7AM on a Saturday Morning

Went back to Carolina this weekend, had a wonderful time with the family, although it rained all weekend (so not much frisbee with the dogs, and no motorcycling there). Of big note this weekend, VCU will be playing in the NCAA Final Four having beat Kansas tonight in an amazing run in the tournament. As for me, on the way to Carolina made a morning stop in Petersburg, VA. Section seen in these photos is called the Old Towne. Located 23 miles from Richmond, Petersburg dates its history to the early days of America. In the Civil War (as it was before) it was a major transportation area both by water, and later by train. The building seen at left is the Old Courthouse which was built between 1837-1839. During the 9 month Siege of Petersburg the clock on this tower was used to keep time by both armies. Many of the building date to the Civil War and many even before that in this very interesting section of town. I thought the early morning would be a good time to get a few photos, even under the cloudy skies. Rain held off for me, did not run into that until I got further on down the highway.
As I noted many old buildings can be found there. The streets in this section are largely old cobblestone. Many of the buildings house businesses and even apartments. I have wondered some around there in the past and there is a lot to see, including some old museums of the Siege, and there is a lot of historical information to be found. The Visitor Center is nearby and has a lot of information on the area. There is also a Farmers Market (which is in a big round building nearby, and the remains of the rail yard which also dates to the Civil War period. In past visits have seen many items of interest in this section of town.
Again, another view of the Old Towne Section, the Old Courthouse can be seen at the end of the alley off in the distance. Many other cites (including some from the Revolutionary War) can be seen in the area. I have also been to the Petersburg National Battlefield which is easily one of the finest battlefields (and best preserved) in the Richmond area. It is a fun area to explore if you enjoy both history and old buildings, and there is also some interesting places to visit and spend a few dollars in this area. Some older photos of the area can be found in some previous posts, and I also have a few photos on my Photo Page from the visit on March 26.
The history of this region makes it a very interesting place both to live and explore, and there is a lot to see in and around Richmond and the surrounding area. I am looking for some fun times, and more neat discoveries here in 2011, and sure I will come across many.