Tuesday July 31 Valley Forge

The flag is at half staff in honor of a National Park Ranger killed while battling the California wildfires

The General

Replicas of huts constructed to house the Continental Army as they wintered over at Valley Forge

None of the huts remained by the time it was decided that this should be a National Park. The local farmers had regained their farmland and it took several years for the land to be made suitable for farming once again.

All the cabins are recreations

Each state regimen was responsible to house and feed their soldiers, some did a better job than others

Located 18 miles NW of Philadelphia, Washington chose this spot to winter over, reorganize and train after failing to retake Philadelphia from the British.

The National Memorial Arch

General 'Mad' Anthony Wayne

General of Pennsylvania Troops

Memorial to unknown soldiers who died at Valley Forge

No battles were fought here but close to 2,000 of the 12,000 soldiers and support personnel died of disease and mal-nutrition

Housing for Soldiers assigned as Washington's Gaurd

Washington's Headquarters, 

the Potts house

So...George Washington DID sleep here. 

July 29-31

Paddling on the Brandywine

The river had flooded the week before so the lower campsites were unfortunately not usable. We did take the boats down and everybody that wanted to had a chance to paddle. There was a waterfall downstream a short ways, so we could not go far in that direction, but we went far enough to see several picnic tables that had washed away from campsites and were caught up in the trees. 

Dan and Nate

Heather and Holly, or Holly and Heather....Hmmmmm

Watching the deer in the horse pasture across the river

You call THAT camping??

THIS is camping

Farewell to the Ashbys and the Wildeys

2018 Fan Cup

We came to Philadelphia to watch Matthew and Daniel play lacrosse in the Fan Cup. They play for the KrewHawks with other fans of the Rochester KnightHawks. We have seen them play in Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo and now Philadelphia.  Fan Cup has been in Toronto and Chicago also.

This year they played hard and well. They made it to the Semi-finals. It was great fun to watch and cheer for them! Not sure if we will make it to Minneapolis next year..

Friday, July 27, 2018

Friday was Philly Day

Nate and Holly went into the city early to secure tickets for a tour of Independence Hall for the whole group. We rode in later with Dan and family and met Matt, Kathy and Evelyn at Penn's Landing. We walked down Market street and met the Ashbys at the Visitors Center.

First stop: The Liberty Bell

Let Freedom ring!

One of my favorite things in Historic Philadelphia was the 'Once Upon a Nation' story stops. Young 

(and old..there was an older one at Valley Forge) actors/actresses tell stories from the Nation's History.  Very well done, very enjoyable. I loved each that we got to see and hear.

Philly Steak for everyone else, Tabbouleh for me. 

I Declare, this is where it all started!

Another tale.

Amen.

Tamanend

Stands on the back of a turtle, representing  Mother Earth,

with an Eagle on his shoulder. 

Representing the Native Americans.