Tuesday, April 6 , 2021 Maryland to Virginia

Tuesday, April 6

Our friend Scott plotted a route south for us to avoid the worst of the horrendous I-95 around Baltimore and then Washington DC, and we have smooth sailing all the way to Virginia.  (695E, 97S, 50W, 301S and then 3 W over the Potomac River to Fredericksburg, VA.)  Occasional heavy traffic spots but a much more enjoyable ride! Lots of flowering trees - cherry, apple, pear and others.  

 We have been to quite a few civil war battlefields (Harper's Ferry may be our favorite), but decided to stop at Chancellorsville and Spotsylvania in Virginia.  Unfortunately, the visitor's centers with films and displays are closed (thank you COVID closings), so we do the driving tours through the areas. Beautiful weather, sunny and 70's, as we stop and visit various monuments and read about the battles.  Chancellorsville battles took place April 26-6, 1863.  General Lee tasted victory here, but lost Stonewall Jackson (by friendly fire!). More than 17,500 men were killed or wounded in one fierce battle on May 3  (1 every SECOND for 5 hours!) 

 

Later in May, both Lee and Grant had victories and losses around Spotsylvania.

  Loss of life on both sides was tremendous. There are monuments here and there sponsored by various states, north and south, honoring their soldiers who died, similar to what we have seen at Gettysburg, Vicksburg and elsewhere. Remnants of structures, furnaces and the trenches remain.

Temperatures soar to the 80's, as we decide to head across the state and south toward the Smokies. Never realized how many red bud trees there are in Virginia!  They are rather small and get flowers before they get leaves, so are most visible now as the other trees aren't leafed out yet. 

 Tonight we stop at yet another Cracker Barrel in Waynesboro, and are able to make reservations at Cosby Campground in the Smokies for 2 nights. This campground is an hour or so from the hubbub of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, so generally less busy. Good thing it is mid-week or we probably would not have gotten a spot.  Actually, two spots since there wasn't a site available for two consecutive nights!