First day.
Susan took me to Port Republic to start the walk. We were met there by Jeff Mellott and Pete Marovich of the Daily News-Record. Jeff interviewed Susan and me for a bit, and Pete took some pictures. Then I was off.
Photo copyright Pete Marovich.
Photo copyright Pete Marovich.
The story ran in the Friday edition of the DNR, front page, color photo. Only the Queen appeared above the story. Very gratifying, well-written story that hits the high points and directs interested readers to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation to donate.
Along the route, I ran across a beautiful mare that seemed particularly interested in me, so we shared an apple. Truth be told, she got the majority of the apple.
The Shenandoah National Park had informed me that carrying a gun in Park property would not be allowed, so Susan met me at the Park boundary, and I ditched the gun and enlisted man's jacket, picked up my staff and field officer's sword, and officer's jacket, and proceeded.
The road parallels Madison Run (named for a distant kinsman of James Madison). Hotchkiss noted that he had seen members of the Stonewall Brigade washing the mud off their uniforms. I saw several pools in river that could have been the ones Hotchkiss used, but didn't do any bathing myself.
Halfway up the mountain, I looked back down the holler, which had two spurs coming off the Blue Ridge. Together, they seemed reminiscent of a mother's arms, enfolding the viewer. A very pleasant view.
I arrived at Brown's Gap around 3:00 pm and made some notes. An unseasonably cool day (which was a blessing), but not unpleasant. Felt quite good. Fatigued, but good.
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