Donna M. Byrne

3月 - 5月 2019

50/50/50
50th Wedding Anniversary
50th State Visited (Hawaii)
50th State Added to Union もっと詳しく

73足跡
2国
60日間
587写真
0動画
37.2千マイル
7.9千マイル

フォローするカレンダー共有死ぬまでにやっておきたいことリスト

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旅行者 Donna M. Byrne
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- 2019/03/18 14:44
- ⛅ 7 °C
- 海抜: 515 フィート
- アメリカ Virginia Fauquier County Upperville Upperville Historic District 38.992734, -77.87750938°59’34” N 77°52’39” W
Cross Junction, Va
2019年3月18日, アメリカ ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C
Our 50th Wedding Anniversary trip does not officially start until Saturday, March 23 but Roger and Becky, friends of ours for the past 36 years, got a jump on things today. At a delightful English Pub in Upperville, Virginia they presented us with a book filled with a pictorial history of our intertwined lives. There we were in Charlestown, South Carolina in front of the wrought iron gates at St. Michael's Church, cheering the Redskins on at the Super Bowl in San Diego, riding mules down the Grand Canyon, walking along the rocky coast of Maine and holding lobsters at our annual lobster night with Bill, Diane, Bootsy and Bob.

Roger and Becky, we cherish those 36 years and look forward to many, many more.もっと詳しく
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旅行者 Looking good, you two!
2019/03/18返信する
旅行者 Congrats you guys. We'll be following you all the way,
2019/03/19返信する
旅行者 Awaiting the adventure
2019/03/19返信する
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旅行者 Donna M. Byrne
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- 2019/03/23
- ☀️ 7 °C
- 海抜: 1,358 フィート
- アメリカ Virginia Harrisonburg Rockingham Public Library 38.44833, -78.8683338°26’54” N 78°52’6” W
日1
Blacksburg, VA
2019年3月23日, アメリカ ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C
50/50/50 Journey

And so it begins.

Virginia is a gift. The beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains accompanied us all along Interstate 81 as we headed south. The countryside was dotted with white flowering trees and yellow daffodils were popping up everywhere.

Denny and I stopped for a burger in Harrisonburg (home to James Madison University) at a place called Jack Brown's Beer and Burger Joint. The owners serve Wagyu beef which they have brought in from a family owned farm (Snake River Farm) in Boise, Idaho.

Delicious.

Then it was on to Blacksburg (home of Virginia Tech) to meet up with another Jack. And wife Sandra. And daughter Becca.

Jack has been in our lives for 45 years and to say we have shared some special experiences would be putting it mildly.

Like the time we hiked the Wye River Valley between England and Wales. For two weeks we walked with backpacks staying in B&Bs all along the way.

Or the time we sat in the back seat as Jack and son Jefferson drove us all around Ireland. On the LEFT side of the road.

Or the time we went to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Or the time ......

Tonight we gathered at a place called The Farmhouse and feasted, talked, laughed and reminisced for four hours.

Thank you Sandra and Becca.

And thank you, Jack, for all the memories.もっと詳しく
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旅行者 Yes, Jack, Sandra and Becca, thank you. For so much, for so long. 50/50/50 got off to a perfect start with you all, as Sandra said, being our first stop.
2019/03/24返信する
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旅行者 Donna M. Byrne
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- 2019/03/24 15:47
- ☀️ 20 °C
- 海抜: 1,706 フィート
- アメリカ Tennessee Sullivan County Bristol Anderson Park 36.595, -82.1836°35’42” N 82°10’48” W
日2
Knoxville, Tennessee
2019年3月24日, アメリカ ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Bristol, Virginia. I mean Bristol, Tennessee. I mean Virginia. Okay, both.

State Street is the boundary between two cities: Bristol, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee. It runs right through their common business district which was where we had lunch today at a restaurant called 620 State.

On down the road we stopped in Gray, Tennessee to view a Pliocene - epoch assemblage of fossils from 4.9 to 4.7 million years ago.

It seems that back in May 2000 Tennesse was widening State Route 75. Geologists discovered rather interesting finds at the construction site and Governor Sundquist said, "Go around.! Go around!" (Those are my quotes but you get my drift.)

Anyway, it turns out that the earth moving machines discovered a semicircular sinkhole in a pond environment that contained fossils of ancient plants and animals.

I'm talking stuff you wouldn't see walking around Tennessee today.

Alligators. Rhinos. Saber-Toothed Cats. And lots and lots of Tapirs. So many tapirs that experts have said it is the world's largest tapir fossil find.

What the heck is a tapir you ask? Google it.

Only 1% of the site has been explored. Future fossil recovery is projected for the next 100 years!!!!

Staying in Knoxville tonight chilling out. Watched the end of Virginia Tech beating Liberty. Sandra will be happy.もっと詳しく
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Cool!
2019/03/25返信する
旅行者 I love fossils
2019/03/25返信する
旅行者 Thanks for the comments! Some don't have names so we are not sure who sent them. This blog is strange that way. We would like to know who is commenting so could you please sign your name. Thanks so much. Donna and Denny 😎
2019/03/25返信する
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旅行者 Donna M. Byrne
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- 2019/03/25 12:10
- ⛅ 13 °C
- 海抜: 994 フィート
- アメリカ Tennessee Knox County Knoxville Knoxville News-Sentinel Airport 35.96333, -83.9183335°57’48” N 83°55’6” W
日3
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
2019年3月25日, アメリカ ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Market Square in Knoxville, Tennessee was established in 1854 as a place for farmers to bring their produce to sell.

Fast forward a few decades and you have a wonderful venue for concerts, political rallies, artists and musicians. City Hall is only a block or two away.

It's also a great place to have lunch. The Oliver Royale provided some tasty treats in that department.

Looming over downtown Knoxville is the Sunsphere which is left over from the 1982 World's Fair. The theme that year was: Energy Turns the World.

Denny and I pushed on to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where the Stones River National Battlefield is located. It is the site of a significant Civil War battle which resulted in a victory for the Union cause.

Located on the battlefield is the Hazen Brigade Monument, one of the most moving tributes we have ever seen.

Union Colonel William Hazen's men held their ground and never retreated during the fighting on December 31, 1862. Over 400 fell in the battle. Survivors of that terrible day erected a monument in 1863 because they did not want the world to forget.

It is one of the oldest Civil War memorials in the country.もっと詳しく
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This is the route I traveled every year for many years going to visit my parents. I have learned more about the area from your blog than the culmination of any of those trips😁 Love you both ... June
2019/03/27返信する
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旅行者 Donna M. Byrne
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- 2019/03/26
- ☀️ 12 °C
- 海抜: 945 フィート
- アメリカ Tennessee Lewis County Springer Ridge (historical)Meriwether Lewis National Monument 35.51, -87.4635°30’36” N 87°27’36” W
日4
Corinth, Mississippi
2019年3月26日, アメリカ ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
In 1809, Meriwether Lewis - yes, the same Lewis of the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804 - was traveling to Washington on the Old Natchez Trace. It was not a pleasure trip. He was headed to DC to defend some bills he had submitted as the governor of the Louisiana Territory. If payment was denied, the 35 year old would have pay them himself.

Anyway - Lewis had a lot on his mind.

Meriwether and his traveling companions stopped at a log cabin lodging house called Grinder's Stand and sometime during the night someone shot and killed him. Most reports at the time claimed that the shots were self-inflicted, but mystery still surrounds the event.

They buried him here near the Grinder House and placed a stone monument over his grave with a broken shaft signifying a life cut short.

The foundation of the house still remains.

We left the modern day Trace and headed to the Shiloh Battlefield via a road that became known as the Trail of Tears. Thousands of Native Americans died along this road on their relocation trek west of the Mississippi.

They named this battle Shiloh after the small church where much of the fighting took place.

Shiloh is a biblical term for "Place of Peace "

General Grant wanted to cut off Confederate supplies which were traveling down the Tennessee River and also by rail from two different lines.

He almost didn't succeed. On April 6th, 1862 the day belonged to the Grays. But April 7th was a different story. The Blues prevailed and won the battle.

Many Southerners described the battle as a Defeated Victory for the South.

Unfortunately, this battle with its more than 23,000 casualties was not enough to end the war. It would drag on for three more long years.

Shiloh - A Place of Peace.もっと詳しく
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旅行者 Donna M. Byrne
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- 2019/03/27
- ☀️ 16 °C
- 海抜: 243 フィート
- アメリカ Mississippi Lee County Shady Acres Saint Mark United Methodist Church 34.26, -88.6834°15’36” N 88°40’48” W
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日5
Winona, Mississippi
2019年3月27日, アメリカ ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Elvis Aaron Presley was born in a two room house in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935. The "shotgun " house was built by his father, grandfather and uncle. Vernon and Gladys, Elvis's parents, struggled financially and the family decided to move to Memphis to seek a better life.

It worked out.

Tupelo is also home to a great car museum started by a man named Frank Spain. (It would be worth your while to Google the man. He led a truly remarkable life.)

The Tupelo Automobile Museum showcases over 100 cars valued above $11 million. Denny and I spent the afternoon walking among them. It was a bitter sweet visit.

When Mr. Spain died a number of years ago, his foundation took control of the museum. This Sunday is the last day of operation. All the cars will be auctioned off. How sad he would be.

We finished up the day eating a Smash Burger and a Bash Burger at the Neon Pig served by Gabriel, a congenial young man with a whole lot to say.

Tasty stuff.

We drove about 60 miles on the Natchez Trace Parkway (beautiful, beautiful road) and landed in Winona, Mississippi.

Wish we were doing it in Mr. Spain's Tucker!もっと詳しく
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旅行者 Thank you. Thank you very much.
2019/03/27返信する
旅行者 That childhood home is quite humble, isn’t it? Do I remember correctly that Daddy Vernon built it himself?
2019/03/28返信する
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旅行者 Donna M. Byrne
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- 2019/03/28
- ☀️ 21 °C
- 海抜: 259 フィート
- アメリカ Mississippi Warren County 32.34333, -90.8532°20’36” N 90°51’0” W
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日6
Vicksburg, Mississippi
2019年3月28日, アメリカ ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Exploring the 16 miles of the Vicksburg National Military Park today was an unforgettable experience. Abraham Lincoln knew that Vicksburg was "the key! The war can never be brought to a close until that key is in our pocket," he said. After visiting the Park, Denny and I understand why he felt as he did.

From its perch high above the Mississippi River, the city of Vicksburg controlled all traffic up and down the waterway. That meant Confederate supplies and troops could move at will to wherever they were needed. Lincoln knew the North must take the city and cut the Confederacy in two.

Confederate General John C. Pemberton surrounded the city with a ring of forts. After several attempts to breach the fortifications, Union General Ulysses S. Grant ordered a formal siege which lasted for 45 days.

Pemberton officially surrendered on July 4, 1863.

At the same time that Vicksburg was falling, significant events were taking place at a little town in Pennsylvania called Gettysburg.もっと詳しく
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旅行者 Great entry! Love the history!
2019/03/29返信する
I wish I could have joined you at Vicksburg! I have been revisiting some local battlefields (Manassas) after reading my last Sharra book on the Civil War
2019/04/12返信する
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旅行者 Donna M. Byrne
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- 2019/03/29
- ☀️ 20 °C
- 海抜: 361 フィート
- アメリカ Mississippi Warren County Culkin 32.35833, -90.84532°21’30” N 90°50’42” W
日7
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
2019年3月29日, アメリカ ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Roger and Becky, you were right. You need a lot more than one day at the Vicksburg Battlefield - so we went back today.

Historians call it the site of the Surrender Interview. So genteel sounding after so much carnage. General Grant sat down with General Pemberton to decide on the terms of surrender and that was that. Vicksburg now belonged to the Union.

The fighting in and around Vicksburg took place in the spring of 1863 but in December of 1862 the USS Cairo - one of America's first ironclad warships - was steaming up the Yazoo River. Part of its mission was to destroy Confederate batteries. Suddenly, two explosions tore holes into the warship and it sank within minutes.

No crewmember was injured!

The Cairo was salvaged in the 1960's and Denny and I were able to WALK through her today.

Silt, sand and mud preserved the Cairo and much of its contents - including many personal items belonging to the crew. All are on display at the USS Cairo Museum.

10 South Rooftop Bar and Grill sits on top of the First National Bank and Trust Company in downtown Vicksburg. Great lunch with our MLB expert Nick. Loved the back of his T-Shirt. It told us to Put Some South In Your Mouth.

So we did.

Drove to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Watching Virginia Tech playing Duke.

Go Hokies.もっと詳しく
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Love following your adventures!! Peggy & Steve
2019/03/30返信する
Amazed at the amount of culture acquired even as you are making record travel time.!!!! AND you look great in your pictures!! What fun 🤗
2019/03/30返信する
旅行者 Loved the history lesson! Sounds like you guys are enjoying your adventure!😘
2019/03/31返信する
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旅行者 Donna M. Byrne
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- 2019/03/30
- ☁️ 22 °C
- 海抜: 62 フィート
- アメリカ Louisiana East Baton Rouge Parish Beauregard Town Downtown Baton Rouge Historic District 30.45167, -91.1930°27’6” N 91°11’24” W
日8
Beaumont, Texas
2019年3月30日, アメリカ ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Denny and I amused ourselves this morning by watching tugboats, barges and freighters moving up and down the Mississippi River - right from our hotel window in downtown Baton Rouge.

Storms were predicted so we headed out of town across the Mississippi, through Louisiana and into Texas. We arrived in Beaumont and made a stop at the gravesite of The Big Bopper (J. P. Richardson). He died, along with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens, in a plane crash in 1959. All three young musicians were just getting started in life. Tragic.

So here we are in Beaumont, Texas. The rain did indeed arrive so we are happy to be high and dry.もっと詳しく
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旅行者 I am up and running so will enjoy your wonderful trip. Tom
2019/03/31返信する
旅行者 Love the pictures! Thank you for sharing! 😊
2019/03/31返信する
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旅行者 Donna M. Byrne
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- 2019/03/31
- ⛅ 9 °C
- 海抜: 299 フィート
- アメリカ Texas Brazos County Spear Easterwood Field 30.59667, -96.35530°35’48” N 96°21’18” W
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日9
College Station, Texas
2019年3月31日, アメリカ ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
His mother could not decide what to name her son. She had three names picked out and in the end she named him all three - George Herbert Walker. The family's last name was tacked on at the end.

Bush.

Denny and I spent the day at the Bush Presidential Library and Museum. It is located on the campus of Texas A&M. Our 41st president and his wife Barbara are buried in a beautiful setting behind the Library.

We followed the path around the Presidential Pond (catch and release) and onto a wooded trail to the gravesites. George is there. Along with Barbara and their daughter Robin - they lost her at the age of three to leukemia.

Denny and I were not the only visitors to the gravesite today. There was a constant stream of people from all walks of life showing their respect to a good and decent man.

Our day ended at Porters Dining + Butcher Restaurant. Nice filets with a dessert surprise from the staff.もっと詳しく
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Great pictures... great timing... but COATS in Texas .. amazing .. love to you both. ( I forgot to sign earlier post but not this time) JUNE
2019/04/01返信する
Two handsome men!!! June
2019/04/01返信する
What an amazing conversation 🤗. june
2019/04/01返信する
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