V4N6A

We got an early start this year, but a very different one also. We left in late September to attend a Good Sam Samboree, with friends from home, in Ionia, Michigan and then go to a nephew's wedding in Maryland. Along the way, we would stop at my sisters in Virginia. It is now the end of the 1st week in October, we're at my sister's and the trip is progressing nicely. Well, enough about the "domestic tranquility" stuff. Let's move on to the really good and "interesting" stuff.

The House That Rock Built

The trip to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH was pretty uneventful until we decided to drop the motorhome and proceed downtown with the car. We couldn't find a place to drop it, and before we knew it, we were already downtown with the car in tow. This was not one of my favorite things to do.

We were greeted by a magnificent glass-fascaded- triangle-shaped building located on the waterfront of Cleveland. It is nestled among several buildings including the Cleveland Browns Football Stadium, but it stands out nicely on its own.

Inside we were asked to check our cameras and not take photographs during our visit. Another situation that irritates me to say the least. We paid $23 admission and all we take home is memories. So be it.

Inside was a beautiful vestibule with security guards in abundance. Undoubtedly because of the recent events in New York and Washington, D.C. Our lives have truly changed FOREVER.

Perusing the random displays, music can be heard from every direction. It becomes a palatable din after a while, and the sounds become indistinguishable noise that is neither irritating or pleasurable. There are individual displays with headphones everywhere for the enjoyment of your particular artist. Stories are told by family members and associates to render perspective to the exhibits. The performance costumes and old playbills were extremely fascinating to browse, and there are multitudes of glass cases containing the memorabilia.

We only had a couple of hours to browse the "Hall" as our day was to be spent traveling. Having several hours, or even a couple of days, to enjoy the entire building, would have been much better. We did, however, enjoy our hyphenated visit to the "House that Rock Built."

Fort Necessity N.B.

Fort Necessity National Battlefield is the only place where George Washington ever surrendered. He was a newly commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army however.

Fort Necessity is located 11 miles east of Uniontown, Pennsylvania near the Maryland border.

In January of 1754 the French were ordered to leave the Ohio Valley by the British. When they refused, The French and Indian War ensued. After one day, half of Washington's troops were either dead or wounded and negotiations commenced on the surrender terms. The British (Washington's troops) were allowed to surrender "with the honors of war." They were allowed to leave with their baggage and weapons, but forced to give up their swivel guns.

Fort Necessity is a circular fort built of split logs buried vertically in the ground with a storehouse in the center. The original fort was burned by the French after the surrender, and the structure today is a replica of the original.

HAPPINESS x 2

The Main purpose for our early southerly departure this year was to attend the wedding of our nephew Greg Rocheleau and his fiancé Laura Peacock. The wedding, of course, was beautiful and all that was expected, and our congratulations go out to the Bride and Groom. It gave us a great opportunity to gather with several members of my side of the family. Jessica and Mike also flew out and spent a couple days sightseeing while they were there. It was a chance for Mike to meet members of the family he had only heard about before.

On the previous weekend, the Christening of Emma Johanna Cappellini allowed us to see many members of the Lachance family we had not seen for years. Rob and Kathy were wonderful hosts for what was a post-Baptismal celebration at their residence. We spent 6 days at my sisters and 10 days with my brother during the weeks-long festivities.

Friendship Hill N.H.S.

Friendship Hill National Historic Site was the home of Albert Gallatin. While his name is not well known now, it was very well known in the 1800's. He was the Secretary of the Treasury under Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. And in his own right he was a Congressman, Senator and an Ambassador to France and Great Britain. He was a man who was very well known in political circles in the late 1700's and early 1800's.

Gallatin's home is located in Fayette County, Pennsylvania on the Maryland border near Uniontown. At this time It's an impressive 2-story structure sitting on top of a hill, overlooking a huge meadow and a tree lined driveway. There have been several additions to the original brick house which is now contained "within" the building. I was intrigued by the well, located in front of the house, and meticulously crafted of stone, like the original house.