Best Fishes for the New Year!
We're not exactly in the Florida Keys yet. Nope.
To beat the nasty weather you all up in Connecticut are experiencing right now...so as not to run into it on good old I-95...we split for the South two days early and we're now in a holding pattern in northern Virginia.
As you can see, VA has not been spared the nasty stuff either. It's been hovering just above freezing here today...but roads are just wet although there are signs "watch out for falling ice" on some of the buildings.
We decided to pay a visit to Gunston Hall Plantation, the residence of George Mason [1725-1792], near Lorton, VA. The property is owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia and is managed, for educational purposes, by The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America [guess who's a member...no, it's not me!].So who was George Mason? A very rich man [his father left him about 20,000 acres of land about 550 of which are still in use at the Plantation]. More importantly, however, George Mason authored the Virginia Declaration of Rights, making major contributions to the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. Bill of Rights which further contributed to the French constitution and to the charter of the United Nations. Mason's words in the Virginia Declaration can be traced through all of these subsequent documents.
Mason, however, was one of a handful of abstainers who refused to sign the U.S. Constitution because he felt it gave too much power to the federal government [would love to hear a discussion between this fellow and Mr. Obama] and failed to protect individual rights. Mason's stand eventually helped move the Bill of Rights forward, guaranteeing individuals the right to keep and bear arms, to religious freedom, to due process of law, to trial by jury...and so on.
Mr. Mason was one important and influential dude.
So we walked down the main drive between the southern magnolias and toured Mr. Mason's home.The out-buildings are the "kitchen" as all those duties, cooking, smokehouse, laundry, etc. were performed out-of-doors.
Weren't allowed to take photos inside the house, but the docent who led us on tour was informative. The view out the back of the house goes through the formal garden and out to the Potomac River about 3/4-mile away. Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, is about 5 miles up river, to the left.
The grounds were immaculate and attracted this small herd of deer.Would be a particularly fine place to visit in nice weather...spend some time walking the grounds...down to the Potomac maybe.
What's next?
Friday: The Auto Train [won't be able to post as there's no Internet access on the Train].
Saturday: Florida!
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Anecdote: Back up in Connecticut, before we left, I stopped at the Taco Bell drive-in window and ordered burritos. Bill came to $7.67. Wanting some smaller bills, I gave the attendant a twenty, two ones, and 67 cents. He gave me back a receipt.
I suggested it would also be nice if he were to give me my change.
He said, "oh yeah." And busied himself coming up with a ten and a fiver.
Wonder how often they actually get away with that ploy.
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Thought to pass on to you these comments we've received from friends and relatives in response to yesterday's Journal entry:
Brian K. [WA] : “Have fun and hug my Gram for me!” [Hugs R Us. Aunt Ruth in Sarasota is Brian's grandmother.]
Christine K. [VT] : “…looking forward to another season of beautiful pics!” [And we're looking forward to taking them!]
Hank D. [CT] : “…those "UFOs" are obviously traffic lights….” [Street lights! Then how do you explain the little green critters that were leaning out of the portholes and waving at us?]
Jeff N. [CT] : “Why not CUBA!!!” [Nice idea...probably a lot less expensive than the Keys...plus much unexplored fishing territory.]
Jim C. [FL] : “Looking forward to seeing you again. Happy New year.” [Jim's a fishing buddy in the Keys.]
Keith G. [CT] : “Be careful and enjoy yourselves!!!” [This from a guy who we once saw do a lap at Lime Rock in about 50 seconds flat. In contrast, my best lap ever there was around a 1:05.]
Mal Y. [FL] : “When we drove down in Sept. we took the inland route (I-81) along the Appalachians, and it was way better than the coastal route since we avoided that @##$$ road, but that was in the warmer weather. Speaking of which, it's been in the 40's too many nights- those cold fronts have been dipping farther south than usual, shouldn't be too bad in the Keys, though.” [Mal and Sue are snowbirds from Stratford, CT.]
Roy P: [CT] : “Glad you and Caryl are into the easy part of your trip. Do not know which is worse flying or driving….” [Roy and I have been fishing together since the 1960s.]
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EPA Threatens Chesapeake-Polluting States
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, hoping that a get-tough approach can turn around the failing effort to save the Chesapeake Bay, outlined Tuesday ideas for punishing states that don't do their part.
“Those punishments, the agency said, will fall on states that either don't meet their goals for cutting pollution draining into Chesapeake tributaries or don't set those goals high enough.”
WashingtonPost.com
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Don’t forget, a saltwater fishing license is now required to fish the marine waters of Connecticut. You can purchase one from your local bait & tackle shop, such as Newtown Bait & Tackle, or at Town/City Hall.
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Check these links for more information:
Connecticut Tourism;
Long Island Sound Resource Center;
Housatonic Valley Association;
Stratford, Connecticut;
Milford, Connecticut
