culpeper

Day 3 GDMBR, Saturday June 14th 2025

Jetlag is almost over, I slept much better and longer. I was treated with a American Pancake breakfast with eggs and sausage, Wayne and Dianne are spoiling me, I love them, such good friends! A short extra, I did forget to mention that I had contact yesterday by phone after two failed attempts by mail to Larry Laban. He helped me to reach the visitor center on Mount saint Helens in 2008, taking my bicycle up the mountain. We stayed in contact and I helped Larry and his wife a couple of years ago when they were visiting the Netherlands, by touring them around a bit. Now they will have me for a couple of days. They are living on one of the small islands of Vancouver Island. I am looking forward to this little adventure too!

After this great breakfast together, Wayne and I went for a tour around the battlefields of the civil war that was fought around here on several battlefields. We went by car, (of course) first to the “Graffiti house” a house that was used as a hospital facility by both sides, depending which won the area on which the house was situated. The name came from all the “graffiti” the wounded soldiers wrote (and draw) on the walls.

A guide showed us several peculiar names and told the history of it. The hospital wasn’t a place to be, many soldiers were treated, but didn’t survive, you can imagine. The amputations were preformed in the hallway, more light to work with (windows on both sides of that hallway) and the part that was amputated was thrown out of the window… On another battlefield we had a tour guide who showed us around the battlefield and told stories how the Union army and the Confederate army did clash around “slaughter” mountain. Not referring to the battle, but the mountain was the property of a German immigrant who lived there. After the battle the name was changed into “the Cedar Mountain battle”. A lot of soldiers died of the battle, but even more died of the aftermath of their injuries! 

We went back that afternoon to be at a surprise party of a neighbor of Wayne and Dianna. Jim, A history teacher who became 70 years old. He and another friend did find the position of the first survey that, the later President, George Washington did and found the precise spot at this moment. A remarkable thing is that George Washington was only 17 years old! This survey was thought of as not a real survey, but it was! The party was interesting and I met several interesting people to talk with!

Another wonderful and lovely day I will remember for a long time!