Naked and Starving at Valley Forge

Well, we were not really as bad off as the Continental Army setting up camp....    See those 2x4's under the wheels, we had to drag those out of the back of the truck all the way to the wheels.  And that electric jack on the front of the trailer, I had to hold the button on that for almost 10 seconds to level up our house.

After staying at the farm near Allentown, we showed up at my cousin's house a little further south.  It was a short drive so we had time to get set up and relax in the driveway and work on my cousin Eddie impression.  Elliot and I were killing ourselves laughing as the beer cans rolled around in the wind.  Nancy had a sort of polite wave when she drove in, I think she was laughing...

  There goes the neighborhood...

We had a nice time visiting, relaxing and hanging out.  Elliot & I took a monster long bike ride Saturday morning through a local park and around a reservoir lake.  Alice especially had a nice time connecting with her 2nd cousin Audrey the whole weekend.  Audrey was our first dinner guest in the camper Saturday night; she was very polite to bring her own fork (we only have 4) and she didn't seem claustrophobic at all!

For all you western NY Wegmans fans:  We also made two stops at Wegmans, the area is being taken over.  Nancy liked a local closer smaller store, but it closed when Wegmans opened, and there may be a new larger one there in the future.   See the sign of the W over Philly?

 On Sunday, Aunt Eleanor drove up and we all went to Valley Forge.  We walked from the Memorial Arch to the visitor's center and back, and drove around the loop to see some of the other monuments and buildings.  It is hard to imagine the differences in life back then, especially during war.  We need to remember and appreciate the sacrifice of soldiers and families in the past.  They secured and built our freedom with great effort.

There were period dressed rangers explaining about the winter encampment:  A soldier with a flintlock, bayonet, axe and shovel,   And a woman dressed as a nurse or soldier's wife.    It would have been a hard winter out in the cold with few supplies and hoping not to get sick, but by springtime the army was stronger and well trained.   The approximately 2000 log huts or 60-80 trees each, were built by 12 man teams who would live in each hut.  Along the row of huts, a 6-8 foot deep trench was dug for defense, and cannon redoubts were built in strategic locations.

   After all the digging in and constructing, the soldiers trained and drilled.  There was no shortage of lead or powder, and by spring they were able to load and fire their flintlock muskets within 15-20 seconds.

 

And here we are, 235 years later, walking around Valley Forge.  We were actually getting hungry, since we had only eaten breakfast.  We talked about making firecakes.  Maybe next time we have a campfire.  Nancy had a really good beef stew crockpot going at home though!

 At 14 and up to 50 or 60, Elliot and I would have been signed up and fighting.   (and Calley's boyfriend Gavin too).

See you later Pennsylvania,  thanks for the great visit Nancy & Aunt Eleanor!