I love the majestic Live Oaks of the south.
We stayed at Chippokes Plantation State Park in Surry County, Virginia the last two nights. The campground was nice but had I known the B-Loop had paved pads, I would have reserved a site over there. Those sites were far more level. This is a three day weekend so LOTS of families have come out to enjoy summer’s last hoorah! The campground is extremely busy…and a whole lot noisier. But I’d much rather hear the noise of joyful children playing than I would the noise on the television anymore.
There are several historic buildings here on the plantation. The ones that tugged at my heart were the slave quarters. A previous owner, Albert Jones, moved to Chippokes in 1837 and brought with him at least five enslaved servants to work the tobacco fields on his plantation. Within two decades, the number rose and in 1860, there were 43 individuals descended into slavery on the plantation. It was sobering. Eliza was our tour guide through the mansion. She is a retiree who volunteers to show people through the stately home. She is African American and she related the history to us with a note of solemn reverence. As we drove through the many fields of this massive estate, I held sacred space in my heart for those who were treated as less than human here at the hands of white slave owners. Slavery was a shameful part of our history and must not be forgotten nor repeated.
There were mushrooms everywhere!
When we got back to the campground, I cooked a great big pot of spaghetti and sauce. We have enough left over for two meals while we’re on the road. We need to stop at the pharmacy on our way to our campground today. We have had trouble getting this particular prescription refilled before when we traveled to Colorado. Some states consider it a controlled drug and some do not. The problem happens when you try to fill a medication that is controlled in the originating state and not controlled in the receiving state. It really limits your options. I don’t know how people get this medication when they travel full time. I guess we can only be gone for thirty days at a time and have to leave the day we fill the prescription. It is just really frustrating when it’s a medication that is medically necessary for a diabetic, but because of the opioid crisis…even though this is not an opioid…the drug has been reclassified as controlled because people were mixing it with fentanyl or some such thing. I think when this trip is over, I’m going to start a campaign to make medically necessary exceptions to that law because this is ridiculous.
As we packed up last night, we had a funny thing happen. The handle on the screen door stuck and I could not open the door! Mr. FixIt was on the outside looking at me and I was on the inside looking out at him. We were both so tired we just started laughing. He removed the latch that the door hooks on so neither of us would get stuck inside then we’ll find a way to fix the door or we’ll buy a new latch. They make these things out of plastic and they are not built to last.
This land has been farmed for over 400 years. The last owner of the plantation gave it to the Commonwealth of Virginia with the stipulation that it be continually farmed and used for education and the enjoyment of all who come to visit.
We truly enjoyed the beautiful woods surrounding our campsite the last couple of days and we are looking forward to the soothing sounds of the ocean rocking us to sleep in the coming week. I’ll talk to you soon!
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“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””
John 16:33 ESV
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Hello October! Cute mug with fall theme…perfect for that cup of hot cocoa!
