It’s become helpful to be a bit strategic about our downtime/time away. With Ames’ schedule neither come about often enough. I found an event and location that would fit both our needs–a target for her, an interesting place to visit for me and the pups and close enough to not be a hassle. While spring weather toward the coast can be sketchy we’ve got to live as if it’ll be great out and take our chances. Fredericksburg fit our parameters perfectly so we headed down (a few weeks ago) for the weekend. In the role of support crew-dog care giver I think I was more anxious than Amy in gearing up for her run.
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| 5 Star Creole..in VA?!?! |
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| Back in the Game |
She hadn’t run much at all since landing here so a fair amount of reality set in as we went over the course. it was a rather large field so easy to get lots in the numbers and our lodging was near perfect for all purposes: packet-pick-up, dining, touristing, dog-handling and course management. Complete success on a relatively short notice–which made it even better.
True to form the day broke with a steady drizzle, fortunately it was warm. Unfortunately it was equally as humid as warm; no matter, it still turned out to be a great event. Walter wasn’t up for chasing her around the course but Samantha loves large crowds and moving around so she was game. We made contact a few times and in doing so we missed the finish—downside to a looping, winding course with numerous road closures. Nonetheless the event was a success and it was off to finish with some more touristing.
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| A Glad-Bag Sort of Morning |
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| Thrill of Completion! |
Fredericksburg played a key role in our history beginning when G.Washington was a boy—Cherry Trees and tossing a coin across a river rings bells with many familiar with Washington lore–both happened during his time in this Rappahannock River town. Both happened in the town.
It continued to play a role the the Civil War–multiple civil war battles fought around town resulting in the death of more than 15,000 Union soldiers–in the fight known as The Battle of Fredericksburg some 200,000 soldiers fought; more than any other single battle of the Civil War.
| Four foot Wall of Sunken Road – Battlefield |
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| Looking Down on Sunken Road–Hideout for Confederate Troops In Their Annihilation of Union Troops |
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| Civil War Era Home Littered With Bullet Scars (rt side) |
Close to several bodies of water, lush, historic, It’s a great little town; I could imagine being quite livable. An old-town yet very short drive from modern conveniences. Just enough out of the way to never become a metropolis; I’m sure a good lifestyle is had by many in and around the area. Highly recommend it as either a side-trip or even a destination if smaller venues are of interest.
