Madeline's Tea Room

Beth is checking the GPS so she can give Peggy up to the minute details on how to get to her daughter's tea room.

This quaint little house used to be Monica's in-law's home. Then Madeline decided to make it into a tea room.

One of the traditions is to don one of the many hats available and have one's photograph taken.
L>R Sally, Beth, Melba, Peggy, Carolyn, Anne

Yummy and beautifully plated entree of avocado stuffed with tuna salad, tortilla soup, toast points with cheese spread, and two small scones with Devonshire cream and lemon curd. Not shown is the "Better than sex" cake for dessert...yellow cake topped with pineapple, pudding, cool whip and toasted coconut. The perfect ending for a delicious meal.

Three generations - Jenna (Monica's daughter), Beth, Monica

The fourth generation - Jenna's son, Kaiden

Blonde hair, blue-eyed cutie

Hobbling on back to TX

The moon was still visible when we left Tuscaloosa at 0600

 

Total round trip to Charlottesville and back 3228.24 miles

Blowout past Tuscaloosa on I-20

We were making good time having left Charlottesville at 0430. We were 25 miles past Tuscaloosa on the way to spend the night in Meridian, MS. As we passed an 18 wheeler, there was a huge pop sound. It wasn't from the 18 wheeler as it kept trucking down the road.

Could this have contributed to a poorly made tire?





Fortunately, it's daylight saving time so by the time the spare tire was on the trailer, it was still light. We called ahead to Meridian to get a room at the Hampton, but it was full. We had to backtrack to Tuscaloosa for the night.

Skyline Drive and off the beaten track to Free Union

When Sneed was about 6 years old, his family drove from Bedford to McLean to see relatives. On the way back they stopped at this Howard Johnson and Sneed was left behind, each car thinking he was in the other car. This is how he looked, oh so many years ago, when they came back to get him.

Entering the Shenandoah National Park on Skyline Drive

Marque checking in at the Ranger Station

We departed the Skyline Drive to visit with Alex and Deanie Rucker in Free Union. They both are Bedford HS classmates of Sneed

 Top photo: Wendy and Clive, New Zealand


Middle:  Cheryl and Pete, VA


Left:  Colin and Mermie, PA and UK


Bottom: Susan and Cortes, VA - tour hosts

UVA to Monticello

We began the morning with a lecture on Thomas Jefferson's influence on architecture in Virginia. Noted Architectural Historian Calder Loth then led us on a tour of the University of Virginia campus buildings that were designed by TJ.

Edgar Allan Poe was a student here for one term

Poe's room preserved for gawking visitors (the Raven was added later)

Curved brick walls

Corinthian columns

Ionic columns

Doric columns

Marque in the parking lot of Michie Tavern where we stopped for lunch. The Tavern is further up the hill.

Oh my goodness! This was great lunch fare...

Bright yellow flowers in front of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

Monticello viewed from the rear and the front below

Getting some background information before going on our 'behind the scenes' tour on which we got to go up to the Rotunda which is not on a regular tour. Since photography is not allowed, please check out the link to see how wonderful the Dome room is.

Sneed with his hero

Tuckahoe and Pine Knot

There was a bit of precipitation overnight that beaded up nicely on Marque's bonnet

Tuckahoe Plantation

In front of Tuckahoe

Following one of our favorite Bs to Pine Knot

Pine Knot as it looked in Teddy Roosevelt's time

As it looks today

Visions along the Blue Ridge Parkway

Two grande Bentleys before we set out