Lexington and Lynchburg - Confederate history and making friends

The next day saw us rejoin the Blue Ridge Parkway and head north 30 ish miles to Lexington but first time for a quick walk and another waterfall.

Amanda camouflaged in the undergrowth

Mark not so camouflaged 

Mark decided he would climb to the top of the waterfall

Such pretty countryside

Another fantastic view from the Blue Ridge Parkway

Lexington is very pretty town/village, it was home to Stonewall Jackson who was a Confederate General in the civil war, he taught at the Virginia Military Academy which is in Lexington.  He is buried in the graveyard, there is a large memorial and you can also visit his home.

Stonewall Jacksons house

Stonewall Jackson's memorial

Virginia Military academy

It was a very sleepy place but we have been told this is not so in term time as along with the Military Academy there is Washington and Lee University which is named after George Washington and General Robert E Lee, another famous Confederate.  The university is very traditional and we had a nice wander around the grounds.

Chapel in Washington and Lee University - Robert E Lee is buried here

Washington and Lee University

We had such a fun evening in Lexington, we went to the Hulls Drive In, yes a drive in cinema! How fantastic, the experience was better than the film but great fun sat in your car listening to the film on the radio, there are also spaces where you have speakers which you hang on the car windows but listening on the radio was fine as also meant you could shut out the bugs.  There were hundreds of cars and people were really prepared with picnic blankets and sleeping bags and in lots of the pick up trucks they watched from the flat bed.

Waiting for the sun to go down and the field to fill up, this photo is from back row  - very exciting

The crowds are ready to go.

Next day we were invited to Neil and Dot Novaks, we met Neil and Dot at Portsmouth marina where they have their boat.  They live in Lynchburg which was close to our trip but over 3 hours for them to get tot their boat.  Neil and Dot live in a beautiful location and it was so lovely to visit them in their home, we spent all day chatting and eating! What wonderful food and even tried Pecan pie which was a first for Amanda! Such a shame though we forgot to take any photos!