THURSDAY - We didn't have a very long travel day today, but we did change states from Maryland into Virginia.
Along with that change we also started seeing another change. That would be the color of the leaves all along the roadways.
This photo is of I-95 South just a mile from our exit.
This photo is from the Scenic Drive inside of Prince William Forest Park where we are camping.
We had to "squeeze" into our narrow site here at Prince William Forest Park, but once we were settled it was nice and cozy.
We had leaves falling from the trees every time the breeze blew though the campground. I can't imagine all the leaves that were flying off the roof of THE POD as we travel down the highway.
After lunch, and before Tricia got all comfy, I suggested we go to the grocery store and pickup a few needed items.
She wasn't real thrilled with the idea, but I had a surprise waiting for her.
I did a little research and found out where the northernmost Publix Grocery Store was located and was pleased to find out it was just 12-miles down I-95 from where we were camping this weekend.
We are just one week short of a year since the last time we set foot inside of a Publix Grocery Store in Alabama.
Tricia was thrilled to shop for her favorite items that just can't be found in most other stores, like Hot Italian Turkey Sausage. My favorites, the Boston Recipe Bush's Baked Beans and the 4Rivers BBQ Sauce were just a bonus purchase.
It's the little things that make us happy these days!
FRIDAY - The whole reason we are camped at Prince William Forest Park, other than the fact it's also a National Park Service property and we're paying half price, is the close proximity to George Washington's Mount Vernon home which we haven't visited yet.
Just 25-miles back north is Mount Vernon, the location where George Washington lived, died and is buried.
The Mount Vernon estate was over 7600 acres back in the 18th century. Today 500 acres have been preserved along the Potomac River for everyone to visit.
The Mansion itself is nearly 11,000 square feet with two and a half stories and a full cellar.
GEORGE WASHINGTON'S MOUNT VERNON
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George, Martha and her two children greet everyone as they arrive in the Visitor Center.
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This is the front of the 11,000 square foot Mansion.
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The kitchen building on the left and a side view of the mansion on the right.
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Here is where our tour group waited before entering the mansion through the rear entrance.
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This is the rear veranda where there is a stunning view...
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... of the Potomac River.
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This is the rear foyer where guests were greeted by a servant.
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Then, depending on the guest's stature, they were directed to one of several waiting rooms.
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This is where more important quests were entertained until their meeting with George.
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Upstairs is where all the guest bedrooms were located...
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...and there were many, nine I believe.
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With more than 600 overnight guests each year even this storage room was converted into a small guest bedroom.
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Up on the top floor of the mansion were more bedrooms.
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These were undesirable rooms during the hot summer months.
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This is the Washington's bedroom where George passed away.
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George's ailment was a simple throat infection, easily curable with today's antibiotics.
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I believe this is one of the children's bedrooms.
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This is George Washington's study. The wall you can't see is covered with bookcases.
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Here is where the house's china was kept.
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This is the mansion's formal dining room. George's favorite color was rumored to be green.
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This is part of the kitchen building located next door, outside of the mansion.
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This is the cellar of the kitchen building where food was stored.
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Up the stairs is where the head chef quarters were.
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The outside of the kitchen building is currently under heavy renovations.
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All the buildings are made of wood that is painted and textured to look like brick.
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All renovations are scheduled to be completed by 2026.
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There are long rows of outbuildings leading away from the mansion on both sides.
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This building is the laundry room.
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This is the horse stable for the two dozen horses kept on the property.
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Inside the stables.
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This is the Ice House.
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This is the compost/manure pit used to fertilize the orchards and gardens.
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I'm sure these guys contributed to the manure pile.
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Luckily there were many of these around the 500-acre property today.
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This was once a large fruit orchard.
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There is still beautyberry fruit to be found in the field.
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George, Martha and 20+ other relatives are buried in this tomb.
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Everyone stood in line to view the inside of the tomb...
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...where George is on the right and Martha is on the left in the corner.
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Nearby the tomb was the Slave Cemetery where servants were buried.
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Some of the slave plots were simply marked with string and rocks.
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We took a 45-minute cruise out on the Potomac River.
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FUN FACT: Once you leave the shoreline you are back in Maryland.
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No shortage of fall color here.
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This home serves as the Visitor Center of the Historic Fort Washington.
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The Historic Fort Washington is located in Maryland across the river from Mount Vernon.
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Somebody important must be arriving in Washington D.C. this afternoon.
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Like I said, no shortage of fall color here.
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A view of Mount Vernon from the Potomac River.
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Back on the shores of Mount Vernon we still have some exploring to do.
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Here's some more of those fertilizer making machines.
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One of George's inventions is this two story round barn with a ramp to the second floor.
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Horses were led up the ramp to the second floor which was covered in cut grain.
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The horses were led round and round, all the while mashing the grain stalks as the grain fell through the cracks in the floor to be collected.
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There is a small museum on the grounds and this is their prize possession. It is the only "life mask" of George Washington's face, taken when he was 53-years old.
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