Friday, November 14, 2008

JB The Tour Guide

"Hey John-Boy, what are you doing Friday?"

"It depends," he replied.

"Uh oh," SisIggy commented. "Depends on whether work is involved."

So went the banter Tuesday evening at the Dark's house where we were eating oysters and chili.

All I wanted to know was whether he wanted to take the Front Royal Civil War Tour. Something we had talked about for the past year or so. JB has been so busy of late going to gambling school and we have been busy trying to fend off lechers, er creditors.

But our gig was over Thursday and he's been out of school for several weeks and I was sure his fall yard work was waning.

"That's not a bad idea and I think I am free that day. So we scheduled it then and set it Friday morning. We met at the town's visitor center and before we could leave, the docents told us about the Tour CD and guide that was available. "And it's on sale now, only $10.98."

JB paid the tab and we popped in the CD, waiting for the beep to start our drive.

"Turn right out of the parking lot, go to the stoplight and turn right. Turn off the CD until you drive 4.3 miles to the Asbury Church on the right for the start of the tour.

There were a total of 10 stops as we drove back to and through the town. Each stop provided us with additional background and made it even more enjoyable. Once we finished, we found the tour book had several side tours to the house where Stonewall Jackson had dinner after the battle and the now non-existent railroad depot that Turner Ashby burnt out while cutting the telegraph wires preventing the union army commander (Banks) from learning of Jackson's eminent arrival (of course after dinner and a night's rest).

We went back to get JB's car and thank the docents for their help. And for extra brochures on other civil was sites in the commonweath we haven't been to yet. As soon as we got home, he spread the map at the table, got out his compass and rule and began plotting the next trip.

"Wonder when Dark Garden and the Heirs will be available?" he asked.

"Well," I stated. "Let's ask."

Follow-up note: It seems the CD is actually an interactive CD... We popped it in the computer and SisIggy was so intrigued, she promised that she would take the tour "if Dark Garden went too."

How about it Dark? Heirs?

1 comment:

Darkgarden said...

Hmm... Gee... I dunno... What with finishing up Fable 2, the new Silent Hill awaits and Lich King's release.... combine that w. peoples obsession with killing each other over this way... I'm pretty tied up.

... Unless there's beer to be had.... and warmth. You guys do this crazy shit when its colder than balls out. Longwood has nice indoor conservatories where you can escape November's cold chills. I don't see any warmth in "...take a left at the light, drive 5.3 miles to the little wood cabin. This is the birthplace of Stonewall Jackson's outhouse digger. Stonewall once rested on the porch and it was said he shared a laugh or two over some apple cider that was starting to turn."