Virginia, One

Next job on the list, Broadway, VA, a small town near Harrisonburg. My favorite part of that stop was the place we found to stay. Didn't see anything online so George asked at the mill. Someone mentioned a place about six miles from the mill, to which one of the secretaries replied, "Oh, you don't want to stay at that trashy place!"
Here are a few photos taken at the trashy place....

There was a herd of deer that came to this soy bean field every morning and evening.

And this little puppy in the window had a leash free stay with lots of exploring and she even had bunnies and squirrels to chase. There were only two other RVs at the park, both of which belonged to working men who were gone all day and went home for the weekend.

I loved how the morning mists would drape their gauzy selves over and around the surrounding hills, moving, changing, and then slowly disappearing until the next morning.

I was perplexed as to why my mobile broadband internet service worked just fine in the mornings but not so well as the afternoon progressed.

Hmmm... could this be the cause? Can't say for sure, but these buzzards and ravens gathered on the tower every afternoon!

So the rest of the story regarding the "trashy place" comment came out while we were there. It seems there was a former-family-connection between the lady at the mill and the owner of the RV park and bad feelings remain :(

It turned out to be the prettiest, quietest, most restful trashy place we have ever called home for a time : )

We did some sales work while we were in the area and stumbled upon the farm where Cyrus McCormick worked on developing the McCormick Reaper.

Inside the workshop

There was a small museum in the ground floor, above the workshop, where a reproduction of the McCormick Reaper was on display.

Next to the workshop was a the grist mill.

  The craftsmanship of all the wood parts and equipment really fascinates me. 

I can't look at this and not be reminded of Jesus' sobering words in Matthew 18:1-6

'At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." '