Day 90: Lexington, VA Rest Day

Day 90

August 14, 2015

Miles: 0

Lexington

We rested well today.  We woke at 9:00am then walked down the hall to get continental breakfast. It wasn't that satisfying so we left the hotel searching for a better breakfast and aimed to explore the historic town of Lexington. It was a day dedicated to resting our muscles and our bodies to get ready for the big climb tomorrow, but of course, we had fun too; we went to a coffee shop, a museum, a laundromat, and then finished the night with dinner and music.

This morning at the hotel we drank coffee and orange juice, examined the maps and then left in search for a second breakfast.

A view by the window

We found a great little coffee shop that had amazing iced coffee; they didn't have breakfast foods so we ordered sandwiches.  I had a tuna sandwich and Steve proscuitto and provolone cheese.   Both sandwiches were excellent!

A beautiful sunny day

After spending about three hours in the coffee shop drinking coffee and working out the routes for next five days, we decided to go the Robert E. Lee museum located on the Washington and Lee University campus.  After the Civil War in 1865 Lee began his service as president of the University. He remained president until his death in 1870 after suffering from a stroke.  This picture below is taken of a sculpture of him sleeping in a field.

This is a picture of Lee's Chapel located upstairs from his office on campus and now where the museum resides.

A place Robert E. Lee visited each morning before he started his work at the University

Steve interfering with my picture so his picture would be featured in the blog tonight - above shot

A building on campus

This picture below is of George Washington, the little man statue on top of the building in the picture above.   George Washington was a major benefactor of the University, hence it holds his name. Ironically, Robert E. Lee married George Washington's great-granddaughter and regarded him as a role model and hero.  Although, Robert E. Lee fought for the South during the civil war, he did so because of his allegiance to his home being the state of Virginia.  After the war, he was deeply troubled by the many lives that were lost and felt compelled to make a contribution to the reconciliation of the nation. This as well as being close to the Washington family, and him wanting to pursue expansion of the Universities curriculum to honor the first president; he did so by immediately expanding the sciences and law curriculums. It is said that George Washington did not have a formal post-secondary degree, but he believed deeply that the young men of the future be formally educated.

George Washington

Another shot of the George Washington building with Steve in the dark on the left

A random cool shot of buildings on campus

Another random cool shot of buildings on campus

After I returned from the Laundromat, Steve and I set out to find a market to buy breakfast food for tomorrow morning because we want to leave earlier than when the local restaurants open. Fortunately the markets were closed, because we ended up at this local restaurant featuring a live band. We told the owner of the restaurant our story - basically us searching for breakfast food. He generously offered to cook us anything from the breakfast menu except a waffle because the waffle iron was not hot. I ordered two egg and cheese sandwiches and Steve a lamb gyro sandwich for tomorrow morning. I guess Steve wants lamb for breakfast. We decided to stay for dinner; I ordered a black bean burger and Steve a pastrami sandwich. Both amazingly delicious! While enjoying our great dinner we enjoyed the amazing band as well!

Dinner and Music

Tomorrow we are off to conquer Vesuvius mountain and the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We plan to end the day in a campground in Greenwood about 56 miles in total.