After driving for a while yesterday, we spent the night in Manassas, Virginia. When we got up this morning, I didn't follow the GPS directions correctly, but that ended up being a good thing. We happened upon the Manassas battlegrounds, the site of several major Civil War battles. It was early this morning and the air was crisp and perfect for a walk. There are over 10 miles of trails in the Manassas battleground park, so there was no shortage of places to walk. 

Dave wearing his 70's look. 

Stone house was once a tavern and later a Civil War hospital, constantly mentioned in letters of soldiers as a sort of oasis in the middle of a bloody war. 

Bizarrely, when we climbed up over the hill, we were greeted by a long group of soldiers, marching across the field. Apparently they were on a tour of the historical battlegrounds. 

Dave really loves these old Civil War-style fences, which we've been seeing lots of in more rural areas during our travels. 

A cannonball stuck in the side of Stone House! 

After our walk, we continued our drive, and made it to our friends' house this afternoon. There's nothing quite like the freedom of traveling...it is so liberating to be able to travel, set our own schedules, and have time for stops at things like historic battlegrounds. Life is great.