Trip Day 32, Tuesday May 25, 2021,Last day at Walnut Hills Campground Staunton VA

A rather overcast day, which turned sunny, led us to the city of Staunton, to visit yet another Park called Gypsy Hill Park. Although the birdlife was limited to Starlings, Grackles and Crows, we did appreciate the use that the park has for the citizens of the community. There were many walkers, joggers and cyclists. Here is a little background on the park.

The memorial to the Statler Brothers and below as well.

"Shorty"Maunch flew with Doolittle's raiders to Tokyo in 1942. He was from Staunton.

 

 

During the mid 1800s, the area now known as Gypsy Hill Park served as the water supply for the city of Staunton via a local pumping plant that utilized the many underwater springs found in the area. In order to protect the surrounding 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

area, Staunton purchased approximately 30 acres of land by 1876. By 1890, the city had purchased 60 more acres. A proposal was presented to the city council, which subsequently created the park. After the proposal was approved, the lands between Churchill Avenue and the Baldwin Fair Association were designated as the perimeter for the new park, thanks to the planning of Staunton resident Captain William P. Tams, along with others. It came to be known as Gypsy Hill Park due to the many gypsies that camped in the area. In order to accommodate more park features, Staunton bought the Baldwin Fairgrounds, a local park which already had a slate of activities that drew people to the site. As the park grew, so did its attractions, including a zoo.

In 2008, a documentary about Staunton during the Jim Crow era debuted revealing the truth behind segregation laws in the city. Staunton citizen Rita Wilson, who eventually became a member of the city council and served for 16 years, spoke out about the issue. She recalled not being allowed into the park's premises. One day out of the year, blacks were allowed entrance. Since 1988, Staunton has held an African American Heritage Festival which focuses on various aspects of African American culture including various types of live music, crafts, presentations, and displays.

Cabbage Whites at the Garden Center

"Supertuna"

"Bloomstruck" (Hydrangea)

 

A back up plan was to see if there were birds in an "not so usual" place and that was the “Staunton Plant Company", a sort of nursery , landscape place.   A few photos from there showed Ruth desire to bring home a few more plants (We did not!).IT was good to see the flowers , trees and shrubs done so well in this place, however. 

I-64 had some fog as we approached Afton MT.

It was apparent that the fog was thicker up some few feet.

Driving through a section of old Staunton

 

Then with still some time left in the day we decided to attempt to do the “0” mile to the “29” mile of the Blue Ridge  Parkway as long as we were just 15 miles from the entrance at mile”0”. We drove I-64 east, and stopped in Afton at the entrance to the Parkway where there was a Visitors Center,  up a long hill and after a switch back,  with two ladies attending. By the time we arrived at the center (up hill  about 500 feet,) the fog had appeared and the ladies confirmed that it would be that way all day (They had rain yesterday and helped create the fog. ) In the conversation with the ladies  we mentioned that we were from Michigan . One lady clearly stated , (which I missed at first…) “Oh , you have a wicked Governor". I was walking away but Ruth  heard the remark. It was the first  political statement that anyone had mentioned since we have been on the trip. I was ready to go back and ask for an explanation, but thought it better to let it ride as nothing would change. I remarked to Ruth that I had better remember where I am …”In deep Republican country”. Although the city of Staunton (and Virginia) voted for Biden, the County of Augusta (this county)  voted 72-38%  for the “other guy”.

So we took the safer path and headed home and stopped at a Taco Bell PARKING LOT and ate the lunch we had prepared.  Still no birds.

That got us back to the trailer by route 606 and 340, in time to  some homework with the bird listing  and blogging.  (Oh we did stop at the DQ once again!~ (Root beer float (average) and Ruth's usual ...that small Heath Bar Blizzard.

The sun now is out here at 81 F and a light breeze.
Tomorrow we will be north of here on the MD/PA Border.