Valley Forge is just a bit west of Philadelphia, in fact the area is served by the city busses. We arrived a little after noon. We wandered and read some history in the visitor center, then watched the park film. Afterwards we changed into biking duds and took a ride. We rode 7.5 miles mostly on a paved loop with a spur to General Washington's quarters. 
The first highlight of the trail we came to was Washington's Memorial Chapel. It is a large Episcopal church. A beautiful structure, but I think it is the first church I have seen with canons mounted out front. 
This is where Gen. Washington spent the winter. The home owner was paid 100 pounds rent for six months. The house has been put back as best they could to look and be furnished as it was in 1778. Martha arrived in early February in time for George's birthday. 
These little cabins are replicas of the ones lived in by the General's guards. 
On around the bike path we came to the Memorial Arch. The top is inscribed with quote from one of Washington's letters. As you can tell it was a beautiful fall day. The paths in the park were busy with walkers, joggers, and cyclists. I was very aware of the contrast with the crowds yesterday who were from all over the world. Today Valley Forge was full of healthy Americans enjoying God's creation and it just happened to be in the same place where 12,000 soldiers came to spend several cold wet months 236 years ago. Almost half of those soldiers died, but they found several thousand more recruits to take their place come spring. 
The first highlight of the trail we came to was Washington's Memorial Chapel. It is a large Episcopal church. A beautiful structure, but I think it is the first church I have seen with canons mounted out front. This is where Gen. Washington spent the winter. The home owner was paid 100 pounds rent for six months. The house has been put back as best they could to look and be furnished as it was in 1778. Martha arrived in early February in time for George's birthday. These little cabins are replicas of the ones lived in by the General's guards. On around the bike path we came to the Memorial Arch. The top is inscribed with quote from one of Washington's letters. As you can tell it was a beautiful fall day. The paths in the park were busy with walkers, joggers, and cyclists. I was very aware of the contrast with the crowds yesterday who were from all over the world. Today Valley Forge was full of healthy Americans enjoying God's creation and it just happened to be in the same place where 12,000 soldiers came to spend several cold wet months 236 years ago. Almost half of those soldiers died, but they found several thousand more recruits to take their place come spring. An interesting question from a park ranger, "Why have we all heard of Valley Forge, when we probably can not name the other 6 or 7 places the continental army wintered in the other years of the war?"
So today was a "travel day"; we made a whole 60 miles! Tomorrow the goal is Gettysburg.
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