Days 6 & 7: More TJ and Sad Good-Byes

11/21/08--Charlottesville, VA. Everyone went to the University of Virginia to visit the Rotunda and walk the lawn. It was cold and windy, so not a great day to be outside. But
Mathew got yet another dose of TJ and we all further realized the great accomplishments of the man (TJ, that is; Mathew's accomplishments are yet to come). We went up into the dome of the Rotunda--the first library for UVA and a place where luminaries speak and have spoken. Before we came down from the dome room, Mathew got to stand in the "exact" spot as TJ did the last time he returned to Monticello before his death. We also went out on the lawn and saw the rooms where past students such as Edgar Allen Poe lived, and the serpentine walls constructed by TJ for their strength and conservative use of building materials (one brick think, maybe 5' high). We also went to the Discovery Museum on the downtown mall where they had--in addition to the normal discovery stuff--an exhibit of music roots. very cool!!

11/22/2008--Charlottesville, VA: Departure Day. After a brief visit with the grandparents, Mathew and his folks packed up the car and hit the road for South Carolina. Now, Charleston has pretty much been our day-after-C'ville destination. But after seeing an episode of No Reservations, we're going to stay about an hour west of Charleston for the night almost for the sole purpose of eating at Sweatman's BBQ in Holly Hill, SC. Apparently some of the best, and most traditional SC BBQ around. More later on this, but I have to finish my Virginia peanuts first. Yum!

NEWS FLASH: Mathew declines comment; cites Fifth Amendment. Smiles belie Finnish stoicism.

Late Note on Sweatman's: My God, I didn't want to leave!! First you arrive at a big old wood building in a dusty parking lot on a dark back road in Eutawville, SC. Second, you merge with a large number of large people arriving and then you line up at BUFFET. Yes, a buffet. For those of you expecting white table cloths and sommeliers, forget it. This is like eating at home. The menu is short and scribbled on dry erase black board. But you know what you came for--PORK. There was the hash and rice, pulled pork (white and dark), ribs (slathered in the most wonderful sauce), and skin (a house specialty that they were out of). Then you get a gallon of sweet tea, sampling of BBQ sauces and sit in a room akin to eating out at the local fire hall. And it is quiet--like a pork church. This, folks, is down home. And I am so glad we drove the extra 10 miles or so to get there because it just simply doesn't get any better or more traditional than this. As for the pork, well, let's just say I went back for seconds, finished off Debbie's ribs, and Mathew's pulled pork. All this for a just $9.95 a plate.

Start Mileage/Location: 510 miles, Charlottesville, VA, 33 F
Stop Mileage/Location: 1010 miles, St. George, SC, 30 F
Total Day Trip Mileage: 500 miles
Total Trip Mileage: 1010 miles