Wednesday 19 December - Alexandria to Richmond

We let the morning peak traffic clear from Van Dorn Street before setting out this morning. Had to head to a "gas" station (Philip has learnt to not ask where he can find a petrol station!) and ended up filling the tank with Premium Unleaded which still only cost $45 for 3/4 of a tank. Then on to our old favourite I-95 and south we went. Jessica nodded off as we have discovered she is prone to do so that leaves Alison and Philip able to talk about her without her hearing!!! She awoke in time for our detour into Fredricksburg. Philip and Alison had visited the Sunken Road battlefield on their last visit and Jessica was keen to see it and experience the history. It was a beautiful day for the walk through the battlefield and associated cemetery.

Wall along sunken road with red and white carnations placed for the 150 year anniversary memorial  last week

Back onto the road and a stop at Subway for lunch - love the $5 footlongs! Easy drive then into Midlothian where we are staying in the Sleep Inn and Suites for the next two nights. Yummy gooey chewy cookies in the lobby.

Over the car park is an Arby's Restaurant so Jessica and Philip investigated the menu and we all headed there for dinner. Whole chicken and four sides with muffins for $14.99 was a pretty good bargain.

We had phoned our friends here in Midlothian before dinner and organised to rendezvous at their home in the morning before we all head off to spend the day at Colonial Williamsburg. After dinner Alison and Philip decided that they would head off in the car and pay a surprise visit on Kai, Fen, daughter Moli and Kai's mum. Easy drive to their home and they were thrilled to have us call in. Kai's mum had cooked some special sticky rice balls for us so those were enjoyed with a cup of tea whilst chatting. Alison and Philip had met Kai in Shanghai on their second visit to China and then were honoured to be invited to attend Kai and Fen's wedding on Chongming Island in the Yangtze River. They also had been able to visit them in Richmond on their last USA trip.