The Father of the Constitution: James Madison

I found a space in my calendar early in the week, so I mounted my Harley, and rode off to the Blue Ridge Mountains. I have ridden for over twenty years now, and taken two trips across the United States, so a few day's  ride up into Virginia is a real treat.

Leaving about noon on  Saturday, I followed 501 all the way to Lynchburg, and then switched to US29 on my way to the mountains. One of my favorite roads off 29 to get to the Parkway is US 60, so I traveled to Amherst, and then up route 60 to the Parkway. It didn't turn out to be a pleasant ride because it was about 52 degrees all the way, and I could feel I was getting a bit hypothermic.  I'd show you some pictures, but it I was in the clouds, and they would be all white.  The fog made it a bit nerve racking, as at times I felt I could see only 30 feet in front of me. I got off the Parkway around Staunton, and the warm bath and a couple of beers took the chill off satisfactorily.

The next day, my real adventure began, because I decided to make it a history trip,  and head for Mount Vernon (General Washington's home). I had never been there, and I decided this was the time to do it. US 29 to Interstate 66, put me in the area of Washington, D.C, and then around 495 (the Washington beltway), 95 south, and I was there. That's his home on the left. (Great photo isn't it?)

The tour was not very informative, but I enjoyed seeing the home and the surroundings. He purchased this home with 2000+ acres, and when he died, he owned about 8000+ acres. Some businessman huh? I took a photo of his grave also so you can see it. All in all, I'm glad I took the time to see this historic place. I suggest you take the time to read 1776, the book, it gives a good picture of what Washington did during the revolution. What a Great Patriot!

I then went on to Dunfires, Va, to spend the night, and after a good nights rest, I decided, as long as I was in the area, to go on to James Madison's home in Montpelier, Va., and am I glad I did. Traveling there answered one of my lifelong questions about the creation of our government: How was it done, and who did it? The answer is James Madison.

After graduation from "the College of New Jersey" (now Princeton) around 1771, he stayed to take further courses. He then returned to his home (seen in the nearby picture to the left) , and began to study the history of governments sometime around the middle of the 1780s. His close friend, Thomas Jefferson (some friend, don't you think?), sent him numerous books, and he studied every recorded attempt at self government by "the people" rather than by a monarch. He brought his ideas to the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia in May 1787. His idea was known as the "Virginia Plan" and it became a significant part of our newly formed government, replacing the Articles of Confederation. It was Madison's intellect, and review of history, that formed the basis for the framework of our government.

One satisfying discovery I made while at his home, is that Madison named his horse "Liberty," and I now feel a kinship with his ideas because Liberty is the "name" of my motorcycle. (I have never been able to get the plate "liberty" as someone else has it. I didn't want you to think I couldn't spell it correctly.)

Another pleasant surprise on this trip was meeting "Sparky." He was a three year old Dalmatian that I "met" at Waugh's Enterprises, a gigantic Harley Davidson dealership in Orange, Va.. Sparky was full of energy, friendship, and curiosity, and added a tempo to a pleasant day of riding my "liberte." All in all it was an adventure-full of new ideas and feelings about our great national history. James Madison was a genius, and he gave us all the gift of Liberty. We need to work to preserve it. It's not free.