Crossing the Delaware

Don't know if you can read this description, but this Ferry Landing location (which is right near the building below in Hopewell) was a very important and strategic location during the revolutionary war. Following the capture of Philadelphia in 1777 it was one of the few crossing points between Pennsylvania and New Jersey free from enemy interference. General WA used it on December 25, 1776 to surprise the enemies at the Battle of Trenton (which is depicted in the painting at the top), and he also used it in June 1778 to lead his troops form Valley Forge to the Battle at Monmouth.

Last Sunday James and I realized that we needed to make good use of the one day we haven't been working lately, and so we decided to go to the shore. But we woke up and surprise - Sunday was the one day that was rather overcast and looked as if it could rain. So after a lazy pancake breakfast we decided to go to a small Jersey town we had heard good reviews about from some friends called Lambertville. It's right on the Delaware River, and directly across the river is a small town in Pennsylvania called New Hope. Both little towns are very quaint and filled with very expensive and beautiful antique shops, art galleries, restaurants, ice cream shops, and several Revolutionary Era buildings. In fact, Lambertville/New Hope is located right near the place where General Washington crossed the Delaware on that famous Christmas Day right before the battle of Trenton.

James and I had a lovely day exploring these two towns - it's really fun to live so near to several Revolutionary War and Civil War sites - there's not many historic sites in WA State other than the Battle of the Pigs (which, we all know, is not very exciting despite it's cool name). The area surrounding Lambertville and New Hope is fairly rural as far as Jersey goes - plenty of lush trees and forest, lots of farms dotted along the route there, and several beautiful old stone buildings. It was wonderful to get away for a day from the chain of busy highways and routes and cities that surround Princeton. We finished our trip off with a picnic on the Delaware - the pinnacle experience of Sunday rest and relaxation in my book.