Hello and welcome to 2016! How is this year going so far? Pulled too many “this has been the best [insert thing here] of 2016” jokes yet? No…just me? Well OK!

We are raring to go with our 2016 edition of the 10-on-10 project, so sit back and enjoy the ride.

First, my esteemed colleagues:

 

And now, for today’s tale. For Christmas this year, Dan and I headed east to visit his folks in central New Jersey. Not far from his childhood home is the grand Delaware River. Have you guys seen this river before, or any river east of the Mississippi? As a child, I was pretty strictly a west of the Mississippi kind of girl. (Which, as far as I can tell from the multitude of times I’ve related this fact to east coasters, means I essentially grew up in the wild wild west lassoing rattlesnakes and performing bandit tricks upon wayward stagecoaches. But that’s another story.) Here in Colorado we do have truly breathtaking natural sights. Our mountains most notably. Our rivers however do not have quite the same grandeur as those to be found out east. Such as the Delaware River.

Now as you students of US history will recall, back in the 18th century there was a small matter taking place called the Revolutionary War. A main character in that conflict was one General George Washington, who did just a few things in his lifetime. One such feat involved the river they called Delaware, and an icy crossing on Christmas Day. Now, 239 years later, teams of reenactors and scores of visitors attend an annual commemoration of Gen. Washington’s historic crossing.

And this past Christmas, so did we.

One of the first things you may notice is the very real lack of the so-called “icy conditions” that met the troops back in 1776. That’s because it was well into the 60-degree weather range this year and yes it was weird.

The second thing: Do you see how giant this river is?

The third thing to note is that I did not take the majority of these photos. Seventy percent of these images come to you courtesy of my husband and business partner, Dan Petty. As we were on vacation I opted to leave the big fancy cameras at home and shoot just with my small fancy phone. Dan brought a minimal amount of equipment with him and when we decided to attend the reenactment he decided to document the event a little more properly. He then graciously agreed to let me abscond with a few of my favorites for this post today.

There are the boats and the crowds of people. The crossing delegation goes from Pennsylvania to New Jersey. We were on the New Jersey side.

A scouting crew came over first. Followed by a second scouting boat.

I positively loved how so many of the reenactors had these giddy smiles on their faces as they made the attempt. I say “the attempt” because over the years of this commemorative event there have been some failed crossings. In fact, there are rescue boats that sit just a little down river waiting to come to the aid of a crew that can’t quite make it all the way to Jersey.

As soon as the first two boats successfully navigated the relatively quick moving waters, Gen. George with his nifty blue flag gave it a go. As far as I can tell his main job is to stand with one foot on the bow of the boat as you see him doing there second from the right with the tricorn hat. (Yes I did just have to look up which is the “stern” side of the boat and which the “bow.” I am clearly not a sailor.) He’s got the stately thing going for him.

And possibly say things like, “Steady men. The dry cleaning bill would be enormous if I go overboard.”

You look fabulous, guys.

And gals! Make no mistake, there were lady patriots present, too.

Finally, the general makes landfall to the many cheers of the crowd. Although this particular younger patriot looks to be in a spot of trouble. Perhaps he left the canteen of spirits back on the other shore.

Quick question: Do you think there’s a required height one has to raise one’s hat when saluting a general?

And then after interrogating the crowd to make sure we were not spies for the British, the troops march on to Trenton. Allegedly. I think maybe they just get out of sight of the spectators then high-tail it home for Christmas dinner. That would definitely be my move.

(I just noticed this guy — who told us he has been part of the reenactment for 30-plus years — has a hammer sitting in that sash there. For what precisely do you think that might be used?)

And that’s what I did on my Christmas vacation!

The end!

p.s. Just because I love you guys, here is a very short little video from the festivities I put together to send to my family. Huzzah and such to you all.

 

Washington Crossing Reenactment from anya semenoff on Vimeo.