August 22 Day 3

We left the Broken Wheel Campground and drove the short distance to the Jackson's Mill Conference Center. This place has really changed since we were there some 30 years ago. They have really cleaned it up and restored many of the buildings. This is the site of the training grounds that Stonewall Jackson used for his troops. Many of the original buildings are there as well as working demonstrations. It is really an educational facility for those that enjoy history, especially of the Civil War. We were there for the annual Jackson's Mill Hamfest, a gathering of Amateur Radio Operators (Hams) that gather to talk about radio communications and attend seminars on various subjects, among some are public safety and communications regarding emergency situations and disasters. One of the vendors there was Federal Signal Co. They manufacture many of the warning sirens you hear every week at a specified time. They demonstrated their portable PA system, a unit that goes about 40' in the air and can be heard many miles away and we were within 100' of it and you could understand every word they said even though it was defining in volume.
We were there as vendors and got set up that afternoon for the show on Saturday.
I will say that West Virginia has some beautiful mountains, so much different that the Rockies out west, but beautiful in their own way and a treat to drive through.