April 17, 2011
This morning we both were awake at 6 again. Darn! We apparently need "sleep in" lessons. After our motel breakfast we packed up and went to see Lexington, Virginia.
Lexington is the home of Virginia Military Institute, the "West Point of the South," which opened in 1839. It is awesome looking. Having been to West Point once, I could see that VMI is quite similar in its appearance. The buildings have tops that reminded me of a castle fortress. Stonewall Jackson is in statue form in front of one of the main buildings. Uniformed students walk solemnly around the campus.
We had dinner last night at Applebee's and the place was full of students, as Washington and Lee University, founded in 1749, is actually right next door to VMI and we found out that they share some of classes. Washington and Lee is absolutely gorgeous, many buildings of red brick with white pillared buildings. (Robert E. Lee served as its president at one time, and George Washington donated money to begin this school.) Since all the blossoming trees are blooming, tulips and daffodils abound, and all the trees and grass are bright green, it is an incredible sight for two Ohioans, fresh from the unrelenting winter of 2011.
This morning we visited the grave of Stonewall Jackson at one end of Main Street, in an ancient cemetery filled with CSA markers on old stones, and the grave of Robert E. Lee and his horse, Traveller, at the other end of town. Lee and Traveller are buried at Washington and Lee, one in the chapel, and one just outside the door. It was a fairly nice walk through old streets lined with antique shops and bistros. The uniformed and un-uniformed students walked to and fro, mingling.
The city had an ecumenical Palm Sunday event going on, also, which was upliftingly nice to see. As our walk began, we encountered a throng of people gathering in a park midtown. Clerics in black robes led a group of parishioners carrying palms, led by a bagpiper playing "Oh, Shenandoah," through the streets of Lexington. As our walk intertwined with the parade, we realized that this group of mixed-Christians was going from one church to another, stopping for prayer for unity on the front steps of each church. This involved many churches, as we noticed nearly every denomination within the boundaries of the historic district. We got the gist of this parade: Christians should stop berating other denominations of Christians, and follow Christ's lessons.
Now, I know that you are waiting breathlessly for my report about the Natural Bridge of Virginia. It is about 12 miles out of Lexington, and the drive there was so lovely with the sun out, flowers abloom, a wild animal zoo on the right, a pink Cadillac luncheonette on the left. Every home entrepreneur between Lexington and the Natural Bridge had put out a sign and was in some kind of business. The drive was truly beautiful in spite of the blight. Then, voila! We arrived at the Natural Bridge Entrance where we could buy tickets, go to the huge souvenir store, use the restroom, buy ice cream, have our photos taken with some wax museum people, and then go out the back door to actually SEE the Natural Bridge of Virginia!
Now, if you have not read my yesterday's entry, telling of the mishaps we have had trying to SEE this thing, you need to do that. Suffice it to say that at least 3 attempts have been made to get me there, not counting the several other trips by where, "Did we miss it or what?" was uttered too late to go back.
Today was the day, and I marched myself right up to the ticket counter to buy the tickets.
"Two adults for the bridge, please," I said, pulling out Valerie, my Visa card. "Are there any discounts for AAA or seniors?" I added.
"No," replied the sweet young thing at the counter, "but the Bridge is not open just now, due to the heavy rains we had here yesterday."
I gasped.
She went on, "But it might open at noon, if you want to buy your tickets anyway."
"What if it doesn't open at noon?" I asked, nearly wheezing. "Would I get a refund?"
"No refunds.................but we can give you a rain check," the sweet young thing said, politely.
I slid Valerie back into her case, whispered, "We can't use a rain check. We are travelling, but thanks, anyway," and moved away from the counter, too dazed to speak.
I did take a picture of a post card of the Natural Bridge, right there in the souvenir shop, however, and then bought a post card for my journal. I have "seen" the 7th wonder of the natural world, apparently, as closely as I am going to see it anytime soon. We decided, as we drove on, that there is some reason in the plan of the Universe, that Kim is not supposed to go there. Yet.
We drove to the foot of the Blue Ridge Parkway for our picnic lunch. There's a lookout place that has a huge rock right at that location, where we have been before. In 2002, we took all four of our children there for a view of the mountains before we continued to the Outer Banks for our "Beach Buddy" week vacation. It brought back tender memories while we ate our sandwiches at a picnic table there, freezing, in the very cold and windy noontime weather.
From then until 5 PM we just drove, following Rt. 64 east through the mountains of Virginia, to Williamsburg, where we had an ulterior motive: dinner at Pierce's Barbecue Pit. I don't know how many times we've been there, but sometimes it has been going AND coming that we've stopped for the world's best barbecue sandwich. Tonight it was chicken BBQ, and on the way home it may be the pork. The place is a gold mine for the owner. It's open every day of the year but Christmas, New Years, and Thanksgiving, 10-9.............and there is standing room only every time we've been there. (No, I don't believe that I am related to these Pierces, but if I were, I'd be sure to ask for the sauce recipe!) Tonight we sat at a picnic table, outside. Spring is here in Virginia!
We checked into a Windham Motel here in Williamsburg. It has wicker rockers on the front and side porches, where we enjoyed a glass of wine before hitting Pierce's BBQ. We did one short trip through the business district of Williamsburg, "just to see it," and are tucked into our room for the night.
The scenery we've seen today has been breathtakingly beautiful. We are in love with the mountains, the sun, the flowers, the green grass, the leaves on trees, the smell of mown grass. The good news is that we know it's only a short time until we get all of these wonderful things in Ohio....................except for the mountains.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
The March to the Sea............Days 1 and 2.........Spring Break 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
I am writing this from the Comfort Inn in Lexington, Virginia. We've spent two days on the road and have travelled fewer than 350 miles. You might want to say we're moving at a senior pace. It's OK......we're on the road, out of town, away from obligations.
I pulled into the garage after school on Friday to find that Randy, alias "Mr. Packer," had staged all the bags and cases on the garage floor and was ready, sleeves rolled up, to pack my Rendezvous to the gills. He did. We started the car, pulled out of the driveway, pulled back into the driveway, pulled out, pulled in, drove two houses up the street, turned around, pulled back in, out.............and then I had my glasses, and we were ready to roll.
It was a very quiet drive. My nerves were shot from school....(Governor Kasich should come and try to keep 93 eighth graders under control on the day before spring break starts............he might revise his SB5.)
After an hour or so, we talked.................and haven't stopped talking since. That's the best thing about our road trips: There's no distraction, nobody else to converse with, and since we're in the car together we TALK about everything and anything. It's good for our marriage, and good for us as individuals.
We only drove 150 miles to Marietta, Ohio, where we stopped at the Comfort Inn there and pulled in for the night. Not far, but definitely far ENOUGH to feel the "vacation" starting.
We'd had a stop at McDonald's en route, and had an "extra meal" at the hotel restaurant before working on a blog entry for my Shoestrings blog and then sleeping deeply until 6 AM this morning. My internal clock is still set for 6 AM...............and by the time it resets itself, it will be time for it to go back to 6 AM.
Today we woke to pouring rain. I mean POURING RAIN. We had our motel breakfast overlooking the pool, with a group of insurance people from the Woodsman Group. They didn't look very happy, frankly. Probably because THEY were going to spend the day in a big ol' meeting at that hotel.............and WE, on the other hand, were ON THE ROAD............and away we went, rain or not!
What did we see today? Not far south of Parkersburg, WV, we stopped at the Coldwater Creek Outlet Store, a place I've wanted to visit for awhile but never drove by at the right time. It's nice, but I wouldn't make a special trip to go there, frankly. I bought a couple of tee tops and a piece of jewelry, looked at everything else, and was back into the car within 45 minutes.
In Charleston, WV, we stopped at Central Market, which is located right underneath the freeway in the center of town. We'd been there last spring on the way home, and liked it. We bought some spices at the Purple Onion, tasted some cheese at the wine shop, and bought some sliced turkey to take along for lunch.
An hour or so later we had a picnic lunch at a West Virginia roadside park. By then we had outrun the rain, and the sun was shining............and THERE ARE DAFFODILS, TULIPS, AND LEAVES ON THE TREES DOWN HERE. I emphasize that to be sure that my Ohio friends are jealous.
We began an audio book which we are still "iffy" about............after disk one we audibly voted to try to make it through disk two. IF we go forward with this NINETEEN disk story, I will tell you the title. Right now we're not enamoured with it, however.
Remember that crazy book, 1,000 Things to See in the United States and Canada Before You Die??? Well, it was thrown into the car at the last minute, and THAT is why we are in Lexington, Virginia for the night. There's this place called "Natural Bridge," that I have personally ridden by or driven by at least fifteen times. On three of those occasions, I have actually PLANNED to see this scenic wonder. On two of those trips, I've gotten lost or missed the exit ramp, and the other time I was plainly and stupidly lost. WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE NATURAL BRIDGE tomorrow, or else!
We also read in our book about some historic things to see in Lexington, and if you remember our trip two years ago when we spent nearly ten days in Virginia seeing Civil War locations up the wazoo, then you can figure out what's here that we're going to visit tomorrow!
Right now we are going to comb our hair, remove the coffee-stained shirts, and head out for dinner and a short drive through Lexington, Virginia to be sure we have the lay of the land for tomorrow's excitement.
I am writing this from the Comfort Inn in Lexington, Virginia. We've spent two days on the road and have travelled fewer than 350 miles. You might want to say we're moving at a senior pace. It's OK......we're on the road, out of town, away from obligations.
I pulled into the garage after school on Friday to find that Randy, alias "Mr. Packer," had staged all the bags and cases on the garage floor and was ready, sleeves rolled up, to pack my Rendezvous to the gills. He did. We started the car, pulled out of the driveway, pulled back into the driveway, pulled out, pulled in, drove two houses up the street, turned around, pulled back in, out.............and then I had my glasses, and we were ready to roll.
It was a very quiet drive. My nerves were shot from school....(Governor Kasich should come and try to keep 93 eighth graders under control on the day before spring break starts............he might revise his SB5.)
After an hour or so, we talked.................and haven't stopped talking since. That's the best thing about our road trips: There's no distraction, nobody else to converse with, and since we're in the car together we TALK about everything and anything. It's good for our marriage, and good for us as individuals.
We only drove 150 miles to Marietta, Ohio, where we stopped at the Comfort Inn there and pulled in for the night. Not far, but definitely far ENOUGH to feel the "vacation" starting.
We'd had a stop at McDonald's en route, and had an "extra meal" at the hotel restaurant before working on a blog entry for my Shoestrings blog and then sleeping deeply until 6 AM this morning. My internal clock is still set for 6 AM...............and by the time it resets itself, it will be time for it to go back to 6 AM.
Today we woke to pouring rain. I mean POURING RAIN. We had our motel breakfast overlooking the pool, with a group of insurance people from the Woodsman Group. They didn't look very happy, frankly. Probably because THEY were going to spend the day in a big ol' meeting at that hotel.............and WE, on the other hand, were ON THE ROAD............and away we went, rain or not!
What did we see today? Not far south of Parkersburg, WV, we stopped at the Coldwater Creek Outlet Store, a place I've wanted to visit for awhile but never drove by at the right time. It's nice, but I wouldn't make a special trip to go there, frankly. I bought a couple of tee tops and a piece of jewelry, looked at everything else, and was back into the car within 45 minutes.
In Charleston, WV, we stopped at Central Market, which is located right underneath the freeway in the center of town. We'd been there last spring on the way home, and liked it. We bought some spices at the Purple Onion, tasted some cheese at the wine shop, and bought some sliced turkey to take along for lunch.
An hour or so later we had a picnic lunch at a West Virginia roadside park. By then we had outrun the rain, and the sun was shining............and THERE ARE DAFFODILS, TULIPS, AND LEAVES ON THE TREES DOWN HERE. I emphasize that to be sure that my Ohio friends are jealous.
We began an audio book which we are still "iffy" about............after disk one we audibly voted to try to make it through disk two. IF we go forward with this NINETEEN disk story, I will tell you the title. Right now we're not enamoured with it, however.
Remember that crazy book, 1,000 Things to See in the United States and Canada Before You Die??? Well, it was thrown into the car at the last minute, and THAT is why we are in Lexington, Virginia for the night. There's this place called "Natural Bridge," that I have personally ridden by or driven by at least fifteen times. On three of those occasions, I have actually PLANNED to see this scenic wonder. On two of those trips, I've gotten lost or missed the exit ramp, and the other time I was plainly and stupidly lost. WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE NATURAL BRIDGE tomorrow, or else!
We also read in our book about some historic things to see in Lexington, and if you remember our trip two years ago when we spent nearly ten days in Virginia seeing Civil War locations up the wazoo, then you can figure out what's here that we're going to visit tomorrow!
Right now we are going to comb our hair, remove the coffee-stained shirts, and head out for dinner and a short drive through Lexington, Virginia to be sure we have the lay of the land for tomorrow's excitement.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)