Monday, August 25, 2008
Left Cades Cove with the remnants of Tropical Storm Fay trying to catch up with me. Well catch me if you can. I decided to forego the rest of the Great Smokies for another trip. No sense in driving those twisty-turny, upsy-downy scenic roads in the rain. I wouldn’t even want to get out and look at things along the way. So I did something I hardly ever do…hopped on I-81 and headed north until the sun came out in VA.
Not often, but sometimes you can find a well-kept no-fee National Forest Campground like this one near the West Virginia border.
Added bonus was this trout stocked stream behind the campsite. Too bad I had neither a license nor tackle to take advantage. So I just enjoyed the gurgling sound.
Tuesday, Aug. 26
Rain caught up to me in the night, but I drove out of it as I headed north on a very scenic route 219 in WV. I didn’t get a picture because the light turned green as soon as I saw the sign, but I’m sure going to miss the “Soggy Bottom Mud Bog” scheduled for Sept. 7th in White Springs, WV.
Misty morning…
What are these…guinea hens maybe? Anyway I had to stop a whole line of traffic behind me to let the family pass. Two got stranded on the right side and ran alongside me as I inched along. Finally they took flight and flew across the road to join the others.
Stopped at Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park where a Civil War battle took place…the last one on WV soil. Roe and I took a hike on one of the many trails.
Sure glad it’s an OLD bear!
Thought this was interesting about the great grandfather of Gen. George Patton of WWII fame.
Lookout tower. Panorama picture explained the lay and progression of the battle.
View from the top.
Looking down on Roe looking for me.
Signs of fall in WV:
Fields of tall corn with golden tassles
Apple trees weighted down with ripening fruit.
Leaves beginning to turn.
Fields full of Queen Anne’s Lace
This is the birthplace of renowned author, Pearl S. Buck. The home belonged to her grandparents. She spent most of her childhood in China with her missionary parents, but returned here to spend the summer when she was 9 years old, and again later. That’s a grapevine on the upper story porch and it was laden with ripe purple grapes, just as it was when Pearl enjoyed sitting there.
The enthusiastic lady who gave me a tour was most informative, and I learned more about Pearl Buck and her family than I will ever remember or can recount here. Her grandfather was quite talented and much f his hand crafted furniture is still in the house as well as original china, family bible, etc. There are also many artifacts from China which belonged to the family.
I passed many farms with gray weathered barns, fields dotted with cows or hay bales…very pretty countryside.
I was constantly being reminded to look out for these wild critters in the road. I finally saw one, and wouldn’t you know, there was a man riding on that thing. He had it tamed right down, going real slow like.
Now this place doesn’t look like much, but step inside and you think you’re stepping way back in time.
Inside the shelves were stacked to the ceiling with every sort of thing.
There was a hand-written sign on the front door. It read, “Working around back in the driveway…come get me if you need anything. Tom” So when I got ready to buy my postcard and jar of homemade preserves I walked around back to find Tom. Turns out he’s the grandson of the man who first opened the store back in 18something or other.
Who can remember buying soda pop from one of these coolers? Still can in this store.
Oops! A little roadside humor.
Just remember to stop here if you’re ever in Slatyfork, WV.
Seneca Rocks
Another view from Seneca Shadows National Forest campground where I spent the night.
Bumblebee on a thistle.
A little more color in the maples.
Unusual to find a NF campground with electric hookup, but this one did…$13.50
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