Left Charleston after a free sumptuous breakfast (Non-Weight Watchers style) in temperatures into the high 70's. On the way out of Charleston we detoured to pass before the state Capitol, which is situated on a hill directly fronting the Kanawha River. A knockout. The 300-ft dome is covered with 23.5-karat gold leaf applied in 4” square sheets. Not bad for a state with a busted coal mining industry. A candidate for governor has billboards all over with just three words, "Jobs, Jobs, Jobs" also showing three guys from Central Casting wearing hard hats. Sweet.
As you can see, not much traffic. Great fortune in that respect on this trip, plus the weather - knock on wood.
The Fall colors are starting to change: This is a tremendously scenic state. It was a pleasure to drive the turnpike southeast from Charleston to Lewisburg and then drive the Seneca Trail from there north to Pennsylvania. Too many photo ops, much stopping.
Another "Must stop. Must take photo. Must drink in the vista." moment.
Norm once had a sweater with just this mix of colors. Hence the photo.
What is it about old, rustic barns? Then again, lots of weathered wood here to incorporate into a HGTV remodel.
We took the Seneca Trail, which also doubles as one of the state's Civil War Trails. The Seneca Trail is rated as one of the top scenic byways in the country.
West Virginia is the only state created by Presidential Proclamation. While Virginia went with the Confederacy, West Virginians to be opted by virtue of their views on slavery, to go Union.
In those days people didn't have the luxury of complaining that they didn't want no stinkin' vaccinations. All those bullets and bayonets and it's a microscopic bug that kills you.
We stopped at lots of markers along the route: As we cruised by this marker Norm shouted "GOTTA STOP! I know that name!". It pays to read (or at least see the movie). Funny to think of her born out here in the boonies.
All those wires, the look on her face ("zombie" comes to mind), makes this visual not quite what the good folks in Pocohantas County had in mind.
With the wind in his hair, Cricket is having a ball!
We arrived at our hotel in Uniontown, Pennsylvania at 5pm and 78 degrees. Time for a glass of wine.
That said, we need to emphasize that none of this trip has been planned in advance. We are free spirits, just winging it, going wherever the mood of the moment takes us.
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