I have discovered what causes humidity in the south. It is condensation from everyone sweating so much. From Snow to sweat. What a great trip. We certainly have variety. We are becoming overwhelmed with history. All of a sudden, everywhere we look, around us, on maps, in books, something important happened. We finally had to decide we could not see everything. We have accepted the fact that when we get home, if ever, we will discover lots of things that we were right next to and missed. We find ourselves saying, what state are we in, what did we see today or was that yesterday. I am calling this the spaghetti trip. We never go straight, we travel the roads like a bowl of spaghetti, twisting and turning and winding in and out.
After Mammoth we spent the night in Natural Bridges State Park past Lexington on Bert Comb Mtn. Parkway. Beautiful camp right on a small stream. Jr. loved it. Snakes in the water, butterflies on the shore. What more could you ask for? How about a sky lift up the mountain? nah, thats the easy way. Poor Don, without Sharon for company, he is really being put to the good husband test. While driving to the trailhead, we passed a turtle. We see them crossing the road once in awhile. I asked a ranger if we could help them. This time there was no traffic around so we were able to. We climbed the mountain to the Natural Bridge. Lots of stairs and little huts to rest in if you wanted to. We would have gone faster, but Jr. kept playing. Darn Monkey. We walked beneath the bridge and then were able to go through a slot and get to the top. We were on the top of the world, looking far across to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley. The arch is 65 feet tall and 78 feet long. I gave Don and Jr. the opportunity to go down on the Sky Lift, but they were gentlemen and kept me company. Down we went through Devil's Gulch and Needles Eye. Lots of wooden stairs and stone ones too. We looked down and using my camera, I saw Cmor. I took his picture and then the another to show how far away he was. I was glad we happened to park him where there was a break in the trees. After visiting the lodge, another short hike to Henson's Arch. In order to see this one, you had
to climb down steep metal stairs into a hole in the ground with a small stream running into it. A cool break from the hot weather. We finally left Kentucky with a feeling of sadness. We really loved that State. We went through some winding lonely backroads in West Virginia. Parts were a bit scary. Old shacks with old men in old chairs with very long old beards. I just knew they were extras from the Duelling Banjo Movie. We found the New River Bridge 876 feet above the River. America's second highest, etc. etc. I walked down 200 stairs to a platform to get a picture. By then you could see we were in heavy rush hour traffic. Just like 680! Zoomed through Charleston with only one picture from the RV. Turned off 64 at Staunton and followed beautiful little back roads to to the very small town of Falling Spring. It was the kind of town where welcome and Hurry back are written on the same sign. We found a waterfall, coincidentally named Falling Spring Falls. I found a hole in the fence and tried to see if there was a way down. I went back for Don because I found the spot I would love to build a house. It was so green and peaceful and quiet and then just a bit further on, the river disappeared over the edge. Jr. wanted us to climb down but Don wouldn't let us. On our way back down to 64 we passed thru Stauton again. Boy that town stinks. The Mead Paper Co is there. I'm glad I'm not.
Next stop, Lexington. Parked at the visitors center and started walking. First stop, Stonewall Jackson's home and garden. Don tried to use the privy to follow in the General's footsteps or something. Lots of little gardens poked into corners, like New Orleans. Very inviting. Interesting patterned bricks on the sidewalks. Beautiful old homes and businesses all over the narrow streets. Some of the homes had balconies where the front entries once were before the streets were lowered. Ninety something degrees as we crept along trying to stay in the shade whenever we could. We went to the Virginia Military Institute which is right next to Washington and Lee University. Went to the Marshall Library which was interesting after learning about him at the Truman Library. We went to the Lee Chapel. The marble sarcophagus was very beautiful. Lee's wife did not want him portrayed on a horse, but resting and sleeping on the battlefield as he did with his troops. The marble was carved to look like fabric. No one else there so again we had a private tour.
Downstairs in the museum and actual crypt you were not allowed to take pictures unless you had a sock monkey with you. Also it helped if you had an incredibly talkative guide and you discovered he had once lived in Alamo. True. It took me an hour to get Don away from him. Very nice, friendly man from Roundhill. We went to see the University campus and Lee's home. The stable/garage doors are always left open so the spirit of Traveler, his beloved horse, can wander in and out. Next door was tt
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