blackwater falls

Day 58 – West Virginia’s Potomac Highlands

Day 58 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Wow, last night was bitter cold.  I thought it was only getting down to 39 degrees, a temperature I dealt with just fine in Maine.  This morning, it took an hour of running the heat, adding a pair of socks, and finally hiking to get the numbness to wear off in my big toe!  Now for all my friends that ask me about skiing, this is why I don’t like it!  While the night was cold, the day was glorious, sixty and sunny.  It was a perfect for exploring the Potomac Highlands in West Virginia.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
chesapeake and ohio canal, northwestern maryland

Day 57 – Maryland Panhandle Part 3

Day 57 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal

Today we started out on the Westernmost part of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal in northwestern Maryland near where the last three locks that were built to divert water from the Potomac River.  The canal was mainly used to transport coal from the Allegheny Mountains to D.C. where the route ended.  While it is no longer used for commerce, residents of the area enjoy hiking, biking, and camping along the trail.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 56 – Maryland Panhandle Part 2

Day 56 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

With the intent to catch a few minutes of the Sunday night Cowboy football game, I tried the burger at Friday’s.  I didn’t make it through the whole game, but presumed they lost based on a friend’s text “Cowboys stink” at 12:52 am.   I retired next door in the Walmart parking lot which may as well have been a KOA campground. Twenty plus campers filled the outside parking spaces at this Maryland Walmart near Antietam National Park.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
bridge at antietam national battlefield

Day 55 – Maryland Panhandle

Day 55 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

How about waking up to this sunrise every day?  At least I got to for a day.  Not only did I see a beautiful sunrise, but also I enjoyed homemade cranberry scones for breakfast! Katherine is quite the cook.  Just watching her, I learned a few tricks to try a year from now when I have an oven again. It was a lovely start to the day that has me riding a horse and the exploring the Maryland panhandle.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 54 – Skyline Drive through Shenandoah Valley Part 3

Day 54 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Shenandoah National Park

I woke up to what I’d call Texas snow. Oh, there’s a snowflake…5 seconds later, oh, there’s another one!  Lucky for me, it was light and nothing stuck.  I would have liked to take a few pictures of snow dusted mountains later in the day, but at the same time I wanted to depart when planned.  The ranger at Shenandoah National Park told me, depending on how much it snows, they have all campers wait until the roads are plowed and then the campers are directed to the safest exit which might not be in the chosen direction.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
buck at big meadows in shenandoah national park

Day 53 – Skyline Drive through Shenandoah Valley Part 2

Day 53 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Shenandoah National Park

Thankfully the skies were friendly and no snow fell last night.  The temperature couldn’t be much above 40, but the sun was out, so the dogs and I went for a walk.  We connected Lewis Trail Falls with the Appalachian Trail to complete a 3.3 mile loop.  The view of the falls was mediocre at best, but the view of the Shenandoah Valley below and the mountains afar was lovely.  I didn’t see that many people on the trail, maybe ten or so hikers, but Kathy was nice enough to take a picture of me and the dogs.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
view of Shenandoah Valley

Day 52 – Skyline Drive through Shenandoah Valley

Day 52 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

I woke up to rain, and as I’m writing this at 9:40 this evening it has yet to stop.  Per my waitress Laura’s recommendation, I stopped by Bodo’s for a bagel and coffee, the locals’ favorite.  What made Bodo’s even better is it was located directly across from the UVA campus which is splendid. With a full belly, I headed north to Shenandoah National Park.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
the governors mansion in williamsburg

Day 51 – Virginia’s James River Plantations

Day 51 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Williamsburg

Scout, Petey and I had a busy day today.  We left the Walmart parking lot and arrived in Colonial Williamsburg only a short time later around 10 o’clock.  I got so lucky!  I followed the brown signs to the historic district, passed a few parking lots and ended up parking right next to the visitor’s center next to Williamsburg’s historic center. 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 50 – Maryland’s Eastern Shore Sampler Part 2

Day 50 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

The dogs and I got a late morning start after enjoying a bagel and coffee (and dog food for them) at Kari’s efficiency.  Given I’ve been to Washington D.C. a couple of times, I didn’t visit the monuments again.  Their grandeur at least deserves a photo, so I snapped a picture on my way out of town.  I returned to Maryland’s Eastern Shore to finish up yesterday’s scenic drive which I had cut short in order to arrive in DC. at a reasonable hour.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
duck on Maryland's Eastern Shore

Day 49 – Maryland’s Eastern Shore Sampler

Day 49 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

I’m afraid I don’t have much to write about today…it was that time of the month…time to get an oil change and the spark plugs replaced.  At my friend Charlie’s recommendation, I took VANilla to Rosemont Tire and Service to get lubed up for the rest of our adventure.  The staff was extremely accommodating, allowing the dogs to hang out in the lounge area with me for the morning. Thank goodness, because the outdoors was frosty and our short walk in the nearby park was VERY cold!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!