We all know i love to drive : it might be called "walkabout" but in all reality it is a driveabout for me. The mountains of West Virginia are so beautiful
with range after range in the distance and high meadows tucked away to be disovered every so often.
I found one road heading towards Dolly Sods that turned to gravel after half a mile. Then it turned to tiny rocks. Then it started rising at about a 35 degree angle. Then it went to switch backs. It was awesome.
As my little car climbed higher and higher on the side of the mountain it was like traveling back in time - there were no power lines, no houses and no one else on the road. At one point the road was running through a forest that dropped off quickly on the driver's side and rose sharply on the passenger's side :
It was also an interesting contrast in vegetation as there were huge sections of flowering bushes, but the altitude was high enough that some of the trees had already started to change:
Having seen no signs of civilization you can image my surprise when i rounded a sharp corner to spot this sign:
ummmmmm... what's for sale exactly, the mountain?
Driving with no destination in mind gives me the freedom to notice the crazy little things that abound in the world, like these giant carved bears guarding the front of this restaurant:
I love that they are civilized bears that would patronize the restaurant for a cup of java like any local. (
unless that is actually his alms cup since the place has obviously fallen on some hard times)
One day i was driving about in an easterly direction in the late afternoon so the sunshine was bright and reflecting off of everything in front of me. As i passed this sign its unusual shape caught my eye
but i couldn't quite read all of it until i was almost passed it. WAIT! Did that say "tepee rentals"?
Oh yes, it did. There are tepee rentals at Princess Snowbird's (
a famous Seneca princess back in day) Indian Village. I think we all know where i will be staying the next time i'm in these parts.
There were signs of man encroaching on nature,
Hello. Yes, i'm a deer. I am kinda startled by your noisy car, but more annoyed that you've interrupted my evening meal. Go away.
as well as nature reclaiming what man tried to take
Then there were the simply inexplicable:
A dog in the back of a pickup isn't that unusual, but he remained sitting on top of the tool box looking over the cab even as the truck was roaring up the highway. I don't know how he managed to not fall out or even kept his balance, but by jiminy this hunting dog was at the ready.
The walkabout finished out at 504 miles in 74 hours passing through 3 states. It really reinforced that i need to take more time off from work and that i need a 4-wheel drive Jeep!
As we put West Virginia to rest for now i want to leave you with the single MOST surprising thing i saw on the trip:
Welcome to your national forests...
with range after range in the distance and high meadows tucked away to be disovered every so often.
I found one road heading towards Dolly Sods that turned to gravel after half a mile. Then it turned to tiny rocks. Then it started rising at about a 35 degree angle. Then it went to switch backs. It was awesome.
As my little car climbed higher and higher on the side of the mountain it was like traveling back in time - there were no power lines, no houses and no one else on the road. At one point the road was running through a forest that dropped off quickly on the driver's side and rose sharply on the passenger's side :
It was also an interesting contrast in vegetation as there were huge sections of flowering bushes, but the altitude was high enough that some of the trees had already started to change:
Having seen no signs of civilization you can image my surprise when i rounded a sharp corner to spot this sign:
ummmmmm... what's for sale exactly, the mountain?
Driving with no destination in mind gives me the freedom to notice the crazy little things that abound in the world, like these giant carved bears guarding the front of this restaurant:
I love that they are civilized bears that would patronize the restaurant for a cup of java like any local. (unless that is actually his alms cup since the place has obviously fallen on some hard times)
One day i was driving about in an easterly direction in the late afternoon so the sunshine was bright and reflecting off of everything in front of me. As i passed this sign its unusual shape caught my eye
but i couldn't quite read all of it until i was almost passed it. WAIT! Did that say "tepee rentals"?
Oh yes, it did. There are tepee rentals at Princess Snowbird's (a famous Seneca princess back in day) Indian Village. I think we all know where i will be staying the next time i'm in these parts.
There were signs of man encroaching on nature,
Hello. Yes, i'm a deer. I am kinda startled by your noisy car, but more annoyed that you've interrupted my evening meal. Go away.
as well as nature reclaiming what man tried to take
Then there were the simply inexplicable:
A dog in the back of a pickup isn't that unusual, but he remained sitting on top of the tool box looking over the cab even as the truck was roaring up the highway. I don't know how he managed to not fall out or even kept his balance, but by jiminy this hunting dog was at the ready.
The walkabout finished out at 504 miles in 74 hours passing through 3 states. It really reinforced that i need to take more time off from work and that i need a 4-wheel drive Jeep!
As we put West Virginia to rest for now i want to leave you with the single MOST surprising thing i saw on the trip:
Welcome to your national forests...
3 comments:
Love the last three pictures!!! Now I'm singing John Denver!
Niki,
The dog on the pick up reminds me of my favorite story about my dog. We were driving in WV (long story) and saw a dog in the back of a pick up with the wind just tearing him up. I said that's terrible - honey we would never do that to Diesel (our beloved babied pit bull) would we. No he is in the backseat with a blanket. Ernie turned and looked at him lovily and said "and a pillow". That is right Diesel was snug as a bug with a pillow and a blanket.
great story, Megan. the dog in the picture looked perfectly happy - it was weird.
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