Southern Gal - Thanks For Your Comment
Now when you travel up interstate 77 through WV you have tunnels that take you through the mountains. I remember as a child we traveled often from TN to WV to visit family and those tunnels didn't exist and you had to drive over the mountains. One time we were caught atop The Big Walker Mountain in a horrible snow storm and made it over by creeping along with chains on our tires. Oh we were so scared and regreted we had took the risk in the deep winter months. Life in the mountain regions is so wonderful and peaceful and you get in tune with Mother Earth. My being Native American has always brought me close to nature. If you ever need solitude to get in touch with who you are I suggest a trip to a mountain region and to just take time to smell nature and to listen to all the beautiful creatures and to gaze into the skys to behold the flight of our feathered friends. I find such peace by just listening and observing. I will check back in later.
Just made a pit stop about 30 miles south of Parkersburg WV. Within the next 45 minutes or so we will be entering Ohio. I have said a sad goodbye to the beautiful mountains as the land has begun to flatten. I will be stopping for a late lunch before too long as I'm beginning to get hungry. I stopped at a rest area this time as the puppy needed some time out of the car if you get my drift and there wasn't anywhere better to stop right now. I try to make good time when I travel but I am not so strict about that to the point of not stopping if needed. I try to make it as pleasant as possible. The puppy rides good for only being 5 months old. I will check in again as I continue up 77. I will then be getting on the turnpike 80 west until I reach Toledo. Then will get onto 23 till reaching Flint. I live in a small township about 10 miles north of there.
Hi Denise, have missed you this last month, but great to hear you are getting back to fighting fitness. Blue ridge mountains, well nearest I have got to them is listening to Laurel and Hardy. Have a safe journey and a well deserved rest.
Lightening I've missed you to dear friend. I am planning to read your blog to catch up on what is new. You would love the mountain areas in Tennessee, North Carolina and West Virginia. It is so peaceful and in Gatlinburg TN and the Pigeon Forge area along with Cherokee NC there is a lot for tourist to do. I am now in Ohio 60 mile south of Akron which is near where I will get on the turnpike westbound. It is beautiful here too but I will admit I am partial to the mountains. It is still full of hills here where I'm at but soon the flatlands will take over the view. I went to Tn for my niece's wedding. They were married in the historic town of Jonesborough. The ceremony took place in the center of town in a beautiful garden Gazebo. My brother and the bride arrived by horse and carriage and the happy couple left the same way. Then they had a wonderful reception at The wedding loft a block away. I danced and had a great time. The couple is now hopefully relaxing in the sun at the Bahamas. There has been a bad storm in that area so I hope they got some good weather while they have been there. OK I will check back a little later.
I am now traveling westbound on the Ohio turnpike Interstate 80. The weather has been lovely for the trip. Sunny but not too hot. I hate traveling in rain. The turnpike will run me about 7 dollars for tolls and there were 4 dollars in tolls along 77 north. That isn't too bad. I drove from southern Maryland to Connecticut and traveling the turnpikes and parkways racked up 28 dollars in tolls one way. It was 6 dollars just to go across the George Washington Bridge in NY. Ok I get that they charge tolls to recoup the expense of construction and I suppose maintenance but at 6 bucks a pop you'd think the thing would be paid for by now. I mean how old is this bridge? Also consider the traffic that goes across it. Just imagine the money they rake in. Oh well this is life. At least on these toll roads they provide service areas with food and such so you don't have to get off unless you need a hotel. Anyway I am about 3 to 4 hours away from my destination and will update you later on how things are going.
Just stopped at a service plaza and got a caramel machiatto from starbucks. Mmmmm. I love these things and the frappacino too. I am about 20 miles from Toledo so should be home in about 2 hours or so. The sun is beginning to go down and looking ahead the horizon is beautiful. I am just now passing fields of corn and other crops. It is such a different view here from the mountains but equally beautiful in its own right. If you look closely this country has beauty wherever you travel. There is so much sadness going on in this world today that it is nice to use time in the car as you drive to admire the natural beauty our creator has given us. I will check in again as I get closer to home.
I am just under an hour from my home and the trip has went well. The sky in Michigan is gorgeous. I will bid you all a good night.
I appreciate your kind words and I'm glad to read that the writings have helped you to give thought to things.
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