After weeks of preparation.....Gabby and I started out today. I must acknowledge a few people who really helped get me ready for this point:
I'd have no connectivity without all of Patrick's guidance and many hours of couching and time in computer stores and installations. That includes: a laptop that I can connect via my cell phone or Hot Spots, a new cell phone, Bluetooth adaptor for phone, an inverter that plugs into my cigarette lighter and can power any electronic (saves buying a different adapter for each appliance)...Thank you Patrick
Matt thanks for hel;ping me buy the external hard drive
Ildevert, thanks for helping me buy the thumb drive
Tony thanks for lunch and doing your best to get me to understand all this wireless stuff
Henry, thanks for the idea about XM Radio - I LOVE it, it's so cool to have such music, comedy, news, BBC, NPR, traffic, etc. As I travel the highways
Margo, thanks for figuring out how to work that complicated radio in the van! It paid off, I'm enjoying the XM radio (which wouldn't have been possible had I not been able to dial to empty stations. I keep your documentation close by and use it often.
Paul, Kathy, Ann, Kate, Margo: Thanks for the Departure Dinner and send off - what a great way to start my big adventure
THANKS to the P&T Team at Peace Corps who called today to wish me well - what fun. Please, do it again!
Thanks to whoever sent the text message today - I will get better, I've never used text, in fact I didn't think I could get them because I didn't pay for the service. And for future reference, please include your name on any text message I pulled away from my house at 10am on a clear, bright blue sky day. The GW Parkway was glorious! I think the leaves in that area are at peak - get out and see them! Even the Beltway was beautiful---and that says a lot. I'd forgotten how hilly and beautiful Cumberland, MD was. I proceeded to Morgantown and then started south on I-79. Through the mountains the leaves had already fallen, the skies turned gray and it started to rain. And then a song by Cream came on "I'm So Glad" yep, I thought that's me! I decided to pop into Clarksburg and see what I could find to eat and give Gabby a stretch of the legs. I think a good infusion of capitol could greatly enhance that town....It's better day got up and left a long time ago.
My goals was to camp in the New River Gorge area near Beckley, WV, so at Sutton, I left the interstate and got on 19 South - what a beautiful area. West VA truly is a beautiful state. Lots of places I'd like to come back to in the summer - big mountains, lakes, resorts, ...a must for a return. I pulled off at Hico, WV because I thought my dog friendly hotel was there and I wanted to get directions. I wasn't up for camping my first night on the road in the rain. I pulled into a "Man Area" lots of pick-ups, a store and a gas station..it must have been a transfer point because there were LOTS of trucks. I was enjoying the flavor of their WV accents, walking Gabby, when I saw a bunch of good ol boys hanging around a pickup. It was quite a sight - all looked like they'd seen their last bath several months ago, beards were down to mid chest, teeth were sparse (ohmygod, am I describing a stereotype here?) but they were right friendly. As I came closer, I noticed that they had a black bear on the back of the truck with a couple of hunting dogs tied closely to the cab. I walked up and had myself a good look...emm, nice bear I thought. So I asked, "Who got that bear", the guy closest to me motioned his head to the guy next to him, ( a younger guy without a beard). I asked this younger guy how far he had to carry it out, he said it was a good bit, when I continued to looked at him, he continued that it took him about 6 hours to pack the bear out. I motioned to the dogs and asked if they helped. He said they found the bear and treed him. I didn't ask any more questions, but was disappointed I didn't ask for their photo - I'm sure they'd of been proud to pose. Anyway, I walked away with this very clear visual of dogs treeing a bear and then the guy coming and shooting it out of the tree----and I wondered at the sport in that? Oh well, it was still fun, not something I see everyday! My first cultural experience. I crossed the New River Gorge Bridge just before sunset, a VERY high bridge spanning the huge go=rge of the New River - what a beautiful sight. The "Tacky Girls Club" did a white water trip in this area and it's definitely worth a visit. I found my hotel in Fayetteville, with my AARP discount it came to $54 for the night. I thought I'd find a cute place to eat in town.....but unless I blinked when I passed the restaurant, I missed it. "Town" is about 3 blocks long populated primarily by rafting trip outfitters - - which makes it a very quiet town this time of year. Of the food options in a shopping center, I decided on Bob Evans - golly, were they ever polite, helpful, kind!!!! Really! And with my 55 and older menu my dinner (it was really breakfast) came, with tax, to $5.62. All in all - a GREAT first day on the road!
