Our Trip to Virginia
Up at 3:30 (as usual), put in my time at Sbux. There were new counters and cabinets in at the bucks and everything was a little nuts there, but we were okay. I was supposed to get off at 11am but asked to get out at 10:30am because I had some stuff yet to do to get ready for my trip. They were fine with that so I was outta there at about 10:28.
I went over to Target and got myself this huge tote bag that I had had my eye on for awhile. I had gotten the mini-version of it for my birthday from Hopeful1 and was originally going to take that on my trip, but once I packed I realized I would not have one ounce of space left if I brought any souvenirs or anything back for anybody, so I went and bought the humongous version of this bag. I was ultimately glad I did.
After that I came here and moved my stuff into that bag, then came online and read my favs to pass the little bit of time before Hopeful1 was supposed to show up. I called the taxi and told them to be here at noon.
Hopeful1 got here at 11:59 – right on time. The taxi, however, got lost, so he didn’t get here until 12:15 or so. Nevertheless, we still got to the airport in plenty of time, especially since the stupid plane got delayed to 2:40 and, even then, they stacked up 16 planes in front of us before we could take off *sigh*. I guess we were sitting on the runway for a hour before we flew, but I slept through most of it because I have these anti-anxiety pills I take when I fly (but they’re more like anti-consciousness pills) so I sleep through most anything (which would include all terrorist activities and any engine malfunctions – if I die, I want to sleep through it LOL).
My brother was there, waiting for us at Reagan airport and he looked WONDERFUL. I love him so much. He is such a great guy. We piled ourselves and our stuff into his big suv (I hate suvs, but this one is pretty palatable… it is more like a van), and took off for the Shenandoah mountains where he had reserved us a suite in the Big Meadows Lodge.
I have some pictures, but I found this site in the net of people who I absolutely don’t know… but they hiked the same place we were and have good pics of the same place the difference being, it was so darn foggy when we were there, we could barely see it… these folks (whose URL I’ve pasted below) actually could see it AND photograph it.
http://www.evanderputten.org/hiking_snp_jean.htm
We traveled for several hours only stopping for Starbucks J early on the road. Not being terribly hungry (Hopeful1 and I had split some black beans and salad before getting on the plane, then finished them off in flight), we just drove straight into the mountains. The fog there, however, was extraordinary! We could not see in any direction more than a few feet so it was almost frightening, but my brother is a confident and capable driver and person, so we made it there by mid-evening and checked into our adjoining rooms cozy and excited, hoping it wouldn’t continue pouring in the morning.
My brother had room 19 and we had room 18. The lodge was wonderful, peaceful and quaint, all woody and natural, with a huge fire roaring in the fireplace. There were rocking chairs and couches made from logs, dark natural furniture and tables and the place was fairly empty, being a gloomy Thursday night in May. Magazines, books, and jigsaw puzzles lay around available to anyone who cared to pass the time that way, also there were knick knacks to look, old photos of hikers and explorers on the walls as well as articles and historical pieces set around. Being pretty exhausted, however, we pretty much headed to our rooms to unpack and settle in.
Hopeful1 and I had the coziest little room with a big wooden desk and bureau, a huge fluffy bed tucked against a wooden wall, two old fashioned windows that looked out onto who-knows-what since it was foggy and dark and a table that I set my suitcase on. There was no TV or telephone to break the wonderful sounds of the peaceful forest. The heat was cranked up from one of those old fashioned stand up heaters (you know the kind where the furnace heats the water and it comes up through the pipes and heats up the accordion looking metal thingamajig which you adjust with a round handle – I don’t know if there’s a specific name for it). It felt good at first, but no matter how we turned the handle, we couldn’t get it to mellow out… the heat kept pumping and pumping so we were reduced to opening both windows all the way, plus opening our wooden room door to let air through now and then.
The bathroom adjoined our rooms and was big and roomy with a nice shower and sink. No complaints there, whatsoever! And the whole lodge was like a huge cabin, all wood plank and slate, cozy and natural. It was wonderful and had an atmosphere of serenity and oneness with the area around. I was the first to change into my pajamas and be curled up on the big bed with my book and glasses. I read for some time, but then the words began to swim and I gave into sleep.
I hate going to sleep on vacations because that means that one day is down and over with and you’re one day closer to going home. On the other hand, if you don’t sleep, you’re all dragged out the next day and you can’t enjoy it… so, I gave in.