Take Me Home, Country Roads

After making the drive from St. Petersburg Florida to Pittsburgh and back several times, I’ve always thought the drive through West Virginia might be the most beautiful part of the drive. And the drive on US 19 connecting I-77 and I-79 is perhaps the most splendid single stretch of road in the entire 1100+ mile drive. People like to make fun of WVa, but I think WVa is a beautiful state.

Pictured above is the New River Gorge Bridge. The photo above is a stock photo, I did not take this photo. I wanted to pull off into the scenic overlook for the bridge, but construction caused a closure of one of the two northbound lanes. I knew if I exited US 19 after the bridge to see the scenic overlook that getting back onto US 19 would be very difficult with all the traffic funneled into a single lane. After seeing the long line of cars trying to get back onto US 19 from the scenic overlook, I knew I made the correct decision.

The New River Gorge Bridge is 867 feet above the river and 3030 feet long. For many years it was the world’s longest single-span arch bridge. The bridge is still the third highest bridge in the United States. The bridge is popular with BASE (Building, Antenna, Span, Earth) jumpers, or adrenaline rush junkies who parachute from heights less than 1000 feet. While I am sure BASE jumping is illegal from this bridge, there is one day each year where it is legal. Here is a great video of BASE jumpers from the New River Gorge Bridge. Click on the link below to see people with death wishes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrmqyzZ1akc

Today I drove from NE Tennessee to just a few miles past this bridge where I will spend a couple of days in Summersville. They got the name here right as it is in the 80s. I purposely left at this time of the year to escape the Florida heat, oh well. Returning to the interstate was a relief after all the mountain road driving. Craving blueberry pancakes from Cracker Barrel, I kept a sharp eye out for Cracker Barrel signs along I-81. Three times I saw Cracker Barrel signs and pulled off the interstate to devour blueberry pancakes, and all three times the Cracker Barrel stores were no longer there. Driving the rig around these tiny crowded small towns was not fun. You really need to think where you are going and before you turn to make sure you have a way back out. I think my right rear tires only drove over one curb and sidewalk during a right hand turn. Oopsy.

Finally at 1PM, after turning north on I-77 into WVA, I found an open Cracker Barrel. I had to ask for a breakfast menu and quickly devoured blueberry pancakes along with two sides of bacon. I like to eat at Cracker Barrels, looking at all the other customers makes me feel skinny. I also enjoyed wearing my cowboy hat into the Cracker Barrel, keeps people on edge wondering who this character is. Maybe I should get myself one of those fake Sheriff Badges, or even better, a US Marshall’s badge. Then I could say the famous line from “The Fugitive” by Tommy Lee Jones, “What I want from each and every one of you is a hard-target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in that area.” I always wanted to say that.

This is another beautiful classic song, well worth a few minutes to listen to. Click on the YouTube link below to listen. John Denver was a wonderful musician.

Take Me Home, Country Roads

Almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River. Life is old there, older than the trees, younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze.

Country roads, take me home to the place I belong.
West Virginia, mountain mamma, take me home, country roads.

All my memories gather round her, miner’s lady, stranger to blue water.
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky, misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye.

Country roads, take me home to the place I belong.
West Virginia, mountain mamma, take me home, country roads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN86d0CdgHQ