North on the Blue Ridge Parkway

(Click on the pictures for a larger image.)

So yesterday afternoon we took off at 1 p.m. and hit the Blue Ridge Parkway in Blue Ridge. We went north, stopping at nearly overlook, to see the wonderous colors and the beautiful palatte of Mother Nature.

The Parkway was busy with others who had the same thought, and nearly overlook was full. At the Peaks of Otter, it was standing room only and long lines at the restrooms.

A bit of haze kept the distant sites from being as clear as they might have been, but the views were lovely even with that. We spied Buchanan from a distance and spent a long time at the overlooks in Botetourt trying to see if we might figure out where we are and see our farm. I think parts of it are visible from the Parkway because we can see the Peaks. But we were never able to find the farm.

We ventured through Botetourt County, Rockbridge County, and I think parts of Bedford and Amherst, but I'm not sure as I was a little lost. We finally exited in Waynesboro, near Afton Mountain, onto Interstate 64. We ate dinner in Staunton, visiting a very crowded Cracker Barrel off Exit 222. By the time we returned home, it was 9 p.m., close to bedtime for old folks like us!

During the trip, we listened for hours to an audiobook, Phantom, by Terry Goodkind. This is the latest in what my husband and I call "the Richard and Kahlin stories". We have listened to every single one of the books in this fantasy series, beginning with Wizard's First Rule, over the last several years. I think Phantom is number 10.

When I tell you that my husband does not spend time with novels, and in the nearly 23 years we've been married I have never seen him read a book, you will understand why I am always glad he wants to listen to Richard and Kahlin's story. He finds it very exciting and he lauds the author's imagination and attention to detail. Even if the audio books are 23 hours long, he likes the story. (I listen to the whole thing. He listens in snatches and expects me to brief him on where we are in the story, which I gladly do, when we are riding in my car.)

The only downside to our adventure was the return of my ear pain and vertigo when we climbed up into the mountains. The dizziness is with me today, too, and this morning made me ill. But it seems to be somewhat as the day wears on. I don't feel quite so seasick, anyway. I am hoping that this doesn't herald the return of continual night-time symptoms that once plagued me in my sleep, leaving me very disoriented upon awakening. Perhaps it is only a short-term thing that will correct itself soon.