5 Days
6 States
2,835 miles
52 Hours and 32 minutes driving time
16 Restaurants
14 Bakeries
4 Ice cream shops
Friday, August 29th, 2014
This is the Model T Museum. All of it.
Couldn’t remember for sure and forgot to check beforehand if I was doing the tradition of pictures in front of state capitols the last time at Columbus, Ohio’s statehouse. Best to be on the safe side.
Columbus’ North Market opened in 1876, but its current location in an old warehouse dates only to 1995.
Earlier this summer I was at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream’s Chicago location. This Ohio chain started right here in the North Market in 2002. Their Bangkok Peanut (left) was the most complex dairy creation I have ever had based on a masterful blend of roasted peanuts, local honey, coconut and cayenne. It overshadowed the Goat Cheese with Sweet Cherries.
Crossed the Ohio River into West Virginia at Parkersburg and took the ubiquitous twisty roads of the Mountaineer State through Pleasant Point to
Lesage for Hillbilly Hot Dogs housed in an old school bus.
Grabbed a table in the pretentious dining room.
Had to go gluttonous with a Chuck’s Junk Yard Dog festooned with homemade chili sauce, mustard, onions, ketchup, mayo, relish, slaw, kraut, nacho cheese, jalapenos and BBQ sauce.
Remembering Charleston’s inviting downtown from a previous trip a scoop of Strawberry was enjoyed from Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream during a stroll.
Saturday, August 30th, 2014
During the morning run the debate was a repeat about the picture in front of the capitol.
Lingered around the capitol longer than expected since there was a run to enjoy the sense of community. OK, OK, it may also have had to do with the fit ladies in Lycra.
Headed north up I-79.
Remote Weston.
Buckhannon was voted one of America’s Coolest Small Towns.
This Dutch Apple Donut satisfied a fruit serving.
Clarksburg is perched on one of the hillsides in West Virginia. Like there is any town that isn’t on a hillside....
They were having a street fair.
Ritzy Lunch opened in 1933.
And, gratefully, they haven’t touched the interior.
Spent the next several hours carefully, yet ardently, negotiating the twisty roads of central WV pointed south into southwest Virginia.
Sunday, August 31st, 2014
The sun was just burning the morning mist off the Appalachians.
Abingdon, Virginia.
Back into West Virginia.
Hinton is an old railroad town in east central West Virginia.
Sandstone Falls.
The Greenbriar was built in 1913 and became its current ostentatious state during expansions in the 1920s and 30s.
Dubbed America’s Resort it splendidly retains its 1930s flourish of Dorothy Draper design.
Bold colors and patterns compete with grand areas reflecting a bygone era. Loved it.
The interior houses meeting spaces, an indoor pool, bowling alley,
ballrooms, shopping, a spa and numerous restaurants.
Sidled up to the counter in the lower level restaurant and fixated on “Original Banana Split”. Well, I have to order one of those! Little did I know it could feed six. Even the attractive, designer-coiffured young lady sitting next to me asked if she could take a picture.
The resort sprawls across acres with million dollar bungalows, a pool, tennis, golf and shopping.
The purpose of visiting this impressive resort was The Bunker Tour.
In 1958 a secret bunker was constructed in the mountain behind the Greenbriar to house Congress in the event of a nuclear attack on Washington DC.
It contained dormitories, an assembly, decontamination showers, media rooms and months of supplies.
It was decommissioned in 1992 and became open for 90 minute tours in 1995.
The drive north through NE West Virginia made it on my top list of twisty roads driven in the world.
Monday, September 1st, 2014
Back in western Virginia. Winchester’s Old Town is several pedestrian blocks.
Pivoting into northern Virginia, Middleburg is an upscale 1700s village.
With a bakery with warm-out-of-the-oven Blueberry Muffins.
The first major battle of the Civil War was fought at Manasas 30 miles west of Washington DC.
Leesburg main drag evokes a Revolutionary era.
At Mom’s Apple Pie I got….Elderberry Pie. Go figure. No apple.
Cookies with Cannoli Filling. Brilliant.
Harpers Ferry is uniquely positioned at that point of West Virginia’s easternmost border with Marlyand and Virginia where the Potomac River meets the Shenandoah River.
This historic town is administered by the National Park Service as a living history museum.
Its strategic location provided roles in both the Revolutionary War and Civil War.
John Brown seized the arsenal on the left in 1859 in an attempt to start a slave revolt. He failed quickly.
To counteract the heat a dish of Banana Pudding Ice Cream was selected and enjoyed while ambling about.
In 92 degree heat and matching humidity I headed up the bluff to Jefferson’s Rock.
On October 25th, 1783 the great Thomas Jefferson took in the view from this rock and declared, “On your right comes up the Shenandoah having ranged along the foot of the mountain a hundred miles to seek a vent.
On your left approaches the Patowmac [Potomac], in quest of a passage also. In the moment of their junction they rush together against the mountain, rend it asunder, and pass off to the sea…This scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic.”
The reward for going off the beaten path to find Shepherdstown is a most strollable main street.
More hours and hours of focusing on twisty roads competed with these views.
Fairmont, northwestern WV.
I really did a poor job capturing the omnipresent poor images throughout the state.
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014
Started the day in SE Ohio and headed to the east central part of the Buckeye state to Amish territory.
Amish women would bake these and kids would shout “whoopie!”
I wasn't shouting anything since my whoopie pie hole was stuffed.
Elderberry please.
In Berlin walking into the local’s favorite Boyd & Wurthmann I thought, “Going to get me some pie.”
After a forgettable breakfast of eggs and buckwheat pancakes the Amish capped waitress asked how everything was. “May I please have a slice of Fresh Peach Pie?”
Last time in Wooster the Everything Rubbermaid store was closed. Shelves of organization. Overwhelmed. Got dizzy.
