Friday, October 5, 2012

I left Romney, West Virginia this morning--another glorious fall morning!  Winchester is only 40 miles from Romney, but there were 3 more mountains to cross!  The first was Sunrise Mountain.  It was a beautiful scene as I crested the mountain and the sun was just coming up over the next ridge that I was to cross.

I arrived in Winchester and started my "old ghosts" tour.  I lived in Winchester from 1978 until 1980.  What used to be rural land on US 50 west of the city is now quite built up--new high school, new hospital, shopping centers, etc.  I had no problem getting around and was able to find the two places I lived here.  They were pretty much the same.

Then I went to Handley High School, where I taught those two years.  It is a privately endowed public school and is one of the city's gems.  Very Jeffersonian architecture--red brick, white columns, and brick arches.

 John Handley High School

As I was wandering around town, I was looking out for any students that I taught.  There was a reality check after a while as I realized that I had been looking for people in their 20s and 30s.  At some point I had to change my age profiling as I realized that people I taught would now be in their late 40s, early 50s!

After a little shopping, antiquing, and eating, I left and went down US 11 south--the old Valley Pike.  It a pleasant drive with many vistas such as this along the route:

Having been to a covered bridge in Indiana, I had to stop by our covered bridge in the Shenandoah Valley-- Meems Bottom bridge off of US 11 near Mt. Jackson.  Unlike the one in Indiana, this one is still in use. 

Continuing down the road, I stopped in a few of the flea markets and antique shops.  And there were more amber waves of grain--

 Arrived back home in Waynesboro at 5:00PM to this scene--

Karen and Lady Bug

Lady Bug wouldn't even let me out of the car to welcome me back home!







Since leaving home 2½ weeks ago, I have logged 4390 miles and I have set my foot in 16 states

This has been an adventure that I won’t forget—thanks to pictures and the blog that I journaled.  I appreciate the time folks spent following this blog and the comments that were made during my journey. 

I was privileged to see the beauty in the diverse landscape, architectural styles, and people/cultures in this country.  I was reminded of and learned more about the significant history we have as a people blessed in this great land.  As I end this adventure, I have a renewed sense of pride in the USA. 

And I AM going to make to the Pacific Coast one day!!