Autumn Road Trip

 

 

Glenn bought some old kitchen cabinets from a seller on Craigs List.  He made arrangements to pick them up yesterday.  I went along for the six hour, round trip drive.  After all, it is autumn and I have to absorb as much of my favorite month, in my favorite season as possible.

 

Glenn took back roads for our enjoyment; but time wise, made the trip longer.  We were on schedule to meet at our agreed upon time, but Glenn was not stopping for anything…meaning no photo taking on my part - ugh…I missed many good photos, which now are placed solely in the album of my mind.

 

Persimmon Grove - growing in the median of Interstate 81 - trees filled with small orange fruits

 

Dried Corn Fields - standing starkly waiting to be harvested as silage

 

Pumpkin Patch - filled with huge, orange pumpkins still on their vines

 

Turkey House - thousands of turkeys looking at us as we drove by

 

Towering Blue Ridge Mountains - just beyond the fertile farm fields of drying corn and soybeans

 

Since we both skipped breakfast, a lunch stop was in order.  We are both indecisive when it comes to choosing an eatery on the road.  Glenn remembered a barbeque place he had passed just two weeks prior and wanted to try, but he forgot the exact location.  We kept driving and we kept getting hungrier.  We noticed a small cafe when stopped at a red light.  In unison, we both said, ‘Let’s try it’.  The parking lot at the Thunderbird Cafe, located in the small rural town of McGaheysville, Virginia was packed - a normally reliable sign for good food.  The menu provided an array of delicious-sounding choices.  I had a Hank (pulled pork sandwich) and Glenn a pulled pork burrito with black bean relish; both dressed with wonderful flavors.  We plan to return.

unique and colorful artwork displayed on a wall of the Thunderbird Cafe

Less than two miles further down the road, we passed the barbeque place Glenn had been searching.  Now that he has noted the location, we will return. The drive continued.

 

Corn Maze - a fun place to spend a fall afternoon - not a quick stop if we get lost among the corn rows

13 Highland Court, Luray, Virginia - first apartment Glenn and I lived after being married and graduating from college (35 short years ago)

our apartment - first level (near front) and around the corner including the small addition

We passed through many small, rural villages; all displaying a quaintness and characteristics of a simpler era. 

 

I was expecting brilliant fall colors; but, this year seems to be one more muted with an occasional blazing tree.  Still…fabulous!

 

The return trip was a bit more leisurely.  Unfortunately, the sun was already low in the sky dipping to dusk and night quickly. 

"So many choices...."

We saw a soft serve open in another small town, Bentonville.  We decided on dinner-in-a-cone; a huge waffle cone filled with chocolate soft serve - yummy!

 

Lavender Farm - rows and rows of lavender plants -closed, but worthy of visiting on a future trip

 

I love the new route, the small Virginia towns, the miles of farmland, the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.  I plan to take this trip again…only at a slower pace. 

 

And, I plan to take lots of photos…my memory is not as good as it use to be!