http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , United States , West Virginia en-us Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:58:01 UTC Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:58:01 UTC We woke to two inches of snow and more coming down Maybe we won't have Thanksgiving since it looks like it's Christmas already Rich fixed his breakfast surprise recipe for all of us. It is eggs and cheese and a surprise After breakfast we went to the camper to get ready to leave and we couldn't get the slide to go in because it had too much snow on top We had to borrow a ladder and a push bro http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-348174.html While we were on the hilltop we didn't have WiFi so we got behind.We had a liesurely morning and a tasty breakfast. Nancy's Cousin David took us to a point on a hill where we could see the Greenbriar River at the bottom of the valley. He had cut the road out there. It was a lovely view up there. Then he drove us on a tour of the boundaries of the 300 acre farm with pastures a hayfield and wo http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-347046.html The day is cloudy and windy. It took us until noon to repack the truck and clean up the camper. We've spent a week in Virginia Now pulling the trailer the truck is like a dream and Rich is very happily driving up and down the mountains. Around 200 as we were getting hungry we saw a brown highway sign that said Appalachian Arts and Crafts. We thought it would be fun to look at the art and to http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-346922.html getting cold here. and run out time. but so fun climbing. so many good routs. I love to climb more here. I want to back in here again. http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/Fayetteville/blog-338731.html The day dawned overcast and definitely cooler than yesterday.Seems the jetstream from Canada had changed overnight and the air was so much cooler.At least there was no rain as we headed out to explore historic Hagerstown.Filled up with gas at a new low price of 3.35gal so its taking less to fill the tank.Downtown wasnt that interesting as many of the historic buildings have been torn down and rep http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-329907.html I've had a bunch of computer access lately but I think something is wrong with the website. I haven't been able to get the bulk picture uploader to work anywhere. I suppose a quick verbal update is in order but I would much rather just caption a ton of photos.I crossed all of PA... it was rocky There were 1000foot downs then back ups every 15 miles but in between there was negligible eleva http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/Harpers-Ferry/blog-325586.html Ok it is past midnight already and I am tired. Therefore I will make this as brief as possible.This morning I hit the road with my route planned where the curvy roads are at. The roads were fantastic today There was a great stretch of road that had lots of long sweepers and tight turns and everything in between. I happened to run into a local guy at a gas station and chatted with him for a l http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-315843.html Thanks for a Great Send Off This message is to test if the blog is function well before I add the emails of people who came to my open house yesterday. On to packing http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-310876.html I headed across and up to West Virginia with Tina and Bryce Nat James tailing on the Monday.The entire journey featured beautiful lush trees despite being on speedy roadways.We stopped on the outskirts of Leesburg while looking for the Premium Outlet Stores Jumbo Centreand it reminded me SO much of England.Lovely lanes timber fencing and cottageycolonial homes.We shopped till we dropped http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-306811.html Me and the gang decided to take part in the 2008 All Good Festival in West Virginia. What a show it was. The All Good Festival describes itself as a 3 day music festival and campout. It certainly lived up to is billing.We arrived early Friday along with 20000 other people and set up camp. The camping area wasn't anything more then an open field with knee high grass everywhere. We parked http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-304223.html Just left the All Good Festival in West Virginia. What an experience. After 3 days of music drinking lounging and hanging out with buddies I've now got 5 days of a Catholic work camp ahead of me. I love the experience and have been participating for 10 years but it's going to be quite an attitude adjustment. Luckially the camp is located only about 20 minutes from Masontown where we campe http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-302643.html My original thoughts for this TravelBlog was for me to write about our adventures. Lo and behold the kids are enjoying having a laptop in the car and have started their own journals. Since they are writing about our entire trip I'll let them continue and upload the trip from their point of view.Today we started at 900a. So far we have had an awesome trip. Wersquove seen the shell shape gas http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-302550.html I start my hike today I travel the Maryland portion of the Appalachian Trail its about an 80 mile round trip. I have paperwork and 0 plans or deadlines. I'm ready. First... to the store to buy food.Hold off rainWish me a venturous journeyThanksCodes KSEE YOU IN A WEEK http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/Harpers-Ferry/blog-292072.html The road trip came to an end Brandi and I were running out of cash and looking for a place to stop. It just so happened that our awesome friend Tori who was originally from Morgantown West Virginia but who we knew from SF was visiting DC. We met her there and went to Morgantown. It was super cheap and everybody was friendly. It was summer time so half the population the students were out http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-282762.html I skipped out of Huntingdon early Saturday afternoon for Martinsburg WV. My apartment is clean and shut down I saw most of the people I had on my list of course it was a last minute whirlwind tour and PanThar is carefully stowed with Mom for the summer.Jay's parents gave us their beautiful house to have a going away party. I wouldn't have recommended that but they're generous people. They mad http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-275826.html I arrived in Pittsburgh exactly one week ago. My aunt Kelly picked me up from the airport she was a big part of the idea to surprise grandpa Otis. Kelly lives just over an hour from Pittsburgh however she is about that much closer to the airport than my grandparents. I was lucky to have made it again on standby departed from Ft Lauderdale so the plan could all go through. My mom called my http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-264400.html At some point during the 11 hours I spent driving today I considered becoming a truck driver. I think I'd enjoy it. But since I can sail boats and fly planes both of those would be more fun.The bar scene in Morgantown was awesome. I hitched a ride back to my hotel with some guy in his 50's and gave him the rest of the beer I had leftover from yesterday. http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-253372.html Well I'm back home I've been back for about a month and a half now. And what can I say It's good to be home in a wayI'm understood everywhere I go I don't have to make quick mental conversions between Fahrenheit and Celsius or Lira's to Dollars. I don't have to haggle over the price of everything the dollar menu is consistently a dollar. It's nice to be around friends and family isn't tho http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-248515.html Back on the road again and taking up the backpack is definitely harder second time round. All the funny little details soon come flooding back to you. For example just how much you have to cram into your bag how much you hate flying having to convert every dollar you spend into a logical and meaningful value and of course finding somewhere to stay and something to seeLuckily we were picked u http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/Harpers-Ferry/blog-239838.html Hawks Nest State Park is the West Virgniarsquos version of visiting the New River Gorge without the assistance of the National Park Service. Set amidst an inn and banquet facility that more resembles a stark and cubic university administration building the restaurant overlooks the gorge and a tramway that shuttles visitors to the river below for jetboat tours on the New River. Between the sta http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/Fayetteville/blog-238546.html West Virginians are an affable and approachable bunch. So coming from grumpy and aloof New England I needed time to make the adjustment. However informal they are in appearance the hospitality more than compensates. The mountain twang of their accent leaves me on the verge of letting out a violent chuckle. Conversations are prolonged and many have taken in genuine interest in me and my vis http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/Fayetteville/blog-238545.html I booked four nights at a rustic mountain cottage the New River. Doug and Sally have not been managing the facility for a year yet. As I pulled up off the single lane road and past the red barn mailbox two dogs close to a Golden Retriever and an indescribable mutt of easily a dozen breeds raced at me from behind a barn both barking sternly. Naturally my first reaction was to dive back in http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/Fayetteville/blog-238542.html West Virginia is a place apart mildly forgotten as it is lodged between more noticeable states Ohio Pennsylvania and Virginia. West Virginia has already established its own unpolished identity no longer interested in being just the western version of its eastern and more refined counterpart by the same name. Only a full dayrsquos drive from New England it is a state comfortable with its http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/Fayetteville/blog-237737.html We arrived at the airport at 230Pm and went through boarding procedures. Practiced some German while we were waiting to board our plane. We were supposed to board at 5PM but it was delayed by about 15 minutes. After another 10 minute delay we were allowed to board the airbus and I discovered I wouldn't be able to read my book. Now this wasn't due to some stupid airline rule it was because ever http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-234489.html So at 630PM we arrived at Dianna's house for some extensive holiday eating and drinking. I believe Billy was drunk by 730PM but that is debatable.Billy This fucker gave me old underwear with the crotch missing.Ash Well Billy to take care of that I'll bring you a German penis warmer. It's like a mitten for your penis.Billy It's okay. That's what I call a vagina. http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-234488.html Day 100 Woo It's crazy to think we're in the triple digits of the trip. We got out of our motel a bit late this morning mainly because they had a good breakfast bar and we wanted to utilize our internet connection to plan our next move. We wanted to hit West Virginia because there may not be another good opportunity to run through the State and it's supposed to be pretty. Unfortunately http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-225253.html Sep 13 2007City official name MartinsburgFounded date Location West Virginia StateElavation ft mArea Approximately square miles km.Facts Martinsburg is a city in Berkeley County West Virginia United States. As of the 2000 census the population of Martinsburg was 14972. However the 2006 Census estimate place http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-212359.html Well The time has arrived for me to return home. I was told by my accountant wife that if I didnt't return by 8pm Monday night my credit cards would be reported stolen Yeah Right As I sit here at home writing this entry I would like to thank all of my family and friends who came along on the trip. I appreciated all of the great comments and emails along the way. Now to answer the bur http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-207417.html down to Cooper's to boulder w Carl and alumns Bailey and Jackie coopers was a blast pics on google. went back to lake house afterwards and it worked out perfectly that momdad had dinner ready and waiting when we got there. then ran back to bucknell for another week of nothingness.. http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/West-Virginia/blog-207022.html