So from Milton, WV I headed northeast back to the place where I made my first stop – Bellefonte/State College, Pennsylvania. A good deal of the day was spent in West Virginia and I now know why the University’s mascot is “The Mountaineers”. West Virginia is ALL mountains. Not 12,000 ft mountains, like out West, but ups and downs nonetheless. And because of the fall foliage, it was a beautiful drive (I was finally BEHIND the storm that plagued the East Coast in prior days).
Last night on the road before returning home. It was sad, exciting…a mix of emotions. I must admit that the prior four or five days since leaving Monument Valley and Mesa Verde was rather anti-climactic after such wonders as we saw in the National Parks and Monuments. But it was also gratifying to see the huge granaries, the rolled hay, the cattle and horses and sheep and goats that make up the foundation of our Breadbasket.
And the people. On the one hand I can attest to the obesity problem in our country. Sad, but it’s true. It’s not that EVERYONE is overweight, but there are far too many who are.
On the other hand, the heartland of our country is comprised of the happiest, friendliest, most helpful and convivial people I’ve met anywhere in the world. And 100 miles from the East Coast, there are far more conservative/traditional roadside posters than there are “No Kings” nonsense. There was virtually NO talk about the government shutdown. The license plate on Fred the RV was from California but people were relieved to find I wasn’t from there and the American flag on my baseball cap and on the dashboard of the RV caused me to immediately become accepted by them. (I think they would have still been “yes ma’am, yes sir” polite had I really been from California, but I think wearing the flag is a marker/symbol in the heartland that I was glad to be showing).
Tomorrow…the home stretch.
PS, no trick or treating occuring in the RV Park!
