Alright, I've got a lot to cover! Last time I filled you in I was in Toledo, OH. It was my goal to leave the state and venture deeper into the south. I'd like to begin by stating that Ohio is an impressively long state. I had resolved to take as many back roads as I could, and pretty early on I was able to pull over and capture this beauty!
There was an adult nearby, but it took off just as I had pulled over. I watched for a few minutes as this eagle repeatedly swooped in, picked up the critter, and dropped it. Perhaps this was a learning period for a young Bald Eagle. I cannot say, but it was a pleasure to watch.
I made a quick stop at OSU to stretch my legs. This guy said he always posts a picture from his nightly run/walk. I took one with his phone where he was pretending to drive.
After pushing through Columbus, I crashed for the night in northern Kentucky. By morning I smelled like the critter I'd seen the day before, so I went in search for a place to swim. A gas station clerk recommended that I check out Yatesville Lake. The drive was treacherous, but the destination was worth it.
I slipped into a bathing suit, put my soap and washcloth onto a log, and floated out into the lake. It rained. It was beautiful.
If you know me well, then you probably know that my favorite movie is The Princess Bride. You know that scene in the Pit of Despair (West Virginia) where Count Rugen (Me) hooks Westley (Sahsa) up to the Machine (Mountains) and steals a year of his life? It was kind of like that. Even the wildlife knew what was up.
After escaping with some of Miracle Max's magic pills, I stopped in Ashland for a quick tour and chatted with the owner of a guitar shop. The town was quaint, but for some reason I had my heart set on reaching Charleston for the night. The first spot I picked out had some live bluegrass music! The frontman, John, was warm and sincere. A lovely newly wed couple, Quinn and Keith, welcomed me into their conversation and gave me some tips for the following day! After parting ways, I wandered into this spot.
I spoke with the members of the weekly band, and they offered to let me get up there to play some songs. It was SWEEEEET!!! Sadly I didn't get any pictures of the inside (sorry), but I'll be back again.
The next morning I took the advice of many West Virginian's and checked out Fayetteville, West Virginia. I had lunch at the Secret Sandwich Society. Shhhhh! The menu was as complicated as Keith had warned me, and the food was as delicious as Quinn and promised. After a mild food coma, I checked out the New RIver Gorge Bridge. There was a way to drive down to the river beneath, but I far my sweet Sasha would not survive the journey back.
I spent the rest of the day cruising the mountains and landed in Charlotte just in time to get some sleep. I've got a hankering for swimming, so I'll likely check back in once I've touched the ocean.
Number of breakdowns: 0
Number of cars passed: 3
-Nick