A snug mattress atop a vintage brass bed set the scene for a peaceful slumber. They woke to dappled sunlight peeking through yellow floral curtains and the soothing sounds of a motor running and a dog barking next door. This early morning cacophony continued for a while, prompting the woman to get up. After a hearty breakfast, the couple packed up their travel belongings and headed on their way.
They began the day strolling through an antique store in Lewisburg called The Very Thing, each booth like a portal to another time. An estate sale in the Brick House Antiques Back Alley was the next place they stumbled upon. They left with a few small treasures and headed toward the historic part of town.
An imposing brick structure with four columns along the front, Carnegie Hall, originally housed classrooms, the auditorium and music rooms for Greenbrier College. Adjacent to and equally impressive, sat Greenbrier Hall, built in 1921 as the main residence of the college. Two old churches with graveyards drew the couple in for reverent viewing.
They journeyed up Highway 219 along green rolling countryside for around a half hour before they reached Beartown State Park. They pulled into the small parking area with a pit toilet and picnic tables. A wooden boardwalk transported them through an enchanted moss and lichen forest, amidst layers and layers of rock formations.
A great raven perched high in a tree above, gave them a personal tour. This magical rock village was not on their original itinerary, but both agreed it was a must see for all who travel through.
Four miles up the road they encountered an old battlefield. To their utter disbelief, there at Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, a discovery was made: the old playground they had brought their children to nearly twenty years before! What a wonderful surprise! What fun they had! Memories of the little redheaded boy and the baby girl flooded the mother’s eyes and heart.
They peeled themselves away and walked up into the two story observation tower and walked back down spellbound.
Here at this state park they found their first Almost Heaven swing!
Less than half an hour up the road they made it to Cranberry Glades Botanic Area, stopping first at Cranberry Mountain Nature Center to visit and purchase souvenirs. The couple meandered along the half mile charming boardwalk through two of the four bogs.
An abundance of plant life surrounded them, certainly one of the favorite spots of the day.
At this point the couple had dilly-dallied and needed to finish their drive (two more hours!) to get to the campground for the night. As fate would have it, their journey was not over yet. They stumbled upon an old school house set in a steep curve in the road. A large sign out front with one word painted on it caught the woman’s eye. Books! The rest was history…
Seneca Shadows Campground was quiet and nearly empty on arrival. Once the fire was built and the bed was made, they settled in for a night of nature sounds and fresh air.
As on all vacations, lessons are learned. The couple learned that cell service is not so good in the area and they should have plugged in their final destination in the navigation system before heading out that morning. Once GPS kept renavigating onto non-existent roads, they unearthed the novel idea that the paper map, if used earlier in the day instead of as a last resort, would have been much more helpful!
