Friday May 17
It was another late start for Big Red and me this morning, which has seemed to have become the norm on this trip.
First stop is home of the Little League World Series and their headquarters The museum was closed but we did get to see the fields and they are beautiful. From there it was just a nice ride through the country to our destination of Ridgefield Farm in West Virginia. We did stop for breakfast at the Arrowhead in rural Pennsylvania. I have written in the past of "the table" that every small town has in the local restaurant where the senior men or the town "geniuses" gather. The Arrowhead had a table but with a twist. First thing you noticed is all the men were speaking in a even tone. No loud mouths or experts. No one person tried to dominate the conversation. Then I was told they are all baseball umpires. I overhead some great stories, especially the "bone head calls" they had made and how they got out of them by reversing themselves or just ignoring the call depending on the situation. They were very friendly and glad to pose for a picture.
Sunday May 19
I had met Al and Scott in DC when we were living on boats on the waterfront downtown many years ago. Today I packed up and headed south to Haywood, VA where another old friend from the live-aboard boating community in DC now lives. Our dear friend Janet. The weather was a little crappy with light rain and fog, but it was still a great ride through rolling hills and twisting roads. GPS Gladys found a short cut. It was great but unpaved, but I pressed on and it was a beautiful 10 mile ride. I rolled into Janet's beautiful log cabin in the woods a little after 2 p.m. Alan followed a few hours later. We sat around and talked of old times and especially about our great friend Mopsy Lovejoy who recently passed away.
Tuesday May 21
Alan had returned to Ridgefield Farm and Janet and I had hung out in Culpepper and went to see the movie The Great Gatsby. Janet does not get to town enough and actually thought there would be a crowd. Well, there was if you consider 6 people a crowd. I left Janet and Haywood, VA behind about 8 a.m and to the sound of singing Cicadas. We took Seminole Trail (US-29) to The Constitution Road (VA-20) to James Madison Hwy (US-15 VA) to Jefferson Davis Hwy (US-15 NC) to US-1 (with no real name) to Raleigh After making our way through Charlottesville VA rush hour traffic it became
a great ride through rural America. Rolling twisting roads of Virginia gave way to straight roads of North Carolina.
I stopped for breakfast at Lumpkins Restaurant and Motel in Scottsville, VA. I walked in and sitting at the first table was a older lady neatly dressed as people of that age tend to be. I learned that she is Virginia Lumpkin proprietor of the restaurant and a "feisty old broad". Being south of the Mason Dixon line, I ordered grits, only to be told they had no grits. I always thought these people were yankees and this proves it. I exchanged barbs with Ms. Virginia about no grits. She later told me that she served grits but she has turned the kitchen over to her son Hollis.
The rooster. A local wealthy resident ordered it as a joke and put it on his front lawn. His wife said if that the chicken was not off her property in 48 hours you will be gone and she meant it. When he came to Lumpkins for breakfast he told the story and Hollis said his Mom liked chickens, so he would take it thinking it was about 3 feet tall. Ms. Virginia said when she drove down on Sunday afternoon the parking lot was full of cars even though the restaurant was closed. As she got closer she saw the big rooster sitting in the grass. It has been there ever since.
In Garner, my Mom's home town and where I grew up, I stopped at Angie's for lunch. It was great pleasure to see Mrs. Hudson and her son Lee. Hudson's Hardware has been in business since the 50's and at 88 Mrs. Hudson still goes to work every day and bags seeds that people from all over the region come to buy. She is a inspiration to all and Lee is carrying on the tradition.
It was another late start for Big Red and me this morning, which has seemed to have become the norm on this trip.
First stop is home of the Little League World Series and their headquarters The museum was closed but we did get to see the fields and they are beautiful. From there it was just a nice ride through the country to our destination of Ridgefield Farm in West Virginia. We did stop for breakfast at the Arrowhead in rural Pennsylvania. I have written in the past of "the table" that every small town has in the local restaurant where the senior men or the town "geniuses" gather. The Arrowhead had a table but with a twist. First thing you noticed is all the men were speaking in a even tone. No loud mouths or experts. No one person tried to dominate the conversation. Then I was told they are all baseball umpires. I overhead some great stories, especially the "bone head calls" they had made and how they got out of them by reversing themselves or just ignoring the call depending on the situation. They were very friendly and glad to pose for a picture.
the umpires
here we go again
the great Dr.Beard himself welcomes me to Ridgefield Farm
Sunday May 19
I spent several great days on the farm with Scott and Alan. They had even hog tied me on Friday night and took me to Tuxedo Junction, a fund raiser at Shepard University. I was just a little out of place in my cargo pants and knit shirt among all the black ties and sequins. But the food was good and the drinks plentiful and I met lots of nice people and got even more interesting stares. In the end Maria, from Sweden and a teacher here, and I sat outside with her telling how she has become a flightaware.com addict, a website that tracks airplanes, and even tracks the airplanes coming over her house. Around 10pm Scott and I were able to escape the event but Alan, being on the committee, had to stay to the end.
Alan and I had tried to go to Paris this year but schedules just did not work out, so for an "almost to Paris" event we all went to Bistro 112, a nice little French restaurant in Shepardstown and had steak and frites, a great French meal.
Sunday May 19
I had met Al and Scott in DC when we were living on boats on the waterfront downtown many years ago. Today I packed up and headed south to Haywood, VA where another old friend from the live-aboard boating community in DC now lives. Our dear friend Janet. The weather was a little crappy with light rain and fog, but it was still a great ride through rolling hills and twisting roads. GPS Gladys found a short cut. It was great but unpaved, but I pressed on and it was a beautiful 10 mile ride. I rolled into Janet's beautiful log cabin in the woods a little after 2 p.m. Alan followed a few hours later. We sat around and talked of old times and especially about our great friend Mopsy Lovejoy who recently passed away.
I came across roland and gang from the three mile island scooter club in front royal, va.
Tuesday May 21
Alan had returned to Ridgefield Farm and Janet and I had hung out in Culpepper and went to see the movie The Great Gatsby. Janet does not get to town enough and actually thought there would be a crowd. Well, there was if you consider 6 people a crowd. I left Janet and Haywood, VA behind about 8 a.m and to the sound of singing Cicadas. We took Seminole Trail (US-29) to The Constitution Road (VA-20) to James Madison Hwy (US-15 VA) to Jefferson Davis Hwy (US-15 NC) to US-1 (with no real name) to Raleigh After making our way through Charlottesville VA rush hour traffic it became
a great ride through rural America. Rolling twisting roads of Virginia gave way to straight roads of North Carolina.
this officer was speeding, 30 in a 20, failed to yield to a cross walk, made three turns without signalling and, I am not making this up, turned into Krispy Kreme.
The rooster. A local wealthy resident ordered it as a joke and put it on his front lawn. His wife said if that the chicken was not off her property in 48 hours you will be gone and she meant it. When he came to Lumpkins for breakfast he told the story and Hollis said his Mom liked chickens, so he would take it thinking it was about 3 feet tall. Ms. Virginia said when she drove down on Sunday afternoon the parking lot was full of cars even though the restaurant was closed. As she got closer she saw the big rooster sitting in the grass. It has been there ever since.
hollis in the kitchen
In Garner, my Mom's home town and where I grew up, I stopped at Angie's for lunch. It was great pleasure to see Mrs. Hudson and her son Lee. Hudson's Hardware has been in business since the 50's and at 88 Mrs. Hudson still goes to work every day and bags seeds that people from all over the region come to buy. She is a inspiration to all and Lee is carrying on the tradition.
Mrs. Hudson and Lee
