A bunch of random stuff
There are lot of motorcycles. And around these parts they have three wheels. Some of them have two wheels in the back and some of them have two wheels in the front. Never seen that before. But lots of touring here through the mountains...North Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Cool.
I am impressed with the cleanliness of all the national parks and forests and the intense service to the traveler. Things are so clean and the signage is great. Easy to follow and lots and lots of historic reference.
Speaking of historic...every single town is historic...I swear. They all have something relating to the Civil War or the Revolutionary War. Rather too much war glorification and identification going on in this end of the country..just sayin. I
Note to self: Don't expect your expensive Whole Foods fresh non preservative organic crap to survive in a cooler with minimal ice in a car for over a week in the relatively hot summer heat.
I change my accent with whatever region I am in. I think it is just my ear for it via my actor self. I really hope no one thinks I am mocking them.
Things are beginning to blur a bit. The days are running together and time has stretched. A day feels like a life ago and a week is like a month. Really great exercise in living in the present.
Poi Dog Pondering and Post Paradise and Mumford and Son are the best music to listen to in the hills.
Staunton,Va has the most unsolved murder cases in the US. Also has the creepiest abandoned houses and mental hospital ever.
There are so many abandoned houses around here. The two times that I really wished I had a partner on this trip was when I wanted to go explore one of these old houses and when I wanted to kayak down one of these rivers.
I am in love with all the beautiful architecture in these towns. I want all these houses. It makes me sad I will never live in some of them.
So when last we met I was in Virginia. I traveled to Frederick Maryland and stayed with my sweet friends, Abe and Aurora. We had a lovely dinner and conversation and the next day I headed towards Pennsylvania.
I had originally intended to go into DC to see the Smithsonian but I have been so relaxed and internal and rural that the thought of going into that kind of intensity and chaos just seemed counter intuitive. So I trusted my instincts and headed north. I stopped in Gettysburg in tribute to my dear Sean. The town was darling and cool but prone to too much tourist schlock.
Now, I am not one to enjoy war history but it was still pretty cool. It was so beautiful and eerie at the same time. I mean...WTF were they doing?
This is the view of Little Round Top which was pretty cool. To think of that history there just seems surreal. The monument is the Irish Brigade monument. That is the group Sean re-enacts with.
Left Gettysburg and visited with my friends Krista and TJ and met their darling daughter. We spent the morning in the town of Lititz, Pa which just may be the most perfect town ever. I would live there in a minute. Absolutely idyllic. Any town that has a chocolate factory is in good shape. The history and preservation is great and a wonderful progressive yet old fashioned feel to it.
Headed towards NJ now. Stopped for a beer...this is a tour of beer, chocolate and coffee after all...in the ridiculously great town of New Hope, Pa. I could live here but for completely different reasons. It is an upscale artsy hippie place full of all the things I love.
This has been Robin's Tour of Love...it is the best thing I have ever done just for myself. Two weeks in and I feel like I am at peace with my past and have had amazing insights about my future. I am so grateful for the support from the friends at home and the embracing of the friends I visit.