Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Virginia, West Virginia & Pennsylvania

Another glorious day for traveling, but today we will make a few stops to enjoy the landscape, feel the warmth of the 80 degree sunshine and to smell the flowers blooming all around us.


Meems Bottom Covered Bridge....After trains, Donald likes scouting out covered bridges. We found this one noted in a travel brochure. Located off I-81 at exit 273 in Virginia.

One of the best-known covered bridges is the 204-foot single-span Burr arch truss known as Meem's Bottom Covered Bridge in Mount Jackson. The Meem's Bottom Bridge was constructed in 1892-93 from materials cut and quarried nearby for the massive arch supports and stone abutments, which extended 10 feet below the riverbed. It was deeded to the Highway Department in the 1930's in return for assuming its maintenance. This long span over the North Fork of the river carried traffic for more than 80 years before being burned by vandals on Halloween 1976. After salvaging the original timbers, the bridge was reconstructed and eventually undergirded with steel beams and concrete piers. The bridge was reopened to traffic in 1979 and is still in operation to date. One of the many stops along the Wilderness Trail in Shenandoah County.

West Virginia is certainly blooming everywhere you look.





Small farms and country homes like this one are scattered all along our route in Pennsylvania. Ada liked this one. Looks like it would make a nice B&B, where you could feed the animals before breakfast...and fetch your own eggs too.



Our final overnight stop is Wilkes Barre, PA where the sun sets not only on the day, but also on the wonderful winter hiatus we enjoyed in Arizona. Refreshed after a great vacation, we look forward to arriving back in Salem tomorrow and resuming our B&B lives for another great season, and all the wonderful people we are yet to meet. Year 26 and still counting. Hope you come by for a spell...

1 comment:

TerriD said...

You bet we are coming by! We have been waiting 5 1/2 months for you to get back!! You are lucky it is quarter-end or we'd be waiting on the doorstep. In all seriousness WELCOME HOME xo!! We have been to the state, we have been to the house and it was just not home without you two. Glad you had a great Arizona rest and thank you for taking us along your amazing journey.