Pacific to Atlantic-Day 7

Saturday 7/9/16

Beckley, WV to Virginia Beach, VA

Lots of hours on the road combined with losing another hour due to time zones made getting up this morning difficult. It seemed like my sluggish body was matched by an altered reality. Leaving the hotel we noticed a giant tree had fallen in the storm last night. We were fortunate to have missed the heavy wind and rain but several hotels we stopped at either had no power or were full due to the impact of the surrounding areas with no electricity. Leaving Beckley and driving over the beautiful New River Gorge brought back memories of white water rafting trips. It was the longest single-span bridge for many years. The bridge is absolutely gorgeous any time of year; perhaps, most beautiful on “Bridge Day” (third Saturday in October) when it’s open for rappelling and BASE jumping.

We drove a couple exits then pulled off for coffee at White Sulphur Springs near the famous Greenbrier resort but we were very surprised that the McDonalds was closed. The gas station was open but strangely, no coffee! When did we leave civilized America? The clerk explained that the entire area had been 5 feet under water recently. The water isn’t safe to drink, thus, no coffee. Everything had been closed down and the refrigerated displays had all gone out. They had just re-opened when the storm hit the night before bringing a 5-hour power outage and damaged machinery again. 

The drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains, into Virginia and across the Shenandoah Valley felt like coming home in every sense. As beautiful as each part of the United States is for its unique qualities, there are few places that rival the natural beauty of Virginia. No doubt, a sense of familiarity adds to my love of this great Commonwealth. I could almost feel the serenity of Humpback Rocks and Jones River Run as we passed nearby but there was no time to stop for a hike.

Four months after we packed up the Harley and headed west, we safely unloaded back where we started. We couldn’t have asked for a better travel vehicle than the Toyota 4-Runner. And, there are very few things we’d do differently if given the opportunity. Adjusting to the “real world” is always a bit difficult. How can it be that a routine of repetitive interactions and activities is more real than new experiences? Perhaps it’s my desire to appreciate whatever I have at the moment, but as I write this, I think a combination of routine and adventure offers me the most fulfillment. Just as a combination of giving and receiving, work and play, old and new is better than either apart from the other.

A new day begins with the sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean and I’m happy to be home in our little condo but I wouldn’t have missed this trip for anything.