Saturday Summary — Week 3 - Challenging, heartwarming, and adventurous.

Crawley, WV (50’s) → Winchester, KY (50’s) → Bowling Green, KY (60’s) → Sewanee, TN (70’s) | Nov 15th - Nov 21st 

• Week 3 included three states, one reunion, a whole lot of hills, and a crash course in “Oh… that’s why our gas mileage suddenly tanked.” And FINALLY a couple of 70°F days in a row (thank you Swanee!)

Last Stop in Virginia

We kicked things off with a stop at Natural Bridge State Park in Virginia, where Don and I debated about whether we had visited on our honeymoon. The answer is still… maybe? Either way, I walked away with a very cool Ranger Fox T-shirt, so it counts as a win. Lucky enjoyed the shortish walk, and I was impressed with their accessible programs on the hike. 

West Virginia

Then came West Virginia: beautiful, dramatic, and (so far) our least impressive state. Lewisburg was lovely, with great shops and a wonderful visitor center, but the adventure began when I missed one word in our Harvest Host directions. One single word. The result:

Off-roading (almost) in WV

Skuhlie huffing her way up a steep, one-lane gravel hill to nowhere. Thankfully, our host knew this was a common mistake, tracked us down, and guided us to our very-very-very remote spot for the night. Add in a creaking barn door, and no cell reception during a windy night, and let’s just say my imagination was working overtime. The highway driving in West Virginia involved MANY a mountain, and that meant more gas refills.

Kentucky

Kentucky welcomed us with flatter roads and the scent of fresh pine at the Kavolic Christmas Tree & Sheep Farm. They had electric (thank goodness as it got down to 31°) and lots of friendly farm dogs, much to Lucky’s disapproval. We biked into town with Lucky in her little basket and obviously had to have lunch at the Lucky Dog Café. Because… come on. We had to. The photo of Lucky under the café sign is now one of my favorites.

I spent the next day at the Winchester library, which was very warm, community-focused, and full of kids and families. It made me think of all the hours I spent in libraries with my two kiddos. I also stopped in at the Tourism Office, a cool combined setup with Economic Development and the Chamber. Tourism nerd heaven.

Next up: Bowling Green and our first real National Park experience. We made a quick drive through Shenandoah and the Blue Ridge Parkway, but Mammoth Cave was our first true visit. Lucky got a long walk, and then Don and I joined the Domes and Dripstones tour. I had a moment of “Umm… I don’t think caves are for me” after the ranger warned about tight spaces and heights, but I pushed through and I’m so glad I did. It was stunning.

Our Harvest Host that night was a llama farm, run by a woman named Eleanor, who is exactly what Harvest Hosts was meant to be. Passionate, welcoming, proud of her work. Lucky met llamas (jury’s still out on how she felt about that), and we left with fresh eggs and a lot of fuzzy pictures.

Tennessee

And then—Abi!!! First order of business: showers, too many Harvest Hosts in a row is something we need to navigate. Then pizza, wings, and beer. Scout and Serafine needed a minute to remember us, but soon were curled up and purring like old friends. We joined Abi for choir service at All Saints’ Chapel, and the music filled every corner of the huge, beautiful space, which is also filled with amazing stained glass windows.

During the week I reorganized the bus (again), caught up on laundry, and went with Abi to a moving Trans Remembered Day service. I’m grateful to see a Divinity program that honors the LGBTQ+ community with sincerity and love.

Before settling in for the weekend, we stopped at Piggly Wiggly for steaks, because if we’re visiting Abi, it’s steak night! I have so much nostalgia for that grocery store from my childhood. Don even squeezed in a run, he's trying to get in shape for a 5K with Hanna the next time we see her.

Week 3 was full, frustrating in spots, beautiful in many others, and somehow exactly the kind of week I hoped this journey would include. Next week, we continue in Tennessee, then we're headed into North and South Carolina