July 20 - Through West Virginia, Virginia and some of NC

On the night of the 19th, we looked for an appropriate motel.  Throughout our trip there has always been a conflict between price and quality.  We have had several rooms that left a lot to be desired on a comfort level, but didn't cost much.  Jeff stopped at a former Motel 6 that had seriously deteriorated.  As we walked upstairs to check out a room, the guys on the steps offered us a warm Budweiser.....that was enough for me.  I exercised my veto power and headed back to the truck. (Me, I wanted to have a meet and greet with the boys -J) We ended up at a Hampton's that had big fluffy beds, ice cold air conditioning, pay for view movies, easy internet access, and lots of plugs for charging batteries.  Jeff and I recharged our batteries too.....I really wanted to live there for the next few days.  But off we went to see more of the southeast, and travel to David and Shelley's.

We soon passed into West Virginia.....Mountain Mama!  It was absolutely lovely.  Lots of rolling hills, valleys and little towns.  We stopped at a roadside attraction, Tamarack, that had unusual architecture and was filled with West Virginia crafts.  We walked around for about an hour and admired pottery, glassware, furniture, paintings, weaving's, and jewelry.  We looked, but didn't buy.  Jeff saw an $18,000 coffee table that he had a hankerin* for but I was able to talk him out of it, actually not talk, just think.  But it was a nice cool respite.

Back on the road, we went through a long tunnel, up and down hills and mountains and into and through a corner of Virginia.  Our destination:  Mt. Airy North Carolina, childhood home of Andy Griffith and the model for Mayberry in his TV show.  We found another Hampton Inn, hauled in our stuff, had a nice cool swim, and went out to find real southern cooking.  Jeff asked a local about his recommendations on good Southern cookin' and he looked away to give a spit of chaw and then said, "Depends on how deep yur pockets are."  When I mentioned how I was in the mood for some real fried chicken, he lit up and said how a new KFC had just opened on the 601. We moved on, looking for other food critics.

Great BBQ, found, consumed, happy!

A town caught in the 60's

After dinner we got directions to the Andy Griffith statue near the Andy Griffith museum and Andy Griffith Theater.  You can tell they love their native son in Mt. Airy.   When we arrived at the theater/monument/memorial, we heard a very loud (loud enough that you had to raise your voice to be heard) chirping coming from the tree's.  Turns out the Cicada's are out for their seven - tenual visit.  Pretty neat to hear their cry/song.  I guess I would be crying too if I had to wait 7 years between conversations - frustration, anger, confusion - who knows, just something to ponder.

Inside the theater

Andy's biggest fan.

After our tour, we went back to the motel to relax and enjoy the coolness.  Jeff napped, I edited and we prepared for our debut on the eastern seaboard.  After being awakened by the alarm clock (not set by us) 4 times before 7 am, Jeff wasn't in the best of moods.  Checking out, the clerk asked how our night was.  When mentioning the alarming alarm fiasco in a polite and non threatening manner, she became alarmed and gave us our night for free.  Sometimes negatives can actually become a false alarm.