Charleston, WV to Home

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We're home! Clay said he would post photos for each entry after we got home. He didn't say when so all I can suggest is checking back if you're interested.

We got up pretty early again. Clay expressed a desire last night to return to Mt. Airy so we needed to get on the road. I thought he meant to just return on the Interstate, but he had other plans so I was surprised today. He has been having better luck programming his custom maps in small segments so they have worked over his phone in the car. Today he programmed first stop at Bob Evans in S. Charleston. I finally got my fried mush! Last breakfast was worth the wait. Next he programmed to Mt. Airy's Snappy Lunch with no tolls. No tolls basically meant no Interstates through West Virginia but we didn't know that. So basically Google was toll booth hopping on and off the different Interstates to avoid tolls! It took us both a while to realize that is what was happening, but it did. So, we made pretty good time while still enjoying some small scenic drives. We drove along the Paint Creek Trail & Byway for a while and enjoyed a stop at a small park alongside the babbling stream. We hadn't planned it and Clay said he hadn't looked at the route when he programmed and saved it so we were both surprised but I found this later. Later we were able to stop and visit Tamarack, a kind of West Virginia showcase. We saw some glass blowing. We learned that Fiestaware is made in WV.

We got to Mt. Airy in time to see them close Snappy Lunch for the day! We had lunch instead at Walker's Soda Fountain. That was even better as Clay got his long awaited hot dog and I ordered a chocolate malt that was delicious and big enough for 2. Clay got the $5.99/lb. malted milk balls he wanted at Opie's Candy Store. Finally we went to Mayberry Spirit Co. for a distillery tour and tasting at $10pp. It was very interesting and we were not converted to be whiskey drinkers. It also turns out that in the last 20 years NC has gone from having no legal distilleries to I believe 35 or so. There is a NC Agriculture sponsored Distillery Trail through NC. It turns out there is a Brewery Trail through NC too. Clay would like that one better.

That was the end. We caught our last rain with a small heavy thunderstorm leaving Mt. Airy. We drove out of it pretty quickly. We got home about 5:30pm. Everything is fine here so that is always a relief.

Next trip is to South Carolina next month to view the total eclipse of the sun!

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