our roadtrip in the rain

Bill & I had planned a 3-4 day road trip following the busy Labor Day week-end to celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary. Saturday was time with family at the annual Labor Day picnic at Shannon and Joe's. Of course, I could only get pictures of the little one's...they are like magnets to my camera.

Little darlin'

"Bring it on, Mom!" Ava says. ....but it was great to see Katie and Madison at the picnic, too :)

...and Logan continues to be entranced by Aunt Shannon's ipad. Of course, I am too (hint, hint to Bill:)

Sunday was the Yeager Reunion. Here Henry looks to be debating whether he should touch Aunt Iris' youngest great-granddaughter.

Anyway, after all the "being together" time, I grabbed my roadtrip journal (this is the cover)... (and a few other necessities) and Bill and I took off Sunday afternoon for our get-a-way. We planned to visit Kentucky & Virginia State Parks.

This was our "windshield view" Monday morning in Winchester, Kentucky....RAIN!...and it never left us! We were so delighted to see it (we really hadn't seen rain since the lst of August)...so we just wouldn't allow ourselves to complain. We just went on and made the most of it :)

We found beauty in the fog at Natural Bridge State Park.

..and I would never get tired of roads that look like this!

..pretty wildflowers

a few wild turkeys

We're still researching what this plant is..or I should say tree. Some were very, very tall. The leaves were huge. Beautiful to see covered with raindrops.

We stopped at the park's gift shop and I chose some pretty rocks (agate, amethyst, rainbow quartz, quartz crystal, dyerite granite, aventurine, red jasper, rose quartz, hematite, tiger eye and zebra jasper). Only thing I didn't find was a tree agate which is white with green specks --- next time!

pretty in pewter

Tuesday morning we visited Jenny Wiley State Park in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. Still raining... We had the Lake and Marina to ourselves.

Ducks at Dewey Lake

We tracked this bird...he really didn't want his picture taken. Honestly, there was NOONE in the park except us, the rangers, and a group of Kentucky "dignitaries" meeting at the Conference Center. We kept thinking we would meet up with a black bear as we saw plenty of signs about them, but no go>

...on toward Breaks Interstate Park on the Ky-Virginia line. On the way, we passed this and I had Bill turn back so I could get a picture. Probably an indication of why our marriage has lasted so long...he does what I want even when it doesn't make much sense :)

Breaks is a BIG gorge...billed as the Grand Canyon of the South.

The rain had eased off, so we took this little trail to look out over the canyon. It sure was easier going down than coming back up!

"Don't slip, Bill!" No cell phone service and noone else around made me caution Bill as I used to the kids.

It was worth the walk...a beautiful view of the river and train track & tunnels.

Only this spider joined us on the rocks...(this one's for you, Lydia!)

We did find a much easier trail to view the gorge, but we figured we needed the exercise after all our car riding.

pretty in the rain

..and fall is coming!

I told you...

We awoke Wednesday morning in Abingdon, Virginia to this beautiful sunrise. The sun lasted about 20 minutes and then the rains came...more than a little rain. Soooo, we decided to travel on back to Indiana. We had visited a great restaurant on Tuesday evening outside of Abingdon (The Parks Mill & BBQ) a family owned authentic water-powered grist mill built in 1780 now with a general store, restaurant, and gift shop down a narrow country road. perfect setting, delicious BBQ, hmmmm-mmmmm!

We drove from Abingdon, Virginia (literally through the mountains!) to 30 miles east of Louisville in pouring down rain....and there it ended!!

Now we're home and getting back to normal :) ....a great roadtrip! (Thanks Gregg, for cat-sitting.)