How hard did it rain? It rained so hard the animals started lining up two-by-two. So hard that someone changed the campground's name on the sign out front from "Mountain Valley" to "Port of Mountain Valley".
Of course, all of this hard rain was caused by me upsetting the Ying and Yang of the universe.
You may know I carry my motorcycle on the back of the RV using a special lift. The lift works great, however, due to a little snafu, the cover for the motorcycle did not arrive before we left home. My Harley, which has never spent the night outside unless I've been riding it, is now completely exposed to the elements.
So of course, the Ying & Yang gods called forth a massive thunderstorm to teach me a lesson (which lesson I'm not quite sure). In any case, all of the good people in the Shenandoah Valley suffered massive amounts of rain, thunder, lightning and a few tornado warnings because I ordered the wrong type of cover initially and the replacement did not arrive in time before our departure.
An uncovered motorcycle is a lightning rod for bad weather and in this case it has worked perfectly.
To escape the storm we spent a big portion of the day underground at the Shenandoah Caverns. Cave attractions never cease to amaze me. Spectacular and other-worldly scenery enjoyed in constantly cool temperatures. Water dripping and seeping over almost every square inch of rock surface. Monotone tour guides who have given the 'speech' so many times and sound so bored they might be early versions of Disney's animatronics (I looked for the off switch on today's grandmotherly tour guide more than once). The colored lights the cavern operators insist on using, as if the beauty of the caverns themselves wasn't quite up-to-snuff. The signs warning you not to touch under penalty of law, except they were held up by what can only be described as Christmas elves. Never fails to fascinate me.
Not to mention lightning quick thoughts that pop unbidden into your head as you descend further and further into the cave: 1) How did the first people explore this cave before electric lights, paved walkways, etc.? 2) What would happen if we lost electricity due to the storm raging 300 feet above our heads? 3) Would the light from every one's cell phones be sufficient/last long enough to get out of the cave? 4) What sound (if any) did the 200 ton boulder make when it fell from the ceiling? 5) How firmly attached are the massive boulders currently hanging from the ceiling over your head?
You know, all those fun questions that race through your mind. You don't say them out loud for fear of looking, well, fearful. All in all they are beautiful and spectacular rock and mineral deposits created over the eons, only recently discovered by man. Make that, discovered by boys.
The two brothers who found these caverns in 1884 were 12 and 14 years old. When these two felt cool air rushing up from a small hole in the ground they went home for a few supplies. When they came back, with a rope, candles and matches, they climbed 150 feet down via a tight and twisting shaft. They explored the immediate area and then, using the rope climbed 150 feet back up to daylight. Turns out most caves/caverns are discovered by young teenage boys, because as we all know, young boys know no fear. Some say you don't know true fear until you are married, have kids, a full time job and a mortgage.
This area of central Virginia is beautiful, with the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop where ever you travel. Lots of small communities and friendly people. Found a great diner called the "Southern Kitchen"; been in business for over fifty years. Plenty enough time to perfect the recipes. Good eating at a reasonable cost. Even tried some of the Country Ham. Delicious but I can only consume relatively small quantities because it is so salty.
We are staying here another (rainy) night and tomorrow will head further south. We have heard about a campground at Philpot Lake, VA called Goose Point. Built by the Corps of Engineers, it is supposed to be hard to get into but worth it.
On the road for you keeping an eye out for cool and deep caverns, beautiful scenery, good eats and friendly people... See Ya!
Of course, all of this hard rain was caused by me upsetting the Ying and Yang of the universe.
You may know I carry my motorcycle on the back of the RV using a special lift. The lift works great, however, due to a little snafu, the cover for the motorcycle did not arrive before we left home. My Harley, which has never spent the night outside unless I've been riding it, is now completely exposed to the elements.
So of course, the Ying & Yang gods called forth a massive thunderstorm to teach me a lesson (which lesson I'm not quite sure). In any case, all of the good people in the Shenandoah Valley suffered massive amounts of rain, thunder, lightning and a few tornado warnings because I ordered the wrong type of cover initially and the replacement did not arrive in time before our departure.
An uncovered motorcycle is a lightning rod for bad weather and in this case it has worked perfectly.
To escape the storm we spent a big portion of the day underground at the Shenandoah Caverns. Cave attractions never cease to amaze me. Spectacular and other-worldly scenery enjoyed in constantly cool temperatures. Water dripping and seeping over almost every square inch of rock surface. Monotone tour guides who have given the 'speech' so many times and sound so bored they might be early versions of Disney's animatronics (I looked for the off switch on today's grandmotherly tour guide more than once). The colored lights the cavern operators insist on using, as if the beauty of the caverns themselves wasn't quite up-to-snuff. The signs warning you not to touch under penalty of law, except they were held up by what can only be described as Christmas elves. Never fails to fascinate me.
Not to mention lightning quick thoughts that pop unbidden into your head as you descend further and further into the cave: 1) How did the first people explore this cave before electric lights, paved walkways, etc.? 2) What would happen if we lost electricity due to the storm raging 300 feet above our heads? 3) Would the light from every one's cell phones be sufficient/last long enough to get out of the cave? 4) What sound (if any) did the 200 ton boulder make when it fell from the ceiling? 5) How firmly attached are the massive boulders currently hanging from the ceiling over your head?
You know, all those fun questions that race through your mind. You don't say them out loud for fear of looking, well, fearful. All in all they are beautiful and spectacular rock and mineral deposits created over the eons, only recently discovered by man. Make that, discovered by boys.
The two brothers who found these caverns in 1884 were 12 and 14 years old. When these two felt cool air rushing up from a small hole in the ground they went home for a few supplies. When they came back, with a rope, candles and matches, they climbed 150 feet down via a tight and twisting shaft. They explored the immediate area and then, using the rope climbed 150 feet back up to daylight. Turns out most caves/caverns are discovered by young teenage boys, because as we all know, young boys know no fear. Some say you don't know true fear until you are married, have kids, a full time job and a mortgage.
This area of central Virginia is beautiful, with the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop where ever you travel. Lots of small communities and friendly people. Found a great diner called the "Southern Kitchen"; been in business for over fifty years. Plenty enough time to perfect the recipes. Good eating at a reasonable cost. Even tried some of the Country Ham. Delicious but I can only consume relatively small quantities because it is so salty.
We are staying here another (rainy) night and tomorrow will head further south. We have heard about a campground at Philpot Lake, VA called Goose Point. Built by the Corps of Engineers, it is supposed to be hard to get into but worth it.
On the road for you keeping an eye out for cool and deep caverns, beautiful scenery, good eats and friendly people... See Ya!
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