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On the Road to Florida- a Photo Essay

September 1, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

On the Road to Florida

Thanks for reading the On the Road to Florida report. Part of our route followed America’s Favorite Drive as we work our way back to Florida.

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

Our first stop was at Wompatuck State Park in Massachusetts. An uneventful night there was followed by a stretch of highway driving, a full-on travel day, to Hickory Run State Park in Pennsylvania.

Daddy Long Legs, a harmless critter you’ll see all through the northeast.

We loved this park. Lots of hiking trails, a couple streams with native brook trout (which we did not fish for), a nationally recognized geologic wonder called the Boulder Field, great campsites, etc. Wunnerful, wunnerful. We spent a night, but did not spend enough time there.

The Boulder Field.

 

All you geologists- what kinds of rocks are these??

 

A drive through Hickory Run Park.

 

 

Home of the brook trout.

Another travel day followed, to Front Royal, Virginia, where we got on the north end of Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park. Driving became much more relaxing- no commercial vehicles, and a 35-mph speed limit. Lots of places to stop and enjoy views.

Every time we got out of the car, it was like stepping into a cloud forest. The air, cool and damp, softly enveloped us, depositing a layer of mist on everything it touched, truly magical moments.

 

 

 

We got off the Drive and went to Luray Caverns for a spectacular hour-and-a-half walk underground. This was the fourth cavern we have visited- they never cease to amaze.

 

 

Cave worms.

 

Cave eggs.

 

Cave lake.

 

Cave woman.

Back on Skyline Drive, we ambled south, crossing the Appalachian Trail, which more-or-less parallels the road. I even walked down to the AT from one of our campsites. Maybe I’d see a through-hiker! But, no such luck.

Wildflower and pollinator.

Driving this road is like driving through an endless wildflower garden- milkweeds, Joe-Pye-weed, goldenrods, wild carrot, ox-eye daisies, ironweed, yarrow, thistles, and others I didn’t know. And there are views one after another after another. And when it ends, you just drive onto the Blue Ridge Parkway, where if anything, the drive gets even better. Four days we spent on these roads, and I honestly think that, if you went hiking, and fishing, and investigated the towns at the base of the mountains, you could easily spend a couple weeks on these roads and have a great vacation.

 

 

 

 

All good things come to an end, though. We got off the Parkway at I-26 and drove to our friend’s (Jim and Kathy Tedesco) house in Flat Rock. We visited a couple orchards and a couple vineyards, and hope to visit the Hendersonville Apple Festival tomorrow. Then we have a long travel day, and if all goes to plan we sleep in our own bed.

That’s the On the Road to Florida Report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

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From West Bend to Flat Rock

August 28, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

From West Bend to Flat Rock

Thank you for reading this week’s post, From West Bend to Flat Rock. We went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this week!
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Readers may know I’ve been writing a travelogue for Global Outdoors. You can see some of those posts here- https://blog.globaloutdoors.com.
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Bumper Sticker of the Week-

Traveling!

Beth at the Farmers Market.

Beth and Dave took us to the Farmer’s Market in West Bend. Like most Farmer’s Markets, it was quite entertaining, with lots of good stuff to eat and drink. Down the street, the Wisconsin Museum of Art was holding their annual Chalk Fest, in which numerous artists used chalk to create art of the sidewalks surrounding the museum. Great work, all.

Blue hair and great work.

We would like to officially thank Dave and Beth Olsen for all the fun and laughs we had while visiting them. They were kind and gracious, and we appreciate it!

We hit the road on Sunday morning, headed to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Much of the drive was on interstates, including going around Chicago. Not fun.

There was quite a bit of industry there.

The area around the National Park was industrial- US Steel industrial. It didn’t stop folks from going to the National Seashore beaches. They were packed! Lots of people having fun on the margin of Lake Michigan, with Chicago sitting on the horizon at the far side of the lake.

On the shores of Lake Michigan…

After a night at the National Lakeshore campground, we took back roads in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, all the way to Avon Lake, a Cleveland suburb. There were visited with Mike and Rosa Briola, friends, and parents of our daughter-in-law Catalina. Gracious in the extreme, they fed us, housed us, and showed us around the surprisingly lovely Cleveland.

Susan poses. Long live rock!

We visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We didn’t even get to see it all, but if you like rock and roll, it should be on your must-see list. So many of my musical heroes are on display there! Cleveland rocks!

The Hall of Fame housed memorabilia of some of my favorite rockers…

 

Albert King

 

Jeff Beck

 

Jimi Hendrix

 

Janis Joplin. Met Susan at a Janis Joplin concert in 1969.

Speaking of which, RIP Charlie Watts.

Speaking of which, RIP Bob Stearns. Very sad, Bob was one of my mentors, and helped me to get my first Alaska job. He was a walking encyclopedia of boating and fishing. But I digress.

Many thanks to Mike and Rosa for hosting us!

We left Cleveland, heading for the New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia. We had reserved two nights at Babcock State Park.

An almost heavenly spot, New River Gorge National Park.

West Virginia has the reputation of being almost heaven. We found it not to be deserved. I would love to fish the New River, and paddle a raft through the gorge. But we only used the first night of our two reserved, opting to lose the second night rather than spend any more time in the state.

Sandstone Falls, New River, West Virginia.

We drove to North Carolina and camped at Stone Mountain State Park.

The next day found us driving the Blue Ridge Parkway for about 100 miles, after which we got off and drove to Flat Rock, where we are currently visiting Jim and Kathy Tedesco. More graciousness from old friends. We are so lucky! And many thanks to the Tedescos for hosting us!

As I write this, Hurricane Ida threatens the Gulf coast. We’re eight hours drive from home, a long day, but doable. That storm is forecast to come this way. We may see Chuluota early next week. Home again, after five months plus?

That’s the report for this week. Thank you again for reading the post, From West Bend to Flat Rock. Life is great and I loved exploring the USA!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go hiking! Take a walk! Do SOMETHING!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2021. All rights are reserved.

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