Light-hearted- blue roads and a red barn

My dream is to wander across the United States and the world on "blue roads".  That was the color of the back roads many years ago- somewhere the map makers decided to make the interstate blue and the back roads red.  So now, I guess my goal is to drive red roads. And, since no one bothered to paint the roads blue or red it's up to the intrepid traveler to find those back roads.

In my case, that's not a problem.


My second dream is to actually leave at the crack of dawn like I say I will. Some days it's a better choice to linger over a cup of coffee with a dear friend.


So the day I left Virginia, it was later than expected and I should have taken the right and gone to the closest, biggest access to the closest and biggest interstate.  I turned left.  I wandered through the lush hills near the amazingly quaint town of Clifton.  I have taken for granted the small white houses that make up this town with it's now quiet railroad station.  The stone Presbyterian church stands guard under trees that  have seen wars and weddings possibly since the Civil War.  Or War of States Rights, as I have learned as a transplanted Yankee.

http://www.virginiawind.com/virginia_travel/clifton.asp

Then of course, I "found" myself close to Trader Joes, my favorite store in the world.  Or at least my favorite grocery store in Virginia. Yes, it's better than Wegmans. It's small and few choices, just lots of stuff I want.  So I picked up our favorite cereals, some ingredients for meals we love and their infamous cheap wine.
























So finally on to the interstate... I lasted 60  miles.  State highway 522 is a great shortcut. I know the road. It's the hypotenuse of the triangle so it must be shorter that the other two legs of interstate roads.  I know I have to backtrack a bit but I'll remember. What can go wrong?

Talking on the phone when driving can be distracting.

But, no problem.  I know the road I'm on is parallel to the one I want .  I'll just punch in my trusty GPS and it will lead me right.  I've written before about  my demon possessed GPS.
 I do believe the wicked thing has been taken over by the  Angel of "you asked for back roads".

A map is worth a thousand words.

Yes, it was a bit convoluted. But Gold Hill Road  was worth it. ( Green E on the map. Next task, figure out how to make decent maps!)


But look.... open roads, big sky, and ..... a great barn coming up!

Yes- a RED barn.  Love barns

Afoot and light-hearted, I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me, leading wherever I choose.
Henceforth I ask not good-fortune—I myself am good fortune;
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Strong and content, I travel the open road. Walt Whitman- Song of the Open Road

Back to the highway....  afoot and light-hearted, I take to the open road.