Andare, Partire, Tornare ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I don't want this to end! Sometimes the gods provide a perfect weekend, tailoring it so it's exactly what you need. We headed off to Berkley Springs, West Virginia early on Friday, heading west and north into the mountains. The calendar said August, but the temprature felt more like early October, with a bright blue sky above us and a light breeze ushering us along. We made good time, navigated up the gravel road with its several switchbacks, and found ourselves in a cabin that made us all go "oooh!" as we rushed around exploring it. It was the perfect balance between rustic and comfortable: the nearest neighbor wasn't visible, we had deer wandering the back yard, no television to be found (a good thing, and appreciated), and the hot water had the boiling eggs smell of well water. At the same time, the kitchen was fully stocked, the shower was huge, and the beds were comfortable. We lazed around the whole weekend, reading, playing board games, cooking huge steaks on the grill, eating brownies, toasting bread at the fireplace, taking the waters at the springs, and watching kids catch minnows in the town park while eating ice cream and talking with strangers about dogs and traveling. The springs constitute the oldest spa in the country - George Washington actually did bathe here. Cherbear and I soaked in one tub while Bemo had the other, and we were all proverbial wet noodles after we were done. We were very cleansed, pure, and free of dropsy, ague, and gout, which made us guilt-free about getting a second ice cream cone! It's an easy day trip, so we're considering going back, perhaps just for a massage, because you can't beat a twenty minute soak and a half-hour rubdown for thirty-some bucks. Needless to say, we didn't want to leave, but had to pack up Sunday and trudge home, back to the insanity of Northern Virginia. Today was spent back in the harsh real world - I had to get the truck to the insurance people so they could look it over. Plus, Bemo has to put new tires on the Elantra, and I have bills to mail, not to mention that this is my week of thesis writing. I think tomorrow I'll be heading to DC and the National Gallery Library, and later on in the week to GMU's library. The more smart places I go, the smarter I'll get, right? 10:46 p.m. - 2004-08-09 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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