Heading home

Our last day of travel covered about 375 miles, but it took us an hour and a half to cover the first 42 miles!  Route 80 (county road? state road?) was a narrow, winding road that took us from Breaks Interstate Park to Route 460, heading for Wytheville.  It went through tiny mountain towns that had, at most, a gas station with a convenience store, and the switchbacks were something I was glad not to be driving!  If you thought Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty "fixed" Appalachia, try driving through this part of Virginia.  It's hard to believe that some people still live this way in  extreme poverty.  It looked as if some of the towns had a bit of an uptick at some time in the past 20 years or so, but now there are many shuttered small businesses and run-down buildings.  Depressing.

I-81 through the western part of the state is always thick with semis and today was no different from other trips.  It is starting to look like autumn in that part of the state with red sumacs and yellowing leaves on trees.

Once home, around 4:30, it was apparent that there had not been much rain in our absence .The sprinklers kept the shrubs going, along with lots of weeds in those beds.  All the bird baths are totally dry, and the planter on the front porch needs a total replanting.  Oh well.  Lots to do in the coming days, getting back to routine after a three-week vacation.  Laundry....unpacking....grocery shopping.  We have the long Labor Day weekend ahead to take care of it all.  Still worthwhile spending time on the road in our little RV!