I Am a Motorcoach . . .

“. . . Almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River. Life is old there, older than the trees, younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze. Country road, take me home . . .” Uh . . . O, pardon me. You caught me humming along, as they say. Call me square (I’m actually a rectangle), but, of the many musical contributions of my passengers I do think John Denver is my favorite so far. I’ve come to regard him as the poet of the adventure. What’s another one . . ? Oh, here, how ’bout this one: “Aye Calypso the places you’ve been to, the things that you’ve shown us, the stories you tell . . .” Yes, that one is my favorite of favorites. It captures my noble calling: “To work in the service of life and living . . .” Who would’ve thought . . . me . . . a big red, diesel powered machine . . .

I better stop. That one really gets to me. My wiper fluid will start leaking . . .

Where was I? O yes, West Virginia!

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

West Virginia is most notably tourism, logging, and coal mining. Tourism because every inch of the state is mountains, and where there are mountains there are rivers and streams; logging because all of the mountains are covered with trees; and coal mining because under the trees are seams, seams rich with a black combustible resource never lacking for demand. Here at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, my passengers took an underground tour via mine train and a walking tour of a recreated early 20th Century mine camp and company store. (If you happen to be in the area: 513 Ewart Ave., Beckley, WV; 304-256-1747) From what I could discern from their comments, the historical experience was impactful . . . eye-opening!

Located in the only legislated “quiet zone” in the world, we visited the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia. Here, astronomers listen to the universe. Outside the visitor center, where my passengers received an education on radio observation and its history, I made the most of a photo opportunity with the original – that is, a selfie with Grote Reber’s 1937 radio telescope invention! (I think it’s like the Babe Ruth of radio telescopy)

Fifty-one miles from the Green Bank Observatory and just across the Virginia border in Hot Springs is the Omni Homestead Resort. Having celebrated its 250th birthday in 2016, the Homestead is regarded as the first resort in the U.S. (Kind of like a selfie with the Babe Ruth of luxury American accommodations. Yes, a big deal in my industry.)

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

HOMESTEAD NEWS: Controlling millions of acres as surveyor of the Fairfax Line, George Washington, a twenty-three-year-old Colonel in the Virginia Militia, used land offers to recruit the best soldiers. Those soldiers, after fulfilling their military obligations, turned land deeds into homesteads and became known as “homesteaders.” The title inspired the naming of the nation’s first resort and spa. Three Hundred acres of rolling hills, streams, and hot springs, Washington was responsible for the Homestead’s original land grand in 1764. The recipient, Captain Thomas Bullett (Virginia regiment, French and Indian War), built the original lodge on the land in 1766. Washington was the first of twenty-two presidents to visit the Homestead. Jefferson, Madison, Van Buren . . . most enjoyed lengthy stays, and all who visited as a sitting President or thereafter are represented by a portrait at the resort. Thomas Jefferson stayed multiple weeks at a time for health benefits associated with the hot mineral waters (some of which come out of the ground at 102⁰). Housing some of those pools is the oldest spa structure in the U.S., aptly named Jefferson Pools. But the President who made the most use of the amenities at the Homestead was not drawn there by the springs. William Howard Taft stayed at the resort for two to three months at a time to indulge his love of golf. Located along Sam Sneed Highway, the Homestead’s golf course boasts the oldest golf hole in America.

NEWS OF REMOTE WHISPERS: A young science, radio astronomy dates back eighty years to the invention of the first radio telescope. Radio astronomy studies the universe at radio wavelengths. Its objective is the same as optical astronomy: to study objects emitting electromagnetic energy. This is energy sensitive listening more delicate than that needed to detect the landing of a snowflake. By use of this technology scientists have listened to the universe to discover black holes, pulsars, stars, gas rings, and the birth of planets. Others scan our galactic plane or listen for messages from the nearest galactic neighbors of the Milky Way in hope of making discoveries related to the origin of life, life beyond earth, and aliens.

SANCTUARY NEWS: At the Green Bank Observatory, in the protection of surrounding mountains, Radio Frequency Interference (RIF) is very low. Additionally, this is a national reserve for radio astronomy – the world’s only legislated “quiet zone.” Such lengths are necessary to protect the work of scientists from throughout the world using the largest and most advanced radio telescope on the planet – the 485-foot tall (16 million lbs.) Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, with its 2.3 acre completely steerable surface.

GORGEOUS NEWS: As if an international observation sight for listening to the universe, 117 named coal seams, eight national parks, 100,000 acres of river valley, and thirty-six mountains were not exotic enough, West Virginia has a signature landmark to punctuate its exotic character: the New River Gorge Bridge. 3,030 feet long, at the time of its completion in October 1977 the bridge was the longest single-span arch bridge in the world (it is presently fourth longest). The third highest bridge in the United States, the road surface of the bridge is 876 feet above the New River. To put that in perspective, imagine driving a vehicle on a roadway suspended 250 feet above the 630-foot tall St. Louis Gateway Arch. But no, merely driving across the bridge is too tame for a state like this. No, there is this: Bridge Day – a day of rappelling, ascending and “base-jumping.”

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

” West Virginia, mountain mamma . . .”

“. . . Take me home contry road.”

Quote Of The Day samples

“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So . . . get on your way!” – Dr. Seuss

“Although I deeply love oceans, deserts, and other wild landscapes, it is only mountains that beckon me with that sort of painful magnetic pull to walk deeper and deeper into their beauty.” ― Victoria Erickson