We're back in Florida after a rainy but eventful trip to West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
On our way to play the card game '500' with my cousin in Freedom, PA near Pittsburgh, we visited a few of my old haunts at WVU in Morgantown. It happened to be our 39th wedding anniversary that day. This picture was taken in 1985 shortly after we met...
And here we are 41 years later standing on the exact same spot. I asked a young lady who happened by to take our picture. After I explained why, she smiled and said we were 'cute.' Sort of made me feel like Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.
Between rain showers, we made a quick stop at Napier, WV post office which is dwarfed only by the light pole, the mailbox, the propane tank and the house next door.
In my wife's hometown of Buckhannon, WV, we stopped for donuts at the autobody repair and tire shop.
Yes, the donuts are super and only cost about $0.79 each. Along with the chili dogs, they make those inevitable 2 and 3 hour waits for repairs a little easier.
Also near Buckhannon, we visited the site of one our first dates. In 1985, it was hard to beat a seat on the flat rock to the left of the cascades at Falls Mill with a bucket of KFC and bottle of wine. I know. I know. But, it worked for me.
On our way south, we stopped at one of the most photographed places in West Virginia... the mill at Babcock State Park near Fayetteville, WV. The mountain laurel bloom was just past peak.
The river was rolling after a week of rains.
On the birding front, we have observed 123 species during the trip. Still no new life birds for the year. The weather made photography a challenge because of poor lighting and somewhat quiet birds. But, I did capture a few good shots including this Louisiana Waterthrush.
And this Scarlet Tanager.
The Eastern Bluebirds and House Wrens were busy in the gardens on my brother's farm.
And, I finally managed to get decent, not great, shots of the blueish Cerulean Warbler and the masked Kentucky Warbler during our outings.
This Acadian Flycatcher was one of the few posers this week.
Finally, during another stop at Falls Mill, a woman approached us and asked for a ride to her home about 30 miles away. Somehow she and a family from inner-city Detroit had parked a short distance away and was stuck because they had driven to the falls without the vehicle's key fob. According to her, this family had never seen a waterfall. I'm not sure the 3 foot high Falls Mill falls is the best way to introduce someone to a waterfall but, to each his own. So, we gave the woman a lift to her home, fulfilling our 'good Samaritan' quota for the day. I still haven't figured out how an inner-city family from Detroit ends up at a small waterfall in the middle of West Virginia. I'm sure they will be talking about their experience for many years.
We are now looking forward to getting back to Key West on Sunday for some pool time with Henry and O.G.
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