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We have spent the last week exploring Virginia and West Virginia. It is strange, the minute you cross the boarder you get a real sense of being in the South. The drawl is amazing and they love our accent but can't understand what we are saying. Mark ended up telling the girl over the intercom at the drive through to decide what he would like for dinner as he couldn't make her understand what he wanted. She decided he would like burger and fries!
We drove over the Blue Ridge mountains on the Skyline drive which was truely beautiful. Did some hikes up the mountains but that was before we saw the bears. Yes really! We saw 3 in all. One big one having his lunch and not very interested in us, thank god! The next one was quite cute and played by the side of the car for quite a long time. No camping there needless to say. The wildlife is awesome. We saw lots of deer, eagles, vultures hawks and most of the time we were above them flying (no not the deer).
We stayed in a cute motel in Luray and had dinner out on the porch while watching a huge thunderstrm over the mountains.
Next day we hired a proper indian canoe and spent the day meandering down the Shenandoah river. Again, loads of wildlife, it became a game to see how close we could get to the turtles before they jumped off their log. Herons flew ahead of us almost touchable and I saw an otter. Mark did not do much paddling! Guess what he was doing?
After this we headed inland to the New River Gorge. I was driving, a completely clear road, except for the state troopers! Arriveded over the brow of a hill at high speed to the joy of the trooper hiding in the grass. A lovely conversation ensued with a man in a funny hat and very tight triusers but despite wishing us a great trip he still delivered a fine as he 'din wan ya'll to go hurt ya self thur now'. Deep South rules here. The accent is amazing.
The New River is pretty lively so of course the White water rafting had to be done. Good fun, up to class 4 rapids etc.
Fishing and sunbathing were the order of the reast of our time there. Headed into a real one horse town called Hinton and found the local shop. Asked for some sanwiches to which came the response 'wa kinda juice?' Anyway got the shopkeeper (without any teeth) chatting and asked advice on bait! He insisted that I get Mark in out of the car, bait is obviously not an issue to be discussed with a woman! Mark was told to go down the road and get some Helgamites But to be careful as 'they do nip'. We got them. oh my god, imagine the biggest earwig with huge pincers. Getting them on a hook was interesting! He did catch some bass though (see action shot).
We are travelling to North Carolina now and visited Richmond on the way. This is an interesting town, the old capital of the confederacy. Did the sights and are now on our way to the outer banks for some sun and sand and R&R before we pick up the Harley.
See you soon...
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