Russ was having technical difficulties on Sunday (he forgot to bring the map section that would take him all the way to my campground at Stony Fork), so, on discovering that I was actually on his route just west of Charlottesville, I called him and, after some struggles with Google maps, we eventually found each other. I handed over the necessary map and we were both (finally) on our way.

I think I have never been through such drop dead gorgeous country as the area around Charlottesville and the Shenandoah valley. I hope Russ has been taking pictures, because it’s awfully hard to do driving 45-55 mph with a camper, but neither words nor pictures could do justice to this verdant, rolling countryside, with its manicured farms and stately homes. I’m pretty sure we went right through the heart of Virginia’s hunt country (all the farms with names like Talley Ho and Fox Chase might have tipped me off). Even further west and south, where the land becomes more rumpled than rolling, it was still about as pretty as anyplace I’ve ever seen.

And Stony Fork Campground, in the Jefferson National Forest, is wooded, quiet and, best of all, 1/2 price with my national parks senior pass! Birds abound—I only need to sit quietly beside my camper to see many species.

Thank you, Starbucks of Wytheville, for letting me hang out and complete these overdue posts. Now to rescue the doggies, get some food, and head back to camp!