Fifty Songs About States-- Part 5: 'All My Exes Live in Texas'

SOUTH DAKOTA:  "South Dakota Morning"--  Bee Gees

TENNESSEE:  "Tennessee Whiskey"--  Chris Stapleton

TEXAS:  "All My Exes Live in Texas"--  George Strait

UTAH:  "Beehive State"--  Randy Newman

VERMONT:  "Moonlight in Vermont"--  Frank Sinatra

VIRGINIA:  "Sweet Virginia"--  Rolling Stones

WASHINGTON--  "Posse on Broadway"--  Sir Mix-a-Lot

WEST VIRGINIA:  "Green Rolling Hills"--  Emmylou Harris   What?  No "Take Me Home Country Roads?"

WISCONSIN:  "Wisconsin"--  Bon Iver

WYOMING:  "Song of Wyoming:--  John Denver

All My Exes.  --RoadDog

America's Top Ten Most Beautiful, Least-Traveled Roads-- Part 3: U.S. Route 2

You can go to the site to find out more.

6.  VIRGINIA

State Route 90003  "Colonial Parkway"

7.  LOUISIANA

U.S. Route  65  The Great River Road

8.  WYOMING

U.S. Route 212.  Usually closed by snow during the winter.  Leads to Yellowstone National Park.

9.  NEW HAMPSHIRE

U.S. Route 2

10.  PENNSYLVANIA

State Route 32   "River Road"

--RoadDog

N.C. January 2017-- Part 7: WBRF and 77 Degrees

JANUARY 13, 2017

I got gas at Wytheville, Virginia, always the cheapest along the way (West Virginia, on the other hand, is usually about as expensive as Illinois, so I fill up in Ohio to make it through West Virginia's high prices).  It was $2.10 a gallon.

The rain that fell while on the West Virginia Turnpike was now over and a dry run through Virginia and no problem on that eight mile decline going into North Carolina.

I, of course, was now tuned into WBRF Classic Country broadcasting out of Galax, Virginia.  They play a whole lot of songs that I have never heard of before.  I listen to it the last ten miles in West Virginia, all the way through Virginia and to Greensboro, North Carolina.

Driving through North Carolina, the temperature gauge on the odometer kept rising until it registered 77 degrees.  I will definitely take 77 degrees in January.

--RoadDog

N.C. Summer Trip, 2015-- Part 8: Peanuts, Gas and Classic Country in Virginia

July 21st.

On through the West Virginia Turnpike and a stop at the Virginia Welcome Center.  main reason here is the Virginia peanuts.  These are without a doubt the best peanuts I've ever had (even better than my Mt. Olive peanuts).   Plus, there are all those neat brochures, especially the Civil War ones.  (Northern Welcome Center on I-77, the one at the south border, does not have peanuts.)  It is too bad they don't sell the peanuts there.

About twenty miles from the Va. W.Va. border, I can pick up WBRF-FM out of Galax, Virginia at 98.1, Classic Country.  And, they sure do play the classic country, quite often songs I don't know.  I can keep listening to this station until I get near Greensboro, N.C...

Gas as usual at Wytheville, Virginia, always the cheapest gas on my trip.  ($2.36)

Then, the long seven mile ride down the side of the mountains (including all those runaway truck lanes) to the N.C. border.  This is a hard drive, especially because of the beautiful views down into the valley with Pilot Mountain, N.C. out in the distance.

--RoadDog

Banjos in Baltimore and TURN in Virginia

From the April 2, 2014, USA Today "State-By-State." //// MARYLAND-- Baltimore: a six-month exhibit about the banjo in Baltimore opened this week at the Baltimore Museum of Industry. Baltimore is home to the first banjo factory in the country in the 1840s. I sure didn't know that. //// VIRGINIA-- The Virginia Tourism Corporation has launched a TURN trail to help visitors explore the Colonial and Revolutionary War-era attractions featured on the new AMC series that debuted Sunday about the U.S.'s first spy ring. //// I am hooked on it already, even though it takes place near New York. //// It's a Redcoat Thing. --RoadDog

Five For the Road: Driving Trips With Gorgeous Vistas

SKYLINE DRIVE, VIRGINIA

Follows the crest of a ridge in the Shenandoah National Park meandering 105 miles between Front Royal and Rockfish Gap (Front Royal, Civil War?).  Speed limit is 35 mph, so not if you're in a hurry.  Make a day of it cruising slow and enjoying 75 scenic overlooks.

To the east, Virginia's uplands and west the Blue Ridge Mountains.

They don't mow the sides of the road, so lots of wildflowers and wildlife (even 300 to 500 black bears.

President Hoover used drought-relief funds to start its construction in 1931.  Then, Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps came and added the rock barrier walls, picnic grounds and Big Meadows Lodge.

That has the be close to, if not on, the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Someplace Else to Drive.  --RoadDog

NC Bound Spring 2013: March 20th-- I Finally Get There

The folks at the Virginia Welcome Center knew of the classic country station I like to listen to n the area, 98.1 FM, WBRF.  You can actually pick it up at the Va.-W.Va line and keep it all the way to nearing Greensboro.  That's a lot of great classic country from the 50s to 80s.

I especially enjoyed "See the Big Man Cry" but didn't catch the performer and John Anderson's "Seminole Wind."

Entering NC after that eight mile decline off the mountain with the grand vista views (even Pilot Mountain way off yonder) but the worrisome runaway truck lanes up the side of the mountain.  Enjoyed seeing daffodils blooming all over the place once in NC.

They do a great job on landscaping around interchanges.  Even starting to see Bradford pear trees blooming.  Stopped in Mt. Airy.  Snappy Lunch was closed, but Golden Corral substituted admirably.  I especially like their Carolina bbq which you don't find in too many Corrals.

Took US-421 by Winston-Salem to where it joined I-40 and then east, definitely expecting the worst that road has to offer in traffic, especially around the Durham-Raleigh area.  Surprisingly, since it was definitely in rush hour time, it wasn't bad and only a couple brief slowdowns.

Goldsboro At Last.  --RoadDog

Classic Country, 98.1 FM WBRF in Galax, Virginia

The station transmits at 100,000 watts from a transmitter 3,500 feet above sea level and you can get good reception all the way from north of Wytheville, Virginia to Greensboro, North Carolina.  That's over the air.  They also stream live.

A recent partial playlist:

XXX's AND OOO's--  Trishas Yearwood
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM TEXAS--  Tracy Byrd
LOVING UP A STORM--  Razzy Bailey
LET IT SNOW--  Anne Murray
BLOOD RED AND GOING DOWN--  Tanya Tucker

NOBODY FALLS LIKE A FOOL--  Earl Thomas Conley
ONLY ONE LOVE IN MY LIFE--  Ronnie Milsap
THAT WAS YESTERDAY--  Donna Fargo
O CHRISTMAS TREE--  Roy Clark
WALK ON OUT OF MY MIND--  Waylon Jennings

They even have Charlie Brown's "On the Beach" Beach Music show on Saturdays.

Like I Said, Mighty Good Country.  --RoadDog

Summer '12 North Carolina Trip-- Part 6: Cheaper Gas in W.V.

July 11th

Driving through West Virginia now and saw gas posted at $3.37 off I-77.  That is much cheaper than I would have figured to find in the state, which usually is not far behind Illinois when it comes to prices.  Although, I saw it at $3.50 in Charleston.

My overall miles per gallon still increasing steadily as I am driving five miles under the speed limit and paying particular attention to the instant mpg gauge.  By mile marker 81 in the state, the overall was up to 31.9.   It had been 30.9 this morning in Zanesville, Ohio.  When you take all mileage, not just trip in account, that is a nice increase.

Saw a big shock on the West Virginia Turnpike with gas at $3.33.

Got Gas in Wytheville, Virgina, generally one of the lowest you'll find along I-77, for $3.12 a gallon.

Virginia I-77 about MM 13 a sign warns of entering fog advisory area.  The big descent as I call it, begins an MM 7.  Great views out into the valley and can even see Pilot Mountain.  But, those runaway truck lanes up the side of the mountains are a bit frightening, especially when there are a lot of trucks on the road with you (and there usually are a lot).

Into North Carolina.  --RoadDog

A Marine Corps Thing-- Part 5: The Trouble with Drill Instructors

One last Drill Instructor story.

When we were camping out at the rifle range, I drew canteen duty where I had to bring my squad's canteens to the pump and fill them.

The pump was on the other side of where the drill instructors' tents were. It was hot and I was tired and decided not to walk the quarter mile it would take me to bypass them so I just walked right by. Plus, I had heard they were at a meeting.

MISTAKE!!

Wrong!! No, they were in their tents and looking to inflict some agony when along comes good old me. Prime target in sight.

"Get Over Here Right Now!!"

Two of them began circling me, looking for that one thing they could use to persecute me. Fortunately, I was pretty-well squared away that day, but then one noticed my cover (hat) was not the prescribed two fingers above my eyebrow. This led to all kinds of in-your-face jawing.

Then, one says he is going to help my to remember in the future how that cover is supposed to sit upon my head. He takes my cover, reaches down, picks up a couple handfuls of dirt, and puts it in my cover.

OK, so I'm going to have a hat full of dirt placed on my head. I could live with that.

But, NO!!

Then, he takes a canteen that was half full, opens it, pours the water into the cover, mixes it up with the dirt and then places it back on my head. "Now you will remember how to wear your cover correctly."

"Yes, Sergeant Instructor!"

"And furthermore, I'd better not see that cover off your head for the rest of the day!!"

"Yes, Sergeant Instructor!!"

"What, I Can't Hear You!!"

"YES, SERGEANT INSTRUCTOR!!!"

The rest of the day wasn't very pleasurable as that mess started dripping down my face. But, at least at nightfall, I was able to remove the hat and I used a canteen to rinse the stuff off (there were no showers out at the rifle range, but at least I didn't have any hair so it could have been worse).

My own fault, though. My rule was to avoid DIs at all costs. I should not have walked by their area. Like the guy from "Apocalypse Now" said after the tiger scared him, "Don't get off the boat." "Don't go near the DIs."

I Should Have Known Better. Hey, That's a Beatles Song. --RoadDog

A Marine Corps Thing-- Part 2

Between my sophomore year at NIU and junior year at UGA, I boarded a plane to Washington, DC, and rook a bus to Quantico, Virginia, where I was introduced to the joys and wonders of military life.

This would be July 1971.

First thing the DI's questioned was how many in our platoon smoked. "Congratulations, you just quite.' And then we were ordered to breathe out that scuzzy civilian air and breathe in that good Marine Corps air.

Then, it was to the base barber and our Corps haircuts. Those guys had a great job as all they had to do was run the clippers over our heads. Everything came off. As my buddies and I were walking back to the barracks, the sun was behind us. On our shadows in front of us, we saw strange looking objects coming out of the sides of our heads. Turned out to be our ears!! We hadn't seen them for awhile in these times of longer hair.

Thus began the longest six weeks of my young life. I was completely "unmilitary" and it took me the first six weeks to get my Corps legs. After that, it started coming easier.

I developed a great dislike for our DIs and avoided them every chance I could. These guys were just there to make our lives miserable. I would even walk several miles out of my way just to avoid walking by one.

Lots of Memories Coming Back from Soldiers Field. --RoadDog

T-Giving NC-- 2010 To North Carolina

Drove the West Virginia Turnpike and I-77 into Virginia and got as far as Wytheville where I turned in for the night. The truck hit 37,000 miles as I got off the interstate. Wytheville is always one of the cheaper places to get gas on my trio, so I always fill up before getting into West Virginia which is usually 20 cents more.

Gas the first two days on the road was a high of $2.87 in Morris, Illinois, and a low of $2.60 in Crawfordsville, Indiana (usually also a low price). Gas in Wytheville was $2.68.

I got a room at the Econolodge for $46.61 with tax and had the buffet at Shoney's right by it. I was a bit shocked at the 10+% tax on the meal. What do they think they are, Chicago?


NOVEMBER 22nd

An interesting ride leaving Wytheville as there was major fog in the valleys which was made really bright by the sun shining through and off it. You don't usually see this kind of weather.

One fun part of the trip is leaving Virginia where you go down a major decline, complete with run-away truck ramps. Always makes you think when you see that big 'ol grill coming up fast behind you.

Entering North Carolina there is a really nice welcome center.

Headed for Those Porkchop Sammiches. --RoadDog

A Fascinating Story at 75: The Blue Ridge Parkway-- Part 1

From the summer 2010 Blue Ridge Digest.

The Blue Ridge Parkway has sometimes been called "America's Favorite Drive" and was constructed to connect the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.

Construction began 75 years ago, in 1935 for what was envisioned to be the nation's first elongated national park built specifically for the rise of the automobile.

But, it did not come to be overnight. It was the result of a long and tedious political struggle.

It began when President Franklin Roosevelt visited the newly constructed Skyline Drive in Virginia in 1933. Virginia US Senator Harry Byrd suggested it be extended to connect the newly-created Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The president liked the idea and got the governors of Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee together and asked that they start a planning team.

More to Come. --RoadDog

Perhaps a Trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway?

As summer winds down (hey, they're selling school supplies already and started even before the 4th of July), the July 11th Chicago Tribune had a list of trips by Jay Jones "Last blast" you can still fit into the waning days.

One has been on my list of "To-Dos" for a long time, and that is the Blue Ridge Parkway that links two national parks, the Shenandoah in Virginia and Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina.

And, this year marks the 75th anniversary. It was a Depression-era project designed to bring jobs to the Appalachian Mountains.

"The 469-mile route twists around the mountain ridges and traverses dozens of bridges and several tunnels, providing breathtaking vistas all the while."

Places with names like Blowing Rock and Fancy Gap are having festivals to honor the 75th featuring everything from bluegrass, banjos to barbecue.

The official 75th anniversary celebration kicks off September 10th in and around Cumberland Knob where the building project started.

You can get information at www.blueridgeparkway75.org.

Maybe I'll Just Have to to a Little Drive. --RoadDog

Four New NTN Sites Added to List-- Part 1

This past month's trip to North Carolina enabled me to add four new NTN Buzztime sites to my list of places visited. That brings me up to 24 for 2010.

I visited all of them on Sunday, March 29th.

The first was Fast Lane in Bristol, Virginia (or was it Tennessee since that street straddles to border). It was located just a block off I-81 and along the historic Lee Highway, US-11 in this area.

A fairly common sports bar theme with a lot of folks watching the Tennessee-MSU NCAA game, but, despite being within a hundred miles of Knoxville, not many Vol fans in attendance.

I would have made stops at the many NTN sites by UT in Knoxville along Cumberland Avenue (US-70) had the Volunteers not blown the game. That would have been one really great party. But, oh well.

Everyone had to be happy the men's team made it to the regional championship.

NTNin' Down Da Road. --RoadDog

2009 Roadrtrip to NC-- Part 5-- Returning Home

Climbing that steep grade from NC into Virginia was extra fun because of the fog at several points that reduced visibility to practically nothing. Slowed down considerably and put on flashers. Most other drivers intelligent as well, but still had some dummies flying by.

Gas was a bit more expensive by a few cents in Wytheville, Virginia, than it had been two weeks ago while coming down. Filled up with gas to avoid West Virginia's high gas prices.

The rain, which had begun in Raleigh, continued in West Virginia a ways, but thankfully stopped about Charleston.

Stopped at Tamarack at MM 45 and walked around. Neat place with all sorts of unique state-made products, but considerably over priced. I did enjoy the West Virginia Music Museum with information, pictures and records by state musicians. Bill Withers and Soupy Sales hail from West Virginia.

Paid my three $2 tolls on the Turnpike.

The dome of the state capitol in Charleston is always an impressive gold sight. Striking.

Getting Home with Every Mile. --RoadDog

The Colonial Parkway-- Part 2

The Colonial Parkway is a 23-mile-long roadway connecting all five sites, and as such could easily be called America's Most Historic Road, even though some National Road, Lincoln Highway, and Route 66 folk might disagree. But this is a LOT 'O History on one small area.

Our first English settlement, a town where the foundations of the US were laid, and a battlefield where this new liberty was won, all within a short distance of each other.

The brochure says , "Enjoy spectacular views of the James and York rivers along this 'All American Road.' Watch for glimpses of the region's diverse wildlife, while taking in all of the Historic Triangle's rich natural and cultural history."


WIKIPEDIA

Looked it up in the good old Wikipedia, which said the road took over 25 years from concept to creation, from 1930 to 1957. The "scenic bucolic roadway carefully shielded from views of commercial development," and a major effort has been made to keep traffic signs and modern roadside items at a minimum. It is toll-free, which is a good thing since a group of tickets to get you into all five sites will set an adult back $80.25 (child $33.25).

It has been designated a National Scenic Byway, one of only 27 in the United States.

Definitely Worth a Drive. --RoadDog

The Colonial Parkway, Virginia-- Part 1

I received a brochure in the mail from America's Historic Triangle featuring Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. They have tickets and vacation packages that you can buy to visit the five major sites they have, all connected by what they call the Colonial Parkway, a 23-mile long road.

I think I might have visited Jamestown and Williamsburg with my family many years ago, but am not sure. Either way, I definitely plan to go to them at some time in the near future.


FIVE ATTRACTIONS

HISTORIC JAMESTOWNE-- the first permanent English settlement, now over 400 years old. The James Fort excavation is going on and you can watch real archaeology in action.

JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT-- a living-history museum.

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG-- oldest and largest interactive history experience.

THE YORKTOWN VICTORY CENTER-- a museum of the American Revolution.

YORKTOWN BATTLEFIELD-- last major engagement of the war. Visit the Moore House where surrender negotiations were drawn up. Also tour the site of the British surrender.

www.AmericasHistoricTriangle.com

Now, Here's a Road with a REAL LOT of History. --RoadDog

Virginia's Indian Heritage Trail

I always like it when someone comes up with a trail excursion for historic sites, and that is just what the state of Virginia has done. It was created to "portray the Virginian Indian in appropriate light." It hopes to prove that the history of Virginia's tribes did not begin and end with Jamestown.

I like to take a linear approach to history, be it going down Route 66, the Lincoln Highway, or The Bourbon Trail and John Hunt Morgan Trail in Kentucky.

The 80 page interpretive guide is available free of charge at any of Virginia's main points of entry (interstates).

Yesterday, the Northwest Herald ran an Associated Press article titled "Virginia revisits its tribal roots on trail".

Part of the trail leads to the Monacan Ancestral Museum in Amherst County where you can learn about Virginia's "Lost Tribe". They claim that they were able to survive for hundreds of years after the colonists came because they were extremely isolated.

The guide also includes photos, histories of Virginia's eight state-recognized tribes, events and places to visit.
Its creators found and researched over 100 museums and sites in the state and narrowed them down to the ones listed. Many of the ones they visited were left off the list because some displays used language offensive to Indians, and some even sold rubber tomahawks and feathered headdresses.

I went online to check out the site. It is not entirely on the web, but there was a list of Native American related sites in the state. I don't if they're in the trail guide.

ABRAM'S DELIGHT- Abraham Hollingsworth traveled the Wilderness Trail when it was still an Indian path. His home is in Winchester.

MATTAPON MUSEUM and MINNE HA HA (well, I have to wonder about the last one), located in the Tidewater Region at West Point- source of handcrafted traditional articles and artifacts, some as old as 5000 years. They also have Pochahontas' necklace on display. Both places have educational programs, pottery, beadwork, cooking, and Indian medicines.

My Hat's Off to Virginia for Their Efforts in This. --RoadDog