USA 2017
The way to Louisville
I almost didn't have a picture for you from Day 9, but luckily there was the infamous 6 p.m. lull. As you can probably tell, the weather is not on our side today and it's raining and raining.
Well, let's keep an eye on it and hope for a break in the rain at the right time. We had a few things planned in Arlington:
- Arlington National Cemetery – military cemetery and burial place of John F. Kennedy
- Pentagon
- Gravelly Point – approach and departure corridor for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport - Airplan Watching
That was the plan. In the end, we stopped briefly at Gravelly Point and watched a few planes roar overhead, and on the way there we caught a glimpse of the Pentagon in the distance. We only saw the entrance to the cemetery, because, oh horror, you can't just drive in, you have to park your car in a parking lot in front of it. Since the rain is getting even heavier, we'll skip that too.
OK, so let's get out of here. Our destination is Lexington, Virginia, about 300 km away. I booked a hotel there, which will serve as a stopover on our way to Louisville, Kentucky.
Most of you will probably plan a different route, because Louisville is certainly not the direct route to Washington. But we really want to go there, because we have very good and dear friends living there. Nevertheless, I can recommend a detour to Virginia and the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.
So we set off at 3 p.m. (I have no idea where the time went) and the rain accompanies us. Shortly after leaving the Washington metropolitan area, we are immersed in endless forests. We repeatedly leave the major interstates to see a little more of nature and the smaller towns and not just glide past them.
It's now almost 7 p.m. and we still have a good 20 km to go. The sun is about to set for the day. Yes, it's hard to believe, but it's not raining anymore.
But then... What did I just read out of the corner of my eye? Blue Ridge Parkway? OK, turn around, please! And sure enough, there's a sign that says “Entrance to Blue Ridge Parkway.” Now you're probably wondering, “Yeah, so what?” I've already driven on the Blue Ridge Parkway twice during my trips to the US, and I immediately had beautiful images of the view in my head. The parkway winds its way for 750 km along the mountain ridges from Virginia to North Carolina.
But why should I go on? See for yourself.
In Lexington, we eat a delicious burger (with a super tasty beef patty) at The Palms.
Only 435 miles to go
A new morning, a new diner. The sun is shining again, and I've picked out a nice, secluded diner for us. We drive about an hour from the hotel to get there and enjoy the beautiful wooded landscape. The diner is exactly what I want to see on a road trip like this. It's just perfect, not perfect. This is where the locals meet to eat, see their neighbors, and chat.
Theoretically, we should now just follow Interstate 64, which leads all the way to Louisville. However, we continue to drive off the highway until we reach Charleston (West Virginia), marveling at the vast expanses of forest. There is certainly no shortage of wood here.
We arrive in Charleston around 2:30 p.m. and take a short tour of the city. We stop briefly at the West Virginia State Capitol, which attracts attention from afar with its golden dome.
Now it's time to get on the I64 and cover the remaining 250 miles (400 km).
We arrive at our friends' house just in time for dinner. I immediately feel at home, as I was there last year. We are warmly welcomed and feel right at ease.
Thank you, family “K”
