My mom called me early last week and said lets pick a weekend that you and Bob can get away for a couple of days. She gave me the weekends that worked the best for her schedule and I looked in my calendar. August 4th weekend was one of the choices so we picked it since my wedding anniversary is that day. It's so sad that I had to look at a calendar to realize that my anniversary was coming up, but that is how our life has been lately. I called Bob at work to make sure he could be off of work on Friday and called my mom back. My mom: "I haven't heard you this happy in a very long time." Me: "I haven't been this happy in a very long time!!"
I only had a couple of days to figure out how we were going to spend Thursday-Sunday. I ultimately decided that I didn't want to spend a full day traveling to our destination and a full day back. I wanted our vacation to start as soon as we walked out the door, without Bobby in tow. So, a wild and wonderful West Virginia weekend was the plan!!
Now I know that no one is interested in looking at a slide show of the hundreds of pictures that I took of our weekend, so I will just show you the highlights. We stopped off at Hawks Nest State Park to do a jet boat tour underneath of the New River Gorge Bridge.
Before I go any further, I have to tell you something about myself. I am NOT, I repeat NOT an adventurous person. When God was handing out personality traits, he did not give me the part of the brain that allows people to jump out of airplanes, ride roller coasters, bungee jump... I know that people who have this part of the brain do not understand the sheer terror that I feel when even thinking about these things. They say things like "you will like it once you start." Trust me when I say, "NO, I will NOT like it, EVER!!!" Why am I telling you this?? Because to get down to the jet boat dock you have to ride a tram down the mountain...
I couldn't even go clear to the end of the railing to take the picture downward of this tram. I kept telling myself (in my head)...you laid awake and alert on an operating table while they cut you open and pulled out a baby, you can ride this crazy tram.
The tram door opened and Bob sat down. Me: "IT SWAYS!!!" The attendant: "Sit on opposite sides in the middle and it won't move that much." (I'm sure he could see the terror on my face!!) He didn't put anyone else in our tram car and it started off immediately. I closed my eyes, grabbed hold of Bob's shorts, twisted the fabric in each of my hands and put my head in his lap. Me: "Tell me a story about anything to keep my mind on something else." He told me a joke and some chit chat. Soon he said, "Sit up!! We are almost done and there is a guy standing there." When I didn't move he said, "Sit up, this doesn't look good!!" I sat up and started laughing. He laughed and said it looked like we were trying to join the 1/2 mile high club!! Just what I needed some comic relief. I am so extremely grateful that I'm not married to an idiot who made the tram sway all of the way down to scare the crap out of me.
We were finally at the bottom. My hands stopped trembling after a couple of minutes and I was able to relax. Boats don't scare me and knew that I would like the next part of the trip. But boy it was HOT! The temp was 90 with around 100% humidity. Sweat rolled off when you were just standing still. The breeze from the boat was a welcome relief. That is our boat captain. He was a little eccentric, but a lot of fun.
Bob and I got to sit up front and help drive!!
The funny boat captain: "Get your cameras ready for a Kodac moment!" I was thinking he must see a bear or an eagle ahead, so I got my camera aimed to the side like he said!! Captain: "See those green things on the side of the hill? Those are called TREES!! See those brown and grey things sticking out of the water? Those are called ROCKS!!" Ha Ha. There's always a joker in the crowd.
Awesome view of the bridge! Too bad it was so hazy and humid. The sky looks white, not a beautiful blue. Would love to see this view in the fall when all of the trees are in their glory. On bridge day they take tours and let them watch a few jumpers jump from the bridge. This would be such a great view!!
Since we saw the view from the bottom, we went to the overlook and saw the view from the top. I took the picture of the steps for Bobby. I would love to be able to let him run up and down these stairs, in the woods of all great places, because he would LOVE it!!
Zooming in with my camera lens to see what was going on down below (on the opposite side of the jet boat tours).
On Saturday evening we went out to dinner for our anniversary on a dinner train in Elkins.
I must also confess...I am a nerd!! I was so excited about riding this dinner train!!
"ALL ABOARD!!"
It was a four hour train ride complete with a 4 course dinner. When we got in our train car there were place cards on the tables so you knew where to sit. A fruit platter with dip was waiting on each table along with a menu to choose your dinner selection. There were little pink cards in the window that you filled out with your choices from the menu.
The conductor welcoming everyone. Doesn't his uniform remind you of the Polar Express??
Well, they do Polar Express Christmas rides in November and December. Oh, if Bobby were a different child, we would so take him for that experience. Everyone wears their pj's, they go to the North Pole (i.e. Belington), serve hot chocolate and give all of the kids a bell. So, if you want me take your kids, I will!!
The view of the engine from my seat as we go around a curve.
I chose the pork loin with peach and apple chutney with roasted potatoes and broccoli for my meal...
Bob picked the prime rib... The other option was tilapia. We had a salad before the main course with dressing options and for desert you could have either strawberry cheese cake or chocolate crepes. The dinner was great (however the broccoli could have been steamed another minute or so). Drinks served were water, tea, coffee, wine.
One thing that they failed to mention when I booked the tickets is that the train stops for 30 minutes so that you can get out and look at these falls (and stretch your legs). Well, I didn't have appropriate shoes on to walk through the woods. I finally pulled a Bobby Smith and took my shoes off.
Our train parked in the woods waiting.
At a souvenir shop by the top of the New River Bridge, I bought Bobby this musical toy. He immediately twirled it in between his hands and made it play music appropriately. We were so excited that he knew what to do with the toy. Me: "Hold it up and play it so I can take your picture." Bobby stopped and looked at me like, "oh the camera is back," held it up between his eyes and said "CHEESE!!" and then walked away. We all laughed.
This weekend getaway was so incredibly needed. It is really nice to know that Bob and I still really LIKE each other which is so important for a marriage to last. We got along great with zero bickering, fighting, snapping at each other.
Thank you Mom, Mimi and JR for staying with Bobby and letting us get away.
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