The Summer of US…Part 2 or “We’re not in Kansas anymore!”
I planned our cross country trip in 2006 with the primary goal to open our family’s eyes to life beyond the Delaware River. I wanted us to truly get to know our country, both its physical landscape and its people. Many times during the first couple of weeks of the trip, someone would utter the words “We’re not in Kansas anymore!” It was our “inside Wizard of Oz” reference, and basically alluded to the sentiment that we had entered unchartered territory. The first time I heard this was from our oldest son Tommy, when we found ourselves at a trailhead off of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia.
Here is an excerpt from that day’s journal entry..
June 17, 2006
“The Blue Ridge Parkway is beautiful, a skyline tour of the southern Shenandoah Valley and framed by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Tom could not truly enjoy it, as he was fixated on the narrow two lane highway. This was the first white knuckle road we had encountered in the RV. On one side were lush green forests, and on the other side, steep drop offs that availed us the skyline views. We drove on, enjoying the natural beauty while Tom sweated behind the wheel. We arrived eventually at our first stop, and what would be our first official hike of the trip. The trailhead was named Humpback Rocks, and that name was enough to entice the still reluctant adventurers!
The boys hopped out of the RV, not sure that hiking was their idea of fun. We encountered a Virginia Fiddling exhibition in the grove at the beginning of the trail. There were the remains of a historic farmstead, complete with docents explaining early American lifestyle here in the Shenandoah Valley. The boys were taken in by the warm Southern drawl of the speakers and the fiddlers, and noted how friendly everyone “down here” was. We embarked on our hike after some entertainment and education. It was about a mile to the Humpback Rocks, and interestingly enough, not one of us had any idea what these rocks would look like! The older guys ran ahead, enjoying their freedom and the intermittent rock scrambling. Aidan was surprisingly quite the hiker, especially since his 5 year old legs ensured that he had to run just to keep up with our pace. He did not complain. Sean complained a bit, proclaiming that this was boring, and he had already seen enough nature….but I suspect based on the outcome of this hike, that opinion would change.
We finally encountered “the rocks” and we scrambled up and onward. Just when we thought we would never reach the top…we arrived. There for miles below was a spectacular panorama of the Shenandoah Valley below. It was breathtaking, and words cannot truly describe the moment, nor the vista. Tommy climbed, unafraid, right out to the “edge of civilization” and proclaimed, “We’re not in Kansas anymore!”
And so it began…..the pull and tug of this trip. The letting go of what we knew, and the embracing of the unknown. My sons, as the days progressed, would open their minds and their hearts to the different people and places.
My husband and I recently took a short road trip and retraced our drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Tom was able to enjoy the ride this time, as he was not driving an RV, nor were there 4 young boys causing mayhem in the cabin. Once again we enjoyed the natural beauty of this region, but it was bittersweet. Where had the years gone? It was early September, and the mountains were dripping of deep green. The colors of the leaves had not begun to change and an early rain had painted everything a deeper hue. It was magical. We drove first to the Humpback Rocks Trailhead, which was eerily quiet…perhaps because it was post summer, or perhaps because the pandemic had dampened exhibitions and tourism. Before we set off down the trail, to revisit a place and time so treasured in our memories, we took a picture of the trailhead sign and sent it to the boys. Within seconds, the reactions came back….from New Jersey, NY, Washington DC, and Michigan…
They were ecstatic for us that we were “Not in Kansas Anymore”.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a daunting 469 miles and links the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Along the way, you can wind off and on, combining some beautiful hikes with visits to wonderful Inns ( shout out to Steele’s Tavern Manor) and local craft breweries and vineyards. The historic town of Lexington VA is another excellent stop for a night, especially if you are a US History nerd like me. Finally, I would plan on ending your roadtrip with a couple of nights in Asheville NC.
If you are interested in a planning a road trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway, to encounter all of the exceptional history, hiking, vineyards, and small town charm…..send me an email!
