Sweet Jeebus!

Obviously I've let my mad road trip skillz soften a little bit in the intervening years, because I could swear that trip was shorter and much more scenic the last time!


Then again, as Frank, Lauren and I were discussing, it was almost nine years ago. Due to my typically late departure I didn't get on to the route that I remembered from last time, so I missed quaint Ohio towns between here (Cincy) and Parkersburg, WV. Tomorrow, once I get on US40 towards St. Louis and then KC, it should get more scenic.

If you haven't been through this way before, there seem to be two choices once you get to Ohio, US 50 and Rt. 32. I took Rt. 50 west out of Winchester, through Romney and up the Allegheny Front. Climbing up the switchbacks towards Mt. Storm (that brought back vivid memories of past road trips) I didn't quite see the rather large dog in the back of a pickup truck coming down the mountain. This dog, think two of Jackson, chose to let loose at exactly the moment he was across from my open window. Of course, I was at the apex of the turn which brought me so close I thought the dog was barking from inside my truck. I almost messed my drawers!

WV is really slacking on the road maintenance, but does that surprise anyone? The scenery is much as I remember it. Reclaimed strip mines, WV coal ten wheelers, and lots of dark green hollows. The rows of wind turbines on the ridge tops were new to me though.

After Gormania, WV Rt. 50 goes through a little bit of Maryland which I forgot, before making its way to Clarksburg, WV. From there it is good road to Parkersburg. The last time I drove this section it was way more desolate and I almost ran out of gas. Not this time, well at least not here anyways.
 

Before getting to Clarksburg, I did manage to stop in Grafton for a little refreshment. The DQ seemed to be old school, but I'll let you be the judge.

Getting on in to Ohio, I must have missed where you got on to US50, because after Athens it was unfamiliar territory. As mentioned above, Ohio Rt. 32 is a good road, but there isn't much to see. Oh, and there aren't that many gas stations. I passed one car that had run out of gas and it was raining. Should have seen that as an omen. I didn't run out of gas, but I was puckering for sure. Lot's of Georgia overdrive and I made it to a station almost on fumes. The good news is that I got some sweet gas mileage. Well, good for a Rover anyways.

The rest of 32 in to Cincy was a blur and it was getting dark. Frank and Lauren have a great place here and I can't wait to see this part of Cincy in the daylight. I'm planning on getting an earlier start tomorrow (I can hear you snickering you know!) because I've got about 10 hours of driving to KC. If anyone has any suggestions for a campground or decent lodging in the area, hit me up on the cell.