Hitting the Road . . . sort of

[ellenkushner]

It's actually pretty hilarious how not-really-ready we are to leave for Roanoke tomorrow, considering we've been packing all week!  Something about the "figure out every piece of clothing, paper & lifestyle ornament you'll need for the next 6 weeks" (plus "and write up your syllabus" in Delia's case) plus "and everything you'll wish you'd taken care of before you left NYC . . . "  I did go out to LaGuardia to fetch our rental car (much cheaper if we pick up at airport) - that was Epic.  PLUS, they gave me a BUICK REGAL because it had low mileage for the long rental - what is that, like a 3-tier upgrade?  It has black leather bucket seats.  And NY State plates - I can only imagine the depredations we'll be subjected to as we pass into West Virginia (yes, thank you, LJ friends! we're going to try to overnight in Berkeley Springs - 'cause: 19c SPA!) . . . Will just have to remember to drive the speed limit like crazy.

Adios, amigas!  

I'll be back if I've forgotten something important.  Like my laptop?  It could happen....

Comments

[time-shark.livejournal.com]

Drive safe! Anita & I look forward to seeing y'all.

[deliasherman.livejournal.com]

And we're looking forward to seeing you!

[wildwose.livejournal.com]

Berkeley Springs? Really. So close, yet so far. About an hour from us. Folks there come to our town to shop, as we have a mall. Lovely town B. Springs. We looked at homes there, but settled here. A few of the Spoutwood Faery Clan live in those hills. Mountain Tribe.

The Residency looks delightful. Good luck inspiring all the young hopefuls. Also the drive down, that long golden joy that I love in the Shenandoah Valley. I think the Valley one of great beauties of the US. Certainly there are grander vistas, but we would love to own a farm in the valley. Also, I assume you have already realized that you'll be but 2.5 hours to Abingdon. A certain Mr. Vess is down that way.

Six weeks puts you heading north again in late July, so please let us know if you care to make a side track.

Of note, I am tearing my way through the Borderland paperback, unearthed from the depths of our library, in preparation for the journey that new Anthology will be. I already explored some it it's offerings, but thought to start at the beginning, as it may be. The middle will have to hold till I can find them. I will start Charis tomorrow night. This evening, I am de Lint's man.

So, in honor of your leaving:
"If well you should find us then well let us stay,
Be it seven times better when you make your way,
Be it seven times better when we greet the dawn,
So light up our way and keep us from all harm."
~Traveller's Prayer, Jon Renbourn

(I considered the Tefilat HaDerech, but thought to keep it simple!)

[wildwose.livejournal.com]

Of note, not sure when you must be in Roanoke, but you are welcome in Flora Vale any time.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! We're looking forward to seeing you at Faerie Con in Baltimore in November.

[shveta-thakrar.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm excited for you both! ♥ I wish I could go see my friend Sarah, who lives nearby, and you, too.

[jay-of-lasgalen.livejournal.com]

Have a great time!

I'm still eagerly awaiting the publication date of Naked City so I can finally get to read The Duke of Riverside.

[intelligentrix.livejournal.com]

Safe journeys. Sorry we weren't able to connect this time around.

[elissa-carey.livejournal.com]

Have a safe trip! Definitely remember that speed limit through Berkeley Springs. :)

If you should need anything while you're there, if you give me a shout I can hook you up with my ex-husband and his wife (who live there), who I'm very sure would be happy to help. (He and I both used to listen to "Sound & Spirit"; it wasn't just me. His wife, JoAnna, works at the local library. They're also Good People.)

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

Actually, the large-car-with-nice-older-ladies in it setup should bring you plenty of friendly treatment as you road trip along. It's a Thing. Extra tip: Mention once in a while that you have always wanted to see wherever you are, or America generally.

Happy trails!

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

So you're saying I shouldn't wear my Dead Kennedys T-shirt?

[wildwose.livejournal.com]

As I can not click "like" on this, I am reduced to the literally use of the verb. My, I like this. Excellent. Very fond of the DK. Very fond indeed.

[chaoticgoodnik.livejournal.com]

Ooh, Berkeley Springs. We drive past it on the way to visit some relatives in VA and it's always intrigued me. I look forward to hearing what you think about it.

[wolfsilveroak.livejournal.com]

It's been hot here, and they keep saying we're going to get thunderstorms, but nothing happens except the humidity rising.}:/

Otherwise, enjoy the drive! Wish I could come listen to your lecture again this year}:P

[catlinye-maker.livejournal.com]

Berkeley Springs, yay! The state park spa is very much worth it, especially the roman tubs: your own private micro-pool for a half hour or so.

Also check out White Sulphur Springs.

[mouseworks.livejournal.com]

West Virginia lives off tourism so nobody is going to hassle your plates but you'll pay more for gas and may find some weird tolls. Now that you're going inland, you want to drive down by the Green Briar River, hit the little river towns. All sorts of neat 19th Century stuff. Go down as far as Union before cutting over (this is where West Virginia's heart shows -- these people stayed with the Union at some costs that haven't ever been celebrated in Fiction). I used to drive up to go skiing and hiking in Cranberry Glades when I lived there. Do the Shenandoah Valley on the way home, then. Most of it is east of the big coal mines and quite pretty. I did a cross country trip through a diagonal of WV and saw more of the heavy industrial side of coal mining further west.

Here's for the Greenbriar River: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenbrier_River

Alderson is where the Federal Women's Prison is. You also wouldn't be that far from Green Bank if you cut into WV nearer the top of the state. Ronceverte was quite attractive -- didn't get a chance to really explore it. I've done Critz (90 miles south of Roanoke) to Cranberry Glades and back in a day, with about 30 minutes of skiing, so you should be fine on getting from anywhere on the river or just north to Roanoke in a day. Somewhat of a waste of time to try to do both the BRB/SD and West Virginia's river running country in one day.

[natesmomclaire.livejournal.com]

Well, have a great time. I'll miss you guys. Even though I never see you. Just the same.