Almost Heaven, West Virginia

 

 

We called ahead for a change and made reservations in Slatyfork, West Virginia, at the Morning Glory Inn, deep in the Monongahela National Forest.  We picked it off the web, and were only somewhat discouraged when the woman in the tourist information center had never heard of Slatyfork.  It was a long, increasingly rainy drive on twisting mountinous roads with beautiful scenery.  We arrived after dark to cross an narrow plank bridge over a rushing torrent where we found an inviting inn (and innkeepers) and we were the only guests.  Our room was large and homelike after the recent run of Best Westerns and Super 8 Motels.

We awoke Friday morning to less rain, and 

headed off to a scenic drive in the National Forest.  Along the way we visited perhaps the largest bog in the nation (see Ziggy on the

wooden walkway, looking for Cranberries). Surrounded by forests, bogs have never looked so good.  

After a visit to a waterfall deep in the forest, we proceeded on the scenic drive.  When the rains and fog increased we returned to the oasis at the

Morning Glory Inn.  Dinner that night was just down the road at the Elk River Touring Center

 and Lodge Restaurant, a funky place with a great chef.

Saturday morning we started out for Washington D.C.  We hadn't been sure what route we would take to New York, but opted to go via D.C. where Susie's friend (since kindergarten) Cheryl had flown in from Chicago to see the ballet Cinderella, for which her son Joshua had designed the lighting.  We attended the ballet Saturday night and shared champaign afterwards with Josh and friends and family who had come from out of town for the occasion.

Sunday we walked around the the Mall, went to the Washington Monument, along the reflective pool, to the Vietnam memorial where Susie looked up a friend from high school on the wall.  When the weather started turning again, we sought refuge back at our hotel, the Westin, where dogs are welcome and Ziggy has been a big hit.  He attracts fans everywhere we go.  People want to take his picture with their kids (outside a restaurant--see picture), to shake his hand, or just to get a dog fix.  He's almost always obliging. 

In light of the bad weather we had Mother's Day dinner at the hotel, where we were able to 

keep Ziggy at our feet.  Afterwards, the three of us watched a movie in our room.  Ziggy is very partial to Westin's Heavenly Beds, barely leaving room for anyone else when he stretches out.

On Monday the weather improved only slightly, but we all wore our rain gear, including Ziggy, whose red raincoat attracted still more smiles.  We went to the Smithsonian where we visited the Hirshhorn collection and the Air and Space Museum, but Ziggy unfortunately had to wait in the van.  Tonight, dinner at Mark and Orlando's, a popular local restaurant, and tomorrow we'll make the drive to New York City.