Jerry and I spent the last two days in Pocahontas County. Our trip began with lunch at Tamarack. What better place to begin than with good food. The next stop was at Blue Bend Recreation Area on Rt 92 outside of White Sulphur Springs. Jerry had promised me a swimming hole to jump into.
I love the water and the weather was hot so I was eager to get there. We drove through the campgrounds and found the bathroom/changing building. I picked the first stall and began stripping. I had just removed my bra when I felt a stabbing pain in my left shoulder and realized I had just been stung by a wasp. I yelled and ran out as another one dove at my face and stung my cheekbone. Jerry came running and saw me at the door of the house nude except for my underwear. I pulled on my bathing suit as I told him what had happened. My clothes were draped over the door of the changing room and my commit losenges were inside on the bench. Jerry quickly grabbed my clothes but the wasps came for him as soon as he tried to open the door to the changing stall. He told me that the last time he was stung his whole arm swelled up and his blood pressure went way up so he was reluctant to try for the losenges. After all, they are my drug of choice and I am the one who was determined not to leave them so it was up to me to figure out how to get in and out without being stung again. Bright idea! I put my shorts over my head, bent down low and slowly opened the door. I snuck in and snatched the valuable tube. Success!
Just the day before I had finished a round of Prendazone from an unknown insect bite last week which had caused my eyes to swell up. I sure didn't want to go through that again. My new Epipen was in the car waiting for just such a recurring event. The wasp stings stung but no swelling started any more than the normal red bump so I left the pen alone.
The swimming hole was beautiful. Anthony Creek has hallowed out a large area as it makes a left turn toward the Greenbrier River. A few more people there than I would like but they were not in the deeper areas. I strapped my swimming aid belt around my waist and in we went.
Jerry is not a close relative of the fish family like I am but he humored me and came in with me in spite of the fact that the water felt ice cold in spots. He got out after about 10 minutes and left me in there to play to my hearts content. I went up river to the deeper section where noone else was and enjoyed the scenery of the mountains and the Monongahela Forest all around me.
Anthony Creek was so clean that even when it was up to my neck I could see clearly to the bottom.
We left there and drove another 6 or 7 miles north to Sherwood Lake and another swimming area. This one had a very nice bath house with running water and no bugs. Sandy beaches lined the swimming area. Jerry didn't join me in the water this time but decided to walk around the grounds to enjoy the scenery. I swam all the way out to the far ropes where the water was way over my head. The vista was beautiful. Sherwood is a very large lake with boating and one of the prettiest beaches I have seen in WV. The water wasn't as clear as Blue Bend but still very nice and very clean. The bottom was sand as far as I could walk.
We discovered that the campsites were on the lake on both sides. We both agreed it would be a very nice place to camp in the future.
We arrived at the Jerrico Inn Bed and Breakfast in Marlinton about 5 p.m. This was our second time here and we had the same room we had two years ago; Number 5. I had forgotten how charming this B&B is. There are cabins available also. The house has a wrap around porch filled with furniture and a deck on the back with a hot tub. Our room was on the second floor and has a small covered porch outside of it that overlooks the backyard. After checking in a and freshening up we headed for Dolly's restaurant and some home cooking. Jerry is a vegetarian so he was pleased to be able to have beans and cornbread while I feasted on a huge roast beef dinner. I chose the peach pie and Jerry the cherry for dessert. Everything was delicious and the services was excellent event though our waitress had many tables to care for.
An elderly couple sitting in the booth behind us recognized us from seeing us come into the B&B and introduced themselves. Later, Letha played Quiddler with us back at the B&B abd we all got to know each other.
I ate breakfast with them this morning also and learned about their retirement travels and the circumstances of their daughters early death from a brain tumor. I was fascinaed by how they have managed to travel to every state and to go on a couple cruises. Letha told me their secret was in not needing or wanting a lot of stuff. They don't even have internet. She told me that when they took their children to Hawaii years ago her mother scolded her for spending the money on a trip when she needed a new couch but Letha chose "creating memories with my family". I filed that bit of wisdom away in my "wise sayings to remember" area of my brain.
Jerry wasn't feeling well this morning so we hung around the B&B till about 11:30 which gave me the opportunity to sit on the porch and write in my journal and enjoy.
Our next stop was Cass Scenic Railroad. Jerry told me the history of the place as we ate our lunch at a picnic table down by the river. It was my first time on Cass and my first time riding on a steam engine train. I loved it. The train whistle sounded like music to me and felt so nostalgic. I loved the ride through the woods and the views at Whittaker Station.
It felt like a long drive back home but well worth it. This trip was one of my favorites we have taken. The swimming is what made it so special for me.
I love the water and the weather was hot so I was eager to get there. We drove through the campgrounds and found the bathroom/changing building. I picked the first stall and began stripping. I had just removed my bra when I felt a stabbing pain in my left shoulder and realized I had just been stung by a wasp. I yelled and ran out as another one dove at my face and stung my cheekbone. Jerry came running and saw me at the door of the house nude except for my underwear. I pulled on my bathing suit as I told him what had happened. My clothes were draped over the door of the changing room and my commit losenges were inside on the bench. Jerry quickly grabbed my clothes but the wasps came for him as soon as he tried to open the door to the changing stall. He told me that the last time he was stung his whole arm swelled up and his blood pressure went way up so he was reluctant to try for the losenges. After all, they are my drug of choice and I am the one who was determined not to leave them so it was up to me to figure out how to get in and out without being stung again. Bright idea! I put my shorts over my head, bent down low and slowly opened the door. I snuck in and snatched the valuable tube. Success!
Just the day before I had finished a round of Prendazone from an unknown insect bite last week which had caused my eyes to swell up. I sure didn't want to go through that again. My new Epipen was in the car waiting for just such a recurring event. The wasp stings stung but no swelling started any more than the normal red bump so I left the pen alone.
The swimming hole was beautiful. Anthony Creek has hallowed out a large area as it makes a left turn toward the Greenbrier River. A few more people there than I would like but they were not in the deeper areas. I strapped my swimming aid belt around my waist and in we went.
Jerry is not a close relative of the fish family like I am but he humored me and came in with me in spite of the fact that the water felt ice cold in spots. He got out after about 10 minutes and left me in there to play to my hearts content. I went up river to the deeper section where noone else was and enjoyed the scenery of the mountains and the Monongahela Forest all around me.
Anthony Creek was so clean that even when it was up to my neck I could see clearly to the bottom.
We left there and drove another 6 or 7 miles north to Sherwood Lake and another swimming area. This one had a very nice bath house with running water and no bugs. Sandy beaches lined the swimming area. Jerry didn't join me in the water this time but decided to walk around the grounds to enjoy the scenery. I swam all the way out to the far ropes where the water was way over my head. The vista was beautiful. Sherwood is a very large lake with boating and one of the prettiest beaches I have seen in WV. The water wasn't as clear as Blue Bend but still very nice and very clean. The bottom was sand as far as I could walk.
We discovered that the campsites were on the lake on both sides. We both agreed it would be a very nice place to camp in the future.
We arrived at the Jerrico Inn Bed and Breakfast in Marlinton about 5 p.m. This was our second time here and we had the same room we had two years ago; Number 5. I had forgotten how charming this B&B is. There are cabins available also. The house has a wrap around porch filled with furniture and a deck on the back with a hot tub. Our room was on the second floor and has a small covered porch outside of it that overlooks the backyard. After checking in a and freshening up we headed for Dolly's restaurant and some home cooking. Jerry is a vegetarian so he was pleased to be able to have beans and cornbread while I feasted on a huge roast beef dinner. I chose the peach pie and Jerry the cherry for dessert. Everything was delicious and the services was excellent event though our waitress had many tables to care for.
An elderly couple sitting in the booth behind us recognized us from seeing us come into the B&B and introduced themselves. Later, Letha played Quiddler with us back at the B&B abd we all got to know each other.
I ate breakfast with them this morning also and learned about their retirement travels and the circumstances of their daughters early death from a brain tumor. I was fascinaed by how they have managed to travel to every state and to go on a couple cruises. Letha told me their secret was in not needing or wanting a lot of stuff. They don't even have internet. She told me that when they took their children to Hawaii years ago her mother scolded her for spending the money on a trip when she needed a new couch but Letha chose "creating memories with my family". I filed that bit of wisdom away in my "wise sayings to remember" area of my brain.
Jerry wasn't feeling well this morning so we hung around the B&B till about 11:30 which gave me the opportunity to sit on the porch and write in my journal and enjoy.
Our next stop was Cass Scenic Railroad. Jerry told me the history of the place as we ate our lunch at a picnic table down by the river. It was my first time on Cass and my first time riding on a steam engine train. I loved it. The train whistle sounded like music to me and felt so nostalgic. I loved the ride through the woods and the views at Whittaker Station.
It felt like a long drive back home but well worth it. This trip was one of my favorites we have taken. The swimming is what made it so special for me.
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