E. TRAVELS

Ransone's Drug Store 19771 Main St, Buchanan, VA 24066
first stop a day at the end of June 2020: "Big Otter Mill, Bedford, VA", second stop: "Appalachian Trail, Big Island, VA" and the third stop: "Buchanan Swinging Bridge". This spot was the final post of that day. Actually they were seen in a totally different order in real life (drive time, you know how those wheels roll) ...I did arrange them differently here on the blog. 
They sure don't make these kind of drug stores any more, now do they??!! Such character!! We got a turkey sandwich and a chicken quesadilla, 2 drinks ... and took those 2 go. I was not there, I waited in the car ...I will say ...you do what makes you comfortable, I keep saying that to my friends and family, it is just such an odd time, work with what you feel is right and do what you can ...I don't feel always comfortable doing public situations during these "mask wearing time", so I don't always go (if I get …

Buchanan Swinging Bridge 19908 Main St, Buchanan, VA 24066
A beautiful place to take a picnic lunch, and we did just that ...got lunch at the "Ransone's Drug Store", I'll be sharing that post next week. We enjoyed this view, and just chilled. Or tried too??! It was a pretty humid hot day. Thank goodness for AC!! This bridge is closed. Not sure if it is due to the virus going around or what??! It looked to be in good condition?? I wonder ... fun to see. Thank you for stopping by. Hope you are well. Beth ( ;

Appalachian Trail, Big Island, VA. 24526 James River Foot Bridge Dedicated: October 14, 2000
These were taken on the same day when we did visit "Big Otter Mill, Bedford, VA", if you did miss that post, please check it out ...always fun to see bits and pieces of the Appalachian Trail. Such a gorgeous area of Virginia. A bit of a breeze out on those waters. I saw some folks kayaking and I was so jealous ...wish we would have had our kayaks. Wish a train would have come by when we were walking out there, that would have been way awesome!! I could have video taped that, maybe next time??! Hope you are well this week. THANKS, for stopping by. See ya next time! Beth ( ;

Big Otter Mill  Circa: 1880 - 1951 3533 Big Island Hwy, Bedford, VA. 24523
"also known as Forbes Mill, is a historic grist mill located near Bedford, VA.  2 1/2 story, mortise-and-tenon framed mill"
Hey There!! Hope you are good this week. We took a ride in the country in our convertible and saw this gorgeous grist mill. You could hear the water when you immediately parked. Such a pretty ole' sound. We were the only ones there, a great place to take a picnic lunch, walk or just look around??! A lovely summer day. End of June day trip. A few of these shots I took with my hand held camera ...others the hubby took with his Android cell phone ...i think they were all so awesome 2 not sure??! ENJOY!!
How's your life going? Thanks, for stopping by. Beth ( ;

Mid America Motorworks - "My Garage Museum" 17082 N US Highway 45 Effingham, IL 62401-6764
So we were in Effingham, Illinois early June 2020 during the "mask wearing times" ...you know how so many folks were taking "selfies" with their mask on ... NOT ME ...didn't realize that the hubby took this shot ...so there I am with my mask on ...NOT PRETTY ... i don't like it one bit ... can't breathe ...feel i am like cousin to Darth Vader, LOL!! I feel so like my space is so tiny ... have to go to my "happy place". So frustrating ...but any who ... happier thoughts. I am not sure why there is a BMW parked at the garage? ...no it was not open ...but the hubby took some pics, looked through the window and captured several pics as well ...so it was fun moments or 2. 
I will tell you I know what they call this area "Effingham"? 'Cause that silly STOP LIGHT got us each and every time. LOL!! just kidding folks, but it sure was hilarious…

Thompson Mill Covered Bridge, Cowden, Illinois - 1868
This bridge crosses the Kaskaskia River. 160 foot 4 inch Howe truss bridge is only  7 inches wide, making it the narrowest covered bridge in Illinois.
I will NOT be zooming on this covered bridge ...sadly the locals ...not sure if teenagers or adults ...but some one has spray painted this beauty, with horrible, unspeakable language ...we always JOKE, if you can joke about such a rude manner, at least spell it right, if you are going to write it??! so silly ...why oh why we allow our folks to damage and deface such historical locations ...I don't know??! I just can not put into words, understand, comprehend ...it just blows my mind. I can not honestly figure out how to give kids these days the information (the stories, why these items are so important to where we were, are, how we got to this place, etc.??!) on how to learn that these items are important ...The men that build these masterpieces with their bare hands ...I mean I can…

Gene Goodwin Park, Gays, Illinois Two-Story Outhouse
sign says:"Thanks for visiting The World Renown Historical Two Story Outhouse Outhouses are original pieces of history. They are disappearing with no proof that they ever existed. Outhouses were once an important part of everyday life, and their historic contribution should be recorded for prosperity. The outhouse is a fast disappearing piece of architecture. The young people hardly know anything about these little structures and have no understanding of the lifestyle that went with them. Preserving history is our goal"
From the pictures included here (they are glaring, too much sun that day these were taken, chatting with a few locals and several of our camping friends as well) ...this was a 2 story home ...separate families on each level ...holes are not over each other, just a path or place to walk out over each other to use the restroom, so it is officially a 2 story outhouse ... for your information or a better explanati…

We were staying at Lake Shelbyville, Illinois ...a camping friend told us of a local ROUND barn ...the man apparently just started building it ...she was hoping we would see him and get the whole story??!
No luck, no one was around, What do you think the story is? I guess some folks just like to build things? Buildings, cars, houses? ...WHAT a gorgeous view. Hope you are well this week. Take Care. Thank you for your visit. Beth ( ;

First trip of the year, we did travel to the great state of Illinois. Normally I have such a huge amount of photos to share that I never run out... or at least I can go kayaking on a weekend and fill the next few weeks til we are on the road. But this virus has really changed the world. SO many trips have been cancelled and I did wonder if this trip would be as well???! It was a quick get away and YES, we traveled 725 miles to get there in ONE DAY!! Why, well we wanted to spend our full time at Lake Shelbyville, IL. We got to kayak in the AM, before it got to warm. Did a lot of biking around the campground. We did socialize in a "social distant" way, wore mask into Walmart, Rural King and Menards. We do not like the masks way of life but I guess it is the way of the world for right now??! 
The hubby was driving when I took these shots, just snap and go ...click, and click and CLICK again. I love doing that. Not knowing what you will get and some are pretty cool, some include …

Hey friends. Wow, I am sharing this several weeks after we went for a drive, and I have sadly run out of posts, so I thought I would share this event with ya, staying at home 24/7 is nuts ...my hubby is working from home. Amazing how noises that might have been annoying in the past, are now just comforting to hear something, anything ...just to know there is someone else out there??! Dog, people, any one beside you and your hubby, who are the only folks you are seeing on the daily??! So we had gotten in a somewhat normal (if you can call it normal, what is normal, anyways?) routine, working from home, sleeping, eating, trying to get some entertainment other than the silly news, we have been watching Northern Exposure, been meaning to watch that series, it was high time to do so ... we wanted to see something new/different, other than those four walls (you know, your house walls, LOL!!) so we jumped into Luigi (my Fiat 500) and took a drive in the country. Saw this beauty, Yanceyville …

Homeplace 1850s Working Farm, 4512 The Trace, Dover, TN
"Represents a two-generation farm. Interpreters in period clothing going about their daily chores. Artifacts, restored historic structures, and traditional seasonal activities to step you back in time to relive history before the Civil War."
This really was a gorgeous area of Tennessee to see, what a great day. It was warm, but not too bad in the shade. Lots of critters, the crowds were slow ...nice walk about. This there a time era you do enjoy the most? Would you be able to cut it in olden days? A bath once a year, or was it a month? No toothbrush? Lots more physical demanding work? Dealing with your horses, chicken and pigs? (Some of you might have a farm any way, so this might be normal to you?) We were there Oct. 2019. Thanks for stopping by today. Hope you are well. Take Care! Be Well & Be Blessed!! Beth ( ;

Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden & Toyland, 9351 US-68, Calvert City, KY "Take a walk through some wacky punny folk art sculptures!"
WHAT do you consider ART? To me personally I think it is not an easy one word answer, art is really a personal thing ...what do you love? What makes you happy? What makes you smile? Art truly is within the eye of the beholder ...what you might or might not love??! Hope that make sense. I really appreciate the quirky-ness of the whole site ...to myself and the hubby we really enjoy the "off the wall" sort of moments in life. Please do be sure you are going when you have the time to listen and enjoy. The tour guide (Mr. Keith Holt, he didn't actually say his name, ever? SO we are guessing here??! After doing a bit of research on the google, we did visit during Oct 2019.) will chat you through it all ...so many of the punny jokes will take some time to sink ...unless you are the sort of PUNNY person who can catch on quickly!! Yes, I…