Chapter Two

The Girls Get Naked!

 
 

 

 

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Sunday, April 17, 2005  . . . the adventure continues

The excitement of shooting sporting clays, and the visit to the James Rumsey bridge left the girls feeling a little pooped, so upon arrival at the outlets in Hagerstown, MD, it was time for a pick me up.  Still feeling a little full of herself from the Sporting Clays victory, Mary decided to pop open the 16 oz can of ROCK STAR energy drink, to see if it would in fact make her party like a rock star.  At the advanced age of 43, it just managed to give her enough boost to browse the outlets, but not enough to make her shop like a rock star, which in retrospect is a good thing, considering how full the van is. 

We consulted the coupie book, and decided on the Microtel in north Hagerstown, MD.  After arriving and checking in, it was determined that there where no acceptable restaurants within walking distance, so we drove down the highway to OUTBACK steakhouse, and picked up some takeout.  Back to the room for a quick shower, dinner, and an evening of TV, which included, (sadly) the season finale of Arrested Development, the best show on TV.  (It should be noted that Amy Floren got us hooked on AD during our trip to New Orleans for the Barkus Parade.)

Monday, April 18

We're checked out early, and head down the highway for some shopping.  The weather is beautiful, so we pull into a quiet spot in the parking lot, and have some cereal in the car.  Then it's over to Wal-Mart, where Mary decides to buy the Coleman Power Chill thermo-electric cooler she's been thinking about for quite some time. It seems like a bargain at $67.88, including the 110-volt adapter.  Caryn stocks up on Ricola lozenges, to ease the dry, irritating cough she has been sporting for two weeks now. Then it's off to Dicks Sporting Goods, where we find a Coleman propane lantern, w/case on sale for $20.  This lantern was $25 at Wal-Mart, without the case, so we're feeling like quite the savvy shoppers.
After cramming our new purchases in the van, it's off to Berkeley Springs State Park, WV to drink from the spring, and soak in the mineral waters.  Mary has been looking forward to this for the past two weeks, convinced that the healing waters will ease Caryn cough, so that she can finally get a decent night's sleep.

As we pull into town, we see a RECYCLED AMERICAN GOODS - a thrift/consignment shop, and go for a perusal.  Mary sees many things she wants, but settles on a cookbook of "molded foods".

Then it's down the street to Tari's Cafe for a bite to eat, where Mary orders the Way Cool Turkey Wrap, and Caryn chooses the Chicken Quesadilla wrap, both served with chips, and Wild Woman Salsa.  After lunch, it's off to the State Park, which is just down the street.  The weather is beautiful, in the 70's so we walk around for a bit, and fill some water bottles at the public spring.  Next, it's time to inquire about the spa services.  We decide on a shared 15-minute Roman Bath, followed by individual 30-minute massages.  We're led to the changing room, where Retha, an fit older woman dressed in white, gives us lockers for our belongings, and advises us to wrap ourselves in a sheet, after we disrobe.  Sheepishly clutching her digital camera in an underwater housing, Mary complies, and is followed by Caryn.  Upon entering the Roman Bath Room, Retha tells us to hang our key on the hook, and stands by to take our sheets, without averting her eyes.  Naked to the world (and Retha), we head for the tub.  Mary is glad to have her camera since this is an interesting place, and somewhat reminiscent of the setting of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. All too soon Retha is back, towel in hand, eyes fixed on us, in the tub.  She wraps Mary in a towel, and takes her off to west side of the building, where Mary will be getting her massage from Becky, the plump girl with the religious poems taped up in her work area.  After Mary climbs onto the bed, she is greeting by Becky, who states "Don't mind me; I've got phlegm".  Immediately Mary realizes that the healing properties of the Berkeley Springs Mineral Waters may have been somewhat overblown!

Not being a real "chat-er" Mary likes to receive her massage in relative silence, but that was not to be the case today.  Becky's second attempt at conversation (after the phlegm comment went no where) was "I see you were wearing a t-shirt yesterday- you've got that farmer's tan goin' on.  Me, I wore a criss-cross shirt, so I got a big X on my back.  It's kinda sexy really". 

Ok, I'll take her word for it.

After the massages, we took some photos of the place, and everyone was quite accommodating.  They showed us the heat cabinets, which Becky described as like on I Love Lucy; she was pretty much right on about that.  Also, they showed us the vapor cabinet, a long capsule that you lay inside, with just your head sticking out.  When they opened it to show us, steam and the smell of a sauna billowed out.  I wished that I had taken a turn in this!

Retha said we should take all the photos we wanted, because the spa would be renovated in November 2005, at which point "all this will be gone."  She said it in such a way that we knew that she knew how very cool this place is, and any renovation would ruin it.  I immediately forgave her roving eyes.  I only wish now that I had asked her how long she had been working there. I imagine it to be forever, yet she will have to retire when the renovation is complete, not being able to bear the new look of the place.

After the spa, Mary hooks up the new Coleman Road-trip to the cigarette lighter, and we pull out of Berkeley Springs around 4 pm, with Tygart Lake State Park (WV) campground as our destination.  They weather was great, and we were looking forward to setting up camp for a few days, to just chill.  As we crossed to Potomac back into MD on SR 522, we came upon the Bridge Restaurant, who billed itself as "Bodaciously Good".  It looked like a great spot, but it's only open for breakfast, so we had to settle for some photographs.  If you're ever headed to Berkeley Springs, I would suggest staying at the hotel across from the Bridge Restaurant, which looked like a nice place, and very convenient to this breakfast spot. (Maybe the Hancock Motel)

We drove on to Tygart Lake State Park, and arrived about 7pm, to find the campground a tiny, disappointing spot, which did not live up to our expectations.  We soon pulled out, and headed back to the highway, through the hollers of Grafton, WV toward Clarksburg WV.  We stopped in the booming town of Bridgeport, WV and had dinner at Panera Bread. (no wifi here) Mary checked the "Road-trip" and discovered that it was hot inside, and yes, she had hooked it up correctly to cool. It was a mixed blessing; we had the thrill of purchasing it, and also the thrill of returning it that same day, to the Wal-Mart in Bridgeport, WV.  After our trip thru the second Wal-Mart of the day, we pulled the van to the front of the parking lot, next to the Big Rigs (RV's) and prepared for our first night of boon docking.
 

Tuesday April 19

We awaken fully rested, and much more comfortable than after a night in the VW Eurovan.  This bed we built is great! 

Caryn heads into Wal-Mart for some early morning shopping, while Mary converts the van from it's sleeping state to it's driving state, then it's off to Panera again, where Mary has a quad espresso, and Caryn has a double, both for less than $3.

We sat in comfy chairs, and perused the maps and guidebooks. We pulled out of Panera at 10am with Caryn at wheel, headed west on RT 50 toward Jackson Center, OH, with our eye on a return visit to Airstream.  (Our first visit had been during ROADTRIP 2000)  Along the way, on a steep decline, Caryn gave way so that a trucker could pull around a slow car, without having to hit the breaks.  As we passed him on the next downhill, he was waving, and took our picture as well passed him.
We took a slight detour to the town of Cairo, WV, after reading about it somewhere .  When we got there, we realized that most of the town was still closed for the season, and that the hardware/museum was closed on Tuesdays.  We walked around and took some photos, since the weather was so balmy.  The window of the local ice cream parlor had a great collection of moths and scoops, and while Mary was photographing thru the glass, the owner invited her in, so that she could shoot from inside. After a while, Mary went to collect Caryn, and bring her into the shop.  After chatting for a while, Dave, the owner, offered us a sample of ice cream.   We both chose Sugar Free Moose Tracks.  Boy, was that good!  Best breakfast so far!  We said our thank yous and goodbyes, and headed off down the highway, feeling better about life in general after eating free, small town ice cream.

 

 

 

 

 



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In the next chapter, read about our trip to the AIRSTREAM FACTORY, and the RV/MH HALL OF FAME.

In the meantime, be sure to check the ALBUMS, to see the fun pix, and van modifications. Also, be sure to see THE BEGINNING. Thanks.

 
             

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