Saturday, October 10, 2009

Back Roads


When I stopped to take this photo there had been dazzling rain all day.

I love to travel back roads, driving slow, winding along through the country side. Taking in the feel of the land and the people who live there. Noticing their mailboxes, old barns, and flowers in the front yards. This photo shows my favorite route from my home to Cacapon State Park in West Virginia, over Sleepy Creek Mountain. The mountain forms a border between Morgan and Berkeley counties with its highest point at 1,905 feet. This area is a good example of the Appalachian Ridge-and-Valley Province with its uplifted ridges such as Sleepy Creek Mountain. I’ve even found some fossils from the Devonian Era up on this ridge.

The mountains have been logged extensively and now many of the slopes are farmland. It is easy to get lost because the roads aren’t always on the maps which keep the timid traveler away. One thing about some of our back roads is that you can stop, take a photo and not get side swiped or honked at. There is virtually no traffic, no gas station, no fast food places, just lots of scenic beauty.


See more Scenic Sundays.

12 comments:

Jacqueline Donnelly said...

Your photo is so elegant, so spare, with just a touch of color, nothing extraneous at all. I share your love for back roads. When I worked for Hospice and drove all over the county to care for people in their homes, I learned where the scenic routes were and always chose them if I had time.

eileeninmd said...

Your photo is awesome. One of my favorites today.

Susan at Stony River said...

That photo's amazing; I love it. We spent the summer in WV and its beauty blew me away.

Gaelyn said...

It is nice to have quiet backroads nearby and this is an excellent and serene example. Plus fossils is cool. Nice capture of this dazzley day.

Gemma Wiseman said...

What a great world to explore! I notice the road is wet! Rain would not stop me taking such a lovely drive either!

Lisa said...

I want to live on that road.

Tes said...

Serence, relaxing... refreshing. Would love to drive in quiet roads like those.

Anonymous said...

I'd love to walk there (with an umbrella!) savouring the dampness of the air and land.

Wanda..... said...

There doesn't appear to be anything beyond the end of that serene looking road...it just fades into the mist, but I know better...I've seen the beauty of WV.

Girl Tornado said...

I love this shot, wonderful composition... like you, I can stop on many of our roads to take more than one picture, because there is virtually no traffic on the dirt roads of Kansas! :)

Carolyn H said...

Squirrel: What a great photo! Thanks for posting it. Those back roads seem to get harder to find every year around here.

Carolyn H.

Jackie Callahan said...

Beautiful.. I love the subtle wisp of mist rising from the road..