DAY 3: Shenandoah to Richmond

Did you ever go into something with low expectations only to have them exceeded and find yourself saying, "Wow, that was cool" ? That was my trip to Luray (pronounced Loo-ray) Caverns in Luray, Virginia. I have regularly passed the billboard signs for this and other caverns on my travels, but never have I takent the time to stop. This time I made the time to stop, actually planning to stop. Luray Caverns were discovered in the 1870's  and  today are advertised as "The Largest Caverns in the East" with over 64 acres of caverns. They are privately owned which I thought unusual. Imagine having cave owning as your family business. I paid the attendant $23.00 and waited with about 25 other people to go down the flights of steps into the cave. It was cool. Very cool. The following one walk on brick and asphalt paths led us through a maze of caverns, one more stunning than the next. All told we walked 1.25 miles and traversed at the lowwest point down 16 stories. And it is always 54 degrees in the cave. Year round.  Of course the tour also had its campy moments as Chris our tour guide rattled off his speel, not only the history of the caves but the names that they had given different rock formations "The Doll House", "Pluto's Ghost" and others. But all in all a neat adventure.

After a quick bite to eat, I then went back up to Skyline Drive to continue on towards the south end, stopping at milepost 81 for a six mile loop hike on part of th Appalachian Trail that took me down to the summer home of Woodrow Wilson (he of course is no longer there ;). A much easier hike than the prior day but a very pretty hike with water falls and a stream crossing.

I arrived in Richmond and met my daughter Eliza. We had been invited to dinner by my friend Bill Overton and his wife Susan and their son Hatcher who hosted us at The Country Club of Virginia. Bill owns the same type of business that I do, but of course in Richmond, Virginia. He is a Southern Gentleman through and through and he and Susan are a lovely and gracious couple. Everyone should have a friend like Bill. He is affirming, supportive, inspirational and a delight to be around. Dinner was wonderful....but our dinner companionship was the best.