July 7 West Virginia

July 7, 2016

This morning Tom fixes blueberry pancakes, along with ham and eggs and we all go for a walk.  We are in a community called Riverside which has rough dirt roads and large lots with a mix of small to very large homes.  Only about 90 minutes from Washington DC.  Next to the Shenandoah River.

Around 11:00 we set off for Hollywood Casino.  En route we come across this fledgling red tailed hawk standing on the road. 

 Kevin stops and moves it into the grass and we hope the mother will find it and care for it.  Kevin stops at a fire station a few miles down the road to tell them and they bring the EMS truck back to pick it up, but alas! When  we get back we find it has been struck and killed, so apparently it wondered back onto the road.

The Casino is quite large and we go our separate ways to test our luck. Since it is early in the day, the smoke factor is almost nonexistent. As usual, Tom is the only one with good luck ($96), while  the rest of us pay $10-$20 for an hour of entertainment - about the same amount Tom won :)

  From here we go to Bloomery Plantation Distillery for a tasting.  They make liquours using a base of Kentucky Moonshine.

 Rob, our bartender, is very personable and fun.

There are 4-5 others there as well, from Montreal, Texas and local. The distillery grows many of their ingredients, including ginger, lemons and black walnuts. Free tasting and we buy some limoncello - our favorite. They also had a ginger flavor, black walnut, peach and a few others.

From here we head into Charlestown to the Mediterranean Café, recommended by Rob.  Excellent suggestion!  They bring us a plate of humus, pita bread (fresh and warm) and a fresh tomato relish.  We all enjoy gyros and kebobs.

lamb gyro

We wonder through a few nearby antique shops but don't find anything we can't live without. One shop has an old time soda fountain.

Back to the cabin and we chill for a bit. We take a short ride to look for rocks, but the book we have as reference is old and the rock cut areas are all covered with plants and such.

 Anita and Kevin have appointments tomorrow morning, so they head back tonight.  Tom and Sue and Greg and I enjoy fresh tomatoes with mozzarella and basil on French bread for a light dinner.

Talk and watch some more tour.  Sue is still riding but Tom has only done very short rides and will probably give it up, but they have lots of cycling stories.