If you watch the evening news, you know that flying anywhere these days is rather a nightmare. A seemingly endless one. I wonder how many people spent their Fourth of July “vacation” in an airport, unable to actually go anywhere? More than we’d like to imagine!
I won’t be flying anywhere anytime soon, if ever. I just don’t take vacations “away” these days. If you’re not flying, you’re driving. And sadly, these days about four, maybe five hours, is as much as I can handle.
My recent fabulous trip to Winchester? It actually took me five hours to get there, although that was because I was fearful of driving on Interstate 81. I did make it home in a little more than three hours, after I steeled myself to tackle the Interstate in the “slow” lane, where other vehicles were “only” going 80 mph.
I have for years advocated “staycations.” That’s where you stay safely and happily at home, and don’t go anywhere, and try not to do any work. I like staycations.
This week, though, I am trying something new: A “day-cation.” Yes! One single day!
A friend is picking me up in Monterey Thursday and, while my car is having its scheduled oil change, we are taking off on a day-cation. We’re heading somewhere he knows, but I don’t: Riverton, West Virginia. I like vacations where I’m going somewhere new, and this will be that.
There is a restaurant there, The Gateway (gateway to what, I do not know!). The menu looks great, and hey – it’s a restaurant! That’s a major part of any vacation for me, day or stay or otherwise.
Then, he will drive (that’s important, too: someone else is driving!) me to Seneca Rocks or Falls, also somewhere I’ve never been. Doubly exciting.
We’re also going to swing by (wherever it is) the Brambleton Bird Sanctuary. I love birds! I am happy to go there and see what I can see.
So: An entertaining driver who knows where he is going. A good restaurant. A well-known (by others than myself) natural wonder of sorts. A sanctuary, where who knows – there may be wildlife in addition to the birds.
Then, he’ll drive back to Monterey, I will pick up my freshly serviced car, and make the lazy, lovely drive 40 miles home. Long before nightfall, I will be sitting on my porch, reading, and mulling over my wonderful day-cation. That’s my new idea of a great time!
I am certain I will get a column or two out of it. And, that is always something in the forefront of my mind: Can I write about it? And get paid to do that? Yes, I can!
Ahhh. A new idea for a getaway: A Day-cation. I’ve gotta love it!
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