Killing Time

George and I teamed up with friends, Faye and Chuck for a Saturday afternoon road trip.  Being one of my all-time-favorite things to do (sojourn into the unknown); the practice is becoming less practical and certainly less environmentally appropriate.  One is hard pressed to justify just killing time…..killing the ozone.  But leaving moral compasses at home and shelving any latent guilt, we set out to do just that. 

The afternoon unfolded in perfect order.  We took the scenic route up to Nelson County passing fields of grazing cows and horses.  We followed streams under and past old mill sites and stopped a time or two to appreciate impressive standing ruins of what once was.  We rode past Inglewood Lavender farm in Arrington and considered stopping for one of their advertised lavender massages, but thought the better of it….and besides, it was closed.  We opted instead for a pint of Full Nelson, hopping with flavor and served up at Blue Mountain Barrel House.  Our newly discovered brew pub was a sweet surprise, and we perched atop a high-top to listen to a few songs strummed out by a threesome from Asheville.

A visit to Saunders Brothers farm market was on our list.  It’s the season for apples and if you’re in the market, that’s the place to get ‘um.  Yep, the Saunders family operates  a first class market and have for over 50 years.  It’s widely acclaimed for the best peaches in August and apples in November.  We filled up the back of the Green’s SUV with Pink Ladies and homemade jam, and shoved off.  Lynchburg was next up.

Sipping on cider and munching on muffins that Faye pulled out of a hat, we toured around the campus of Sweet Briar College. What a beautiful spot!  Should any of you still have a daughter looking at institutions of higher education, it’s worth considering.  Who knew they offer an engineering degree!

Our final destination for the outing was historic downtown Lynchburg.  While looking for  Waterstone Pizza and Jefferson Street Brewery, we wandered through the Craddock Terry Hotel.  Once a shoe factory, now it’s a tony waterfront boutique hotel.  Quite the ticket.

We did locate Waterstone and enjoyed some great wood-fired pizza….beer for the gents and wine for the ladies.  It’s definitely a popular spot and there were plenty of folks waiting for tables as we left for home.

Great fun and great friends.  Not a bad way to kill a day.