G to H to I: Cincinnati, OH to Harmon, WV to Washington DC

7.23.10 - 7.24.10

We left Debbie's and stopped to get our oil changed before taking Debbie's suggested scenic alternative to US-50, which followed US-52 along the Ohio River to Kentucky's AA Highway to I-64. It was quite scenic and now allows us to claim that we have been to Kentucky. After entering West Virginia, we headed north on I-79 and detoured to Stone Wall Jackson State Park, which for a $3 entry fee allowed us to shower in their RV camping area. It was one of the nicest state parks we had ever seen, resembling a private country club more than a state park. We exited the interstate to cut across the Alleghany mountains to Virginia, and the van started to exhibit similar electrical problems that we had in June while returning from a camping trip in Oregon. Max immediately pulled over and jumped the battery with the deep cycle battery and made it to the next Marathon gas station, where we didn't have cellphone service, so the owner allowed us to use his phone to call AAA and Max's family in DC to let them know we weren't going to make it that night. As Max likes to say, his bad luck is usually pretty good, and luck would have it that we were in the service area of Dave's Garage, who everyone who stopped by the gas station said was fabulous. We explained that we need to make it to DC (still 200 miles away) by 2pm the next day for the giant birthday party that we were racing across the country for. As it was almost 7pm, he couldn't do anything for us that night, but promised us he'd have us out by 9:30am and let us stay the night on his property in front of his garage (and his house!) We spent the night in the beautiful Alleghenies listening to awesome public radio and realized we were in a better campsite than some of the state parks we had been staying in. And, as promised, in the morning the mechanics arrived, diagnosed the problem (overheating engine had burned through a wire to the alternator) and had us on the road by 9:30. We made the drive, were able to shower and only showed up a half an hour late to a super fun party generously hosted by Max's sister and brother-in-law. 3,200 miles in six (and two half) days. Not bad.

Links: Stonewall Jackson Resort

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