Returning
To Central
Virginia
  • Getting reacquainted
  • Where we first met
  • Breathing in the beauty
As directed, we took the scenic route to Carol's home.

It had been over ten years since we'd seen her and her lovely daughters, Littany and Alexandra.

Alexandra decided to give their dog, Tessy, an intelligence test.

Tossing a blanket over the dogs head shows whether a dog is smart enough to come out from under it on her own. Tessy had seen this test before. She was smart enough not to let herself be covered up in the first place.

Tessy was also pretty quick at the "find which cup hides the treat" test. She knocked them all over.

Littany gave Tessy the "put your paw on the hand you think the treat is in" test.

Tessy was getting into a cheese-eating frenzy. She didn't care which hand it was in, she put her paw on both.

Then stood up for more treats.

Carol's home is in Crozet.

Straight down the road is the tiny town of Batesville, where we all got together for the first time 25 years ago.

This is Fred's old house in Batesville.

For seven weeks in the summer of '74, we meditated three times a day, helped interpret one another's dreams, and in general enhanced our creativity.

Here's TJ's place.

It was great to take another tour through his wonderful home.

Afterwards, we strolled around outside.

Pretty flowers were in bloom.
The garden looked impressive.
At the Monticello cemetary, Kath and Carol noticed this marker.

Yep. There he is!

The guy all the ladies are waiting for . . has already left the building.

Who wants perfection, anyway!
The Wintergreen resort has a hiking trail called The Plunge.

Some of the natural stone formations appeared remarkably life-like.

We reached the trail's end and saw . .

Eastern mountains and valleys -- green, gentle, and expansive.

The sun began to set.
"One more place I want to take you to," said Carol.