I’m at least a day behind schedule at this point. Traffic here and there, underestimations about mileage from point A to point B, and one other “complication” that I’ll get to in a minute. Tomorrow, finally, across the VA state line where I can resume my leadfoot ways. On with the photos!
Started the day off in Roanoke. A big new building going up downtown. I thought it looked very Frank Gehry (more so from the back, not shown here). Sure enough, a student of his, Randall Stout, is responsible for the design. More about the building here:
http://www.artmuseumroanoke.org/index.php?do=the_future:fact_sheet
*******************************************************
Also in Roanoke, I paid a visit to the Mini Graceland. It looks tidied up from when I saw it several years ago. More about the place here:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/VAROAelvis.html
*******************************************************
I had VW Bugs and vans for years and still have a soft spot for them. This nicely restored Transporter called to me.
*****************************************
A couple signs for you. A painted wall sign (actually several layered on top of each other) in Radford, VA. At least I think it’s old and not painted to look that way.
*****************************************
This rusting-away sign stands next to an apparently closed restaurant.
*****************************************
And now, for today’s big event. I was already running behind but I was resigned to that and not rushing or anything. I was at the Moonlite Drive-in just backing up to make a turn to go up a hill. Maybe doing 3mph and looking in all three mirrors. When all of a sudden the ground opened up and nearly swallowed us. I swear that hole came out of nowhere! It was so deep, I had to get out the passenger door. A drainage ditch with about a three foot sloping drop, not visible from my position, had been directly behind me. The van was pitched precariously onto the driver’s side rear. I wanted to get a photo but the camera was inside and I was afraid of making things worse by climbing back in. The dogs were obviously freaked about the situation — well, two of them anyway. Our gradual plunge was enough to spring open one of Nik’s toy chests and he was busy inside with a very noisy squeaky toy through the whole ordeal. I was so stressed and he was so happy.
Things didn’t look good for the axle, the exhaust system and god-knows-what else. The whole left side of the van was about four inches away from a concrete wall. So I called AAA and chatted with a trooper who’d pulled over to investigate. The trooper was giving me hotel information because “you ain’t driving away from this one” and he was saying something about a crankshaft. It was humiliating to give him fodder about female drivers (and dumb Yankees).
About an hour later, a guy from “Exit 7 Towing in Bristol” arrived. I had to climb in and keep the wheels straight while he skillfully eased Sparkle back up onto level ground. I held my breath and agonized over a couple creaks as the towing cable moved a bit during the slow-motion pull. The van went perfectly straight (sparing any body damage against the conrete) and came up just as slowly and easily as it went in. The driver and I crawled around on our bellies a bit to inspect the undersides and other than a small dent to the muffler, it all looked and sounded good. I’ve been driving for a couple hours since without any problem. Damn, these Chevys are built tough! I do have one souvenir dent to the back bumper from a stump in the hole. Maybe I’ll just leave it as an annoying reminder to be more careful when backing up.
“Roadside Nut Apparently Swallowed by Mystery Ditch”….yikes!
It really felt that way — sinking backwards like it was the Bermuda Triangle or something. This photo doesn’t do the hole justice.