Sammy Redux

And, so the arrangements for the Shenandoah date are made.  This time, I'm traveling to him, about a two hour trek.  My kids recoil, "You're meeting him alone in a forest?!"  I admit, I go by my gut.  Sometimes, I have amazing common sense and sometimes none at all.  But, I'm feeling Sammy is cool.  He's a college professor (or so he says).  What could go wrong?

We talk on the phone everyday, he's raving about the scenic overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway and the sublime sunsets.  He sends me multiple directions, insuring my arrival.  We're going to be eating at The Lodge, the menu reminiscent of Franklin Roosevelt days with venison, fried chicken steak, fresh caught fish.  Okay, I'm game, so to speak.

Then, I check the weather on my iPhone.  Uh oh, awful.  Pouring rain, thunderstorms, cold.  Should we do this or meet in Manassas?  I say, let's go for it.  On my way, the sun achingly peeks through the thick clouds.  Maybe, it'll be okay.

The last stretch is winding, country roads and the torrential downpour nearly blinds me.  But I persevere.  After all, I'm a Florida gal, torrential downpours are my specialty.  I make it to the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway and pull over.

Have you ever driven it?  My mother is the Queen of the Back Roads.  We used to camp in the North Carolina mountains and she couldn't wait to get on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Isn't it beeyootiful?  She'd exclaim over and over again.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's gorgeous.  But, my God, it probably takes six months to get from Virginia to North Carolina.  For a fast driver like myself, it is TORTURE!!!

I'm here and he's not.  I call his number.  No service.  Great.  I call again.  Same result.  To his credit, he's calling me, too.  Finally, I get one bar (AT&T, need I say more) and he's right behind me.  I climb in his Isuzu truck and he's a lumberjack in jeans and corduroy shirt.  Handsome, rugged, smiling to see me.

We're climbing and he's pointing out the overlooks.  On a clear day, I'm sure they're spectacular but mainly we're in and out of low hanging clouds, lucky to see the road.  The Lodge is very cozy with its massive stone fireplace; the dining room overlooking the valley below (at least, he told me there was a valley).

Ready to hike?  Well, let me tell you, he was.  He brought walking sticks and fleece jackets.  He was worried I wouldn't be dressed warmly enough, so he brought one for me.  I'm impressed.  Of course, he was right.  I was shivering in my thin rain jacket so I put on the fleece and it hung to my knees.  Very sexy.

The sun came out briefly so we could do our two mile hike.  All uphill to the overlook, which I have to admit was breathtaking.  Although I hardly had any breath left from the steep climb.  I needed the break, albeit brief, as there were other couples who wanted their alone time.  The hike downhill was much easier and now, I'm sweating and have to shed the fleece.  Sammy's just loving life.  "You're such a good sport.  My daughters call this the Death March."

Hmmm...maybe I should've listened to my kids!