Day tripper

Today we drove through towns called Boomer, Alloy, and Smithers on our way to Hawk's Nest State Park in West Virginia. Just two hours south of here the fosythia is already bright yellow and daffodils and tulips are blossoming, but we were more interested in hiking a steep cliffside trail that led first through dry deciduous woods and then suddenly turned a corner into a lush green grove of rhododendrons. Bright sun, clear skies, stunning views, and the sounds of songbirds and waterfalls cleared out the cobwebs and left behind a feeling of peace that, thankfully, survived the drive home.