The Grass is Greener on My Own Side of the Road
The buzzing bee in the bonnet had to do with the fact that I didn’t have any idea where this place was. Never heard of it, even though MapQuest said it was only 49 miles away. What kind of a place is it? Why haven’t I heard of Lake Logan? I haven’t made any accommodations since it’s so close. But is it really? I wanted to check this place out, and test drive this short distance. I threw in a load of clothes, read to the residents at the nursing home, folded the load, tossed in another, and Buddy and I hit the road. It’s just a short distance away, then I’ll get some groceries. I had to know about this place.
NC 215 is a familiar road to me. I pass it a few times a week where it turns off US 64 which takes me everywhere. But I’ve never turned onto NC 215. I mean, why would I? Where does it go? Buddy, sitting in the navigator seat as he always does, leaning back in the seat to watch the trees go by, looked mildly interested when we began the curves. Curves aren’t really new to us; we live in the mountains. But, these were some really serious curves. And it was getting very dark. The forest on both sides, meeting over the road, created a tunnel so dark my automatic head lights came on! There were no cars. I’m driving into Jurassic Park. Mosses and ferns covered sheer rock; water seeped and dripped on the edges of the road where thousands of migrating black swallowtail butterflies collected on muddy ruts creating a weird undulating movement along the roadsides. Waterfalls splashed close by. Occasionally a break in the forest gave a glimpse of a distant view, like the Blue Ridge Parkway, which I discovered does in fact, cross this road. The mountain laurel here is still lush. In the deep green forest the bright white blossoms seem to glow. It was so quiet. 49 miles later we came to a lake with mountains and pine trees reflecting on its glassy surface.
Lake Logan. Here is where the swimmers will churn the water like a shark feeding frenzy on Saturday. The serpentine road we’ve been traveling will test the legs of the cyclists. The butterflies will have to flee the crush of speeding running shoes. This is where it will all take place.
This place is an Episcopalian Conference Center and Retreat Camp. I’ll sleep in a dormitory, eat 3 meals a day and use indoor facilities. Wow. All this only 49 miles from home. I usually spend weekends several hours away, eat hot dogs, sleep at Super 8 and use port-a-potties. The grass is greener at home! I didn’t get to the grocery store, btw. We had salad and baked potatoes from Wendy’s. But the bee in the bonnet is satisfied. And now, after my lovely day off, I must fold some laundry; groceries tomorrow.