Do you go stir crazy on long road trips?
With a 5-hour car ride on tap today, I went a little mentally bonko and decided to count everything along the road that started with the Letter O. After a while, I became obsessed with orange highway cones. Not good.
Obsessions are like quicksand…they suck you in, won’t let you go, and distract your thinking from everything else. Most of the time, obsessions are negative, especially when a person dwells on one thing and allows it to color every aspect of their life. Every once in a while, however, we need short-term obsessions to take our minds away from our troubles…a walk in the woods, a day at the beach, or an afternoon at the spa. Ahhh. Then, it’s best to snap back to reality.
Part way into the road trip and long after I stopped the endless counting of Os, we made a stop in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. Okay, maybe I didn’t quite get over the orange obsession.
The town is known for the history of its natural springs. It still has an operating public bath house and is called the country’s first spa. George Washington helped to settle the area in the middle 1700s. This is marked as his bathtub, which was way cool to see up close.
I can just imagine George and his entourage coming here, putting their troubles aside, and soaking in the waters to take their minds off the battlefields. Even 250 years ago, escapes from reality were needed. In a way, I’d like to think that this place was an original outdoor obsession.
When you need to get away from it all, where do you go; what do you do?
The Chameleon's Backbone 
Posted by Liane on April 18, 2011 at 3:34 am
Those are beautiful orange flowers – they beat the cones by far haha. Yeah, being naked in public will get my mind off my other problems in a jiffy too! haha I’ve not often been privileged enough to ‘get away’ anywhere, but I’ve learned some things to do that has really helped me. I’ve crocheted some beautiful blankets and have read some awesome books when I desperately needed to shut my mind down. Or I’ve gone for long drives or rides with my bike to clear my head. That has always done wonders for me 🙂 Your trip sounds like it was a real treat. I love driving. I don’t like being the passenger as much though 🙂
Posted by Tracy on April 18, 2011 at 9:17 pm
I kind of figured that you like being in the driver’s seat, Liane. 🙂
Posted by yadayadafishpaste on April 19, 2011 at 5:13 pm
Right on the button! 😉
Posted by Ron on April 18, 2011 at 11:53 am
BEAU-TI-FUL photos, Tracy!
Especially the one of the flowers – stunning color capture!
Love the shot of George Washington’s bath tub. It almost looks like a Jacuzzi!
Don’t ya just hate long drives? I’m not one for long road trips unless I’m traveling in a big comfortable bus.
For me, my ideal ‘get away from it all’ would be spending a few days out of the city in the country. I adore city life, however I need also need some time to submerge myself in nature. It’s so good for the soul.
Happy Monday!
Posted by Tracy on April 18, 2011 at 9:18 pm
When I lived in a more dense area, I loved going to the country. Now that I’m in the burbs, I love going to the city! The grass is always greener…so they say.
Posted by Rae on April 18, 2011 at 12:02 pm
I love road trips! (In good weather!) And I love how you’ve given us a little history/vacation lesson with your beautiful photos! Great- O!
Posted by Tracy on April 18, 2011 at 9:19 pm
Thanks Rae!
Posted by SuziCate on April 18, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Cool post…love all the interesting history and tirvia on picks up on raod trips when you take the time to look.
Posted by Tracy on April 18, 2011 at 9:21 pm
There’s always cool things to look at when you take back roads. The highways are just one road sign and orange construction cone after the next. Hope you are doing well today SuziCate.
Posted by Lady Mama on April 18, 2011 at 11:13 pm
It looks beautiful there. I’m looking forward to going on a road trip over the summer with the family, to Western Canada (BC).