Beginning at the juncture of US 460 (the main route into West Virginia from Blacksburg) and Virginia State Route 42 into New Castle, we drove the 40 miles or so of this scenic, two lane roadway on a "chamber of commerce day", blue sky, puffy white clouds and lots of green grass.
A day or two earlier, we had been in Newport, a village on 42 right off 460, and so I use a shot from that day to begin our odyssey. A 1916 covered bridge only used for walking these days.
We were cruising along, just enjoying being out together, when my wife said to me, "you may not have noticed, but we just passed a really pretty church that looked like a good picture". I had noticed the building and I did turn around and retrace my steps back south.
Parking a little way from the church, I took a couple of shots. Level Green Christian Church, established 100 years before we were born, in 1836. A neat church in a pretty setting. The main structure of the church dates from 1896 with subsequent additions in the mid 1900s.
While standing at the car thinking about what kind of folks had attended this house of worship for all these years, I happened to look west up the nearby hill and noticed a cemetery at the top of the rise. There was a cemetery behind the church, so this must be a community one. Could I find a way to the top?
Driving a short distance south, a sign proclaimed Williams Cemetery standing next to a farm road going west. Right away we were confronted by an old house, no telling what the age. It must have been some home in its day.
The double track roadway went by the house and then began its rise toward the cemetery. After stopping to open the gate, we traveled to the top to find a well maintained acre or so of hilltop. With a view across and up and down the valley, it was a reverent spot. We spotted graves from the middle 1800s all the way to 2019. And what a view!
Returning the the highway, we spotted an older car in the weeds beside the track. My question was "what was the make of the car and how old was it?" Check the Malibu on the steering wheel.
Stopping to take a shot of the barn in the field near the old house, I trudged into the hay field and took a few shots. From its appearance, it looked to be still in use, at least for storing hay.
Coming out of the field, we noticed a couple on the road with backpacks. Chad and Laura were thru hikers on the Appalachian Trail and had begun their trek at the trailhead near Springer's Mtn. down in north Georgia, and were walking to Maine. They had covered 600+ miles to this point and had a heap more to walk before they reached their destination 1500 more miles north. We wished them God Speed, and they walked out.
The views on Route 42 were so pleasant, that we almost forgot why we were there on that day. There was a courthouse at New Castle, county seat of Craig County, and almost reluctantly we continued north.
A few miles from the town, we spotted a historical marker and stopped to read:
Eastern Continental Divide as you can read.
From an overlook, we could see New Castle below.
What began as a courthouse trip, gave us much more than we bargained for.
But, while I sorta doubt it will be a cover story in Southern Living, for a couple of retired people, it turned out to be a picture perfect day.
And we got pictures of three Virginia courthouses:
Giles County, founded 1806, located in Pearisburg.
Craig County, New Castle.
Botetourt County, in Fincastle.
What a Day!
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