Berkley Springs

 My brother lives in Virginia.  When I visit, sometimes I drive there in one shot, sometimes I break it in two.  Mom and I will find a place to stop for the night, where ever we are, when ever we feel.  Now I know the title of this piece is Berkley Springs but i feel like talking about Harpers Ferry first.  

If you don't know about Harpers Ferry, you should google it.  John Brown lived in my home town.  I learned about him in elementary school.  He hated slavery, and he was fighter.  What's more American than that!  A rebellious freedom fighter!  It's why we as a nation always root for the little guy and never The Man.  As a kid I assumed this all went down in my home town.  We all know where the John Brown house is.  Nope.  The shit hit the fan in Harpers Ferry.  He raided the armory and tried to start a rebellion.  Then they killed him.  Like I said, Google it.  I'm not a historian.  

so somehow we ended up in Harpers Ferry for the night.  We commented to the hotel clerk about how packed the place seemed to be.  She mentioned there was a drag show.  Maybe that was it.  well!  "Hey ma!  wanna see a drag show?"  She is always down for something new.  Many think of my Mom as a pearl clutcher.  Nothing could be further than the truth.  Now that I'm grown, she has shown her true colors.    Her curiosity is insatiable.  It was fun.  Our favorite "girl" had a great outfit with long fringes.  she twirled and twirled and took all my money.  You'd think I'd have more stories, but it was a short show.  It did instigate a discussion between my Mom and I about how they tuck their penises.  Like I said!  She's ever curious.  

The next day, we did some sight seeing!  History!  block roads and wood barracks.  Good 'ol John Brown.  Stick it to the man!  slavery is bad.  FREEDOM!  (cue Rage Against the Machine).  I bought souvenir pocket knife earrings.  Cuz weapons!  yeah!  'Merica!  Could I be a John Brown?  Probably not.  I am meek.  I only pretend to be badass.  (sigh)

Onto Berkeley Springs!  

My favorite place to stop is Berkley Springs.  The first time we went, it was just because it was time to stop.  I didn't want to stop at the Super 8 off the highway, because now that I'm old, I don't do anything under three star if I can help it.  We went on to a place called The Country Inn at Berkley Springs.  It was adorable.  Quaint.  Creeky.  It had a fire place, a sleigh, rocking chairs, a piano, and (most importantly) a vacancy!  They said "we're putting you in the new building".  Sounds good.  It turns out new is relative.  I'm guessing 70's at the latest.  Still they had a bar and excellent food!  and really, really good water?  hmmm.  

 The next day we discovered the springs next door!  It was park like.  There were lots of people wading in a stream and some pools.  Does that say George Washington's bathtub?  Wow!  And look, a spa.  I can take a private bath in the spring water in this 100 year old (older?) spa, along with the usual spa stuff.  I'm assuming from the signage, back in the day, like in 1776, if you didn't need too much privacy, the men could hang at this spring site.  The woman's spring seemed to be enclosed, because you know, modesty.  Now, you must stick to the stream and pools.   At least I saw no nudity.  The spring itself is tapped.  We took a few jugs of water.  It may have been the ambiance (you know how I love ambiance), but this is the tastiest water ever!  

We soon left and went on to Virginia.  On the way back though, we stopped for more food and refills! 

Next time we stopped there on purpose.  Same quaint little place.  This time it was beautifully decorated for Christmas.  The next day was Thanksgiving, so they had a special breakfast buffet.  Most importantly we were ready!  armed with multiple bottles for filling, we brought back that sweet, sweet spring water.  I learned later they do treat it with UV (thank god), and charcoal filter, which I'm okay with.  Municiple water must be chlorinated by law, so the restaurant water wasn't as pure as from the tap, but I'm not complaining.  Liquid Gold!  

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