Somewhere south of Culpeper, just after sunset, a slim sliver of the moon hung in the wetern sky.
I drove south to Lynchburg on a bit of a leisurely, scenic route. I started out as many of these trips start, heading north to Harrisburg then turning south down Interstate 81. I got off to a later start than I’d intended, and my legs ached by the time I reached the Virginia Welcome Center. I stopped there to stretch the legs, and when I studied the road map at the entrance I decided on the spur of a moment on a different route — down 522 from Winchester through Front Royal to Culpeper then down 29 through Charlottesville to Lynchburg.
It was late afternoon as I went through the mountains. They glowed in the waning sunlight of the day.
Seeing the sliver of the moon as I headed down the highway, I could feel the enormity of the world. Perhaps, had I not a destination, I could have fallen into the sky.
I was glad I took the scenic route. So many beautiful vistas! So many charming little towns!