EXISTIMATIO: Take Me Home, Country Roads

"Let's go to West Virginia," my girlfriends Esther and Helena and I decided. Esther and I had never been, and we all wanted a scenic part of the country close enough to drive to on a four-day weekend.

And thus we ended up at Pipestem State Park for their Irish Road Bowling tournament. We even made it on the 6pm AND 10pm news, which you can watch here (click on "Watch Story Video" under the photo). On the 6pm news the sportscaster mentioned "the three girls from Chicago who drove all the way down," making us out to be Road Bowling fanatics. But no matter. We tied for highest number of throws and almost got a trophy*, and at the free picnic at the completion of the afternoon the organizer ended by leading everyone in a round of applause for us. I have never felt more welcomed.

Except for later that night -- when we happened upon a square dancing workshop/performance at the lodge. We went in to watch the dancing, ending up staying over an hour and learning a line dance with the cute old couples in their matching outfits (and some women with frilly bloomers). The caller even asked everyone to teach us an entire reel! Again, the welcome we received was overwhelming.

That day ranks up there with my heretofore Best Travel Day Ever -- a day in Snowdonia National Park, Wales, with my friend Marissa while we studied abroad -- and shall be known henceforth as my Favorite American Travel Day.

Until the next trip...

*goal of Irish Road Bowling: to complete the course in the fewest number of throws. we had a bowl-off with the team we tied with, which consisted of ladies ranging in age from 50-something to 77 years old. they won.