Day 20 Hillsville, VA to Staunton, VA

Today, Monday May 17th is our 18th day of the Pub Crawl and our 20th day of travel. The early morning hours coupled with the constant motion of the events is starting to wear on people. Actually, we woke up this morning to a steady rain which made everyone kind of grouchy. But, we were underway by 8 after the usual morning hotel breakfast. Because of the rain we decided to skip part of the Blue Ridge and take a faster route. We had a special lunch planned so we had a deadline 5 hours down the road.

Our route took us on 2 lane highways for a bit, then up onto the Blue Ridge for 30 very foggy miles. Then we dropped down the mountain in an exciting twisty ride through the fog to Route 11 in Buckhannon and on to Raphine, VA, home of Joe and Sharon Topinka, a Morgan enthusiast who owns several of our unique cars.

He greeted us at his lovely home deep in the rural foot hills of the Virginia Appalachians.

We parked in front of his workshop and car barn.

After introductions the guys, and some of the gals, wandered out to the garage to check out 3 delightful Morgans. A 1966 +4 made up to Supersport specs.

An early barrelback three wheeler.

And a new Roadster which he doesn't seem to drive much and would like to sell. Hummmmm!

Meanwhile, inside their warm and cosy house Sally made friends.

The dinner bell sounded and all gathered for Brats and Hamburgers.

Mike and Diane Dewer of Kingsville, Ontario, Canada checked out the rose garden

Our host Joe and Bennett Shuldman enjoy after lunch conversation.

Newlyweds Art and Patsy Kampshafer, Pub Crawlers traveling in a Pontiac Solstace, because their Morgan died 60 miles from their Texas home. So they went back and got the "rag top"

Joe and Sharon Topinka, our very gracious hosts who were delighted to share their home and car collection with the traveling Pub Crawlers. This sort of hospitality is what makes the Pub Crawl such a unique event. Thanks to Joe and Sharon and Charlie Miller for making it happen.

We were busy driving in fairly poor conditions today and didn't get much of a chance to photograph the scenery, but I took this through the windshield to demonstrate the cloudy and rainy day. Temps were in the high 50s and we were all shivering by the time we got to the Topinka's in our little cars that are renowned for poor heaters and leaky cabins.

Once in Staunton we checked into the Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Conference Center, the nicest hotel we've been in during the entire trip. Dinner was scheduled at Byers St. Bistro. Nice place and good food.

Tomorrow is the final day of the "official Pub Crawl" and we travel to Manassas, VA for our final dinner together. More after that.