Zebulon Montgomery Pike Trail to Red River, Mexico Journey 1807

Day 38: November 4th, 2003 Lexington  — Pittsburgh

There was a Cracker Barrel at the very same exit, where I found the Outback Steakhouse yesterday. This is where I go for breakfast today. This will be the last time for this journey, where I will go for breakfast. I order again my Old Timers Breakfast with bacon and these cinnamon apples. I pay around nine and drive to the next gas station.

I–64, KY

I–64, KY

Around half past nine I am back on the Interstate in the direction to Pittsburgh. First I take I–64 to the east. The weather is nice, like the last couple of days. Only the temperatures are way lower than the last couple of days. All in all I passed the autumn areas and I am now reaching the late autumn areas.

I–64, State Line KY and WV

I continue for more than 100 miles before I reach the state line to West Virginia. I have been in this area already in 1999, when I followed the George Rogers Clark Trail along the Ohio. But now I am driving on the Interstate to the east.

I–64, Nitro, Kanawha River, WV

On my way I run into an Oversize Load, who is transporting a big house over the Interstate. It is accompanied by two cars, who are in touch with the truck driver via CB radio. It is very interesting to follow their conversations. Always, when one of the cars in front encounters a bridge or any similar road restriction, one of the following cars pulls over to the passing lane to block the Interstate and prevents the traffic from squeezing themselves past the truck and so preventing from bringing himself and others into danger. All in all it looks like a perfect team play. It is also interesting to listen to the guys, when they make jokes about all the impatient guys who try to squeeze by the truck somehow. But the accompanying cars always close the road perfectly.

After a bit more than 50 miles I arrive at Charleston, where I change the Interstate for the last time. From now on I will stay on I–79 until Warrendale.

I–79, State Line WV and PA

After another 150 miles I cross the state line between West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

At Washington I reach the point, where I left I–79 almost five weeks ago in western direction.

I–79, Pittsburgh, Ohio River, PA

Now I continue north and pass Pittsburgh.

I follow I–79 until I reach the Warrendale exit. Now it’s only a couple of minutes until I am “back home”. This time Helen is even at home. But she only arrived an hour ago from a business trip to Florida.

Originally I planned to have dinner at the Outback Steakhouse together with David. But unfortunately I reached him too late, so he already had dinner. Therefore I must drive to the Outback alone once again. After more than 400 miles on the road I definitely need a big steak to recover. Around half past nine I pay and drive back — this time not to a motel, but to my “American Mom”.