(6)  Ashburn - Columbus

We stayed 5 nights in Ashburn and 2 nights in Columbus. It was really relaxing 1 week at the mid point of the trip and we could recoup from many days of continued driving. Now, we have completed almost 3/4 of the trip plan and there are only 1/4 of the trip or 9 days left to finish this long trip.

Ashburn, VA

We did nothing but talking and taking a rest on the 2nd day, taking even a nap, and played a round of golf at their beautiful Belmont Country Club on the 3rd day (9/3). It was a hot day but still not too hot to play a golf. We teeed off at 9:30 AM, the best tee time usually, but played so called "President's Golf" - no one in front, no one in the back. It seemed we are the only players in the whole course. It seems they don't have too many players during the week days. What did I hit after more than 3 weeks of no-golf-days? Sorry, It is extremely private and confidential.

Luray Cavern, VA

Next day on 9/4, Jane and I drove to Luray Cavern which is only 1.5 hours driving. This is well known as most beautiful and one of the largest cave in the United States. By the sugesstion of Yo-Yoon, we also drove Shenando Valley National Park on the way back from Luray Cavern, which is considered as most beautiful driving course in the east.

Luray Cavern was really the most beautiful cave We have ever seen. We visited many caves including Carlsbad Cavern in New Mexico which was also a huge wonderful cave. However, this was the best. We have seen something like the following photos continuously during whole 1 hour guided tour. This spectacular huge cave was found by a guy who dropped to the cave accidentally while he was walking the hill 130 years ago. It is now owned and operated by a private corporation called "Luray Cavern Corporation".

This is what they call "Sunny Side Up". It really looked like a fryed egg - sunny side up.

Reflection. There was a small pond of clear water which reflected the ceiling beautifully. 
As the water was so clear, we could not see the water at first and didn't realize this is a reflection for a while.

They installed a pipe organ and this must be the largest natural pipe organ in the world. 
It played a wonderful melody for a while.

On the way back to home, we drove this beautiful 30 miles long Skyline Drive of the Shenandoah National Park.
 It has many overlooks ("Vista Point" in California) where you can look down Shenandoah Valley far a way for miles.

While we were in Ashburn, Yo-Yoon & Young got a new grandson, the 3rd. son of their 2nd daughter, 
Michelle, on 9/3. Michelle has 2 sons already and she became the mom of 3 sons now.

　We had a farewell dinner on the last day in Ashburn at the "Famous Dave's BBQ" restaurant and Young-Bae Moon, the son of Jane's eldest sister who moved to south Washington DC area just a few days ago at the end of August, joined with his wife and the 2nd. son. How lucky we were to see them unexpectedly.

Columbus, OH

On 9/6, when we were heading for Columbus, Ohio, hurricane Hanna was approaching to Washington DC area though it was already weakened to catagory 1 hurricane and still in North Carolina moving to north in the morning. However, it was rainy from early morning in Ashburn because of the Hanna and we left Ashburn at 8:45 AM, 1 hour 15 min. earlier than planned to avoid the Hanna. We had to drive under the rain for a while untill the rain stopped 2-3 hours later, as we were moving away from the hurricane zone to the west. The sky was mostly blue by the time we arrived Columbus, Ohio, at 4:30 PM driving 411 miles. Though we drove under the rain for 2-3 hours in the morning, it was not too bad and we were lucky enough again to avoid the major rain.

Wonderful welcome dinner at Seoung-Koo's house.

Young-Jin, the grandson of my eldest sister and younger brother of Hyo-Jin (We stayed the first night in New York at Hyo-Jin's house.), joined the dinner with his family. He lived in Columbus many years but got the new job in Singapore. He was going to leave for Singapore on 9/8 and this lucky guy could see him before he leaves for Singapore only 2 days later. His family will move to Singapore early next year because of his wife's job.

 Seong-Koo will move to this new house on 10/10, which is not far from current house within same New  Albany Country Club complex.