By: Bill Duvall

As you know from my last Blog entry, I'm a huge fan of the rock band Rush and have followed the band for the past 25 years.  As I sometimes do, I check around on the Internet for Rush "goings-on".. things the band is up to...  In one of those searches, I came across the picture below.  It shows drummer/lyricist Neil "The Professor" Peart posing for a picture ( man on left) at a truck stop.  Neal is an avid motorcyclist and has written and blogged about his biking travels all over the globe.  This picture struck me differently though.  In looking at the background.. the signage and the mountains, something seemed very familiar.. I know this place.  It wasn't until I read some of the supportive material, that Neil mentioned a ride into the West Virginia countryside and the starting place for the trip was a truck stop at Toms Brook, Virginia.. not 10 minutes from my house.  I have been over some of those West Virginia roads and the countryside and how it brings you close (sometimes too close) to nature is inspiring.  Sometimes just a pleasure drive on some scenic by-ways of our region can be "something to write home about". Even for a globe trotting rock star.