Sunday In The Valley

We arose early on Sunday and ate an "average" buffet breakfast at the lodge. An interdenominational church service was scheduled for 9 A.M. in back of the lodge and over looking the Canyon. It was a great. The Blackwater Falls chaplain is Rev. Allen Schwarz, who is Pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Davis.. He is a West Virginia native, born in Charleston and was a frequent visitor of the Davis-Thomas-Canaan Valley area prior to receiving the call to St. John's. What a great view and a great message!

We had to have a bite of lunch before we experienced our next adventure. The adventure I am speaking of is the free Wheeling Symphony concert at 3:00 P.M. this day in the natural outdoor amphitheater at Canaan Valley State Park.

Judy and I ate lunch at Hellbender Burritos in Davis.




Hellbender Burritos, located on William Avenue (Route 32) in Davis, WV, serves unique burritos in a unique atmosphere. The meal-sized burrito are filled with homemade ingredients.

We arrived about 2:45 for the concert. It was a lovely day. Music Director (conductor) of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, André Raphel, does an outstanding job. The featured vocalist was David Gaschen.

Internationally renowned vocalist and stage performer David Gaschen remains best
known for the years he devoted to the title character in "The Phantom of the Opera." All told, Gaschen has performed the role of the Phantom in professional productions
more than 1,300 times.


What is a 4th of July celebration without a welcome or two from our politicians? Senator Joe Manchin arrived to welcome the Wheeling Symphony to Canaan Valley.

You can always tell that I love the people watching experience.


The Wheeling Symphony program included the selections of Star Spangled Banner, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Liberty Bell March, American Salute, Colonel Boogey, My Fair Lady, Country Roads, Washington Post March, America the Beautiful, Stars and Stripes forever, and, of course, the1812 Overture.


We were blessed this day. About a 1/2 hour after the concert was finished, clouds became angry and rain sprinkled from the sky. We had pasta for supper at Siranni's Cafe in the valley. It was raining so we called it a night and headed to our room.

Tomorrow- the 4th of July - a closer look at Thomas.