Wednesday, September 23, 2009

First Solo Road Trip Part 6. Foam Henge, Natural Bridge, VA

 

Foam Henge, Natural Bridge, VA 

Further down the same road I see a road sign almost hidden in the trees for 'Foam Henge' one mile ahead on right. I can't believe my luck and when I suddenly see the familiar monoliths in a clearing perched on a small hill I pull over immediately. It is exactly what it says it and I am in mute amazement to see this familiar landmark from my childhood home in Hampshire way out here in deepest darkest Virginia. It is a strange and deeply surreal sight. I immediately think too of the ending of the original Planet of the Apes movie and the line: “I’m home. All this time, I was home” are words which ring over and over in my head until finally I am compelled to whisper them to myself out loud in the car. These are the first words I have spoken all day too and my voice sounds remote and alien. I pull off the road into a small empty car park and see a track leading up the hill to where the foam stones are dramatically silhouetted against the late afternoon sky. 

At the bottom of the track is a small plaque staked into the ground which reads: "Welcome to Foamhenge. Completed in 6 weeks using beaded Styrofoam blocks weighing over 420lbs. Delivered on 4 tractor trailer trips from Winchester VA 100miles north. Taking 5 Mexicans and one White Man to construct." 

I clamber the path to the top and walk around the structure which is impressive in a totally eccentric way and, very carefully smoking, I begin to contemplate, in much the same way I would contemplate the original Stonehenge -considering deeply the mysteries of its purpose and also its makers. Finally, feeling weary from driving and overcome with childhood memories and emotions, I sit on one of the realistic gray painted now flaking fake fallen foam stones, which are quite comfortable, with a sense of peace and strange relief, until the sun goes down..


3 comments:

  1. Unbelievable! Such a strange find Simon!

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  2. Simon there's something surreal about this post and the correlation of the comments. The second one seems perfect as if ordered for this blog of "Altered States" a random generated viagara ad backdropping against a copy of a real stone figure from a far away land where the original is vertical and 'rock hard'

    This entry is a really good one. I've seen images before but your encounter makes it totally different for me. Thanks so much.

    Jan

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  3. You're right Jan, that is odd indeed.. Thanks for your comment and I'm glad you are enjoying these. Best to you, Simon

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