Back road vistas in Nelson County

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zwhQT3ynD-e2HzlBnLhNUnTZF_2zYG8d9CEUY8lgrPxXSP0meT9WehDhbENjUhADAbGCVEAjYJwZU2KKcVfl1THu1TLArZE-LALWWgZD2xT328FOnocwDeDuAWqMEobljR3Hjc7QhFOX/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zwhQT3ynD-e2HzlBnLhNUnTZF_2zYG8d9CEUY8lgrPxXSP0meT9WehDhbENjUhADAbGCVEAjYJwZU2KKcVfl1THu1TLArZE-LALWWgZD2xT328FOnocwDeDuAWqMEobljR3Hjc7QhFOX/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We looked across the field and my sister noted that the fog-topped mountain looked like a volcano.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4db2Bcj69JdTH2pbwEda-vvgtCllIkUSbBpdTTFkWO-SN6yFxHQkkoYS9dgTWbfflZeHP6O96BejKtVpX8Hlp87gGnUgvy1JXlmAWcSj8wKeqX-LkB3EA726fU8CU32cisH2ug_hKJ_G/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4db2Bcj69JdTH2pbwEda-vvgtCllIkUSbBpdTTFkWO-SN6yFxHQkkoYS9dgTWbfflZeHP6O96BejKtVpX8Hlp87gGnUgvy1JXlmAWcSj8wKeqX-LkB3EA726fU8CU32cisH2ug_hKJ_G/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Apple trees from Seaman orchards were loaded with a variety of apples ready to pick.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdrhQ4jYQ2sIj_VUrCXdxAf-0i133mXSghmdYJgm4pwPTcTNDWfbfcGNYQfrgdso-453aO8567bW6rBuW0BjG0vwrSVqXm4d-0aSvt8G8RzK3uH9wl5jNql8Jpyv89doYKsQlf0cgcC5l/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdrhQ4jYQ2sIj_VUrCXdxAf-0i133mXSghmdYJgm4pwPTcTNDWfbfcGNYQfrgdso-453aO8567bW6rBuW0BjG0vwrSVqXm4d-0aSvt8G8RzK3uH9wl5jNql8Jpyv89doYKsQlf0cgcC5l/s400/8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwAhkG13LT8JWWCMREpIau8MOr4IFjEEBMEdjOb9xQ1sGPZXGRO1CC4acb_iqvq_wieMNHslPzxrucE6hBxpGFrwf4ckZkM0OxCKRVkXegfOMV45RVM3pEFYhw-kyko3OaqVmqvuTSyQh/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwAhkG13LT8JWWCMREpIau8MOr4IFjEEBMEdjOb9xQ1sGPZXGRO1CC4acb_iqvq_wieMNHslPzxrucE6hBxpGFrwf4ckZkM0OxCKRVkXegfOMV45RVM3pEFYhw-kyko3OaqVmqvuTSyQh/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9fa4LbgaZKRPY-iVD34jUtf53RwwTctG9FzUH1eCGeh5bQUpC8SzC8DRJ6f-qOOLkRtUXcSCchvhvWLU0k_6q05Rv3qsN2P757XKNeNy7cGbO1D0kwBXFW0odAJxY1OzjYvS5RX8mFEV/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9fa4LbgaZKRPY-iVD34jUtf53RwwTctG9FzUH1eCGeh5bQUpC8SzC8DRJ6f-qOOLkRtUXcSCchvhvWLU0k_6q05Rv3qsN2P757XKNeNy7cGbO1D0kwBXFW0odAJxY1OzjYvS5RX8mFEV/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4L2QftoEnp1RzrBM3Cn709F1fwyGQIpvKmy1rDUWbo03iVR-5Qav1KMEbKwQclU9PNBZVcyiw75_OJBUF3Gsx5i2SveyHxFI_SW9MkdpKGLCHN2lQfewYtd9nojKvlEw0pAEYmY_Dfpc/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4L2QftoEnp1RzrBM3Cn709F1fwyGQIpvKmy1rDUWbo03iVR-5Qav1KMEbKwQclU9PNBZVcyiw75_OJBUF3Gsx5i2SveyHxFI_SW9MkdpKGLCHN2lQfewYtd9nojKvlEw0pAEYmY_Dfpc/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhJ0dSg3cYnye3VjddVyRB8EIs-6_zni9CIb6QBvGVvxXuH4Q7IslwWpfuwFMYRsvShOLwpvRKkzForacXmC_Mi7DlltUBp8fkBqHV-b4OVyepZipdXjoMrp2DNuCJz5UZXdOX8UNpcWt/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhJ0dSg3cYnye3VjddVyRB8EIs-6_zni9CIb6QBvGVvxXuH4Q7IslwWpfuwFMYRsvShOLwpvRKkzForacXmC_Mi7DlltUBp8fkBqHV-b4OVyepZipdXjoMrp2DNuCJz5UZXdOX8UNpcWt/s400/13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fk3JVjCMcLWntmYCcNTBpQKXx0Jq1wMok6hi_nylOFdTcWy7PQ7CvRc2gL2eHiMd1je28xAS-Amq1GuyIRY8-O3aWDBG2bx8Uns1XmKxL3hCIxMiBoAe3I17vcU275pFif8W08tdpCbs/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fk3JVjCMcLWntmYCcNTBpQKXx0Jq1wMok6hi_nylOFdTcWy7PQ7CvRc2gL2eHiMd1je28xAS-Amq1GuyIRY8-O3aWDBG2bx8Uns1XmKxL3hCIxMiBoAe3I17vcU275pFif8W08tdpCbs/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1d8r9XyR_O3YXbJZ_TcKT7KloG-E6dP-sNy1uWczHOePLCXQ1LIUrqZaCd8CRN5GiHFMDkD2zjF16X8IpzKVTEi8LRiQqsiyzDuyLl2z7of7G-4RyOa3QB5byFSV0Ip2O_R5K9ZiBaCp/s1600/Saunders+Brothers,+Thai+place+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1d8r9XyR_O3YXbJZ_TcKT7KloG-E6dP-sNy1uWczHOePLCXQ1LIUrqZaCd8CRN5GiHFMDkD2zjF16X8IpzKVTEi8LRiQqsiyzDuyLl2z7of7G-4RyOa3QB5byFSV0Ip2O_R5K9ZiBaCp/s400/Saunders+Brothers,+Thai+place+026.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />August 21, 2013

back roads Blue Ridge Mountains Nelson County rural Virginia tourism Virginia Is For Lovers Back road vistas in Nelson County

 We looked across the field and my sister noted that the fog-topped mountain looked like a volcano.  Apple trees from Seaman orchards were l...

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Nelson County: A trip to Saunders Brothers for Virginia apples and peaches and garden veggies

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivl9CPGv43NMhRf15FznHxxXJUxMmY2WDrLgp-iuJ2WJL2W6Kf7F11WLKewc2Ga9gIArYFD48enyoxlGv520i0t0oHqd6RcqSl5WzBE7wQcnQOZ4Oy1mAYIyUpxIyP5l4z1IADC5XrzjZi/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivl9CPGv43NMhRf15FznHxxXJUxMmY2WDrLgp-iuJ2WJL2W6Kf7F11WLKewc2Ga9gIArYFD48enyoxlGv520i0t0oHqd6RcqSl5WzBE7wQcnQOZ4Oy1mAYIyUpxIyP5l4z1IADC5XrzjZi/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> One of the best things about summer in Virginia is the fresh produce available from local growers. My Richmond sister and I met up in Charlottesville Wednesday and headed down Rt. 29 to <a href="http://www.saundersbrothers.com/">Saunders Brothers Produce</a> in southern Nelson County. The ride was gorgeous through the rolling countryside with vistas of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. We passed through Lovingston and on to Rt. 56 where we turned toward the mountains. Just a couple of miles up the road on the right was Saunders Brothers.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00LJTXqfktnSJpzh7QX0ILTeI0c3gexghv5yjHcG8UlkHg18QOz5WmnucJozTHpaq6GC0Pw40z2wxdY1-gSAdOkA3SaT7OAQLbFen3lcxmJGZtfYFoCn-ESj1-wkVVTMAD4VtNZbjt50o/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00LJTXqfktnSJpzh7QX0ILTeI0c3gexghv5yjHcG8UlkHg18QOz5WmnucJozTHpaq6GC0Pw40z2wxdY1-gSAdOkA3SaT7OAQLbFen3lcxmJGZtfYFoCn-ESj1-wkVVTMAD4VtNZbjt50o/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> What a treat to find Gala apples available as well as late summer peaches -- white and yellow -- and a variety of other fruits and vegetables. We loaded up on Galas, peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe, corn on the cob, and yellow squash. Who needs meat for dinner with all those veggies?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyw4XJdh3axdPG3BTq7KK4oUnSnLKI-NixcwSUitBnDAJc1Tzt06QbTezmfWWWUAuNoJVDcbNWG1zcY3qSIttEImYNWZjiUPRmDJc8VvKkiy9qhuEA0d0bSzvwKB1oeCNDFz_o_9n3a83/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyw4XJdh3axdPG3BTq7KK4oUnSnLKI-NixcwSUitBnDAJc1Tzt06QbTezmfWWWUAuNoJVDcbNWG1zcY3qSIttEImYNWZjiUPRmDJc8VvKkiy9qhuEA0d0bSzvwKB1oeCNDFz_o_9n3a83/s400/3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> So for lunch and dinner I've been cooking squash and onions and corn on the cob, and adding them to the tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers out of our garden. Oh man ... that's good stuff. I'm trying to enjoy as much of this as possible because it's getting late in the summer growing season which means the fresh goodies will begin to play out. My kitchen smells like ripe peaches as I wait for them to get to <i>just the right ripeness</i> to peel and cut up for the freezer. That will extend summer for a little longer.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIEAbhdwDrCl8epLCpfSJr5s0BXecdrKScEwUWKkOUVe-7H7JJNR_N7oK87Mgsmki7GVESRs59M57nYEjwz4y7SfOiXvg8leS18eepbcomzb5vB0-QMptxf8hDiK_IYxORrMASXzPpfs2/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIEAbhdwDrCl8epLCpfSJr5s0BXecdrKScEwUWKkOUVe-7H7JJNR_N7oK87Mgsmki7GVESRs59M57nYEjwz4y7SfOiXvg8leS18eepbcomzb5vB0-QMptxf8hDiK_IYxORrMASXzPpfs2/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Saunders has lots of fall apples that will be coming in through October plus whatever other produce will be available. This was our third trip this summer ... we'll be back before too long.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFS-7tBhD_ZN3Fz9lkWz84yiZ5hDuOoz0vZ8IM_noyMNyTo3MpuuYojZxjLUXYnqNauZOuT0_k55FBLxogjuiyVKsgrQ_JGolhZKLzYFQktEI-NozM9gaWu_fp0zUsHhK9WQW7-gJbYO-h/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFS-7tBhD_ZN3Fz9lkWz84yiZ5hDuOoz0vZ8IM_noyMNyTo3MpuuYojZxjLUXYnqNauZOuT0_k55FBLxogjuiyVKsgrQ_JGolhZKLzYFQktEI-NozM9gaWu_fp0zUsHhK9WQW7-gJbYO-h/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Saunders Brothers is a family business that started in 1915. Through trials and tribulations, they have made it to the point where they are today. Virginians supporting Virginia businesses....<br /><br />Cross-posted at <a href="http://vapolitics.us/2013/08/nelson-county-a-trip-to-saunders-brothers-for-virginia-apples-peaches-and-garden-veggies/">Bearing Drift</a><br /><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />August 21, 2013

apples Blue Ridge Mountains Charlottesville family businesses fresh produce Nelson County peaches Saunders Brothers Virginia business Nelson County: A trip to Saunders Brothers for Virginia apples and peaches and garden veggies

 One of the best things about summer in Virginia is the fresh produce available from local growers. My Richmond sister and I met up in Charl...

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Today at Wintergreen: 8th Annual Blue Ridge Mountian Music Festival

8th Annual Blue Ridge Mountain Music Festival<br />August 17<br />12-7 pm<br />Dunlop Pavilion, Wintergreen Resort<br /><br />The weather's perfect for today's Blue Ridge Mountain Music Fest at Wintergreen. Sunny skies, cool temps, low humidity ... a great day to head to the mountains.<br /><br />Celebrating our mountain heritage, Wintergreen Performing Arts presents the 8th Annual <a href="http://direct.wintergreenresort.com/ct/22881275:23605075909:m:1:1511708989:696BC2655C4E4C3F4E415FEEFEDEF136:r" target="_blank">Blue Ridge Mountain Music Fest</a>. This year the Fest features the return of the always popular Robin and Linda Williams and Their Fine Group and the Grammy-nominated marquee bluegrass group, Blue Highway. Rounding out the program, we welcome Honey Dewdrops as well as Kim and Jimbo Cary & Peter and Ellen Vigour.<br /><br />Schedule:<br /><br />12 pm Honey Dewdrops<br />1 pm Blue Highway<br />2 pm <a href="http://direct.wintergreenresort.com/ct/22881278:23605075909:m:1:1511708989:696BC2655C4E4C3F4E415FEEFEDEF136:r" target="_blank">Robin and Linda Williams</a> and their Fine Group<br />3 pm Honey Dewdrops<br />4 pm Blue Highway<br />5 pm Robin and Linda Williams and their Fine Group<br />6 pm  <a href="http://direct.wintergreenresort.com/ct/22881279:23605075909:m:1:1511708989:696BC2655C4E4C3F4E415FEEFEDEF136:r" target="_blank">Kim & Jimbo Cary</a> and <a href="http://direct.wintergreenresort.com/ct/22881281:23605075909:m:1:1511708989:696BC2655C4E4C3F4E415FEEFEDEF136:r" target="_blank">Peter & Ellen Vigou</a>r<br /><br />Join us for a toe tapping good time!

Blue Highway Blue Ridge Mountains Honey Dewdrops Kim and Jimbo Cary Nellysford Peter and Ellen Vigour Robin and Linda Williams Virginia Is For Lovers Virginia tourism Wintergreen Resort Today at Wintergreen: 8th Annual Blue Ridge Mountian Music Festival

8th Annual Blue Ridge Mountain Music Festival August 17 12-7 pm Dunlop Pavilion, Wintergreen Resort The weather's perfect for today'...

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Wintergreen: 8th Annual Blue Ridge Mountian Music Festival this weekend

8th Annual Blue Ridge Mountain Music Festival<br />August 17<br />12-7 pm<br />Dunlop Pavilion, Wintergreen Resort<br /><br />Celebrating our mountain heritage, Wintergreen Performing Arts presents the 8th Annual <a href="http://direct.wintergreenresort.com/ct/22881275:23605075909:m:1:1511708989:696BC2655C4E4C3F4E415FEEFEDEF136:r" target="_blank">Blue Ridge Mountain Music Fest</a>. This year the Fest features the return of the always popular Robin and Linda Williams and Their Fine Group and the Grammy-nominated marquee bluegrass group, Blue Highway. Rounding out the program, we welcome Honey Dewdrops as well as Kim and Jimbo Cary & Peter and Ellen Vigour.<br /><br /> Schedule:<br /><br />12 pm Honey Dewdrops<br />1 pm Blue Highway<br />2 pm <a href="http://direct.wintergreenresort.com/ct/22881278:23605075909:m:1:1511708989:696BC2655C4E4C3F4E415FEEFEDEF136:r" target="_blank">Robin and Linda Williams</a> and their Fine Group<br />3 pm Honey Dewdrops<br />4 pm Blue Highway<br />5 pm Robin and Linda Williams and their Fine Group<br />6 pm  <a href="http://direct.wintergreenresort.com/ct/22881279:23605075909:m:1:1511708989:696BC2655C4E4C3F4E415FEEFEDEF136:r" target="_blank">Kim & Jimbo Cary</a> and <a href="http://direct.wintergreenresort.com/ct/22881281:23605075909:m:1:1511708989:696BC2655C4E4C3F4E415FEEFEDEF136:r" target="_blank">Peter & Ellen Vigou</a>r<br /><br />Join us for a toe tapping good time!

Blue Highway Blue Ridge Mountains Honey Dewdrops Kim and Jimbo Cary Nellysford Peter and Ellen Vigour Robin and Linda Williams Virginia Is For Lovers Virginia tourism Wintergreen Resort Wintergreen: 8th Annual Blue Ridge Mountian Music Festival this weekend

8th Annual Blue Ridge Mountain Music Festival August 17 12-7 pm Dunlop Pavilion, Wintergreen Resort Celebrating our mountain heritage, Winte...

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New superintendent named for Blue Ridge Parkway

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvVY5xdZm5NFoIGG4uAIBgUZbsLHjNCkuuEQ5vl_soyCK6yhmtMUmH9umWlSBgvBPAlRta8l2a9dzxuPIhgoJ656akq331V1-DaDLznjIHB0ys8i6LxxHlJAJmqbwNCZIaxKDz8YoqdIp/s1600/41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvVY5xdZm5NFoIGG4uAIBgUZbsLHjNCkuuEQ5vl_soyCK6yhmtMUmH9umWlSBgvBPAlRta8l2a9dzxuPIhgoJ656akq331V1-DaDLznjIHB0ys8i6LxxHlJAJmqbwNCZIaxKDz8YoqdIp/s400/41.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Mark Woods, 53, has been named the new superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, according to Thursday's <a href="http://www.roanoke.com//news/2137308-10/new-leader-named-for-blue-ridge-parkway.html"><i>Roanoke Times</i></a>. A long-time veteran of the National Park Service, the <i>Times</i> noted that his leadership comes at a rocky time in Park history:<br /><blockquote>Woods takes over during a precarious time in the parkway’s 78-year history. The parkway has a $400 million backlog of maintenance projects. The federal budget sequester forced automatic 5 percent cuts, which amounted to a $740,000 reduction. Several sites along the parkway were forced to close this year, including Roanoke Mountain Campground, the Rocky Knob Visitor Center and the Smart View picnic area.</blockquote>Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />Milepost 0 of Blue Ridge Parkway<br />Afton, Virginia

Afton Blue Ridge Mountains Blue Ridge Parkway BRP Mark Woods National Park Service new superintendent North Carolina Virginia New superintendent named for Blue Ridge Parkway

Mark Woods, 53, has been named the new superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, according to Thursday's Roanoke Times . A long-time vet...

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Family

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzorHewOrd8Hc2eJe9qzC4OPPcQEuV7a25gwpqO5mIrIs8o0VOD-OfhcgECPXy-RM-Pegm1N6b4Vp940LOvCCPCkbFKkDXwkEwgRcsO0pErREIalOJgkAhdS5fvnUQ7zHrgRWw_JGMdN_/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzorHewOrd8Hc2eJe9qzC4OPPcQEuV7a25gwpqO5mIrIs8o0VOD-OfhcgECPXy-RM-Pegm1N6b4Vp940LOvCCPCkbFKkDXwkEwgRcsO0pErREIalOJgkAhdS5fvnUQ7zHrgRWw_JGMdN_/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Birthday celebration on the deck.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHPxekV8ETst-1R3yFUrmFzkwn8fToyZqKKTF-nRK_zN6sEYjbDUzLBTv4tv9iYq0qlyB0LXcOkcecssR1YWbampUGe8kokAN1HOXMPCrnuT2-nZtxoQskXLBoulA4GGjCNesCXXHTdN1/s1600/1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHPxekV8ETst-1R3yFUrmFzkwn8fToyZqKKTF-nRK_zN6sEYjbDUzLBTv4tv9iYq0qlyB0LXcOkcecssR1YWbampUGe8kokAN1HOXMPCrnuT2-nZtxoQskXLBoulA4GGjCNesCXXHTdN1/s400/1a.jpg" width="163" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>He brought flowers for his grandmother.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3XlfYOTpPQxp6qGLqYPg-RI_Mfy9NybScY7tpZitknfZ46o1EHerETS9mzoPX8xCvzjOy9J7CXnLPd1ZXZ600awQ_diSued9_rxCJqQif97qoTLdZttSm5IR0uo1VYqoSjGcu-V1NPl0/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3XlfYOTpPQxp6qGLqYPg-RI_Mfy9NybScY7tpZitknfZ46o1EHerETS9mzoPX8xCvzjOy9J7CXnLPd1ZXZ600awQ_diSued9_rxCJqQif97qoTLdZttSm5IR0uo1VYqoSjGcu-V1NPl0/s640/2.jpg" width="388" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Mom with the beautiful flowers from cousins Lynn and John Osborne in Chesterfield.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbUaXJRojMov-ppJ4QZS9qS5Qa8FAGlcZo9BlAkT6X5ZIir8qCD0jgeu_YaZ8ElH95OE6_Zps8_R8V1aAq6UD8v_seH_gqPyZXRPYJTklP8VAJLbi7F2d_-RElH66inB3w-EQ_s9VLwa3/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbUaXJRojMov-ppJ4QZS9qS5Qa8FAGlcZo9BlAkT6X5ZIir8qCD0jgeu_YaZ8ElH95OE6_Zps8_R8V1aAq6UD8v_seH_gqPyZXRPYJTklP8VAJLbi7F2d_-RElH66inB3w-EQ_s9VLwa3/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiG6pRjJn7L3j_P-wxJ-5nvfY-ixCVZqujVxjI5-4ax2f2rSqHLpTfBSgy6kMslb5W0j2XQAbPrL1GQ_cz9VFprMrNVUrXce6SHqgLVxNImr9icdEotdrrmhbqOBACKhwoS6DTick6BqT/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiG6pRjJn7L3j_P-wxJ-5nvfY-ixCVZqujVxjI5-4ax2f2rSqHLpTfBSgy6kMslb5W0j2XQAbPrL1GQ_cz9VFprMrNVUrXce6SHqgLVxNImr9icdEotdrrmhbqOBACKhwoS6DTick6BqT/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUYWYs0emmlvK4qnSNEFekqfM3NTljJunoGLutNMxylf5ILmYJf7Hmu0_Umf1AmLcVLg4lG9XNEYlewtrG811NPh4zcWHAardNsXTv36qRvDb6yo8pGqMWzMk1fCDmfSBXIP5zS6vqiqG/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUYWYs0emmlvK4qnSNEFekqfM3NTljJunoGLutNMxylf5ILmYJf7Hmu0_Umf1AmLcVLg4lG9XNEYlewtrG811NPh4zcWHAardNsXTv36qRvDb6yo8pGqMWzMk1fCDmfSBXIP5zS6vqiqG/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Dinner was marinated pork chops and corn on the cob from the grill, boiled Yukon Gold potatoes and sliced tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, and grilled flat bread. Summer eating is some kind of good with all the fresh produce.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuMvQlGre56lv0dJiat56_e6XYxAkA0sWuEpyihxKkdcAlErLKr0ZeC00Oa2F5COqORkfkxo4uBgMvgfwPKUc8GJHMog5NkOfzbQd9Yvj8NK9IV63P5LNstC0YTBuElvlDAtclRzKoSSO/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuMvQlGre56lv0dJiat56_e6XYxAkA0sWuEpyihxKkdcAlErLKr0ZeC00Oa2F5COqORkfkxo4uBgMvgfwPKUc8GJHMog5NkOfzbQd9Yvj8NK9IV63P5LNstC0YTBuElvlDAtclRzKoSSO/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Gourmet birthday cupcakes for the birthday folks ... both my parents and SWAC Husband.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAOy6-pPoWtRdNrAiAh-aIpuPtJvKrXhr2ja5rCsFy8uWhTK2NmGt2olzMjIy1roQCnxp_ttTcSt7XiGoEn2X6hB4Peo6CBEJ3HzBw1Nu-fdnt5PPHToDUnAtfmedUf6mcFTyJgPi0Iyi/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAOy6-pPoWtRdNrAiAh-aIpuPtJvKrXhr2ja5rCsFy8uWhTK2NmGt2olzMjIy1roQCnxp_ttTcSt7XiGoEn2X6hB4Peo6CBEJ3HzBw1Nu-fdnt5PPHToDUnAtfmedUf6mcFTyJgPi0Iyi/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>SWAC Son brought flowers for me, too, even though he and I are February babies.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWPMnCTgN5zyPLSytmMi49DrggXI5kuqwlBsMp6ezC0Iy8toE0vqPEIq1WW8oLb5X4sSR6r405B2lCfodRhPnNBl5wdvG6bK63OfFR4ZgxcavHbVPlGtQxGJWKEv87fksLmX6xjPF0hEN/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWPMnCTgN5zyPLSytmMi49DrggXI5kuqwlBsMp6ezC0Iy8toE0vqPEIq1WW8oLb5X4sSR6r405B2lCfodRhPnNBl5wdvG6bK63OfFR4ZgxcavHbVPlGtQxGJWKEv87fksLmX6xjPF0hEN/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My bookworm parents rocking and reading on the front porch.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUSwklR_qZWszUqKtYODYjP7eHPQCknvcKTprEOH66OvQIymupSiQwnhhZe_n9wlXoE1FXowDJjtqG1TSJb3VWR7FnosuKmIuSaWIdTK-YjXO41310D95lbNlHOy9WxcJgWjjdaICV_Y-/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUSwklR_qZWszUqKtYODYjP7eHPQCknvcKTprEOH66OvQIymupSiQwnhhZe_n9wlXoE1FXowDJjtqG1TSJb3VWR7FnosuKmIuSaWIdTK-YjXO41310D95lbNlHOy9WxcJgWjjdaICV_Y-/s400/2.jpg" width="167" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Stepping out in the back yard.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINo4_GuMbUBTyS3GtjcsOedZkyDIKW8b0AfkdTuCqR6bd72R_9YuGdSqmlGQkDL7v6GmUa0wrI-WNdKxKgtu6DjtfHy35UzlfttimPc9RjH8uqqmkgYub2WPxIwhRIDJQ79maICdDp2I5/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINo4_GuMbUBTyS3GtjcsOedZkyDIKW8b0AfkdTuCqR6bd72R_9YuGdSqmlGQkDL7v6GmUa0wrI-WNdKxKgtu6DjtfHy35UzlfttimPc9RjH8uqqmkgYub2WPxIwhRIDJQ79maICdDp2I5/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>They like to roam the yard and woods when visiting, checking out the plants, trees, and flowers they have passed along to us over the years. They like to check out the garden, too, and both love tomatoes so we sent them home with a load of freshly-picked produce.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AY84rFTSXCCa0HeFJxBsm83iLj4pvNAMRk7j4Om-kMXCs6UMrOnlLIvriAnrCnwUbk7rpkEUAkh_fF8fzKJrP5RqOy4GusUP20pgBBY3YO72KCKpeWEfexKb_f8WehG4zAAO5SABA9Bu/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AY84rFTSXCCa0HeFJxBsm83iLj4pvNAMRk7j4Om-kMXCs6UMrOnlLIvriAnrCnwUbk7rpkEUAkh_fF8fzKJrP5RqOy4GusUP20pgBBY3YO72KCKpeWEfexKb_f8WehG4zAAO5SABA9Bu/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I have a Country Mouse and a City Mouse for parents ... both grew up with different background experiences ... but both love the outdoors.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-H3lvpAvu-jMxmsTWkn163kY93e_asSGtWlT_XKAFbVwBI145SV-zJXdxBiEkaNiKreRnvomC8gMUH948XTYkRi8UfVV7M1M0U3U1XH2ZCVvWXmZUXbRsAwlU_E7t0fkp1etMuxSwMhW/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-H3lvpAvu-jMxmsTWkn163kY93e_asSGtWlT_XKAFbVwBI145SV-zJXdxBiEkaNiKreRnvomC8gMUH948XTYkRi8UfVV7M1M0U3U1XH2ZCVvWXmZUXbRsAwlU_E7t0fkp1etMuxSwMhW/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />My parents were in town this week for a visit. We were celebrating birthdays and family. They are in their 80s and still perking right along and, while visiting, they didn't really want to go anywhere but, rather, just talk, read, and enjoy the peace and quiet of the Shenandoah Valley. <br /><br />So that's exactly what we did. SWAC Son joined us as we celebrated the birthdays on Monday with dinner on the deck ... grilled pork chops and corn with goodies from the garden -- boiled Yukon Gold potatoes as well as freshly picked tomatoes and cucumbers, along with strawberries, blueberries, and peaches. Oh -- and gourmet cupcakes for the birthday kids -- strawberry-topped cupcakes for my folks and key lime-flavored for SWAC Husband.  And gorgeous flowers for Mom from SWAC Son and cousins in Richmond. It was a feast on the deck overlooking the back yard, woods, and mountain ridge, and so we lingered until dark, talking and enjoying the cool evening breeze.<br /><br />It was a good week and we were thankful that the weather cooperated with low humidity, low temps, and a breeze, and even the rain showers were gentle enough to sit on the porch and read. I set up the video camera and recorded Mom talking about family history, something we need to continue next time we're together, and took notes that will be added to our genealogy books.<br /><br />They are part of the World War II generation, a sad, fascinating time in American and world history, and each personal perspective of that time as teenagers is unique ... one graduating high school and going straight to work ... the other graduating high school and attending Virginia Tech before the Navy pulled him into the war. Victory gardens, ration coupons, gas shortages, loss of a sibling during the war ... they know it up close and personal. <br /><br />Family and the Shenandoah Valley. It doesn't get much better....<br /><br /><i>Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell</i><br /><i>August 2013</i>

Augusta County Blue Ridge Mountains family friendship parents Shenandoah Valley World War II Family

Birthday celebration on the deck. He brought flowers for his grandmother. Mom with the beautiful flowers from cousins Lynn and John Osborne ...

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Fodor's: '4 U.S. road trips to take before you die' includes one close to home

Only four destination roads are listed in the group of <a href="http://www.fodors.com/news/4-us-road-trips-to-take-before-you-die-6995.html">"4 U.S. road trips to take before you die"</a> from Fodor's, the travel people, and since one is right here in Virginia, there's no reason not to hop on and go!<br /><br />Travel writer Jimmy Im includes the Blue Ridge Parkway as one of those four coveted road trips:<br /><span class="blog-text"></span><br /><h2><span class="blog-text">Blue Ridge Parkway: Virginia to North Carolina</span></h2><span class="blog-text"><img alt="blue-ridge-pkwy-nc.jpg" height="300" src="http://www.fodors.com/wire/blue-ridge-pkwy-nc.jpg" width="452" /><b> </b></span><br /><span class="blog-text"><b>Distance: </b>470 miles<br /><br /> Road trippers can expect lush forestry and some majestic mountains on the <a href="http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/north-carolina/the-north-carolina-mountains/blue-ridge-parkway/">Blue Ridge Parkway</a>, a 470-mile drive connecting <a href="http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/virginia/central-and-western-virginia/shenandoah-national-park/">Shenandoah National Park</a> in Virginia and the <a href="http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/tennessee/great-smoky-mtns-national-park/">Great Smoky Mountains National Park</a> in North Carolina. While it averages roughly 10 hours to drive, plenty of highlights along the way ensure you'll want to take several days to explore the route. Locals call the Blue Ridge Parkway a "window" to the region as several cultural and unique towns are right off the highway.<br /><br /> Visitors stop for a photo opp at the Humpback Rocks in Blue Ridge, VA, a natural rock outcrop that has a storied history. Nearby is the <a href="http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/virginia/central-and-western-virginia/review-166229.html">Natural Bridge of Virginia</a> in Rockbridge Country, one of the oldest tourist destinations in the country and constantly voted as one of America's best natural wonders. Stop in Roanoke, the largest metropolitan city along the route, to visit charming farmer's markets. <br /><br /> Several attractions await in <a href="http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/north-carolina/the-north-carolina-mountains/blowing-rock/">Blowing Rock</a>, North Carolina, but a road tripper's favorite is the actual Blowing Rock itself, a cliff looming 4,000 feet above sea level, harboring magnificent views of Hawksbill Mountain and Table Rock. For the mother of all views, stop at <a href="http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/north-carolina/the-north-carolina-mountains/blue-ridge-parkway/activities_h2447231_hiking.html">Waterrock Knob</a>, which, at 7,000-feet high, showcases breathtaking mountain views.</span>

4 US road trips to take before you die Blue Ridge Mountains Blue Ridge Parkway Fodor's getaways Jimmy In Lynn R. Mitchell North Carolina Virginia Fodor's: '4 U.S. road trips to take before you die' includes one close to home

Only four destination roads are listed in the group of "4 U.S. road trips to take before you die" from Fodor's, the travel pe...

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Summer escape to Big Meadows

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cDA7bHM1v_HnYP56b7L-rPK9FF4si-IHLK8CrJVv84Ir3yCeHtyxgX04CT3HQI4SS5WwG4GwhV4OMDQvfV24sOjrXJu7RRbjOCq8CH_To53nZcjtbsFum3JpCUlCQjXZgUQsVAbtL5zD/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cDA7bHM1v_HnYP56b7L-rPK9FF4si-IHLK8CrJVv84Ir3yCeHtyxgX04CT3HQI4SS5WwG4GwhV4OMDQvfV24sOjrXJu7RRbjOCq8CH_To53nZcjtbsFum3JpCUlCQjXZgUQsVAbtL5zD/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nps.gov/shen">Shenandoah National Park </a>... this black bear crossed the Skyline Drive in front of us on Friday, stopped to look, and then disappeared into the underbrush. I only had time to snap one quick blurry photo through the windshield. The speed limit is 35 ... the Park requests that drivers observe it because a record number of bear cubs, deer, and other wildlife have been killed by vehicles.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-Vb4rnx7kgyHE0AxaSUkXYQX-vKOPdQguMixFjOldC7X1IVIEq2vPle5gDRJ-_QgW4jhTpmFWTGnYmSNtl1abTQRJ44gOLFYCRu_a3htE92wJucS9PVnsrJtQm3bOlYAudO_w7PABgDV/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-Vb4rnx7kgyHE0AxaSUkXYQX-vKOPdQguMixFjOldC7X1IVIEq2vPle5gDRJ-_QgW4jhTpmFWTGnYmSNtl1abTQRJ44gOLFYCRu_a3htE92wJucS9PVnsrJtQm3bOlYAudO_w7PABgDV/s400/17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had decided to take advantage of the cooler temps and low humidity from a cold front that passed through western Virginia. Our destination was Big Meadows picnic ground and the surrounding area. The "big meadow" is behind the sign. When I was a kid, temporary overflow parking was in the field for those who arrived late after the campground was full. Today it is burned periodically to keep it open as it has been for centuries.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMxDub40imTL0HgnfNiEATg132i9RAWiE7UdGpvGwPB6XAOYcyY9pNfk1apt0uoFFKecj_YpPJqFtH5Rs0J4QpGfFwAkeFaw5aS7z8SQawGH1p6Y-QScHxTHTaiWZQmkC_bASBGE4Nqxz/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMxDub40imTL0HgnfNiEATg132i9RAWiE7UdGpvGwPB6XAOYcyY9pNfk1apt0uoFFKecj_YpPJqFtH5Rs0J4QpGfFwAkeFaw5aS7z8SQawGH1p6Y-QScHxTHTaiWZQmkC_bASBGE4Nqxz/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Blue Ridge Mountains ... layers of historic scenery.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33Y3HJfBNAlLqek82dSpGb8WRGqMszdp2wq-ZS6rX1N2VHVCzkGWvQbQJDAdPJ4MRk9bQ0XCa67drH28lUWiXcSZGvOwDyMbChJ3dhoN1mtPMAEeYywKW_jJXuNPwbPs57pPAW6Gam-uM/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33Y3HJfBNAlLqek82dSpGb8WRGqMszdp2wq-ZS6rX1N2VHVCzkGWvQbQJDAdPJ4MRk9bQ0XCa67drH28lUWiXcSZGvOwDyMbChJ3dhoN1mtPMAEeYywKW_jJXuNPwbPs57pPAW6Gam-uM/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lF2DQ9s_iNZREidz55ivxWctMV9QeJbC04T7LnLLzMldv6GTJPUd382BvKY-anpb78iY47mvSH4BLYioY2SUibx8kV5fl0E-Onyibz21yBk-01I10z4YfhmusryN5AXf5essc3CaDpFL/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lF2DQ9s_iNZREidz55ivxWctMV9QeJbC04T7LnLLzMldv6GTJPUd382BvKY-anpb78iY47mvSH4BLYioY2SUibx8kV5fl0E-Onyibz21yBk-01I10z4YfhmusryN5AXf5essc3CaDpFL/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wildflowers were in abundance as were butterflies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwjUfV-BnLRCCTAUY8mv_SH_4cqnFRRmjMzXM3Wb_LJgtEr-_cvbl7Kl2AzbUuCRIMN-rmKoQH1gys_RwrfhgZNiN3xt21Q-5N7PvFXa6tOx5qBZuedPQ0B0muhvGP5OvqRPaaOaQcdRh/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwjUfV-BnLRCCTAUY8mv_SH_4cqnFRRmjMzXM3Wb_LJgtEr-_cvbl7Kl2AzbUuCRIMN-rmKoQH1gys_RwrfhgZNiN3xt21Q-5N7PvFXa6tOx5qBZuedPQ0B0muhvGP5OvqRPaaOaQcdRh/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The trail invites to explore the big meadow. On a July day with temps in the 60s and low humidity, it was perfect.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqHsLEK7mNWdEfn8-26RyAjPUmN_yh2bmD0f9m4BUUBurgtFkyxP3SX7w-LJGAe-EqTTzKREpPTpA7cYMOdqFVezNMobPnD1dKlxwGAg-GOPRy2StWjM8xfnEGCJu0en0Kw9LLN0FAFe0/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqHsLEK7mNWdEfn8-26RyAjPUmN_yh2bmD0f9m4BUUBurgtFkyxP3SX7w-LJGAe-EqTTzKREpPTpA7cYMOdqFVezNMobPnD1dKlxwGAg-GOPRy2StWjM8xfnEGCJu0en0Kw9LLN0FAFe0/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://usparks.about.com/od/shenandoa1/qt/Dark-Hollow-Falls.htm">Dark Hollow Falls</a> was a favorite trail with my family while growing up when our destination was the falls and coolness deep in the forest on warm summer days.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnssRtp6hbdR3QS_zSpGT7r_WcdvNLJY6gLISmaoCoSMhWxgGYiqyxBiQBjElLrlBJFmjKzkAMw4FNQElOvzkLSVEM5BmWu6XG8oqE1ST-VRKFJmTGX2geiV0JWx9-suOHue3ibA2QG2W/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnssRtp6hbdR3QS_zSpGT7r_WcdvNLJY6gLISmaoCoSMhWxgGYiqyxBiQBjElLrlBJFmjKzkAMw4FNQElOvzkLSVEM5BmWu6XG8oqE1ST-VRKFJmTGX2geiV0JWx9-suOHue3ibA2QG2W/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">From the Byrd Visitor Center, there's a great view of the big meadow. Follow the seasons from the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/common/commonspot/customcf/webcam/dsp_webcam_image.cfm?webCamURL=http://www.nps.gov/webcams-shen/bvc_800.jpg&refreshRate=60&title=7C9B93D2819B8E7B53C42E&width=800&height=450&altText=7C9B93D2819B8E7B53C42EC7BA1CBF7C479FE93BDBA8DEA19AEF3083AB03C97FDBE8D78E9689DB3CC99D030094DE9B948851B05D505CFF898652A7D0F947B5998906999393B88EC6929DCAA69697869517BE98BD9FDEE9AF9AA8A9A47082AE9D&description=7C9B93D2819B8E7B53C42EC7BA1CBF7C479FF57489EE83F0B1BD1D97F925905BD6BBE8938A928F10DED33400888A9289C756B65C5C15C281D375A089AD7CE19E9547D8C9AFB18388BD92DAA09891C7B7569A90A09A93A5D9A3BBBCA632CB99DA4119F670F0DFDA9085EF5607&256919">webcam at this location</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GSXuPjeFz-dnaRYJiLaHqh97mZp8pXmnYSjQ_M-hr9exFroWfNe5GmrjWPYHfDpSKBnWKPbcgswOBlqXkbNqbxA6NJfOAPGakk5J0bsW7PVY0ve-iA_yJRK-rgzD7jlwhQ8j1mLtiEAG/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GSXuPjeFz-dnaRYJiLaHqh97mZp8pXmnYSjQ_M-hr9exFroWfNe5GmrjWPYHfDpSKBnWKPbcgswOBlqXkbNqbxA6NJfOAPGakk5J0bsW7PVY0ve-iA_yJRK-rgzD7jlwhQ8j1mLtiEAG/s400/12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Busy butterflies.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfnG-fqkQm36RWGGZpSSZeCpK8OFEzoi8AQj8CoiEZqYmXcrMXUshejVJTGlkv6AIwYE0haUKT4fc4GF7q8p6sYZ-PgDGSika6BFd6PIXWyf3zspdji-JbZD9aZz1IvfDxd2DSDssysaS/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfnG-fqkQm36RWGGZpSSZeCpK8OFEzoi8AQj8CoiEZqYmXcrMXUshejVJTGlkv6AIwYE0haUKT4fc4GF7q8p6sYZ-PgDGSika6BFd6PIXWyf3zspdji-JbZD9aZz1IvfDxd2DSDssysaS/s400/13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Water in a rock ... this intrigued me as a kid.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlwrjAG3o_0vgoGr_MQOvWi9InUrXq55itN_21eIeSJiJVWfT6xErmZJ63F5okWmQ30oAmyKZMbRhd4p3ft4wFgWZ18RwAhoK2qU3KJMfrZPx7WfPEzDD7XjnOAdPeGWP6wOJ5OSznZrK/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlwrjAG3o_0vgoGr_MQOvWi9InUrXq55itN_21eIeSJiJVWfT6xErmZJ63F5okWmQ30oAmyKZMbRhd4p3ft4wFgWZ18RwAhoK2qU3KJMfrZPx7WfPEzDD7XjnOAdPeGWP6wOJ5OSznZrK/s400/14.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Alone on a trail in the quiet woods.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAoE1apWVo-bYqCw7hqxoQukBUuq5TW7kT4qhvxnYmzMp-Tui6fjVdOPo0ydeFfHGHIRbi2Xg8CaZbWzrZi7MbCUPP1dCpwQK4e1JjEk8XxLRJRK_M-dvSdClESEZ7KtiSW88NKVI5jJ4/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAoE1apWVo-bYqCw7hqxoQukBUuq5TW7kT4qhvxnYmzMp-Tui6fjVdOPo0ydeFfHGHIRbi2Xg8CaZbWzrZi7MbCUPP1dCpwQK4e1JjEk8XxLRJRK_M-dvSdClESEZ7KtiSW88NKVI5jJ4/s400/15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goshenandoah.com/Big-Meadows-Lodge.aspx">Big Meadows Lodge </a>where my parents honeymooned as young twenty-somethings. I never tire of its rustic wood-and-stone architecture, views from the terrace, walking its hallways, and thinking of my parents when they were just kids. My dad absolutely loved these mountains and passed along that love to me. They began taking me camping at Big Meadows when I was one, making many, many happy memories of spending time in Shenandoah National Park.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFQGxGy1JgsJtA-zNP2KcVEOpB-nDv6iZERajHck70qTX6HdXhthGvQvQPx1zVVPMEiq0bpZnfPcHBDTLqjzutZ0UCf_TPCHaTZKvYQ9jER_HWJUZDnmafwoQ08tW6cmhgiY-OtZGGMTx/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFQGxGy1JgsJtA-zNP2KcVEOpB-nDv6iZERajHck70qTX6HdXhthGvQvQPx1zVVPMEiq0bpZnfPcHBDTLqjzutZ0UCf_TPCHaTZKvYQ9jER_HWJUZDnmafwoQ08tW6cmhgiY-OtZGGMTx/s400/16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The sign says it all. The running joke was always that, as campers headed to the evening amphitheater program, the resident bears headed to the campground. How do you scare away a bear from the camp site? Bang on a pot with a big spoon. We never had any problems but definitely didn't take chances ... no food in tents, and coolers were kept safely in vehicles. Fun times!</div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />Big Meadows, Shenandoah National Park<br />July 26, 2013

Big Meadows Blue Ridge Mountains Shenandoah National Park Skyline Drive tourism Virginia Is For Lovers Wildlife Summer escape to Big Meadows

Shenandoah National Park ... this black bear crossed the Skyline Drive in front of us on Friday, stopped to look, and then disappeared into ...

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Virginia's mountains in July

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xoWuSJ-RGwWA-bj-MAX3JY7Q1EEHN3nruC001I3m3TAQFsALAhTHRQCodUNVo5gyd8pEIe682wolnVURmHTlFR30Nn76lCu9tCFkrXlQw-yOvnET9XP2cnL2sgGCNo762_Hr5EORFM6O/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xoWuSJ-RGwWA-bj-MAX3JY7Q1EEHN3nruC001I3m3TAQFsALAhTHRQCodUNVo5gyd8pEIe682wolnVURmHTlFR30Nn76lCu9tCFkrXlQw-yOvnET9XP2cnL2sgGCNo762_Hr5EORFM6O/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home...." --John Muir</span></span><br /></div><br />Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />Shenandoah National Park<br />July 26, 2013

Big Meadows Blue Ridge Mountains National Parks Shenandoah National Park Skyline Drive western Virginia Virginia's mountains in July

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home...." --John M...

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Grove Park Inn

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DVwOrImPEgjkKC6MKdbn-HTBNDMrzOoEqvzhmuTBbx7ilVnnvGm5QmzUWG8wb1QhPz_s1eJ8FVaUGgO9TxQTNYNlF3tekzG-z1bxAtay7G9f6G_ttCPt4q9MPD-Aot7Qrs_Di1xWFx0E/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DVwOrImPEgjkKC6MKdbn-HTBNDMrzOoEqvzhmuTBbx7ilVnnvGm5QmzUWG8wb1QhPz_s1eJ8FVaUGgO9TxQTNYNlF3tekzG-z1bxAtay7G9f6G_ttCPt4q9MPD-Aot7Qrs_Di1xWFx0E/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWBwsiJT1wLiN4eGvq-tNptjfHaAv4Hhl2VYh8tMRkDpjlLKz2Z3nAfuAGtanuaCjGEH1o4ibramWdzvlPM2LNVs06SmPNZeM2bI_r55zKeqZEKjflZ1XBOHeHCfjyeKOGS5YYkj7wFeJ/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWBwsiJT1wLiN4eGvq-tNptjfHaAv4Hhl2VYh8tMRkDpjlLKz2Z3nAfuAGtanuaCjGEH1o4ibramWdzvlPM2LNVs06SmPNZeM2bI_r55zKeqZEKjflZ1XBOHeHCfjyeKOGS5YYkj7wFeJ/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />Grove Park Inn<br />Asheville, NC<br />July 23, 2013

Asheville Blue Ridge Mountains Grove Park Inn North Carolina tourism Grove Park Inn

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell Grove Park Inn Asheville, NC July 23, 2013

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Tye River rocks at Crabtree Falls

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8hzaz8Uk4wNvMEOCejB02JeVMiSPIfCoTZL3PgjVkSlU1I3clDfhZDcOlfwFsxSFCkbtsw6W2_ojupuJZjQcVgupJZQ7cYFDlr6aXGiFel_ZIGzhSNR3lyWrVH7quigxXs62KiJ5Dmug/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8hzaz8Uk4wNvMEOCejB02JeVMiSPIfCoTZL3PgjVkSlU1I3clDfhZDcOlfwFsxSFCkbtsw6W2_ojupuJZjQcVgupJZQ7cYFDlr6aXGiFel_ZIGzhSNR3lyWrVH7quigxXs62KiJ5Dmug/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />July 11, 2013

Blue Ridge Mountains Crabtree Falls George Washington National Park Nelson County Tye River Tye River rocks at Crabtree Falls

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell July 11, 2013

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Unpaved Blue Ridge Parkway

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0NWDyHXJZrY_UoxKDj43qfWUhTc1vhwEbgBdchmAIo29wvdq3IXEOulgTivI4okXRGNjBWXO3YeK-ijk0qMUGHhZlMez3Rk4IbIBomE317aSWWlJ7w0DbZPmfMEekYVfslanzy6PV43d/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0NWDyHXJZrY_UoxKDj43qfWUhTc1vhwEbgBdchmAIo29wvdq3IXEOulgTivI4okXRGNjBWXO3YeK-ijk0qMUGHhZlMez3Rk4IbIBomE317aSWWlJ7w0DbZPmfMEekYVfslanzy6PV43d/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Paving is underway on the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Afton.</div><br />Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />July 11, 2013

Blue Ridge Mountains Blue Ridge Parkway western Virginia Unpaved Blue Ridge Parkway

Paving is underway on the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Afton. Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell July 11, 2013

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Storytellers Mack & Joan Swift at Skyland Resort

Mack Swift was the football coach when I was in high school. Each summer, he and his wife can be found at Skyland Resort in Shenandoah National Park as storytellers extraordinaire.<br /><blockquote><b>Wednesdays – July 10, 17, 24 & 31</b><br /><br />In keeping with the tradition of “Stony Man Camp” founder George Pollock’s activities of entertaining his guests and telling stories, storytellers Mack & Joan Swift provide a lively 45-minute program of Jack Tales at Skyland Resort. Tales such as “Jack and the Three Sacks of Truth” are great for all ages. Held 8:00 to 8:45pm on the Skyland terrace, weather permitting. Check at front desk for location if inclement weather.</blockquote>This is one of many summer programs going on at Skyland and Big Meadows Lodges.

Big Meadows Lodge Blue Ridge Mountains George Pollock Jack Tales Joan Swift Mack Swift Shenandoah National Park Skyland Resort Skyline Drive storytellers Storytellers Mack & Joan Swift at Skyland Resort

Mack Swift was the football coach when I was in high school. Each summer, he and his wife can be found at Skyland Resort in Shenandoah Natio...

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Afton summer views

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6H7rxAWJ8Eune__-ZcmSpHVGuIA4knXJGpkzAFFYCNKWgl0QtBLHD9HMjqghddy-Shty7M-t7GuQKnrcRivDtIm4bQqBA6f55PdIa0flzXjkYNqyb1v63L3zRZgU5W_a-tJckn432BTCr/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6H7rxAWJ8Eune__-ZcmSpHVGuIA4knXJGpkzAFFYCNKWgl0QtBLHD9HMjqghddy-Shty7M-t7GuQKnrcRivDtIm4bQqBA6f55PdIa0flzXjkYNqyb1v63L3zRZgU5W_a-tJckn432BTCr/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Chicory was in full bloom Wednesday on top of Afton Mountain. The sky was overcast with rain on the way as I snapped this photo looking north toward Shenandoah National Park.</div><br />Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />July 10, 2013

Afton Mountain Blue Ridge Mountains chicory Shenandoah National Park Afton summer views

Chicory was in full bloom Wednesday on top of Afton Mountain. The sky was overcast with rain on the way as I snapped this photo looking nort...

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Alert: Bicyclist missing in Shenandoah National Park

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRJJWhd8w891zYomblabnG8DZW52l7Zys95HjZIDUFq5Ei72BTjEMCANwSlFYxtNYIcty1EOFn8C36ko_Jz03cGMyE4EBsCWLs3EJt5H6zeLwVQ_IiW1YXjpsE4yUA5jUwj57tMdZ_fzO/s1600/SNP+missing+person+7-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRJJWhd8w891zYomblabnG8DZW52l7Zys95HjZIDUFq5Ei72BTjEMCANwSlFYxtNYIcty1EOFn8C36ko_Jz03cGMyE4EBsCWLs3EJt5H6zeLwVQ_IiW1YXjpsE4yUA5jUwj57tMdZ_fzO/s640/SNP+missing+person+7-2013.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><br />H/T to Merlot

Blue Ridge Mountains Dickey Ridge missing person Shenandoah National Park Tyler Keefer Alert: Bicyclist missing in Shenandoah National Park

H/T to Merlot

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A walk in the clouds ... maintaining the Appalachian Trail (Rockfish to Reeds Gap)

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Aq5Cdgl3QdpfnJ91WwXMRCmSRBVZJvF3EdUJ0I-u-g-PVdZNG7h479i8t9HbSLcGpbRsOiTh_6HHpo_rcSdyiT3jGrakg49h1p7jWg1KDYeECAUPX6CYkOv1GRo_fdNymWC1J9jEzeba/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Aq5Cdgl3QdpfnJ91WwXMRCmSRBVZJvF3EdUJ0I-u-g-PVdZNG7h479i8t9HbSLcGpbRsOiTh_6HHpo_rcSdyiT3jGrakg49h1p7jWg1KDYeECAUPX6CYkOv1GRo_fdNymWC1J9jEzeba/s640/6.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />I enjoy hearing from the folks who are intimately involved with upkeep and involvement along the mountains as is the case with "Merlot" (her trail name). She is one of a number of volunteers in charge of upkeep along the Appalachian Trail from Rockfish Gap to Reeds Gap nineteen miles south, and including Afton Mountain and Humpback Rock. No one loves nature and Virginia's mountains more than those who actually put sweat equity into making sure hiking trails are maintained for thru-hikers as well as day-trippers.<br /><br />Merlot authors a blog, <a href="http://rockfishtoreeds.blogspot.com/">Rockfish to Reeds</a>, that chronicles not only those who work on the trails but those who hike them. <br /><br />So how did this pathway in the clouds all come to be? Merlot's post, "Appalachian Trail: The Roof of the East Coast," notes:<br /><blockquote>I suspect large numbers of the hiking public give little thought to the 'nitty gritty' of the trail, either how it was built (a common misconception is that it was an old 'Indian path') or the fact that 'somebody' needs to keep the trail in hiking condition and exactly who those 'somebodys' are. I was on the AT one day during weed season and weed whipping away with a swing blade when a group of hikers came by. One of them, a very nice lady, kindly asked me "How much is the government paying you to do this?" She was absolutely serious and sincere with that question and she was totally amazed when I answered "I am being paid nothing ..... you are on the Appalachian Trail which is maintained by volunteers!" </blockquote>Merlot's love of the mountains and the trail is evident in this post and especially in the last sentence: "As magnificent as the 'simple path' itself might be with all its wonders, its true 'heart' lies in every single volunteer maintainer who works so hard to keep the Appalachian Trail alive."<br /><br />Volunteers are the heart of any organization, and the Appalachian Trail is no different. I've enjoyed those mountain trails for years and am especially appreciative of the work that goes into beating back brush and weeds that encroach these pathways through the forests. A tip of the cap to all the hard-working volunteers whose hours of labor often goes unheralded but who are appreciated.<br /><br />Thanks, Merlot and fellow team members!<br /><br />Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

Afton Appalachian Trail Blue Ridge Mountains Blue Ridge Parkway Rockfish to Reeds A walk in the clouds ... maintaining the Appalachian Trail (Rockfish to Reeds Gap)

I enjoy hearing from the folks who are intimately involved with upkeep and involvement along the mountains as is the case with "Merlot&...

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