Canoeing the James River

What better thing to do when a hurricane is headed your way but go on a canoe trip. We put in at the mouth of the Hardware River and went 6 miles down the James River in a steady rain and decent headwind.
We're right about there

Detour into a culvert made by Irish stone masons many many years ago




Windy!

Earthquake!

We had a magnitude 5.9 earthquake today, epicenter Mineral, VA (about 37 miles from Charlottesville, VA). It shook us around 1:55 pm in Lovingston, VA where I'm working. We had a patient standing and decided that she officially had excellent static standing balance if she could maintain standing during an earthquake, our documentation looked something like this: "Patient has excellent static and dynamic standing balance as she was able to maintain stance without loss of balance during an earthquake of magnitude 5.9". :) No, but really, one more thing I can knock off my bucket list! Tornadoes, here I come.

On a more serious note, this type of natural occurrence is not abnormal for me, except usually I leave the state after 3 months leaving it in my aftermath. I left Arizona to find out they had a spell of wildfires, tornadoes and damaging hail the size of baseballs. I left Texas to have a pretty significant drought. And I left Washington to have torrential downpours - no wait, that happens everyday anyway! Maybe the cycle will stop if I don't keep leaving each state at 90 mph.

Sherando Lake

Sunday was a great day to visit Sherando Lake in the George Washington National Forest. We arrived at the lake in just enough time to get a short hike in before the rain came, and then waited out for the sun to come back out to swim out to the island. Good things come to those who wait.
The lake in the rain

The lake from the overlook - it was probably nicer when they had the dollars to trim back the trees

The swimming area with the island

The island

St. Mary's Falls

Pete and I took the weekend "off" and decided to go for a short 5 mile swimming hole hike in the St. Mary's Wilderness on the St. Mary's Trail to see St. Mary's Falls made from St. Mary's River. Pretty self explanatory.

St. Mary's Falls with the ledge to the right providing a jump rock into the 10 foot deep pool of brisk mountain spring water


Many swimming holes

Craigs Creek Canoe Weekend

Pete, Patrick, Iva, Bill and I spent the past weekend camping and canoeing near Craig County on the James and Cowpasture Rivers. We finally had a little rain that helped us get down the rivers a little better, but we're still hoping for lots more to get some whitewater in.
Bridge at the put-in on the Cowpasture - built in 1896 with original limestone piers


Swinging bridge over one of the fords


Denver Dog!



Pete and Patrick dominating the rapids

Southern VA/Northern NC Vacation

Pete and I went on vacation 2 weeks ago to do the Virginia Creeper rails to trails line and take two impressive hikes, Grayson Highlands and Grandfather Mountain. We needed a vacation from our vacation after we were done!

Day 1: Virginia Creeper Biking from Abington, VA to Damascus, VA - 16 miles
An engine that ran the Virginia Creeper rail line

Moo cow claiming the trail



Always scouting the rapids for future whitewater adventures

Day 2: Grayson Highlands Hike to Mount Rogers - 9 miles
Overlooking the valley

USGS marker at the top of Mount Rogers, highest point in VA at 5,729 feet


We saw many wild ponies along the trail


Day 3: Virginia Creeper Biking from Whitetop, VA to Damascus, VA (and to NC border) - 17 miles

Another potential whitewater run


Famous Green Cove station from O. Winston Link's photograph

Tressel in NC

Day 4: Grandfather Mountain Hike - 7 very strenuous miles


No carabiners to hold us in this time!

Playing Catch-Up

I am so sorry, once again, for not keeping up with my blog. But I have been having the time of my life. Here are 3 pics from each of the adventures so I can quickly catch up on all of the events.

Berks County Wine Tour with Mom and Maggie




Planting our Southern Magnolia Tree
Pete and I planted a Southern Magnolia at his place. 5 wheelbarrow of rocks and one 32" by 24" hole later, we had a beautiful planted tree.





Balcony Falls on the James River
Pete running the rapids

Patrick manhandling the canoe



That's it for the quick updates. I apologize again.