It doesn't seem that it's been over a month since I've updated our blog. The end of May and the month of June has been a marathon month, and we're finally slowing down in order to catch up and tell you all about our roaming and wondering about the country side. Where were we... oh, yes... the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail. Well, OK... on the trail, we went 'off course' to Luray Caverns. It is not Carlsbad Caverns, but all these caves and caverns certainly have a personality and geological wonders of their own. Here, since it is a private endeavor, they even cater to underground weddings, complete with a pipe organ which produces music by the natural sound system, aka stalactites & stalagmites! Amazing.
Oh, I almost forgot - There was also an antique car museum at this spot! So, of course, we had to check it out!!! :-)
Oh, I almost forgot - There was also an antique car museum at this spot! So, of course, we had to check it out!!! :-)
Virginia - Luray Caverns & the Antique Car Museum
After the Luray Caverns, we continued up the Blue Ridge Mountain trail till we hit the Shenandoah National Park. It was enough of a challenge for Allan to maneuver Gertrude on the narrow windy roads, but Mother Nature decided that this was not challenging enough. She decided to cloak the road with a very heavy blanket of fog!!! I was white knuckling all the way.
This is also where we hiked and descended 900 ft just to check out the wildflowers and the wondrous water falls and water ways. Problem, we had to hike the 900ft up also... We were sooooo pooped! We couldn't see straight. We literally stopped every 50 yards to catch our breath... of course other (very young hikers with their toddlers) passed us by as if we were standing still... oh.. we were standing still. I tried to get them to carry me in their infant carriers and all they did was smirk... not nice! So, we both dragged our tired old bodies up that trial and decided that the Trail is for the young and fit, and we're neither!!! :-O
This is also where we hiked and descended 900 ft just to check out the wildflowers and the wondrous water falls and water ways. Problem, we had to hike the 900ft up also... We were sooooo pooped! We couldn't see straight. We literally stopped every 50 yards to catch our breath... of course other (very young hikers with their toddlers) passed us by as if we were standing still... oh.. we were standing still. I tried to get them to carry me in their infant carriers and all they did was smirk... not nice! So, we both dragged our tired old bodies up that trial and decided that the Trail is for the young and fit, and we're neither!!! :-O
Virginia - Shenandoah National Park & The Appalachian Trail
So now that we can actually say, WE HIKED THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL.... 'bin der dun dat'... we headed to West Virginia to continue my education of the Civil War. Yes, Allan is bound and determined to ensure that I receive the full monty of the Civil War experience. So off we went to Harpers Ferry National Historic Site. This place, of course, is where the infamous John Brown in 1859 and an army of 21 men seized the United States Armory. Of course we didn't go to these historic sites the way normal tourist would do it..... noooo... we decided to hike from our camp ground via the now dreaded Appalachian trail to the historic site! By doing so, we not only saw the beautiful country side and... hiked the Appalachian trail... AGAIN, we also saw lots of turtles, geese and found ourselves in the midst of a marathon. Allan looked so official with his camera that the runners thought we were the volunteer staff & photographer. They thanked us for our service... well, we didn't want to disappoint them, so we just pretended we belonged! Oh, we also had the chance to really test our gear and, I LOVE my new backpack. Even the rain didn't stop us! :-)