No R and R at this Recreational Center

Sunday was an exploring day but it was a little ironic that once again we would be in a cold building when the temperatures outside were going to be in the 60's. I sincerely hope we don't have any more weekends like this, it's becoming a little annoying!
We were exploring an abandoned recreational center in The District but I'm not revealing the location for obvious reasons. It hasn't been totally trashed yet but there has been a lot of activity inside, graffiti painting, glass broken, and also some effort made to clean up, as we found numerous piles of trash throughout the building.
There isn't much news to be found on the center but it was closed in 2013 and there were hopes last year that it would be taken over by the YMCA and reopened as a revamped recreational center, but as of February this year those hopes have faded. A local resident has been blogging on the new local development and has been keeping an eye on the building, noting that it is now becoming more of a danger. There is structural damage due to neglect, the roof has been torn, windows smashed and a growing concern that homeless and drug users are residing there. All this within a few feet of a senior residential community.

We strolled into the place and instantly the temperature dropped by at least 20 degrees. I was glad I had my jacket. One of our team donned a mask that he picked up which I actually found quite creepy. I did pick up one for myself later, who knows, it may come in useful one day.

The graffiti was wonderfully vibrant on the drab walls, lighting the empty spaces up with color. I know it's vandalism but I actually welcomed it here. We were a little jumpy as we kept hearing noises, wondering if there were other people in the building that wouldn't welcome other intruders. But I realized that it was coming from one area and assumed that it was likely that area of roofing that had been ripped apart, flapping in the boisterous breezes outside.

The empty swimming pool was very interesting. I'd never seen an indoor pool empty before and I was curious to see how deep 10ft actually was. The floor was slippery under my soles though, so I didn't go into the 'deep end' in case I couldn't get out again!
While researching on the internet I found an article that a person had posted, showing results of tests he conducted on Department of Parks and Recreation pools in the DC area. A bacteria test had been conducted on 27 pools with one in three pools coming up positive. This pool was one of them. Yuk.

I noticed I had managed to capture a few of these colored chairs in my photos, but none as interesting as this 'pose'. I wanted to tug on it to see how well it was trapped in the security glass but I didn't want to ruin the photo op for any others so I kept my hands away.

This was the saddest sight in my walk throughout the building. A room filled with educational aids. Books, games, educational tools and teachers' guides had been left on the shelves, many still wrapped in plastic. What a waste, they could have been donated to homeless shelters or hospitals.

Mr Mask Man was trying to scare one of our crew from the depths of the pool but it obviously didn't work!

We finished up with a 'dip' in the pool, a great vantage point to capture the colors painted on the glass, and then we shot a few photos of our group. I couldn't resist stacking some together to make a gif of us boogieing the Urbex Twist!

Sparkling Spirited Water and Vividly Vibrant Oils

Saturday was yet another cold day. I'd looked out the window at the brilliant sunshine, hoping a bike ride would be possible, but once I'd stepped outside and felt the brisk breeze, I knew better. So I grabbed the camera and headed for the Skyline Drive in search of a waterfall.

I walked down a fire trail towards Lands Run Falls and spotted a rock outcrop with a wall of ice running down it. I managed to climb up but slipped on my way back down on the leaves. It was impossible to tell where the footholds were so I gave up and sat down, sliding the rest of the way down the hill on my rear, feeling thankful at the end that I hadn't slid over any sharp rocks!
I carried on down the trail acutely aware of the stillness. Back in England I was used to hearing the constant twitter of birds, and even after nearly 20 years in the States I'm still instantly aware of the silence whenever I start a hike. I find it difficult to believe that these great tracts of wilderness have so few birds. I was the only one on the trail, and standing completely still, the only sound I could hear was the odd vehicle passing above me on the road. But a little further down the trail I started to hear the sound of water, and as a small creek came into view the sound became louder.

I could see the creek disappearing off the edge of a rock ledge and moved forward carefully as there was a lot of ice on the ground. but I had to see where all that water was plummeting down to.

The sight below was wondrous. A glorious crescendo of crashing cascades tipped over the edge and fell down the rocks below. I hadn't expected to see anything quite as impressive as this and simply stood for a few moments soaking in this fabulous scene. But of course I had to get closer and so very carefully I climbed down, using tree roots and rocks as handholds, as there was still plenty of ice on the ground. Icicles were hanging in clusters by the water's edge and all the rocks were covered in a sheen of ice.

I couldn't believe how fortunate I was to have this wonder of nature all to myself. The water was torrential due to the heavy rains and snow melt that we'd recently had and I wondered whether this would merely be a trickle in the summertime. But after searching on the internet I found plenty of images showing a powerful waterfall throughout the seasons.

I climbed back up to the top and then walked up the creek a little. The water was impressive here too, and even with the speed of the water jumping and pouring over the rocks, there were still delicate icicles hanging from the underside of branches that were leaning across the raging torrents.

I climbed down the other side of the falls and sat on a large rock to take more photos and a video. I posted the video but for some reason Google always manages to reduce the quality to crap...
It was quite hypnotic, just sitting on the rock, feeling the warm sun on my face and listening to the thunder roaring by, gently misting me as it passed.
But the rock was bloody cold, causing me to reluctantly stand and so after standing for a few more minutes I made my way up to the path again. Trudging back uphill to the car I listened as the water sounds slowly got fainter, leaving the sound of silence to accompany me once more as I trekked upwards.
Once off the mountains I drove back through Front Royal, and passing a bar, a person wielding a paintbrush by a wall caught my attention, so I looped back and got out to investigate.

A taproom and grill called PaveMint, which opened in 2014 after renovating a 1960's gas station, was getting a new paint job. The artist is Lisa Kosloski, who works in the restaurant, and is revamping the exterior with some impressive murals. As the oil paints are daubed onto the surface some vibrant divas holding drinks are emerging from the drab plaster, and there's even beers gushing from taps on the front wall. The transformation has taken a couple of months so far due to the inclement weather but Lisa hopes to be finished in a couple of weeks. I'll go back to investigate, this is certainly going to be an eye catching piece!

Spring is Summoned at Blandy

The rain poured down on Sunday but as soon as it started easing off I jumped in Stuart and made a beeline for Blandy Arboretum.  Bill had told me that the winter aconites were starting to bloom and I was anxious to see an early sign of spring.

There were few cars in the parking lot and as I walked to the main building the rain had failed to wash away the last of the snow, it was still dripping onto patches of grass adamantly. I trudged through muddy waterlogged gardens until I came to Dogwood Lane and then suddenly I spotted them. Because they were so fresh and new, they hadn't opened fully, so the sides of the lane were dotted with thousands of tiny golden globes. They positively gleamed against the drab earth colors below them, banishing the gloom of this winter day. Emerald green leaves were being tugged up out of the ground to surround them, reminding me on someone pulling up a coat around their shoulders.

Laden with crystal orbs from the rain which had only just stopped falling, they looked like jewels sprinkled upon a carpet, polished and sparkling citrines or zircons glowing on the ground.
The aconite is related to the buttercup but is different in that it's an exothermic plant. It produces heat to keep itself warm, giving off temperatures that will even melt any surrounding snow and protect it from frost.. The skunk cabbage also does this.
I spent a while crouching down to take close up photos and simply just to enjoy this first flower of spring. Their colors were so fresh and vibrant, looking as though they'd been thoroughly washed in the rain storm. I looked around but there was nobody else to enjoy this with, so I just stood and stared in grateful wonder.

Drops of rain clung to branches and the only sounds were the soft drips on to brown leaves below or an occasional bird song. I wondered around but saw no other colors peeking out from under shrubs or between rocks. I passed the greenhouse and saw it was filled with lots of beautiful golden flowers under heat lamps. I had no idea what they were and again there was no one around to ask. but it seemed that today had been a golden day, and I was glad I'd been a witness.