Climbing High

Because of my wonderful new bed, my life has turned around and my arthritic back is no longer hampering so many of my activities. I've been anxious to return to my fit and active lifestyle,starting this week with 3 hikes up and down my local mountain. Half a mile climbing a 1000ft and then back down again. Today I was joining a group at Sky Meadows Park for a 6.5mile hiking up to 1200ft.

I passed this abandoned house on the way with its Halloween display. Any notions of exploring were put to rest when I spotted a new video camera and spotlights by the fence. Oh well, didn't have time anyway.
The park was busy when I arrived and the parking lot carpeted by thousands of acorns, which I started picking up for the local wildlife center, and for my squirrel at home.
It was a great day for hiking, starting off a little chilly but the sun was shining and we'd soon get warm. We set off at a brisk pace.

For me it was a long haul to the top but I huffed and puffed to the peak and looked out at the spectacular views of the valley below us, grey and white fluffy clouds above us, protecting us from high temperatures and humidity.

One of the original signs of the Appalachian Trail which we walked along for a while.

The views and countryside were gorgeous. The colors seemed so vibrant and the air so crisp and fresh that it was easy to push the complaining aches coming from my poor legs to the back of my mind and enjoy the hike.We did stop for occasional water breaks and on a ridge I had to snap this shot of these girls, who had no idea that we were making fun of them, they were so self absorbed.

And then it was back down to the parking lot where I collapsed gratefully behind Stuart's wheel, and was glad to notice that I wasn't the only one feeling sore as I looked about the other vehicles, spotting folks arching their backs or pulling off boots to rub feet. We drove on to Naked Mountain Winery where we shared food and purchased wine. The local horseradish cheese I brought was particularly popular, and so it seemed was my limited bottle of Raptor Red wine, so I had to put that under the table to ensure I still had a glass full to take home. At $30 a bottle, I wanted some to savor later!
On Sunday I woke up stiff but determined to go on another hike with a new group I'd joined. My philosophy was that if I got too tired I could always turn around and wait for them to finish. It was going to be another high elevation gain hike, and again about the 6 mile mark.
The women were awesome, very friendly, and I knew this would be a crowd I'd want to stay in touch with. We had our guide, Gibby, a local man, with us, and off we set.

We passed a small family cemetery with a metal plate set on a stone which had a poem engraved on it. I was asked to read it out and I did, it made us stop for a moment and appreciate the park we were enjoying.

The leaves were beautiful, rich reds, oranges and golds, shining in the sunlight. Again it wasn't hot and there were few bugs to harass us.

I took this shot of the girls before we started our downhill walk.

We made it to the bottom but a few of us were hurting. Gibby dropped his bottle of water and had problems bending down to pick it up, but grinned when  he saw me laughing. And then Elizabeth and I got out of opposite sides of the car, meeting round the back, giggling as we saw we were both hobbling. Once again, it was red wine that eased our muscles and we all sat in the new Tula's in Washington, VA, where we were introduced to the new owner. I didn't stay for dinner, but left after a glass of wine, dropping off Sandra at her car on the way home

I drove back to Meadow House with a huge grin on my face despite all my muscles screaming. And when I got home I cracked open a long saved bottle of my favorite wine to celebrate having made it through 5 hikes in 6 days. The first hurdle of my race to fitness had been cleared!
I took Monday off as a vacation day and was glad of it when I awoke the next morning. I wasn't too sore but sitting at a desk all day would not have been good so I was pleased to be able to move around. I decided to visit the local wildlife center and drop off the nuts I'd promised them, a big bagful of acorns and hickory nuts.
I stopped at an old store in Millwood. A rocking chair had been placed on the porch, giving the place a homey feel, so I stopped the car on the side of the road to adjust my camera. The owner came out and we started chatting. He lives behind the building and has been concerned about break ins, so now keeps a vigilant eye on the old dwelling.
Built in 1875, this was a general store, run by a Mr Brown. The photo below shows him standing outside of his shop in the 1920's.

David has this photo in his house and was gracious enough to let me photograph it.

The old store as it looks today. David's grandmother purchased the building from Mr Brown's grandson and turned it into a home. The old meat cooler is inside as are the old seed trays, set into the wall. Huge metal meat hooks still hang from the ceiling but the counters are gone, removed to make space for a living area. David keeps an eye on the old property, empty since 2003, and has no immediate plans for it. He placed the old rocker on the porch.

We exchanged information as he's considering letting me and a couple of friends photograph inside at a later date. It was so dark in the house that I couldn't take any photos without a tripod, and I certainly didn't want to impose after only just meeting him. It had been wonderful listening to his stories and seeing the old dwelling in a personal light, and I hope we'll meet up in the near future. We both blinked as we stepped out into the glaring sunlight and laughed at the sudden increase of temperature. It had been cold in there.
I waved farewell and went on to the animal center to deliver their nuts, happy knowing that the residents would be getting some tasty treats that day. I drove around a few country lanes enjoying the fall colors but then headed home, wanting to relax for the last few hours of freedom before my work week started.

I picked up more nuts for my squirrel, coming across acorns, hickory nuts, black walnuts and even some huge Osage Oranges, or hedge apples, as they're more commonly called. A shame that these striking fruits have literally no value. Wildlife find them unpalatable and they emit a sap that can irritate the skin so they aren't used for decoration in the home. I did like the fragrant citrus smell that comes from them, but not wanting a sticky residue deposited wherever I placed them indoors, I left them as a feature on the patio. Maybe I'll haul them into the house once they've dried out a little.

Delightful Discoveries on a Damp and Drippy Day

Another weekend of winds and rain was forecast with the arrival of Hurricane Joaquin, and sure enough Friday and Saturday were a washout. The temperatures dropped enough to put the heating on, and with plenty of snacks squirreled away, Kota, Rosie Lee and I hunkered down on the sofa to see the storm through.

 It was nice and cozy for most of Saturday but I soon got restless and thumbing through a local paper, I made a list of interesting places that I could visit on Sunday without getting too wet. I'd taken a few photos of the rain through the windows of the house but I was fed up with just sitting around. The cats were enjoying the heat with zero interest in getting their paws or fur wet so I felt no guilt at locking the cat flap while I was out, so I could ensure their safety and give me peace of mind. It felt weird to be wearing a sweatshirt, jacket and boots after a matter of hours experiencing 80 degree weather.
I drove out towards Rte 11, passing by fruit farms and pumpkin patches, usually filled with folk, but today completely empty. The wet skins of the orange pumpkins really popped from the green vegetation, they were going to be really clean and shiny for customers when the rain was done with them. There was hardly any traffic on the roads either so I could set my own pace, giving me a chance to see more around me.

This is a topiary elephant on the side of the road at Tom's Brook. It's been here a number of years and I've driven past it, never seeing it, but today, thanks to that local paper, I was looking out for it and saw it. Apparently it doesn't have a name or any political leaning but was created to try and hide a tree stump.

Further down, in Woodstock, I took a side road to find an old creamery building. It was easy to spot since it was pink and had old milk churns hanging above it, along with a multitude of bells and all things western. There was an old storage warehouse across the road with windows full of colored glass bottles and warnings alerting folk that they were being videoed. I was wondering if it was an old store of some sort and would be open on a nicer day, but today there was nobody about, only me walking in the fine rain, and I wondered if I was being watched for behind window drapes. But it was another finding chalked up from my list and my next stop was Edinburg, where I would find a 'must see' flea market.
There was an old caboose parked up outside, B and O 903778.

It looked like it had been used as a cafe area at one time since there was a deck attached to the outside and stacks of chairs, but the inside was untouched and in great condition.
Inside the flea market I walked around the 90 plus stalls, enjoying seeing items that seemed to be of actual interest rather than junk. I wandered around humming along to Goodbye My Love by The Glitter Band and other 70's pop songs. There was a fabulous collection of oil lamps so I purchased one, having been on the look out for one to tide me through the oncoming winter power outages. A much nicer light than battery powered LED flashlights or lanterns.

The staff were putting up Halloween decorations but I guessed they wouldn't be draping any lights around the stuffed animal heads on the walls; too high, judging by the thick spider webs draped across the horns and antlers.
Leaving the market and pleased with my purchase,and also feeling pretty sure that I'd return for another lamp, I sat in the car to look at my list. The next stop was Swover Creek Brewery. I'd never heard of the place and was grateful that I'd read that local paper or I'd still be in the dark. It looked like it was in the middle of nowhere and part of a farm, which sounded awesome so I headed in that direction.

I found it easily enough but it was definitely off the main roads, in an idyllic creek valley looking over crops of soft fruits and chickens running loose. There was a nice friendly and welcoming feel to the place as I made my way to the front of the house. A cockerel and his girlfriend greeted me from a table, even striking up a pose as I pointed my camera.
Inside I walked through a small shop area to a kitchen with a couple of stools by a breakfast bar and a small table where two cyclists were enjoying lunch with a pint. What a great place, I loved the set up and made myself at home immediately on one of the stools. Todd was pouring beer by the kitchen sink and explained about the 4 beers on tap.

It was impossible to pick just one so I went for the flight of all 4. The 4 glasses were served in a bun tray, what a wonderfully rustic idea, and every one was delicious. I was impressed that they hadn't followed the same route as so many other breweries who made the 'fashionable' fruit and sour beers, or stouts loaded with caramel and chocolate. I'd been drinking quite a few of these lately and was looking forward to savoring just a regular beer. Swover Creek delivered, with ales that reminded me of the traditional beers in England, that had little carbonation but plenty of flavor. The farm does produce a black raspberry beer and has some blackberry beer also almost ready but Todd emphasized that neither were too sweet or too fruity, so I'm looking forward to trying those. Hops are also grown on the property, a new crop that seems to be springing up in Virginia.
I could have sat there all afternoon in that cozy little space chatting with the others and slowly falling off my stool as the beer took hold, but I did have a car to drive and so when I was offered a look at the barn which was going to be the new tap room, I leaped at the chance.

The new tap room is right next to the house and is going to be open on the first weekend in November. They're not giving it the heavy industrial feel that some are currently going for, instead keeping it rustic and welcoming. It's a great space and I'm looking forward to returning when it's open.

Back in the kitchen Todd was filling my growler and reluctantly I had to bid everyone farewell and continue with my day without consuming more wonderful beer. They have a website, here. I did chuckle when I looked at it later and spotted a photo of some chickens in chairs, labeled the Eggcentric Egg and Chicken Ranch! Their chickens are certainly spoiled, having complete freedom, and are obviously very happy.

I walked out nodding to Chuck and Cluck, as I named them, who were still on the table. They both gave me a sidelong look as I passed. The air was filled with a wonderful mushroomy, earthy scent, and as I got to Stuart, Chuck gave me a very loud cock-a-doodle-doo farewell.

I carried on driving towards Strasburg, taking the back roads and noticing that the day was getting gloomier. I also realized that I had a pounding headache, a probable result from not having eaten since about 7:30 that morning, and it was now nearly 4. In Strasburg, I stopped at a place called Cristina's which always has the most amazing garden area to sit and eat in, filled with huge tropical looking plants.I'd never tried their food so this would be another first in my day.

I strolled in, noticing that it looked very cozy, but I wanted to eat on the road and get home. I looked at their menu, and chose a Grilled Beef Gorgonzola. All their food is sourced locally and when I got my sandwich after just a few minutes, I was delighted. It was delicious, so tasty that I didn't even think about taking a photo until I only had a few mouthfuls left, and I had no intention of stopping then to pull out my phone. It certainly hit the spot, washed down with their drip coffee which was also amazing. I'll be back for sure. Their website is here.

About 20 minutes from home the rain started again, getting heavier as I neared Marshall, but that just made it even nicer to get indoors and snuggle up with the cats. And to finish off the day nicely, as I drove slowly up the hill to Meadow House, a large flock of turkeys waddled across in front of me, then stopped on the crest of the hill, gabbling loudly.And I was absolutely sure that they were all welcoming me home!