A Visit to Rockbridge County, Virginia

Posted on February 20, 2026 by Sharon

Vacations don’t always require a lot of travel time to be enjoyable! A recent trip to Rockbridge County in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia was only about 40 miles from where I live, but it proved to be a wonderful mid-week getaway.

Over the years I’d been “to and through” Lexington, Virginia, but I’d never really explored the town, and I’d never stayed there. For this mini-vacation we stayed at The Gin Hotel, right on Main Street. Built in the 1920s, this historic hotel was restored and renovated by new owners in 2014. With present-day amenities–combined with its original Art Deco design elements–it was both a comfortable and an “artsy” experience!

Picture from the Hotel’s Website

We arrived well before the check-in time, so we took advantage of the very walkable downtown area to do a bit of exploring.

The downtown area in this historic town is alive and well, with a variety of shops & restaurants.
Patterned bricks on the sidewalk
Stately clock tower
Several buildings on Main Street had exterior gas lamps!

I’ve always enjoyed walking on the Chessie Nature Trail that follows the Maury River, so after leaving the downtown area we drove to one of its access points on the east side of Lexington. The following video shows a bit of what makes this trail a special place to visit:

Unfortunately, there was a lot of mud and some very slick areas on the trail given all the snow and ice we had in late January. Off-trail paths along the edge of the river weren’t a good option either, so we didn’t go too far….

Instead, we drove “up river” just a bit to Jordan’s Point Park, which was once the industrial and transportation center in Lexington:

I zoomed way in to get this picture of an Eastern Bluebird at Jordan’s Point Park

Just beyond Jordan’s Point is the Virginia Military Institute. Usually referred to as VMI, the school was founded in Lexington, VA in 1839.

Back at the hotel, I enjoyed seeing the mix of Art Deco and modern influences in the lobby…

…but the elevators were really cool!

Wow, 100 years old!

These controls were used by an elevator operator until 2017 when the system was modernized!

That evening we walked to Niko’s Grille on Main Street for dinner (I had Chicken Piccata–very good!), and the next day we visited Natural Bridge State Park, which is about 15 miles south of Lexington. While I’ve visited Natural Bridge several times over the years, this was the first time I’d been there since it became Virginia’s 37th state park in 2016.

In addition to being a state park, this is a National Historic Landmark, as it was surveyed by George Washington in about 1750 and granted to Thomas Jefferson in 1774.

Getting to the bridge involves walking down stairs. LOTS of stairs (137). Fortunately there are interesting things to read along the way….

It’s hard to grasp just how tall the Bridge is, especially from this perspective.

This is the same picture as above, just zoomed in and cropped to show the size of the people in relation to the height of the bridge. So yes, Natural Bridge is massive, rising 215 feet above Cedar Creek, which flows through its opening.

Legend says that George Washington carved his initials on the side of the Bridge, but there is no firm proof that the “G.W.” about 25 feet up was carved by him. There are several other names and initials carved into the limestone Bridge on either side of the creek.

Funny to think that Rt. 11–a busy N/S highway in the Shenandoah Valley–goes right over the top of Natural Bridge!

It was overcast and chilly when we were there, and Cedar Creek still had quite a bit of snow along its banks!

Almost 2 miles up the trail from the Bridge is Lace Falls, but knowing I’d ultimately have to hoof it back to the Bridge and then walk up 137 stairs to get to the car made the thought of going to the falls a hard pass!

After lunch at Blue Ridge Deli in Natural Bridge Station, our next stop was in Glasgow, VA. A large duck, likely a female Common Merganser, was surfing the waves of the Maury as it flowed into the James River at the confluence.

I’ve always been drawn to confluences–where one river joins another river–and this has always been one of my favorite ones. Usually the fast-moving Maury has a greenish color and enters the slower-moving and brownish James River, but on this afternoon, both rivers were moving quickly and looked almost the same, likely from the ongoing snow melt.

The Maury River (in the foreground) entering the larger James River

The wind started blowing really hard as we walked out to the confluence, and you can hear it in this short video:

I guess it IS time for crocuses to start coming up, but I was surprised to see these delicate little beauties near the rivers!

As we were walking back to the car, we heard a distant train whistle and decided to wait to see the train. It was hauling so many coal cars, likely coming from the mines in West Virginia and heading to deep-water terminals in Hampton Roads and Norfolk on the eastern edge of the state.

As we started driving away from the confluence, I spotted a bird hovering over the fields. While it was too far away to get a good picture, I’m almost positive that this was an American Kestrel, as I was able to get better photographs of one doing the same thing in October 2016! Kestrels, the smallest falcons in North America, are known for their “windhovering” ability which allows them to remain almost stationary while searching the ground below for prey.

That evening back at the hotel, we ate dinner in the Juniper Lounge, and the food was absolutely amazing….

It was raining the next morning as we left Lexington, but we took a few minutes to drive through the VMI and Washington and Lee University campuses. I was surprised by how close W&L is to VMI–they’re literally nextdoor neighbors!

We’d talked about touring the W&L campus to see the museum and the art and ceramic galleries, but between the rain and a sign that the museum was temporarily closed, we decided to start the drive towards home.

Originally founded almost 100 years before VMI

Preferring roads less traveled to interstates, we made most of the drive northeast on rural Rt. 252 which took us through the village of Brownsburg, VA. While it may be too small to read the sign in the photograph, it says that the community was established in 1793, and by 1835 it was a “thriving commercial hub” that was centrally located between Staunton, VA and Lexington on the stagecoach line. There is so much history in the Shenandoah Valley!

Our final stop was at historic Wade’s Mill near Raphine, VA. According to the website, this mill was founded in 1750, and it is the “oldest continuously operating commercial grist mill” in Virginia. A sign was posted saying it would be closed from December through April, but I’d love to visit in the spring to see it in operation!

I believe I’ve mentioned it’s been cold in Virginia?! Look at that ice!

There is so much to see and so much to do in Virginia, and I’m always, always thankful for opportunities to get out and explore!

“The most beautiful things in life are not things.
They are people, places, memories, and pictures.
They are feelings and moments, smiles and laughter.”
~ mysuitcasejourneys.com

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Early Rhodes and New Roads

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Sharon

In January 2026 I had the opportunity to go to Middlesex County, Virginia to do genealogy research. I’d originally planned to go during the summer, but as my cats were separated then due to redirected aggression (as I wrote about here), that wasn’t possible. As it turned out, though, this was the perfect time for the trip!

As to the backstory, one of my maternal great-great grandmothers was Sarah Jane (Sally) Rhodes.

Born in 1826 in Albemarle County, Virginia, she married my great-great grandfather, John William Anderson, in January 1846. From their marriage license and census records I knew that Sarah’s father was Robert P. Rhodes, but for 30+ years I was not able to confirm the identity of his parents.

In January 2020 (as documented here) everything opened up on this family after finding valuable information in chancery suits. From there–through wills, deeds, and the incredible resource of church records–I was able to move the Rhodes history all the way back to the mid-1600s!

My earliest known Rhodes ancestor was Hezekiah (Ezechias) Rhodes. He was born about 1662 on the island of Guernsey in the English Channel. When he came to this country, he settled in Middlesex County, Virginia. His place of birth was confirmed in a Middlesex County Court court record from 1689 (source: Wikitree):

“Middlesex County Court 1st of April 1689. Ezekiah Roades humbly petitions this Court to prove himselfe a free borne Subject & produceing the evidence of Zachery Mullens for ye same, he is accordingly sworne & his deposition ordered to be recorded. The Deposition of Zachery Mullens examined & sworne saith that Ezekiah Roades was borne in ye Iseland Gernsey within ye Kings Dominion & further yor: Depont. saith that he ye sd. Ezekiah Roades & yor: Depont. we ware play boyes together & I knew him there severall yeares & further saith not. Zachery Mullelns, his marke. Sworne this first day of Aprill in Court. Test J. Vause 89 Cl Cur“

While I don’t know the exact year that Hezekiah/Ezechias arrived in Middlesex County, he married Elizabeth Ann Nichols in Christ Church Parish in 1684.

I wasn’t sure what I could find, in person, that hadn’t already been shared online, but I was ready for a fact-finding adventure and the opportunity to better explore this part of Virginia. So after an almost 3-hour drive, we arrived at the courthouse in Saluda, Virginia, (the county seat of Middlesex County), and the hunt was on!

Church records showed that Hezekiah (Ezechias) Rhodes died in 1717, and I hoped to find a will at the courthouse. Instead, we found an inventory and appraisement of his estate, with his oldest son, John, as the administrator. This was in Will Book B, page 86, though the actual page number was somewhat deceiving (and frustrating) given the way the book was assembled.

While some courthouses allow documents in will and deed books to be photographed, Middlesex County requires that researchers make hard copies of their pages of interest, for a nominal fee. The pages in the books are copies of the original documents–which is understandable, given their age. Unfortunately, however, they are very difficult to read, largely due to “bleed through,” as both sides of the originals were written on. The Rhodes appraisement spans three pages, and ultimately I’ll carefully photograph each page and try to make them clear enough in Photoshop to decipher and transcribe.

It was late afternoon by the time we left the courthouse. We crossed the beautiful Rappahannock River into Lancaster County on our way to Kilmarnock where we’d be staying. The Rappahannock travels a distance of approximately 195 miles from its origin in the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay, and it separates the Northern and Middle peninsulas in the Tidewater region of the state.

Towns Visited: Kilmarnock (north), Urbanna & Saluda (west), Deltaville (east), Gwynn’s Island (southeast)

Frost had made a pretty pattern on the driver’s side window of my Jeep the next morning as we were heading out. It was a cold start to the day, but at least we had blue skies and bright sunshine!

After driving south across the Rappahannock back into Middlesex County, our first stop was at Christ Church, just east of Saluda. Most of the records I’d found for this early Rhodes ancestor came from Christ Church Parish, so I was interested in seeing the church and cemetery.

I knew there was no marked grave for Hezekiah in the cemetery, but I still assumed he was buried there, based on information on Findagrave. I was confused, then, when we looked at a directory that listed everyone who was buried in the cemetery and there were no Rhodes mentioned at all!

As we were leaving the cemetery, we were greeted by a woman who was walking out of the Parish Hall building. In the course of our conversation, we learned that Christ Church Parish encompassed the whole of Middlesex County, not just the grounds of this particular church! That meant that that Hezekiah Rhodes had likely been buried in a family cemetery somewhere in Middlesex County, but not in this church cemetery!

I also learned that there were three churches in Christ Church Parish, so the record I’d found in an online Vestry book regarding Hezekiah being paid for “mending the pulpits” didn’t necessarily mean he’d made the repairs at this particular church:

We left the church knowing less than we thought we knew (which is kind of how genealogy research works for me!) and our next stop was the Middlesex County Museum and Historical Society in Saluda.

We were fortunate to be there on a day that Holly, the museum’s director, was working, and she was eager to help us make the most of our visit. Based on some deeds we’d looked at in the courthouse regarding the sale of Hezekiah’s land after his death, she helped us figure out possible areas where the Rhodes land might have been located. Nothing was conclusive, however, because “Barbecue Creek,” which was referenced in the deeds, was nowhere to be found on a map of the county…

She suggested a couple of books that might be helpful with my research, and I ordered the parish register (the one shown on the right) before leaving the museum. This not only contains information about Hezekiah, but also lists the birth, baptism, marriage, and death dates of his wife and several of his children.

As a bit of a coincidence and “small world-ism,” we were surprised to learn that Holly had grown up in the town where I now live! (Seriously, what are the odds?) But as it was getting close to lunch time–and based on her recommendation–we drove to a restaurant called “Something Different” in the town of Urbanna. It did not disappoint; best She-Crab soup I’ve ever had!

I’d never been to Urbanna before (famous for its Oyster Festival each November), and we stopped by one of the town’s marinas on our way to the restaurant:

After lunch, with most of my genealogy research options exhausted, we shifted into tourist mode. Since it was only about 25-30 miles away, I wanted to visit the campground on Gwynn’s Island where Wayne and I had stayed in August 2020.

I probably should have checked before we made the drive, but the campground was closed for the season, and all access to it was blocked. Darn! We only got a small glimpse of the Chesapeake Bay–wow, look at that big, blue water!–but it was a pretty drive and a gorgeous day. No regrets!

After leaving Gwynn’s, we did some wandering. We found a peaceful little park on the Piankatank River….

…. and after leaving Piankatank River Landing, we did a quick drive through Deltaville and out to Stingray Point before crossing the Rappahannock, yet again, on our return to Kilmarnock.

The name “Rappahannock” comes from an Algonquian (Native American) word meaning “river of quick, rising water” or “where the tide ebbs and flows.” Likes many rivers that empty into the Chesapeake Bay, the last 50 miles or so of the Rappahannock are tidal.

Before starting for home the next day, we drove just northeast of Kilmarnock to Hughlett Point Natural Area Preserve on the Chesapeake Bay. In the interest of time we just went straight to the beach, but trails there lead to a couple of observation decks in marshlands. Maybe on a future trip?

Hundreds of Canada Geese and seagulls were in the water to our left…

…with the Bay’s big, blue water to our right….

We were only about 50 miles from Westmoreland State Park on the Potomac River, and I thought that would be our next stop after leaving Hughlett Point. As we passed through Lively, VA, however, we saw a sign for Belle Isle State Park. Neither of us had ever been there and it was much closer than Westmoreland, so off we went!

The visitor center is right on the Rappahannock River, and we enjoyed looking at the various exhibits.

The gate to the campground was closed so we weren’t able to drive through to see it, but a woman I met several years ago said it’s her favorite campground, so I’ve always been curious about it. Pictures of some of the campsites are featured here. Looks very nice!

Such a beautiful day and such a beautiful state park!

We saw several Bald Eagles at Belle Isle, but they were too far away to get good pictures. I could just see their white heads and white tail feathers…

So while I didn’t find all of the information on my Rhodes ancestor that I’d hoped to find, I actually learned quite a lot. And that sets me up for a visit to the courthouse in Orange, Virginia, to see what I can find out about Hezekiah Rhodes, Jr. who’s my 6th great grandfather!

I’m so thankful that we had the opportunity to do some genealogy research, to see new places, to visit new towns and restaurants, and to explore new roads in this beautiful and diverse state. Experiences like these are to be treasured. ❤️

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Why Cats Should be Kept Indoors (Another Reason)

Posted on July 7, 2025 by Sharon

Most of my friends who have cats do not let them outside. They know that this helps to keep their kitty friends safer and healthier, and it also likely increases their lifespan.

As cats are instinctive hunters, an indoor-only home for them also helps to protect birds and other small animals. The Wildlife Center of Virginia’s article, “The Case for Indoor Cats,” focuses on the threat that free-roaming felines pose to wildlife.

While I absolutely agree that domestic cats should be kept inside, for the last 8+ years I have cared for a small colony of feral cats. I am sure that these cats routinely hunt, kill, and eat a variety of other animals even though they are given fresh food and water each day.

With the help of a Trap-Neuter-Return program through the local SPCA, however, all of the kittens in this colony were young enough to be socialized and adopted in 2016, and the adults were spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tipped before being returned. As a result, no new cats or kittens have shown up for more than 5 years, and three of four original TNR cats in the colony are now at least 9 or 10 years old. While this situation is still far from ideal for a number of reasons, I feel it has made a positive difference for these cats, as well as for local wildlife. (All told, I trapped a total of 12 cats and kittens!) As I’ve said repeatedly since committing to this caregiving responsibility, you do the best you can…

Am I a cat lover? Well, yes. I’ve had cats most of my life, sometimes with “singles” and sometimes with a houseful. While there have been occasional conflicts or differences of opinion, for the most part they have got along pretty well.

In 2019 after losing the last one from the group pictured above, I wasn’t in a position to adopt until Spring 2024 when I discovered two beautiful sisters at a local SPCA. Bonded adult littermates, they were exactly what my heart and soul needed.

These girls settled in quickly, and more often than not I’d find them snuggled up together. When we moved to a smaller house in late March 2025, they adapted to this change as well. By having me–and having each other–they were “home” wherever we were. True pet parents will understand when I say that they became my family.

Everything changed, however, on the evening of Sunday, June 22, 2025. It had been a very hot and humid day so I waited until just after dark to let the cats out on the screened back porch, which was one of their favorite places. Several minutes later I heard the most horrific screaming, and when I ran to the door I could see that they were fighting! Fighting??!!!

With fur flying in all directions, Lilith, my Seal Point, was attacking her sister! I opened the door and they came inside the house where the vicious brawl continued. I had NEVER seen cats fight so intensely before, and it was terrifying. I clapped my hands and shouted at them, but they were so focused on each other that it was if they couldn’t even hear me.

They finally ran under different pieces of furniture in my bedroom, and as soon as I could safely pick up one of them (Xena, the victim), I put her in a separate room and shut the door.

Once I stopped shaking, I remembered that just before the door to the porch closed, I’d heard something jump over the chain link fence in my back yard. I knew what had happened! In a classic case of redirected or displaced aggression, a neighborhood cat had come up on the deck next to my porch. This unexpected intrusion into their space likely scared both of my girls, and as she couldn’t lash out at the stranger, Lilith focused her fear and anger on her sister.

The next day when both cats seemed to be calm and back to normal, I put them in their carriers and placed them facing each other. After several minutes when there was no hissing or growling, I cautiously let them out of the carriers. They were fine for a minute or two, but as soon as they sniffed each other, they started fighting again, just as intensely.

I waited a couple of days before trying to put them together again. This time I cautiously opened their carriers in the kitchen after I’d put their food bowls in the normal places. I gently rubbed and praised both while they were eating, and as soon as one finished, I’d slowly pick her up and separate them again. This worked well for three or four feedings, and I was hopeful that the positive experience of successfully eating near each other would allow them to start the process of reconciling. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case.

One evening, after both had eaten just a couple of feet away from each other, Xena turned towards her sister and growled. Hoping to intervene before things escalated, I scooped up Lilith to take her to my bedroom. Xena, however, was already on the offensive, and she jumped onto my leg in an attempt to get to her sister! This caused Lilith to panic and jump down. Once they were both on the floor, another furious fight erupted. While I have found no major injuries on either cat after these fights (I’m monitoring a spot on Xena’s tail), this time I received multiple deep scratches on my hand, arm, and leg from both of them. For everyone’s safety, I’ve kept them completely apart since this incident.

In an attempt to lower the stress level in the house, the day after the first attack I purchased a Feliway diffuser, Feliway spray, and “calming treats.” I tried the “vanilla trick” of dabbing a small amount of vanilla extract on each one so they would smell the same, and I rubbed both with the same cloth to transfer their scents. Every couple of hours I swap which room they’re in (my bedroom or my computer room), and I spend time with each one individually. They also have time each day to run and play in the open rooms of the house, and I alternate which one sleeps in my room at night.

Additionally, I’ve taken steps to reduce the likelihood of them seeing the neighborhood cat again (which I saw on my deck a day or two after the first fight). Aside from not letting either on the screened porch, I put frosted privacy film on most of my windows. Sadly, this also means that my cats no longer have the opportunity to see birds, bunnies, or anything else in the outside world….

So in case it’s not abundantly clear yet, another reason to keep cats inside is to avoid causing a serious problem like the one I am dealing with! By coming over my fence, into my yard, and onto my deck, this neighborhood cat damaged the life-long relationship that my cats have had with each other. Its trespassing also created unexpected expenses for me due to my purchasing the pheromone diffuser, spray, treats, privacy film, and Rescue Remedy. And if the vet feels that medication may be necessary for one or both of my cats, or if they refer me to a behavioral consultant, this will become even more costly.

Of course the worst and most heartbreaking part of all this is that my beautiful and affectionate cats still feel such animosity towards each other. I sincerely hope that, in time, they will be able to live together peacefully again, but don’t think there are any guarantees.

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Sometimes I Just Need to Drive…

Posted on April 27, 2025 by Sharon

There have been a lot of changes in the last few months–like, seriously, a lot of changes–and I’m still trying to make sense of a world that doesn’t include Wayne. There are so very many things I miss from our years together, including how we would often do long, rambling drives on pretty weekends. As I’ve said before, I truly believe that adventures are best when shared, but since that’s no longer option, out of necessity I’m becoming more comfortable doing things by myself.

Despite having tentative plans for Sunday, April 27th, I was also having very compelling “John Muir moments”:

I’d recently renewed my annual national park pass, so I entered the Shenandoah National Park at the southern entrance of the Skyline Drive. Despite the brilliant sunshine, the temperature was just in the mid-40s and there was a strong breeze blowing. I wasn’t dressed warmly enough for any walks/hikes, but it was a wonderful day to go for a drive on the mountain.

Looking West – the beautiful, wide Shenandoah Valley
Looking West – Waynesboro, Virginia

The Skyline Drive winds along the crest of the mountain, so overlooks can offer views to the west or to the east.

Looking East – Interstate 64 as seen from the Beagle Gap Overlook on the Skyline Drive
Looking East – The development in the lower part of the picture is “Old Trail” near Crozet, Virginia
Looking West – Super zoomed in (WOW!!) on Waynesboro, Virginia from the Skyline Drive
Looking East – Sugar Hollow Dam and Reservoir from the Moormans River Overlook
200,000 acres in the Shenandoah National Park, and deer choose to graze here…
The parking area was full–lots of people were on the mountain this pretty Sunday morning.

I have many good, powerful–and bittersweet–memories of our hikes to Blackrock Summit over the years…

Looking West – View of the distinctive Massanutten Mountain from the Dundo Overlook
Looking East – Everything is greening up – Doyles River Overlook

My kind of road; driving north @ 35 mph in the Shenandoah National Park…

After 40-ish miles on the Skyline Drive, I opted to take Rt. 33 West. This afforded other interesting views of Massanutten Mountain.

While it’s not that far away (when taking a direct route), I think the only time I was at the resort was once when I was in college.

After arriving in Harrisonburg on Rt. 33 West and circling around Court Square, I got on Rt. 11 South. This took me past the hotel where Wayne and I stayed for the Virginia Art Education Association convention in 2019. That was SO much fun!

I continued to free-associate my way through the Shenandoah Valley, and impulsively decided to make a quick side trip. The farm where I was able to board my horse the first part of my freshman year at Bridgewater College is now home to a Church of the Brethren. The college is historically affiliated with this religion.

Yeah, definitely some memories were made during 4 years in this dorm….

During my senior year, my roommate and I shared the first floor room to the right of this door.

Back on Rt. 11, I drove through Mt. Crawford, Mt. Sidney, and Verona–and a whole lot of beautiful farmland–before turning southeast towards home.

While I will always feel the loss of my best friend and partner–and yes, there were some tears today as well as smiles–overall it was a good day.

Until next time,
Sharon

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1st Day Hike – January 1, 2025 – James River State Park

Posted on January 2, 2025 by Sharon

Wayne and I began going to Virginia’s state parks each New Year’s Day two years after the “1st Day Hike” program was started. While we never participated in the ranger-guided hikes that were offered at each park on January 1st, we always enjoyed visiting and exploring on our own.

In 2014 we went to Douthat State Park:

In 2015 we went to Smith Mountain Lake State Park (and it was really cold & windy!):

In 2016 we went to James River State Park:

In 2017 we went to High Bridge State Park:

(This was our first trip there, and it’s called “High Bridge” for a very good reason!)

On January 1, 2018, the temperature was in the teens, and the windchill was making it much colder. We knew we wouldn’t want to spend a lot of time outside, so instead of going to a state park, we went for a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. We got out of the car a couple of times, but since it was 14 degrees we didn’t stay out long!

We went back to James River State Park in 2019, and that was the first time we got a “First Day Hike” sticker.

While we did lots of day trips and camping trips to our beautiful state parks in every season over many years, our last official “First Day Hike” together was on January 1, 2020 when we visited Douthat State Park again:

This year I really felt not just the desire, but the need to restart the tradition of going to a park on New Year’s Day. Since adventures are usually best shared, I reached out to several different female friends to see if anyone would want to go with me, but everyone already had plans. Alrighty….

I decided to go to James River State Park because it’s the closest (at about 60 miles), plus I wanted to get a new jacket in the visitor center gift shop. It’s also the park that Wayne and I went to most often on day trips, plus we camped there.

I left home around 9:30 am, and when I started the drive down Rt. 29 South, I was the only car on the road for the longest time. That’s not something you see very often.

Just south of Lovingston and Colleen, I turned left onto Tye River Road. This pretty route crosses the Tye River and then runs beside it for a while.

After turning east onto Rt. 60 several miles later, I was surprised by how happy I was to finally see the James River again! The James is Virginia’s largest river. Formed from the confluence of the Jackson and Cowpasture Rivers in the western part of the state, it ultimately flows into the Chesapeake Bay at Hampton Roads. We’ve visited this historically-significant river in so many different places in the state over the years, and I’ve loved all of its manifestations and moods.

Once in the park, I went to the canoe launch area first, just for a few up close and personal minutes. Hello, you big ol’ beautiful river….

I then drove through the section where there are a number of cabins, and I was delighted to see that several of them were occupied. Some of the larger cabins (or lodges) seemed to have multiple families staying together in them–what fun! I also wanted to re-visit the campground, but unfortunately the gates were shut since it’s closed for the winter.

Next stop was the visitor center. I always enjoy looking at the exhibits–and I did buy a new jacket (it’s the green one).

And every single time I’m at this park, I photograph this sign because I agree with the sentiment:

There were going to be two different guided hikes leaving from the visitor center at noon, and this wasn’t something I planned to do. Like seriously, not what my significantly out-of-shape self was there for! But when one of the rangers said that the “Wetlands Hike” was primarily flat, I decided to try it, even though I was certainly the oldest person in that particular group. (Now I guess it’s possible that in dog years a 13 year-old long-haired dachshund named Ruby who was in my group was “older” than I am–but her “parents” said she’s been to 16 state parks so far and she doesn’t seem to get tired unless the hike is longer than 3 miles… Alrighty…)

In all the times that we visited the park, this is a trail that Wayne and I never explored. The first part was down hill from the visitor center (so I figured the last part would be up the same hill…) but it did level off near a pond where there were cattails and a beaver lodge:

There were several horses and riders in the park (yes, that’s a most excellent way to “hike,” I’d say) and our group stood quietly to the side of the trail to let them pass.

After leaving the pond, the next part of the trail was along the river.

Our guide stopped frequently to share information about various plants or animals, but oddly, this time I didn’t see hawks, ducks, geese, herons, or any wildlife other than some tiny birds and a few vultures.

After a long stretch along the river, the trail curved to the left and we found ourselves at the far end of the pond. I didn’t take any pictures, but there were several trees there that had been taken down by beavers, leaving triangular stumps. (Fun fact: Beavers are the largest rodent in North America, and the second largest in the world. The largest is the capybara.)

After a minor uphill trek (pant, pant), we completed the loop around the pond. I paused to take a picture of my totally wind-blown, hat-haired, not-dying-yet self.

I then asked Ruby’s “dad” to take a picture of me, which he did. All my layers (shirt, sweater, scarf, coat) felt quite good in the shady sections of the trail, especially when the wind was blowing (it was in the mid-40s when we started), but it was much too warm in the sun. By that time, though, I figured it was easier to wear it than carry it.

The climb back up the hill towards the visitor center wasn’t much fun–especially since it was at the end of the hike. Carrying a camera, however, always provides a valid excuse to stop to take a picture or two (while catching one’s breath). This Wetlands hike took just under an hour and a half, factoring in the brief stops along the way.

When I got back to my car, there were a couple of things I wanted to do before I left the park. First stop was Dixon Landing. I couldn’t get exactly where I wanted to be given that there were people around, but I was close enough–and discreet… IYKYK.

I then went back to the canoe launch area (with my Altoids tin in hand), still focused on honoring special places and memories from other times Wayne and I were there over the years…

Thank you, James River State Park, for another enjoyable visit–and for a real “First Day Hike”!

Heading home and driving northwest, Tye River Road offers some stunning mountain views each time you pop over a hill…

Once on Rt. 29 North, I made a quick stop at the SPCA where I’d adopted Lilith and Xena last May.

In addition to donating several blankets for them to use in the cat cages, I (of course) told the employees and volunteers that I had adopted the best girl kitties in the whole world. (And yes, of course, I showed them several pictures.)

I made one more brief side trip before heading home:

So while I still feel that adventures are best shared, I’m realizing that in order to do the things that I enjoy doing–such as being out in nature, traveling, camping, etc.–sometimes (or perhaps most of the time…) it will mean going solo. And you know what? That’s okay.

~ Sharon

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