Big Meadows - Shenandoah National Park

Sunrise in Shenandoah NP

Off early in the morning to Lynchburg Art League to pick up six pieces of art.  Most of it is beautifully boxed and goes into the hold. Some, not so much and go on the bed.  Then on to McGuffey Art Center in Charlottesville for two more.  Lunch in the parking lot...actually much more enjoyable than it sounds.  On to Shenandoah National Park. Even though it is the last week in April, there are no leaves on the trees as we get to the ridge line.  We find a nice spot (E-175) right on the edge.  From the back of the RV it is a steep drop which ends two or three miles down in the valley.  The wind has picked up, which makes sitting outside more challenging. However, there are no bugs and we get to take some nice little hikes along the Appalachian Trail which runs right behind us.

According to the weather people, it is suppose to be hot...but in reality, it's cool.  We had planned to grill some steaks, but the wind is too strong.  So it's steaks with grilled Brussels sprouts and new potatoes.  By the time we finished dinner and a walk, it started to pour!  We finished watching "Interstellar."  That's an interesting movie!

Holliday Lake State Park - Ekton, VA

Wild mandrake

It's finally spring! The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming.  The kitchen revitalization project is complete, the tax season is over, the spring concerts are wrapped up.  Next week is the opening of the Art Speaks Art Show, which means it's time to do our courier service, driving through the state picking up artwork.

Tonight we are staying at Holliday Lake State Park.  We have never stayed here before, but since our "usual" Park, James River, has no internet, we thought we would try it.  It a nice little park with only 5 mama bear sites (the baby bear sites are too small, the papa bear sites are too big).  It's nice but very cozy.

Fairy Stone State Park - Martinsville, VA

This morning we went in search of the Natural Chimneys. They are 100 ft chimneys of rock with tunnels and holes in them.  Apparently, the results of sink holes.

Off the Fairy Stone, named for the little crosses that are small crystals found not here and in a small area if Russia (that's what it says)..  We went for a short walk, but didn't find any.  Deb got her final campfire of the year.  All in all, a nice fall foliage day.

Occoneechee State Park - Clarksville, VA

Occoneechee State Park

Did a nice hike this morning...3.3 mile loop to a hilltop with scenic vistas, back in time for lunch at the picnic area.  We finally found some fairy stones, once you know where to look, they are easy to find....we found several at the gift shop at the park office.  It turns out in their raw form, they are not very impressive, but once ground down and polished they are worth $3.99 each.

We had a calm and folegic trip to the campground that I cut-and-pasted into the title of this blog.  Unfortunately the last red site was snagged online just as I was trying to get a site, so we had to settle for purple unless of course we wanted blue.  Green is closed for the season.  This is when you nod and pretend you have some idea what we are discussing.  It turns out that the red sites are in the water but have no utilities and are not even close to level, the purple sites are close to the water, somewhat more level, but still no utilities, the blue sites are larger, more level and have electricity and water.  The green sites are someplace totally different that we can't get to.

Natural Chimney Regional Park - Mount Solon, VA

After an exhausting night, we are up at dawn... the campground has been winterized....that means no water, electricity, dump station..  basically a parking spot in the woods...which is really all we need.  In the morning we go for a nice hike in the woods... we see a few more people between the trees and hear lots of gun shots.  The day is a little  gloomy and we decide that vineyards might be a better choice than hiking.

 

There are two fantastic vineyards on this leg if the trip.  The whole trip is less than 80 miles.  We get to Crosskeys Vineyard which has a lovely little bistro, which could mean anything, but in this case, gourmet sandwiches and a glass of wine.  Then a little wine tasting.  They gave a special deal where you don't have to try the sweet desert wines, and both of us opt for it.  It costs $2 less and we gladly put the money in the tip jar.  The rain is coming on and off, but we are having a great time.  Off to Bluestone Vineyard.  With a glass of wine at lunch and a full wine tasting and only 15 minutes between vineyards, we are feeling the need to pace ourselves.  Fortunately, Bluestone offers a white only, and a red only option, and then the sun comes out.  We have an 8  minute drive to our campground.  We are in Nirvana.

It's a good thing we have a few years of RVing under our belt.  Natural Chimney Regional Park follows no RVing conventions.  This is the big Halloween weekend and every site is reserved for the weekend (no clue as to how to reserve sites, or even that they take reservations). There are no driveways for the sites, so everyone sets up however they want to, as long as the power cord reaches the box with site number on it, it's okay.  Some of sites have elaborate haunted houses set up, on RV has been converted to "Camp Nightmare" just for the occasion.

We actually just wanted to see the Natural Chimney, but except for the fact we were camping with Halloween junkies it was a nice place.

Thanksgiving - San Juan Island (7 nights)

Our VRBO on San Juan Island

Since Nathan had used up all his time-off going to Maine and Italy, we all gathered near his place in Seattle.  We found a nice place on the water with a sod roof and cedar siding.  There are windows all along the water side,   There is suppose to be a big storm coming which could be exciting.

The view from our vacation rental.

We went to Friday Harbor, and on the way back saw a pod of five orcas right in front of the house. One of those times you can either be in the moment or take pictures.

The view in this photo is of the Olympia Mountains.  Everyday the view changed, sometimes there were no mountains!

We visited Roche Harbour, on the northern side of the island.  Lovely small town with an interesting history.

Thanksgiving Day 2016

We had a wonderful holiday!  The place had a Viking stove with a warming tray.  Chris and I made the turkey, stuffing and apple pie.  Justin made the best whipped parsnips and mashed potatoes.  Richard's biscuits were outstanding.  Nathan made a wonderful pumpkin squash and pumpkin pie.  And of course, homemade cranberry sauce.