Shenandoah National Park, November 3-5, 2016
Laura came home on break from her job in Crested Butte. We drove to Philadelphia for a visit with Emily, with a plan to kidnap her and take her on a family hiking trip. She resisted, we pressed. She relented. Success! I had both my girls. Let’s do this.
First stop, Front Royal, Virginia, a seedy motel and three hungry bellies. Across the street, a converted gas station called the Pave Mint. Local beers, friendly folks, and Game 7 of the World Series. Go Cubs!
Our first day of hiking featured a trek to hexagonal rock outcroppings that reminded us of the surface of a soccer ball, and a summit ridge where we saw a bald eagle swooping and playing with smaller birds, practicing her flight skills. Emily treated us to a lovely rendition of her medieval ballad, Louverdere and Eagle Feather. She has the voice of an angel.
Late that afternoon, some of us napped and others explored the local brewery and whisky distillers in Sperryville. The Waxamatic, designed to precisely place wax on the neck of a whiskey bottle, didn’t work, and was used solely as a bottle rack. But it put me in mind of Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz in I Love Lucy, when they had their short-lived job at the candy factory. More than enough said on that, I’m sure…
We stayed in a lovely garage apartment, just across the street from excellent coffee and doughnuts. And we were happy to see big Clinton/Kaine posters on the property. That wasn’t a given…
Day Two, we almost hit a deer in the morning, but no harm done. Then we hiked to the highest point in Shenandoah National Park and were treated to forever vistas and the galumphing stride and furry face of Lady Boots, veteran hiking Bernese Mountain Dog and chick magnet.
Whose woods these are I think I know. All of ours.
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but we have promises to keep. And miles to go before we sleep.
So we hit the road, north to Philadelphia, then home.