Scenic Drive on the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park…

No trip would be complete in this part of Virginia without a drive to the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. The Skyline Drive runs its length of 105 miles along the Blue Ridge Mountains and criss-crosses parts of the  Appalachian Trail. Mostly forested, the park features wetlands, waterfalls and rocky peaks. Shenandoah is home to various species of birds and mammals including the black bear.

While we didn't see any black bear on our several trips up into the National Park we did see a mama bear and her cub on our very first visit to this park several years ago. We did see lots of different birds and deer were plentiful. But the big draw is the panoramic vistas which greet visitors at each turn off of the Skyline Drive.

I have blogged about this park several times before so I won’t elaborate. However, I have to say this is a great place to pull over and don the hiking shoes to explore the many trails. Most exciting for me is the opportunity to hike on bits and pieces of the Appalachian Trail. I was once an avid backpacker and often pondered doing this entire trail.  Because our former home was closer to the Rocky Mountains, they always were the strongest lure to this backpacker.

As I mentioned in our footnote of our last blog we have extended our stay here in Tom's Brook. We always find it hard to leave this area and since we needed to order some parts to service our Onan 6000 generator, it made it an easy decision to stay. A part I bought while we were in Red Bay Alabama was the wrong part so I also needed to return it and order the correct part.

Our generator will be getting a new fuel filter, air filter, oil filter and an oil change. If I have time I will also perform a coolant flush and put in new anti freeze. As many RV’ers know doing your own service can save lots of money but finding places on the road which allow you to service your RV are few and far between. So extending our stay here will allow me to perform some needed tasks.

Sharon and I are also enjoying the large gourmet kitchen at the farm.  There has been a lot of baking and cooking of all our favorite foods.  It has been a wonderful, productive time nesting here for awhile.  Even though the owners want us to stay until Labor Day, we are feeling the pull of the open road.

I also need to buckle down and plan a summer route.  Part of the route will undoubtedly be another quick trip to North Carolina as there is the need for celebration! This past weekend our daughter became engaged! I know her mother wants to give them both a big hug and hear all about it in person.  This will rule out much of the Northern route I originally planned but I trust I'll find a loop that will be enjoyable to close out our summer.

In the meantime there is much to enjoy here and so we will. Who knows when we will leave here and where we will go, but it really doesn’t matter as we are still having fun on The Road of Retirement…

NOTE: We have extended our stay here in the Shenandoah Valley soon we will make our way north from here.

Sharon Loves Visiting this Farm in Virginia…

As much as I love the west I am always really happy to come to the east to experience green rolling hills and meadows.  One of the most beautiful places we have visited and will always revisit is the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. 

We are fortunate to be able to park our RV on a farm near Tom's Brook Virginia at the home of our dear friends.  As John mentioned in a previous blog we took a side trip to Norfolk which was fun for sure but I always look forward to the farm stay because of the serenity and the views are absolutely breathtaking.

In addition to the views we receive many wildlife visitors to the farm.  A woodchuck often comes up to feed on the clover in the back yard.  We also have a beautiful indigo bunting who visits quite often. Does with fawns also frequent the farm so we never know who will show up.  Its just great.The main house sits on a hill with a beautiful valley below upon which the owner has a farmhouse and a Springhouse he lists on Home away to vacationers. 

While here we like to pitch in and help as much as we can.  We collect mail, take garbage to the dump, eradicate wasp nests  and generally keep an eye on things.  At the big house we have trimmed his trees which were hanging too low in the driveway and I enjoy cleaning their house top to bottom.  The lady of the house is taking care of her ill parent so it is our hope that our efforts will lighten the load for them when they return.  Their generosity in encouraging us to stay longer here is such a blessing.

The kitchen at the home place is amazing and such fun to cook in.  Making elaborate dinners and eating out on the back porch overlooking the Shenandoah Valley is priceless! Between great dinners with views and getting to take baths again, I am in heaven.  We also have the opportunity to order some generator parts and get mail we need to receive so we actually lengthened our stay.

We have settled into a routine of walking the property then doing our weight lifting in the mornings whereas in the afternoons we either enjoy fishing or kayaking the river or we ride over to Woodstock to the brewery, to Winchester for happy hour, or to an interesting farm brewery kind of in the middle of nowhere.  We also found a disc golf course nearby which we have played several times. Life is great!

We plan to visit Shenandoah National Park to hike and drive the Skyline Drive. We might make a day trip over to Washington DC if the weather will cooperate but it won't matter if we can't because I really am enjoying being a farm girl for awhile.....

       

How lucky are we to have these opportunities?? I would never have discovered the East or this beautiful Shenandoah Valley nor met these great friends had we not taken that leap of faith in selling everything to embark on our RV travels.  I am ever thankful of our decision and look forward to whatever adventures lie ahead.

NOTE: We have extended our stay here in the Shenandoah Valley so we have begun to plan out trek north from here.