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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Watery Wednesday


On Sunday we went out to Camp Alta Mons in Shawsville to hike up to Stiles Falls, a 45 foot waterfall. The hike is about a 45 minute, moderate walk along the river, which you need to cross over a few times but there are rocks you can hop on like a little bridge.

On the way back from the falls, we spotted 3 baby bears in the river as we were crossing and could hear the momma bear somewhere above us on the hill in the woods growling. We had to cross over the river to get back on the trail and unfortunately the babies went the same direction as us and then climbed up a tree. We had to walk right past the tree where the babies were, with momma somewhere to the right of us, I'm sure keeping an eye on all of us. We made lots of noise by yelling (all 6 of us!) to keep her away from us as we went along our way. It worked, we didn't see her but got great views of the babies. I wish I could have stopped to get a better picture but I don't think that would have been a great idea lol...Anyways, in this photo you can make out 2 of the babies up in the tree. The 3rd baby had climbed down and ran off into the woods. Such an awesome experience to see them!


Linking to Watery Wednesday


And a brief history of how the falls got its name:

How the Water Falls at Camp
Alta Mons Received it’s Name
The earliest recorded name for the 45 ft. water falls is Purgatory Falls. This early name comes from a stenciled photo of a late nineteenth century travel log magazine. Purgatory Creek flows from several springs of a Floyd Co. mountain watershed above the falls. Once over the falls the creek enters Montgomery Co., twists and turns through the present property of Camp Alta Mons; a year round, 875 acre camp and retreat facility for the United Methodist Church of the Roanoke District. Formerly, the property was part of the Pearman Farm and Crockett Springs Resort dating back to the 1890’s.
The early day resort hosted wealthy families who wanted to travel to the mountains in order to escape the crowded cities’ heat and epidemics of various ills of that day. In order to attract folks, the resort management would invite Civil War celebrities and heroes, both Confederate and Yankee. Following is the story about how the falls became Stiles Falls.
From The New Messenger, Dec. 19, 1968:
“During the Civil War the Merrimac was blown up in Chesapeake Bay by her own crew to prevent the ship from falling into the hands of the Yankees. Randolph Stiles was the first officer of the Merrimac. He saved the ship’s log and later gave it to the Valentine Museum in Richmond. While with a group of young people in Montgomery County, the story records, Randolph tried to swing across Purgatory Creek on a grapevine where the water plunges over some rocks and was killed. The falls has since been known as Stiles Falls.”

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Barn Charm Tuesday



Another view of the barn at Avenel Plantation (Bedford Co). Can you spot the little squirrel?

To see barns from all over, visit Barn Charm!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Mellow Yellow Monday



Yellow canoes...Camp Alta Mons, Shawsville, Va
(by the way, we saw 3 baby bears while we were out hiking there yesterday!)


Linking to Mellow Yellow Monday

Friday, November 25, 2011

SkyWatch Friday



My sky, right now....surrounded by clear, blue skies. It's going to be a beautiful day with warm temps!

To see skies from all over, visit Skyley....happy skywatching!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving



...sniff, sniff, sniff.... "do i smell turkey?"

have a super thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Watery Wednesday



....reflections....

(carvins cove, roanoke)

linking to watery wednesday

hope everyone has a blessed thanksgiving!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Mellow Yellow Monday



Saturday's sunset....photographed by my 9 year old, Dalton...added some color boost! Linking to Mellow Yellow Monday

Friday, November 18, 2011

SkyWatch Friday



Skywatching from the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va

To see skies from all over the world, visit Skyley!

Have a super weekend!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Avenel Plantation




Avenel was built circa 1838 by William M. Burwell and his wife, Frances Steptoe Burwell.

Notable visitors included General David Hunter, Mr. and Mrs. Robert E Lee and their daughter.

Avenel can be rented for weddings, receptions, etc...

While googling for info on Avenel, I even found out a movie was made about it! Portrait of a Plantation

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Watery Wednesday


On Sunday we visited the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford. Bedford was chosen as the location for the memorial because
Bedford provided a company of soldiers (Company A) to the 29th Infantry Division when the National Guard's 116th Infantry Regiment was activated on 3 February 1941. Some thirty Bedford soldiers were still in that company on D-Day; several more from Bedford were in other D-Day companies, including one who, two years earlier, had been reassigned from the 116th Infantry to the First Infantry Division. Thus he had already landed in both Northern Africa and Sicily before coming ashore on D-Day at Omaha Beach with the Big Red One. Company A of the 116th Infantry assaulted Omaha Beach as part of the First Division's Task Force O.

By day's end, nineteen of the company's Bedford soldiers were dead. Two more Bedford soldiers died later in the Normandy campaign, as did yet another two assigned to other 116th Infantry companies. Bedford's population in 1944 was about 3,200. Proportionally this community suffered the nation's severest D-Day losses. Recognizing Bedford as emblematic of all communities, large and small, whose citizen-soldiers served on D-Day, Congress warranted the establishment of the National D-Day Memorial here.

The last "Bedford Boy" passed away in 2009.

Linking to Watery Wednesday

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Barn Charm Tuesday




The barn at Avenel Plantation in Bedford. The house was built in 1838 and is rumored to be haunted but I couldn't find any info on the barn.

To see barns from all over, visit Tricia at Barn Charm!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Mellow Yellow Monday



An old fire truck inside the Bedford County Welcome Center. Why is it that old things look so much cooler than new?!

Linking to Mellow Yellow Monday!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Mohawk Bug



This little dude was on our porch recently. Check out the spiky little mohawk he's sporting. Not a clue what he is, I've never seen a bug like this....any guesses?

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Barn Charm Tuesday




Cute little barn sitting on a corner in Buchanan, Va

To see barns from all over, click the "barn charm" badge!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Mellow Yellow Monday



This was about 2 weeks ago at Peaks of Otter....probably not much yellow to be seen by now....linking with Mellow Yellow Monday

Friday, November 4, 2011

SkyWatch Friday



Geese flying over Mt. Vernon, last winter. To see skies from all over the world, visit Skyley!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

The Fisherman



Walking along the greenway in Salem we saw quite a few guys out fishing. This is the Roanoke River.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Watery Wednesday



A frozen Douthat Lake, last winter....linking to Watery Wednesday...check it out!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

November Theme Day - Fences



It's "Theme Day" for City Daily Photo members and today's theme is "Fences"...this photo is from Williamsburg, Va...one of my favorite places!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants