Went out to western Virginia to take a look at a promising (on paper) piece of land that had about 100 yards to trout fishing stream access. After attempting to drive up the mountain on what can best be described as a white knuckle path, my son and I let reason overrule desire and we turned around (about a 16 point turn) and head back to the hard top. Needless to say, the search for a piece of wilderness to call my own continues!!
We set up camp at a camp ground right off the Blue Ridge Parkway, Fancy Gap Cabins and Camping https://fancygapcabinsandcampground.com/. I highly recommend the place if you find yourself in the area. Right off Interstate 77 at exit 8, then follow the signs to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Right up the road a couple of miles.
My son just got out of the Army and it was a good time to re-bond with my son and just enjoy ourselves.
The "homestead". Nothing like food cooked or coffee brewed outdoors on the old Coleman white gas stove!
This is the Lovers Leap overlook in highway 58. The drop on the other side of that wall was about 200-300 feet! Of course, there were Darwin Award Nominees jumping up on the wall to take selfies. Now I know how those damn fools fall into the Grand Canyon every year!!
Pic speaks for itself. Nice fire and cold beer after dinner. Need to bring some bourbon. Next Time.
This is Marby Mill. Built in 1910. The building housed a grist mill, a wood working shop and a saw mill. A blacksmith shop was 10 yards away from it and benefited from the power this waterwheel provided. Right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Really was an achievement in ingenuity for the guy that built it. Two small streams powered the over the top wheel that powered the entire shop.
3 comments:
Brought back memories of camping with my dad, the soldier. I was but a boy at the outset but soon had a driver's license and was competing in the State/Regional championship and earning slots at The National/International in Laser. Camping in Mussle Shoals. The mill pond brought back memories as well of the canoe trip where the Surgeon Dr Captain/Scout Master went off on a man who told us he owned the stretch of land we were all canoeing on and there would be no coming ashore here to portage around the dam. The boss was like the perfecta of venom speaking from all his hats to the mill pond's alleged owner. As I recall it drifted from inalienable rights, to rights of man, to the damned U.S. Code and Navigable Waters!!!!! I was about 14 at the time. It was a hoot. He finally pointed out that we outnumbered him about 50 to one.
I'm glad you got your son back.
I talked to the old man the other day and he's still doing fine but grousing about the virus keeping them all in lockdown. He has a back door escape there unlike anybody else and he and my mom take off outside whenever they feel like it, which is most days. Hard to keep them down at that age.
Such beautiful countryside! Glad you and your son got to get together like this, must have been fun.
Wow! Beautiful scenery.
Post a Comment