Two Lakes Near Front Royal

Both of these are man-made lakes south of Front Royal just off U.S. 522.

Black Cat, Filtered

I added filters in Photoshop to emphasize the edges and make the picture look spooky.

I think this is the same friendly cat that I photographed two years ago in Orkney Springs.

Old Farm near New Market

Watching Sheep

From the parking lot of Mt. Zion Church on Fairview Road we watched a herd of sheep running in a line. Perhaps it was feeding time.

This is probably the same flock I posted here two years ago.

A View from Erika Drive

Looking Over the Air Strip at Bryce Resort

New Guide to Bryce Resort and Shenandoah County

The Resort has published a new guide with the assistance of Steve Kirchner: Bryce Resort and Shenandoah County Travel Guide. Click to see the online fall-winter edition (requires Adobe Flash software to turn the pages).

The Hike to Woodstock Tower

	It's barely even a hike, for the tower is only a ten or fifteen minute walk from the parking spaces. But you should wear sensible shoes because the trail is rocky and uneven. A worn-looking sign marks the trailhead at the top of Massanutten.
	The view from the road isn't bad (left). However, the views from the tower are spectacular, if you can brave the steep stairs going up to the observation platform.

Three Views from Woodstock Tower

Above: Looking toward Woodstock, VA

and bends of the North Fork

Below: Looking in the opposite direction across Fort Valley

and toward the Blue Ridge

Looking Northeast, George Washington National Forest

Views from Woodstock Tower Road

Yesterday we went to hear a library program in Fort Valley, which is nestled in the Massanutten Mountains. The weather turned out to be quite nice instead of the predicted thunderstorms. The library is on Woodstock Tower Road, so after the talk we decided to drive up the road to the top of the mountain. I've mentioned the road to Woodstock Tower before. It has a couple of sharp curves but it's easily navigated on the Fort Valley side.

Mount Airy Lane near Mt. Jackson

Near the North Fork of the Shenandoah

Mentioned as the Steenbergen property owned by John G. Meem in this 1867 article.

Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin Field near Massanutten Mountain

There are plenty of places to buy pumpkins in Shenandoah County. I chose the pumpkin stand on Mt. Airy Lane just south of Mount Jackson because it's a very scenic spot. Even on a rainy day, I got some nice pictures.

We picked a pumpkin from the field and also purchased a couple of gourds.

North Fork at Chapman's Landing

Chapman's Landing is a public access point on the North Fork of the Shenandoah. Narrow Passage Creek joins the North Fork here, north of Edinburg, VA.

Not far away is the inn where Stonewall Jackson asked Jed Hotchkiss to make a map of the Shenandoah Valley - see the historical marker on HMDB.org.

(Note: For the photo on the left, I added a Poster Edge filter in Photoshop. Click on it to see a larger version.)

Autumn at the Southern Kitchen

New Market, Virginia

The Southern Kitchen Restaurant is a Shenandoah Valley institution. It's a 1950's-style diner along "Congress Street," the Old Valley Pike (U.S. 11) in historic New Market.

Frank loves their cream pies.

Fort Edwards in West Virginia

We visited the site of Fort Edwards in Capon Bridge, West Virginia. It was one of the frontier forts under command of George Washington during the French and Indian War. There is a visitors' center, a series of interpretive signs, and a reconstructed section of palisade wall.

The visitor center is open on weekends during the warmer months. The Fort Edwards website tells the history of the fort and reports on an archaeological investigation of the site.

"The fort at Joseph Edwards's home on the Cacapon River was one of these western forts guarding the road from Ft. Loudoun to the forts of the South Branch River valley." And in April 1756 at th Battle of Great Cacapon River, "Capt. John Fenton Mercer, Lt. Thomas Carter and 15 soldiers killed not far from Ft. Edwards. This is the largest encounter between French and Indian forces and Virginia soldiers of the War."

Capon Bridge is between Winchester and Romney. Of course, until the Civil War the area (like all of West Virginia) was part of Virginia.

SOLDIERS AND SETTLERS

In Memory of

the soldiers and settlers

who lost their lives

in Hampshire County

during the

French and Indian War

Dedicated by

the Fort Edwards Foundation

June 26, 2004 as part of our

commemoration of the

250th anniversary of the

founding of Hampshire County

and the 250th anniversary of

the French and Indian War

See my other posts related to the French and Indian War:

• Germany Valley Overlook (Hinkle's Fort)
• Marker for Last Indian-Settler Conflict, Shenandoah Valley
• Romney Historic Sites, Fort Pearsall
• Stone House on Senedo Road
• Madison Hall

The View from Trout Run Road

Yesterday we crossed Great North Mountain on Wolf Gap Road. We reached the crest of the mountain in about 20 minutes. Coasting down the other side took a little longer, especially since we stopped to look at a couple of deer. Frank tried to get a picture but it blurred; so I tried and all I got was the deer's back side! Below is a picture Frank took from Trout Run Road, which is the West Virginia continuation of Wolf Gap Road. By the way, the fall colors were delightful on the mountain, with leaves glittering overhead in the sunlight.

View with Clouds

I took this picture from our deck this past weekend. After four days of rain, the clouds finally started to lift. I looked out in the morning and notice that the trees on Great North Mountain were frosted with white. I'm pretty sure it was snow because West Virginia Public Radio had predicted snow flurries in the mountains.

I didn't see any on our ridge though. And today the temperature went up to about 70 F., which was lovely.

View of our old Chalet

We bought the chalet as a foreclosure back in 2001. It was our vacation home, and later became our full-time home. At that time we thought we would move into our property in Glebe Harbor when the couple renting it moved out.

But I found Glebe Harbor to be too isolated for my tastes. We started looking for a house back here in Basye that was a bit larger than the chalet and wound up in our present home with it's extra bath and large garage.

Edited in Photoshop

Filters include Poster Edges

A Rail Fence, Kernstown

This fence is made from split rails but requires more labor than the picturesque zig-zag fence, for holes have to be dug for all those posts.

See all my Fence Posts.

Scenes at the Apple and Grape Harvest Festival

Mount Jackson, Virginia

Last weekend the town of Mt. Jackson held its annual harvest festival. Above we see some men making apple cider.
Below a youth demonstrates his juggling skills.

Dried Flower Sale

Shenandoah County, Virginia

The Mount Jackson Garden Club sold dried flower arrangements at the Harvest Festival a week ago.

Late Season Zinnia

I've rarely had luck with growing plants from seed, although my morning glories usually do nicely once they get started. But this year the zinnia seeds that I planted sprouted well and then bloomed all summer. Now they are almost the only flowers blooming in our yard. No doubt frost will put an end to them soon.

Just a Squirrel

Old Porch

We were in Middletown when we saw a really old house for sale. It clearly needed some repair.

It real estate terms the house "needs TLC" due to "deferred maintenance." Actually, the repairs would probably cost more than the price of the house.

Autumn Views from Sky Chalet

Great North Mountain Seen from Sky Chalet Lane
Basye, VA

At the crest of the ridge on the left side of the photo is the radio tower complex that's at the top of Crooked Run Road. (For views from that point, see The View from Great North Mountain and Looking East Toward Home.)

As you can see, Autumn has reached the hills of Shenandoah County. I took these pictures two days ago from Sky Chalet Lane just off Orkney Grade.

By the way, Sky Chalet has a big real estate auction scheduled for Oct. 24, 2009.

A View of Germany Valley

This beautiful valley is easily reached from Harrisonburg by heading west of U.S. 33. You have to cross North Fork Mountain so allow extra time for twists and turns.

Named for the German families who settled here in the 18th century, Germany Valley is only about 2.5 miles wide and 10 miles long.

I took these pictures on October 8 and as you can see, autumn was already working its magic on the foliage. I'd like to go back sometime and see more of this area.

Article on Germany Valley, WV

Germany Valley Overlook

Having spent a little time looking at the map before we went to West Virginia, I knew that we would be near Germany Valley. I remembered from childhood that there was a beautiful view of the valley that's worth photographing.

We almost missed the viewpoint. I glimpsed it as Frank drove past and I saw a commercial sign for "Germany Valley Overlook Cabins." I convinced Frank to turn around so that I could drink in the view.

Here's what the historical marker says:

Germany Valley is the site of Hinkle's Fort built in 1761–1762. It was the only defense of the South Branch after Fort Upper Tract and Fort Seybert were destroyed by Shawnee Indians under Killbuck, April 27–28, 1758.

Click the arrow to view the brief video.