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.

The Road Less Traveled

I saw this sign in West Virginia along U.S. 33 near Germany Valley. Someone felt creative when naming the roads there. Another one sported the name "The High Road."

Sentimental Return to a Mountain Top

When I was a child, my parents took us to Spruce Knob, West Virginia's highest peak. My dad took home movies of us up there, including a scene where we added rocks to a cairn (manmade pile of stones). I think it was around this spot.
I remember that I loved the feeling of being so high up on a mountain. The air is fresh and invigorating. The terrain and plants are different from anything lower down. And of course, the views are fantastic.

Exposing for the Sky

Bright Clouds Over Spruce Knob

As I looked through the viewfinder, I saw the trees and sky darken as the lens faced this portion of sky where the sun shone behind the clouds. I decided to shoot the picture with the sky slightly darkened. If I had framed the picture the way you see (above) using automatic settings, the sky would have been much darker than I wanted, since my built-in light meter is heavily influenced by the center of the picture.

Rather than switch from automatic to manual, I fooled the sensor by moving the lens to the right. With gray clouds taking up most of the frame, I depressed the button part-way down without clicking the shutter until I moved the camera back to get the image you see. Then I pressed the button down the rest of the way.

The trick of holding the button part-way down is an old one that predates digital cameras. It takes advantage of auto-exposure and auto-focus features but allows you to shoot without the subject in the center of the image. With digital, you don't have to worry about the cost of film so you can experiment with this until you get an image you like. Also, digital images can easily be adjusted using software on the computer so you get a chance to refine the results.

I like using a camera that has a viewfinder as well as a screen. I can easily see what's in the center of the image and judge the light more accurately than I can on a screen (which usually has reflections on it). Also, with my eye near the viewfinder, I can steady the camera using my face as well as my hands.

View from Whispering Spruce Trail

Spruce Knob, West Virginia

This trail runs just below the summit. Here you can see which way the wind blows. The branches on the spruce trees have broken off on the side that's exposed to the wind.

All the trees up there are short, again because of breakage due to wind and also ice.

Highest Point in West Virginia

High up on Spruce Knob, there's a short trail from the parking lot to the tower at the summit. Take a sweater or jacket -- there's wind up there and it may be cold. We enjoyed walking among the wind-shortened spruce trees. And the view from the lookout is magnificent! List of U.S. States by Elevation Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area

I've been to Spruce Knob a couple of times before and I wanted to share it with Frank. Now I want to go again and make it an overnight trip because there is so much to see in the area.

Note: This blog posts entries in reverse order so our trip to this point is covered below (including The Road up Spruce Knob and Fox and Ox Rocks).

The Road up Spruce Knob

The route to Spruce Knob is clearly marked so you can find it from the main road. It's a paved road, but I wouldn't haul a trailer or RV up there. There are several switchbacks that are pretty sharp.

We pulled off at an overlook and enjoyed the spectacular view before the clouds moved in.

Forest Service Site: Spruce Knob

View of Seneca Rocks

Pendleton County, WV

Champe Rocks

A Tuscarora Quartzite Formation in West Virginia

Someone has quite a view from their home! Fortunately for the rest of us, motorists can view Champe Rocks from WV28/55.

The historical marker tells us that:

Near Champe Rocks is the home and grave of Sergeant John Champe who was sent by General Washington and Major Lee to kidnap Benedict Arnold, the traitor, from within the British lines. The daring plot almost succeeded.

According to a Wikipedia article, John Champe was originally from Loudoun County, Virginia.

Fox and Ox Rocks

We went for a scenic drive Thursday through nearby West Virginia. I pulled off at a roadside park near Petersburg to take a look at the cliffs high above the river. It turned out to be the Vernon W. Welton Park and the rock formation is known as the "Fox & Ox rocks."

The river here is the South Branch Potomac River. The names of the different branches that form the Potomac are confusing so if you need to differentiate between the South Branch, South Fork South Branch, North Fork South Branch, and the North Branch, refer to Wikipedia: Potomac River.

As you can see, the fall foliage was colorful.

I entered West Virginia at Brock's Gap on Route 259, and took WV 55 west. It is now a gorgeous modern highway between Wardensville and Moorefield. We were coming from Shenandoah County, but if you are coming from Northern Virginia, you can take VA 55 west from the second Strasburg exit.

	Even after viewing the sign at the park, I was not able to make out either the fox or ox. However, when I stare at the photos I see what looks like some animal faces. Click on a picture to see a larger version.

View from the Strasburg Town Park

Looking toward the end of the Massanutten Mountains from Park Road

North Fork at Strasburg's Town Park

We came across the Strasburg Municipal Park last weekend. It has a boat ramp on the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, although the water was shallow there.

A couple of dogs and their owners arrived and enjoyed a lively game of fetch.

The park is off East Queen Street in Strasburg, VA.

What's Wrong With this Scenic River?

Oops! Someone forgot to take their tire with them.

(South Fork at Bixler's Bridge, Page County, VA)

The South Fork at Bixler's Bridge

Shenandoah River, Page County VA

Near the intersection of Bixler's Ferry Road and Egypt Bend Road is a public boat landing. Here you can see Bixler's Bridge and what appears to be an abandoned low-water bridge across the South Fork of the Shenandoah. It appears that when the river floods, whole trees wash up against the low-water bridge and get lodged there.

Notes on the Anti-Slavery Movement in 19th Century Virginia

I came across an intriguing statement in a local history book called Regards to Broadway. It says that the Brethren Church met in 1857 in Virginia to decide what it would require of any slaveholders desiring to become members. They agreed that the converts would first give up "ownership" of their slaves. However they should continue to provide work, food, and clothes, until "suitable and lawful provision" could allow them the opportunity to become independent.

This reminded me that the Pritchard family in Kernstown gave up slave-holding in (or by) 1859, as I mentioned in a post last year about Kernstown and Winchester. Whether they did this for religious reasons I don't know.

Details on the Brethren Church and it's opposition to slavery can be found at a page called "Who are the Dunkers." There were other churches in the south that opposed slavery, and a book called Bound Away: Virginia and the Westward Movement points out that many churches encouraged members to move west out of Virginia and the Carolinas in order to avoid the evil of slavery. Unfortunately, this movement took anti-slavery voters out of Virginia, perhaps enough so that the various measures that came up in the state legislature aimed at eliminating slavery did not pass.

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