Annie and I are chugging along, we had some drizzle and fog for about all of the day on Monday...but we were able to pull out some good views anyways!
the fog hanging in the valley
then finally the fog lifted, and it swirled around and hid in the valleys and made for some pretty dramatic photos!
the wildflowers are soooo awesome!! ALL kinds....
I promised you butterfly photos and you would probably croak if you had to see all of them...
dotted skipper?
female eastern tiger swallowtail
male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
the silver spotted skipper
a curious Blue Grosbeak was screeching at me...right before I snapped this photo
this young deer couldn't figure out what I was trying to do!!
I really liked this tree farm on a hill...
We made a stop at Sherando Lake, VA where I took advantage of the shower house...people were in the water swimming but it sure seemed cold to me!! Annie and I took a hike around the lake...
we stopped in Buena Vista VA to get gas, and I thought this was funny...you need to zoom in and read the sign...
We had our lunch break here...
and I stopped to visit this family cemetery in the most beautiful spot one could take the eternal rest!!
This Lichen was really cool...with a bright orange leaf
this is Otter Lake not far from where we camped...
and just down the road the Rakes Mill Pond...
Fields of wild flowers everywhere I look!!
This is our spot in 1B for the night in the Otter Creek Campground had some rain in the night and a wee bit more fog but it cleared up pretty fast!!
Wait now that's my bed...
next day we make our way to Shenandoah National Park!
more on that later!!
PEACE
Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.
I've been on Skyline drive many times, but the only time I made it to the Blue Ridge Parkway it was just as foggy as your first picture. Glad it cleared up for you.
ReplyDeleteI've been on Skyline drive many times, but the only time I made it to the Blue Ridge Parkway it was just as foggy as your first picture. Glad it cleared up for you.
ReplyDeleteThe great part of the Blue Ridge and the Appalachian Mountains is in each season it's like a different place!! The fog did clear, and to me each State is different, like NC has the BIG craggy mountains and the deep gulfs full of water, VA section is more open the mountains are not so "tight" and more meadows, and the tail end in SC is rolling hills with more hardwoods and lots of lakes.
DeleteYou sure are doing a great job with finding all this wonderful stuff even with some rain and fog. The butterflies are just beautiful and it's nice to see the female is much more beautiful than the male. All those wild flowers.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm attracted to the little things, I will make a u turn for a particular flower...lol it takes me more gas than the average person for backtracking and going in circles!!
DeleteOooh, Shenandoah Valley is one of my most favorite places to travel through! What wonderful, beautiful pictures! Stay safe! XO
ReplyDeleteThis was the first time I've done the entire Shenandoah section! I hit it just right too!
DeleteGreat butterfly pictures and you really captured the sense of how lush and green this area is. Rainfall tends to do that though, similar to Wales. I like the shot of the old log cabin and the cemetery is certainly a tranquil place. Annie has a nice smile on her and looks as if she is really enjoying the trip..
ReplyDeleteAnnie is having a wonderful time!! She has surgery Monday so we arrived back already to have that done. After all this past weeks activity she will be ready to rest up a few weeks!
DeleteFinger's crossed for Monday.
DeleteWow that cemetery is soooo cool!!!
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way Jen...I spent some time and photographed every headstone.
Deleteloving this -- I'm behind and will save remaining comments until the top post; just wanted you to know I'm following your trip, if belatedly.
ReplyDelete