Lots of fun in Lynchburg

Ashleigh moved to Lynchburg, VA over the summer and stopped by to see her on our way to NC.  We stayed at the KOA northwest of Lynchburg.   The campground is close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiking trails (a plus!) but, unless you opt for a full hook-up site, is not really big rig friendly (a minus!).

We spent part of our time hiking, part of our time being tourists in Lynchburg, and part of our time chilling at the RV.  Ashleigh has a cute apartment right smack dab in downtown Lynchburg…it is close to a really great trail (Blackwater Creek) and the farmer’s market.  We walked some of the trail and went to the farmer’s market to check out what they had.  We walked away with eggplant and donuts (what a combination!)  She gave us a car tour of Liberty University (her new employer) and took us to a great used bookstore.  I had scoped out a few hiking trails for us and we were able to hike together twice.  Another time, Dan and I hiked by ourselves while Ashleigh worked.

I was pleased as punch that we were able to hike a very small part of the AT.  Our friend Jerry is currently hiking the AT and at last count, had less than 150 miles to go.

Thumbs up for the AT

Foggy day in the mountains

After the fog lifted, we had some beautiful views

A trickle of a waterfall

Fall was in the area but flowers were still in bloom

Happy hiker

James River Foot Bridge

There she goes!

And here comes Dan

It was good to be in the woods - James River Face Wilderness/AT

The trail followed the James River for about a mile and then went deep into the woods.  Our stopping point for lunch was Matt’s Creek Shelter.

Yep - this is it

We checked the shelter log book for our friend Jerry’s entry.  He came thru the area in early June…the log book in the shelter was from late June.  Oh well - it was very interesting reading the different entries.  One girl had hiked 26.3 miles and was debating on whether she was going to go to the next shelter…another 8+ miles.  Geesh - that’s a lot of miles!

Happy Fall Ya'll!

You know I love "back" pictures

We met a handful of people on the trail..most looked like day hikers but one looked like a southbound thru hiker.

Ash and I

It was a great day on the trail and we all took naps that afternoon.  We enjoyed one last dinner together and then Ashleigh headed back to her apartment.  We left the next day and drove to Korky’s Campground - our home base in NC.

Family Fun in PA

We arrived at the farm and hit the ground running!  Dan had a welding project to work on , I had a few sewing projects I needed to work on, and we had plenty of fun family time including a wedding!

 Beautiful wine country in the Finger Lakes

Emma and her bridesmaids

Ann, Colleen and I

I enjoyed spending time with Dan’s great nephews (and Emma, too!).

Landon, Emma, and Donovan

 We celebrated Doug's birthday

and Hunter's too!

Dan and Timmy playing with the trucks

We saw a first for us….

No bear this time but a coyote!

I finished one of my sewing projects....

Emma and Nate's wedding quilt

Pauline and Dan

Dan and I

Doug and Colleen

Where Emma and Nate got married - Church of the Redeemer - Sayre, PA

Timmy escorting his Grandma down the aisle

The preacher, Nate and his groomsmen

Dan's great nephews...Hunter, Donovan, Landon and Caden.  The sign says "Here comes Aunt Emma".

The beautiful bride and her father

Colleen reading the Irish Blessing

After the wedding, we all went to the Shoresbrook Inn for the reception.  It was a great evening of celebrating!  Lots of food, drink, music, and dancing.

Ann and I

Dan, Pauline and Colleen

Tim and Ann 

First dance

Father/Daughter dance

The Inn is also where the bride and her bridesmaids got dressed that day.  There was a beautiful bathroom complete with a clawfoot tub.  Being the clowns that we are, we had to have some fun with that tub…

Tub time

Feet are BLACK from dancing barefoot!

One of Dan's great nephews took this picture -  I liked it with the night sky.

After the wedding, we stayed at the farm about another week and then started our trek south.  We were stopping in Lynchburg, VA to see Ashleigh.  :-)

Ohio State Parks

From the time we left Bob and Shelly’s until the time we were due in PA, we had about 10 days travel time.  So we were moving fast (for us!)

Maumee Bay State Park sits on the shores of Lake Erie.  It is a Passport America park during the week (half price camping!) and our friends Jan and Don were going to come visit us for the day.

Nice, large private site

Don and Jan

There are miles and miles of paved bike paths that we enjoyed.

Pond near lodge

Maumee Bike Trail

Lake Erie

Pretty views

There is also a  nice nature center and boardwalk trail that we took advantage of.

Our next stop was Geneva State Park.  This was a return trip for us.  As a bonus, we were meeting up with our friends Sharon and David.

Sharon and David

 We spent the next 4 days pedaling around and exploring, laughing and having fun...

Beautiful wildflowers on our bike ride 

Perfect place to relax and enjoy the views

Luuch at the burger place

David and Dan solving the world's problems

David and Sharon at the jerry

Dan and I enjoying a beautiful afternoon

This looks like fun

Dan and Johnny Cash

Elvis and I

 We saw some great covered bridges...

Longest covered bridge

Shortest covered bridge

Sharon and I acted like kids!

We were treated to some beautiful sunsets by the lake

All too soon it was time for our  “see ya down the road” byes to Sharon and David and headed to the farm.