Canaan Valley

As I crossed the eastern Continental Divide, the rain cleared. The sun peeked from a cloudy sky. I found my lodging at the Bright Morning Inn. After checking in, I headed out to my first location on the Blackwater River.

The Lindy Point Overlook is at the end of the paved section of Canaan Loop Road. There’s a small parking lot, which was overrun with cars. They lined the road to the trailhead a dozen cars back. The trail leads through rhododendron forest to a wooden overlook high about the Blackwater River. Braver souls than I, or less wise, ventured out onto the rocks near the cliff edge.

I made my first painting of the trip that day.

Blackwater Falls

A late dinner led early to bed. I woke before dawn to rain. I went back to sleep.

About 8:00AM I checked the skies again. The rain had eased to a drizzle. I set out for the spot I found the previous day, an easy hike to an overlook of Blackwater Falls.

I carried my case of paints, tripod and canvas to the overlook. It was mostly sheltered by the trees all around. I made a quick sketch of the falls. Already a light dampness was present on the white sheet. I squeezed paint onto my palette and began.

Impasto describes a method of applying paint to canvas in thick strokes, leaving globs and ridges of pigment on the canvas. It’s my preferred method of mixing paint. I can make smooth blends between two colors. It was needed this time to prevent this painting from becoming a watercolor.

I hurried through blocking background colors of green, yellow, and brown. Hardcore photographers came with cameras and umbrellas and observed my work and the conditions. They wiped rain from their lenses. My task was fraught with tension, as the thinnest layers developed tiny runs from the drops I could not remove.

I put the finishing touches on the tumbling water of the falls. Then I hurried the canvas back to the truck to dry. A painting with a story was done.

Dolly Sods Wilderness

After a leisurely lunch, and a hot shower, I set off for the wilderness. I got a little lost.

The particular overlook I was hunting for is not marked on my electronic maps. With no address to plug into the GPS, I was following my turn and distance notes. Once I’d gone past my expected mileage without the expected signs, I turned back. I found a sign leading to the area I was looking for. It was the road to Bear Rocks Preserve. The long way around Dolly Sods Wilderness lay ahead.

I had not planned to go to the top of the range. I’m glad I did. The heath and bogs were such a surprise. And the wind too. Like on Mt. Washington. The wind is fierce and cold and damp and unrelenting. I put on my heavy coat and roamed a bit.

Leaving Bear Rocks from the far side, I found a hilltop looking down the road toward my original destination. The landscape had changed from heath to alpine forest. I stopped for my second painting of the day. Then I drove on to the trailhead a few miles down that road.

Farms and hills

The land around the Monangahela National Forest is rolling hills dotted with farms. The roads curve up and down and round the terrain. Little vistas lay around each bend. But sometimes the sight is so pretty you must stop. And now, take a picture too.

I found just such a bucolic scene. Heading back to camp for the night held one more surprise, when I thought I had seen my fill of hillsides covered in autumn glory. Topping the crest of a hill, I spotted a lone barn in a grassy field nestled between steep slopes of yellow and orange beneath clouds of white. I’d found my last scene of the day.

I pulled over at the next dirt road and hiked back to see the field. I set my easel there on the gravel margin and tried my best to capture the glory of the light and color and clean air. And that one turned out alright.

I painted two more days on my trip. I saw more tourist sites. The weather held, and the leaves clung to branches until I left. But none of those interludes reached the crescendo of that lonely barn, under that blue sky, on the back roads of West Virginia.

Eldorado Canyon

In the dusty mountains just north of the border with Arizona lies the town of Nelson. Off the beaten path does not do it justice. Coyotes and rattlesnakes make up half the population. The little store and residence in Eldorado Canyon fit right in this off-beat destination. The old cars and old building remind visitors just how long ago the miners left. They also remind us just how little changes in the desert.

Gold Mine

The Techatticup Mine in Eldorado Canyon still has gold in the rock. The tourists pay a little coin to see the dusty tunnels dug out by desperate miners looking for a payday. The mine feels different from a cave. There are no slippery smooth surfaces, carved by water over millennia, no quiet pools and green slime. There is rock. Jagged, hard rock bends a bit here and there, but mostly follows the straight seam of gold. Little glints of quartz show what’s left of the veins.

A Morning Drive

Andy, his son Drew, and I set off to explore the numerous yard sales around the Staunton area Saturday morning. Since I rode shotgun, my job was to spot signs and call out addresses. Evidently sale season is in full effect, as signs hung on every tenth telephone pole. Taking full effect or clustering, many yards in a single neighborhood held sales. I wanted to capture some of the day with my camera, although I didn’t have any particular items in mind to look out for.

Andy collects vintage video game systems. The sales were on fire this day, and as the morning wore on he came away with an Atari 2600 with games, and a Pokemon N64 of some value. I gained a couple of tool bags and a couple of nice butcher knives.

Shenandoah Heritage Market

After lunch in Harrisonburg at Quaker Steak and Lube, we returned south on Hwy 11 to Staunton. On the way we stopped at Shenandoah Heritage Market for some treats. The market features crafts, antiques, and local foods. I brought some fudge and took a few photos.

Lake in the Mountains

As we drove south from Charlottesville, we left hwy 29 as we approached Lynchburg. We drove west into the mountains. Along the way, we saw signs for a lake and recreation area. The place turned out to be a beautiful little valley surrounded on three side by high mountains and filled with a small lake. A few people had come to picnic or cast off from the small launch to fish. The sun warmed the air enough for us to enjoy a short walk.

Washington & Lee

Once we left the peace and quiet of the lake, Joy and I made the winding and slightly treacherous drive through the mountains to Lexington. Lunch at a small bistro was delicious. The small town slumbered with the students gone on Spring Break. The campus of Washington & Lee College lies at the edge of downtown. Joy and I enjoyed a short walk around the campus and a short talk in the chapel about their first president, Robert E. Lee.

Cows

The cows are the stars of the show at Polyface Farms. The are manure machines, each putting out 50 lbs. of brown stuff a day. For three seasons of the year, they move from pasture to pasture, eating the grass and depositing fertilizer.

Chickens

The chickens follow the cows in the pasture. The spread the cow patties and grow healthy on a diet of grass and bugs. During the winter, they are kept in multi-use shelters.

Inner space is what makes this building special. The environment was sealed off from the outside, and the habitats carefully controlled with a sophisticated HVAC system. The jungle is steamy. The desert is dry. The ocean is clammy. It is a huge machine.

Climbing the Mountain

Camelback Mountain rises in the center of the Valley of the Sun. Visible from all around the city of Phoenix, the park and trail are major attractions for visitors and locals alike. We parked on the road near the trail head and began our climb, two miles and 2700 feet..

Reaching the Top

Prepare for a long climb when you come to Camelback Mountain. We started the trail in the middle of winter wearing our ski jackets. By the time we stopped our shirts were more than sufficient against the cold. Those who try for the summit in the summer must be crazy and dehydrated. Often the path becomes a climb with foot and hand holds.

Top of the World

Someone had a great idea when they sited this place. Carter Mountain Orchard straddles the top ridge of Carter Mountain. It commands striking views of downtown Charlottesville and the coastal plain which stretches off to the east. Rows of apple trees run horizontally along the slopes.

Apples

The reason to come is the apples. At harvest time there are huge clumps of apples everywhere. You can eat any you want while you gather, and pay for what you take home. We brought a picnic lunch of sandwiches and cheeses and ate on the deck while admiring the view. The apple donuts were delicious.

Winding Road

The Blueridge Parkway is a very winding road. Oftentimes narrow, it can be a thrilling trip downhill. When the road is clear of cars, the drive is really fun. When you are stuck behind a car going slow, it can be maddening.

Scenic Vistas of Virginia

One of the best benefits of the Parkway is the attention to viewpoint. The designers of the route took advantage of the best points to stop and look out over the valley. We stopped half a dozen times to see the view. The only downside was the swarms of pesky gnats.

Wild Deer in the Road

The deer were thick in the woods that day. Spilling over into the road and standing on the median were the deer as well. We actually circled around a few times to stare at the deer munching on sweet grass in the median. Several times we had to stop as deer ran across the road in front of us.

Highland Maple Festival

In early March we traveled over the mountains into western Virginia to take in the sights at the Highland Maple Festival. Unfortunately, we went late on the last day of the festival and missed all the booths, the food, and the antiques. On the upside, there was no traffic. Snow had recently fallen in Highland county, so the landscape was fresh and clean.