(no subject)

[rootofnewt]

So, we went to the Blue Ridge Parkway today. I realized the need for mountains, sunlight, and being out of the house and managed to get myself dressed and out the door.

It was a good idea. :)

First things first. We stopped at the Greenstone Overlook, which has a nearby 20 minute Geologic Trail, with little signs telling about the geologic history of the local rocks and land. That was cool, especially when I discovered the greenstone is actually lava flow! I sat on some rocks... boy claimed them for Grubby Thicket, since he can't claim them for England. He also sat on some tree roots.

It was pretty cool and there was a chilly wind while we were up there. The rhododendrons and azaleas were blooming, though! This spider is smaller than my thumbnail... that stripe is bluish-silver. Any ideas on the species?

My husband always does as he's told. Yes, I suggested he poke the drain with a stick.

The USGS marker for this particular trail/mountain/overlook.

We went on to Raven's Roost, which is an overlook with some nifty rock outcropping and an *excellent view* of the Shenandoah Valley, the distant Alleghenies, and more local mountains. There are frequently rock climbers nearby, too. We chatted with some folks nearby, petted dogs, pointed out mountains/hills and Waynesboro. It was fun.

requisite pictures for queensheba.

Tom and Jos at Raven's Roost

We drove on further south, to just past milepost 34, where we stopped at Tomahawk Ridge. There's a logging railroad exhibit there (basically, a re-created narrow gauge track that runs for 50 feet, timber bridge over the creek, and lots of felled wood, though that might not be part of the exhibit) and a nifty waterfall. I'm too tired to edit all those pics just yet, though. We left and drove north, stopping at Spy Mountain, which offers a 360 degree view of the Shenandoah and Piedmont and surrounding BR mountains. (Stop laughing west coast people. These qualify as mountains, even if there are trees on top.)

I really like trees.
hemlock at Raven's Roost
bent tree at Tomahawk Ridge
conical tree at Spy Mountain
Tree sex at Tomahawk?
(It makes a nice seat in the sun. HEY! You're blocking the light, how am I supposed to get green hair if I can't have sunlight?)

Sarah cut Tom's hair last week. It looks a lot shorter than it is, because the curls got springier.
Little goth on the prairie.
Nap or sacrifice?


We headed back toward home, since we needed to get to red_frog's for dinner and Munchkin. We had to stop at 20-minute Cliffs, though, as it's one of our little rituals.

Tom plays his twanger at 20-minute cliffs.
He's still playing.
Look! I'm attentive.
Yep, still playing.
What? You think *I* can make him leave?

We left and made it to Magi's just in time. We had a lovely dinner and played a vicious game of Munchkin. There was much hilarity. Only one of the cats (Austin) became super perky at the sight of the laser pointer, the others either became sleepy (GreyKitty), non-plussed (Percy), or decided to hide (Nikita). Austin gave us many giggles, though, especially when he attempted to bite the window glass.