Tag Archives: Farms and Barns

Back Track

by

With just an hour or so to spare, I set off on the bike.

IMG_20150607_113005-2

It took me awhile to find a place to pull over to capture this view, and even then I had to hike back a bit.

For once, I didn’t have my camera with me.

Not too bad for my ol Blackberry, eh?

Early Morning Color

by

It would have been nice to delay my start for home this morning, but since I had a long list of chores to accomplish, I hit the road early.

019

So glad I did!

020

Burke’s Garden

by

This past Sunday found me needing some time on the bike, in a long, solo ride.  Too many thoughts were jumbled around in my head and I needed to sort some things out.  So I plotted my route and headed out for Burkes Garden.

025

Bowl-shaped Burke’s Garden is the highest valley in Virginia, and is named after James Burke who “discovered” the area during the 1740s (of course the Native Americans discovered it first).  The historical marker notes that “the threat of Indian attack and the remoteness of the area discouraged permanent white settlement until the early 19th century”.  It is still a very small community and the only store is closed on Sunday.

011 021 012

022 013 031 032

The ride to Burke’s Garden and back is one photo opportunity after another.

Old churches

043 052 049

Farms and the product of farming

067 001 055 061 062 065

Images that harken back to another time and warnings about eternity

073

I loved her little face peeking back at me.

072 076

While these 4 photos all have an organized religion theme, they represent 3 different churches.

IMG-20130908-00870

And of course some fun, twisty roads.

034 037

By the time I arrived home, 5 hours and 150 miles later, I was in a much more peaceful frame of mind

The Shot Tower

by

After traveling toward home from Raleigh NC in 3 hours of driving rain, I was glad to see the clouds finally part.   In the distance, visible from the interstate was Shot Tower Historical State Park, located in Wythe County, Virginia.  Even though I’d driven by it many times, I’d never visited and decided it was time.

Overlooking the New River, The Shot Tower was built more than 150 years ago to make ammunition for the firearms of the early settlers.  http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/shottowr.shtml

Doesn’t it figure that the park was closed for roof repairs!

036

037

038

Disappointment was brief however because right there at the intersection of Shot Tower Rd and Pauley-Flatwood Road, were several old farm buildings that begged attention from my camera.

033

019

030

034

028

029

027

041

Though the rain had stopped, the mists over the mountains created a beautiful backdrop.

039

042