Virginia scenery

2011-09-01T06:44:00.000-07:00

I thought these clouds made for an interesting picture this morning. My son made the comment they looked like a bunch of cotton balls.

My favorite season is once again rapidly approaching. The nights and mornings are starting to have that cool crisp feeling, and the brilliant fall colors are once again about to paint the scenery here in Virginia, and it goes without saying that I am eagerly awaiting the opening of hunting season. I am going to try to be a bit more diligent with the updating of this blog this season, so check back often. Big deer and brilliant colors to come.

kite festival in Martinsville

2011-03-12T18:38:00.000-08:00

Well, spring is upon us finally. I can't wait. My son and I attended a kite festival today in Martinsville, VA. It was a perfect day for it. Good breeze and mid 60's. There were all kinds of interesting kites there from elaborate to home made. A good time was had by all, and it's easy to tell that people are ready for springtime. I know I am.

October in Virginia

2010-10-06T17:18:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite times of the year is upon us. The nights and mornings are nice and chilly. The leaves are about to change and give us a magnificent show that I never grow tired of enjoying, and hunting season has begun.

According to the Virginia Dept of Forestry, the peak time to enjoy the colors of fall in the mountains of Virginia and along the parkway this year is going to be mid to late October. They also have some links to some routes to take in different regions.

If you have never taken a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall to witness this firsthand you should definitely take some time out of your busy schedules to do so. You won't be disappointed.

Oh..and happy hunting!! Hopefully there will be some pictures of some nice whitetail bucks here shortly.

Virginia sunset after storm

2010-08-05T17:36:00.000-07:00

We just had some pretty severe storms role through southwest Virginia. Luckily, little damage was done locally that I am aware of, however as the sky started to clear and the the fog was rising through the mountain valleys, it made for a very nice sunset in the area.

2010-08-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay, I know this is not Virgina but it is in our neighboring state North Carolina. I recently went to Nags Head with my family and got some really amazing pictures of the sunrise. The scenery in North Carolina is very similar to Virginia.

Roanoke Virginia

2010-04-05T18:13:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple shots overlooking downtown Roanoke. The view from atop Mill Mountain is great.

big deer Franklin County Virginia

2008-12-04T16:56:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of a huge deer killed in Franklin County Virginia hardly a mile from my house a few days ago. It is a main frame 8 pointer, but I hear it had 16 counting all the smaller kickers. It's hard to count them from the pictures. This thing is a monster, and I hear it scored 216. Congrats to the hunter. That's one to be proud of.

It looks a lot like the same deer I have been seeing for a couple years around that area but I never could get him. If it is the same one he was pretty much nocturnal the last couple years it seemed to me. The one I saw came out only about an hour after dark on a pretty regular basis, and where he was coming from was difficult to get to.

fall foliage still lingering in Virginia

2008-11-02T16:58:00.000-08:00

The brilliant colors of fall seem to be lingering a little longer this year than usual. I think this has been one of the prettiest years in recent memory here in Virginia as far as the colors go, and the length of time we are enjoying them. Here are a few pictures I took close to home this week.

Blue Ridge Parkway ride for the scenic fall foliage

2008-10-26T17:10:00.000-07:00

Today we took our cruise down the parkway for the fall foliage. We try to do it every year, but missed it last year. We just took a short cruise this time on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Roanoke down to The Meadows of Dan. It's not a long ride but there are many lookovers to stop at and spend some time, along with Mabry's Mill and Otis's store along The Crooked Road. Otis was a nice fellow who greeted us when we entered with an offer of a cup of coffee. He has a little something for everyone in there.

The foliage was not as brilliant as I expected yet, and I don't think it has peaked yet. Later this week to this weekend I think will be better.

Martinsville Virginia Speedway

2008-10-09T18:04:00.000-07:00

Martinsville Nascar fans will have a new feature added to their racing experience this year. They have added a new leaderboard that also has 3 bigscreen TV monitors on it. Fans should be able to see it from pretty much all angles. It is a great addition that I can speak to from experience. The last few years Sprint has provided a large screen TV on the backstretch which is great for seeing replays of anything significant that happens during the race. It always seems like when something exciting happens I am looking the other direction. As nice as that was, it could not be seen from all directions. With this new feature nothing will be missed by anyone.

It's good to see that they are still investing in this track and hopefully a sign that the 2 races allotted to Martinsville will be a mainstay for years to come.

For more information about Martinsville speedway, go to www.martinsvillespeedway.com

Virginia state record bow-killed buck

2008-10-05T13:04:00.001-07:00

As reported by the Martinsville Bulletin

Sunday, October 5, 2008

By JOHNNY BUCK - Bulletin Sports Editor

Tony Hodges is a very patient man.

A Patrick County resident, Hodges had been bow hunting for deer for 13 years in the fall of 2006. In that time span, his best kills were two 8-point bucks and one 7-pointer.

“None of them were what I’d call a big buck,” he said. “They were nice bucks, and I killed them all with a bow.

He’d let countless deer walk over the years, either because they weren’t in range or because he wanted to let them grow another season. He considered himself a doe hunter, but like most who enjoy his hobby, he was always dreaming about the day when that trophy buck might walk out in front of him.

Two years ago this fall, the biggest known deer killed by bow and arrow in Virginia did just that.

THE HUNT

While scouting during the summer of 2006, Hodges found a natural choke point between an acorn flat and a thick, brushy bedding area in Henry County.

He immediately identified it as a prime spot to hunt for bucks, and he decided not to return until the whitetail’s mating season — known as the rut — set in and made the normally cautious male deer more active.

On the pre-dawn morning of Oct. 30, Hodges, then 38, left his truck and began the long walk with a climbing stand strapped to his back.

He’d seen some young bucks chasing does several days earlier elsewhere, and with a wind direction that was favorable for his ambush spot, Hodges decided this was the day to hunt over his promising choke point.

Hodges snuck into the woods, picked a tree in the morning’s gray haze and climbed about 20 feet above the ground. He then strapped himself in with a safety harness, pulled up his bow and waited.

“Probably about 20 minutes after I’d been there ... I see just a flicker of movement off to my right. It was just a little piece of gray, you know, just a flick of movement,” recalled Hodges. “And I thought, ‘Was that a squirrel?’ I couldn’t see it anymore, and I thought it might have been a deer, so I got my bow clipped up. And I hear steps, so I think it is a deer.”

The understory of this area — the location of which Hodges won’t reveal — was so thick, however, that he couldn’t see the animal, even though it was no more than 15 yards away.

The animal passed his stand in broadside fashion. When it did, Hodges caught a glimpse of the biggest rack he’d ever seen.

“It was a rush of adrenaline, and it was almost a hyperventilating-type of a rush,” Hodges said. “It was like, ‘Oh my gosh, look at, this is a monster! This is not a deer you just see. You know? This is a monster!’ I was just pumped. My whole body was probably throbbing, but I didn’t have a shot.”

So Hodges let the deer of his life walk away.

Thinking no one would believe his story, he began to put down his bow and reach for a digital camera he’d brought to the stand.

“I started to lay down my bow and pick up my camera and I (thought), ‘I can’t do it. I ain’t gonna turn loose of (my bow).’”

About this time, the deer, still unaware of Hodges’ presence, made a slight turn. He now was quartering away from the hunter, but he was headed for one of the only shooting lanes available.

“I thought, ‘Buddy, I don’t know if he’s going to go through there or not, but if he does, that’s where I’m going to have to try my shot,” recalled Hodges. “It would be the only shot opportunity I would have.”

Heading toward the opening, Hodges’ deer went out of sight. That’s when the hunter drew back his bow string and guessed the spot to be 35 yards.

Again, he waited.

Suddenly, the animal came into view on a steady walk. With little time to think, Hodges made a soft mouth bleat, and the buck paused in mid-stride.

That’s when Hodges fired, and that’s what led to the harvest of the biggest known Henry County buck.

Hodges’ shot drifted high, however, and hit the deer in the spine. He quickly got down from the stand and dispatched the animal.

That errant shot — one that might have missed its original target by only 5 or 6 inches — is the only source of regret Hodges felt about his trophy kill.

“I didn’t take a bad shot, and I didn’t take a shot that I didn’t think I could make. ... But I must have tweaked just a little bit in my hand or something, and he fell straight down and disappeared from my sight,” he recalled.

“I hate that that’s what happened in the hunt, but it’s what happened. It’s the truth.”

The deer was too big for Hodges to move by himself, however, so he rushed home to his father, Riley Hodges, and asked for help.

According to Riley Hodges, his son was visibly excited. Their exchange went something like this:

Dad: “How many points did it have?”

Son: “I don’t know.”

Dad: “Well what do you mean you don’t know how many points it’s got? Did you actually kill the deer and go up to it? How can you not know how many points it’s got?”

Son: “I don’t know dad. I guess he’s got, well, 15 or 20 points.”

At this point in retelling the story, Riley Hodges smiled.

“And I said, ‘Aww, maybe that deer ain’t as big as you think he is,’ but when I got over there I said, ‘YEAH, he’s as big as you said he was!’”

THE SCORING STORY

Hodges’ Henry County buck was a non-typical, 22-pointer with 11 main-frame points. It was checked that day at Southeastern Outdoor Supplies by shop owner Johnny Hundley, who called it the best bow-taken deer he’s checked in almost 30 years at the store.

“That’s probably the best I’ve checked. We cover three counties and we have a (big buck) contest,” said Hundley. “We do score them on a Virginia system. Every year we usually hit 200 (in the scoring system) ... but some years we don’t.

“I know it was several points over 200, and we don’t get many over 200.”

In fact, Hodges’ deer, which has since been mounted, scored 245 4/16 on the state’s system, which takes into account the volume, shape and diameter of antler on an animal’s head.

Later, it received a Boone & Crockett gross score of 206 6/8 inches. Its Pope and Young net score, a scoring system used exclusively for archery-taken deer, was 197 3/8.

It has since been recognized by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) as the biggest Pope and Young bow kill in the state’s history.

Originally, however, Hodges’ kill was considered the state’s second-biggest Pope and Young buck.

Then Hodges entered his deer in a big-buck contest and beat out the then-state-record buck.

“That’s when some of the judges told me I should start asking some questions,” said Hodges.

That’s just what he did. He began asking state wildlife officials how his buck beat the current state record and yet was not the state record.

Two months ago, Hodges, the son of Riley and Caroline Hodges, finally got a letter from the state recognizing his deer as the state’s biggest bow kill.

THE AFTERMATH

Since taking the animal, the father of Jonathan and Riley Hodges has been surprised how some of his fellow hunters reacted. While he said all of his friends have showed support, some strangers have accused Hodges of wrong-doing.

“When I shot that deer, from the get-go, there were a lot of bad things said about it,” said Hodges. “‘Oh, he shot it at night. Oh, he shot it out of season. Oh this, oh that.’ I mean, (some people said) I’d done everything illegal you can imagine. None of it’s true, but it was just jealousy. People would just say things.”

Hundley backed that claim, noting nothing appeared suspicious about the deer when he checked it.

He also said he’s seen other big-buck hunters experience the same attacks.

“It’s jealousy,” said Hundley. “I see it all the time.”

Hodges entered his buck in five big-buck contests across North Carolina and Virginia in 2007, and he won top honors in each, regardless of harvest method (bow, rifle, etc.).

For the last six years, Hodges has hunted exclusively with a bow, even during rifle season.

All those years of waiting in a tree stand for a big deer to walk into shooting range were worth it, he said.

And enlightening.

“I’m an average Joe hunter. I love to hunt, and I hunt seriously, but killing that deer does not make me a good hunter. It makes me a lucky hunter.”

At this point Hodges broke into an honest laugh, hand resting easily on the neck of his massive mount.

“So I feel lucky that I got this deer. I really do. I feel fortunate and lucky, but I am a serious hunter, and I am a fair chase hunter, and I think I deserved it as much as anybody.”

Virginia fall foliage report

2008-09-30T16:14:00.000-07:00

So far there has been little, if any change in the foliage in Virginia. Right now the prediction according to the division of forestry for central Virginia, which contains a major portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway the peak should be between Oct 27th and Nov 10th. Far western Virginia should be Oct 20th thru Nov 3rd, and eastern Virgina Nov 1st thru Nov 15th. Here is a link to the map from the Virginia Department of Forestry.

Virginia biodiesel

2008-08-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

Evedently someone paid attention to our local biodiesel manufacturer. Monday, state and federal representatives are coming to look the place over. One of Martinsville city councel members, Danny Turner, was talking about it this morning on a local radio station. He is hoping that the area may can benefit from this and get much needed new jobs going in the area. There is plenty of local farmland vacant in the area, especially in the winter when this canola is grown. It would be great for the local economy if we can get in on the ground floor of this, as well as beneficial for the environment and help relieve our dependence on foreign oil.

The Martinsville area has plenty of vacant buildings for manufacturing and plenty of workers that could do the job. Let's hope this brings some fresh new ideas to the area in hopes of turning things around.

Virginia biodiesel truck stop

2008-07-29T08:29:00.000-07:00

This is a little off topic of my normal posts here, but I feel it worth mentioning anyway.

A local store and truck stop in Henry county Virginia is manufacturing and selling it's own biodiesel at the pumps. Vehicles that run on diesel can use this fuel with no modification and the cost is claimed to be around .50 a gallon cheaper to buy, than conventional diesel. It also burns cleaner with lower emmissions than with regular diesel.

The company forms contracts with local farmers to grow canola on their unused fields in the winter. When the canola is crushed for refinery it produces a byproduct of meal which is used to feed farm animals. It is a win win for everyone.

My question is this. If a relatively small operation such as this can manufacture and sell biodiesel for .50 a gallon cheaper than conventional diesel, help relieve our dependence on foreign oil, and help the environment to boot, what have we been waiting for?

Virginia English mastiff

2008-05-04T17:38:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture of our big Englsih mastiff Yogi. He is around 1 1/2 years old and between 175 and 200 lbs. We were just out playing around in the yard and I wanted to get this shot to give an idea of how big he is already. He still has some growing to do. He is a very good dog though and has a good temperment, as most English mastiffs do. Admittedly, he does drive us crazy sometimes, but only because he wants to be right on top of us all the time. That also is a trait of mastiffs. They like to be with their family all the time and don't do well if left penned up alone all the time.

We also have a brindle female as well and were just blessed with 5 healthy brindle puppies. Hopefully they will all be going to good homes soon. They make excellent family pets as long as you have the time to spend with them and train them well. The last thing you want is an unruly 200lb dog. We have 2 children and they are fine with them as well. You do have to watch them closely around small children simply because they do not realise how big and strong they are and could accidently hurt a small child by simply stepping on them or knocking them down accidently.

As far as guard dogs go they are great as well. They do not need to be trained to be guard dogs, they pretty much are instinctively. They will definately let you know when something is around and go investigate. Their size alone is plenty to disuade a stranger from coming around. Do not ever attempt to train one to be aggressive. They would just be too dangerous and it isn't necessary. Generally when someone new comes around our house, they wait for me to let him know it's ok, and they are known for just standing between their owners and a stranger, just to keep an eye out.

All in all very good dogs for the right owners. They are a big responsibility and require some special attention. Do your research if you are unfamiliar with the breed before just up and buying one. They can be quite expensive to maintain, not only in food, but in vet bills. Remember almost everything medecine wise at the vet is done by weight. Heartworm pills, flea and tick control, everything is quite a bit more expensive than your average size dog.

Lee Jackson day in Virginia

2008-01-20T11:15:00.000-08:00

"Governor, if I had foreseen the use those people
designed to make of their victory,
there would have been no surrender at
Appomattox Courthouse; no sir, not by me.
Had I foreseen these results of subjugation,
I would have preferred to die at Appomattox
with my brave men, my sword in my right hand."

Robert E Lee

Source: To Governor Fletcher S. Stockdale (September 1870), as quoted in The Life and Letters of Robert Lewis Dabney, pp. 497-500

"I am in favor of making a thorough trial for peace, and if we fail in this and our state is invaded, to defend it with terrific resistance." - to his nephew, January 1861

Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson

With Lee Jackson Day being celebrated in the state of Virginia this past Friday, I think it only fitting to recognise it on a Virginia blog. I'm not going to go into details on my feelings of how it has been handled and celebrated by our state government only in that I am in support of it being recognised. Whether you are a northerner or southerner should really make no difference in the recognition of these two great Virginia leaders.

I have done quite a bit of research into my own family history and every male that I have been able to trace back that lived during the civil war between the ages of 15 and 45 fought in it and most either were killed during it or died as a result of wounds or imprisonment. As far as I can tell, all were pretty much just average poor farmers in Virginia that had no interest in promoting slavery, they were simply doing what practically every other male in that age group at the time in the south felt they had to do, defend their homes and families from attack. Virginia was hit exceptionally hard and was the site of many battle sites, many of which have been preserved as historical sites and make for very interesting places to visit. I encourage anyone who has not visited any of these sites to do so and look into the history of the times from a southern point of view. You may be suprised at what you learn and how much of the southern history is ommitted from todays conventional history and textbooks.

Virgina snow scenery

2008-01-17T06:08:00.000-08:00

We are finally getting a little snow here in Virginia, which provides for beautiful scenery as it slowly covers everything. Unfortunately here in southern Virginia the forecast is for little snow but then turning to sleet and freezing rain, which makes travel on the roads pretty dangerous. The best thing to do on a day like this is sit around the house with a good cup of coffee, wait for it to stop falling and maybe get in a little sledding with the kids.

The Crooked Road

2007-12-08T15:54:00.000-08:00

Accessible Appalachia - Exploring Virginia 's Crooked Road

by Candy B. Harrington
Located in Southwest Virginia, the Crooked Road is more than just a driving route. This 200-mile heritage music trail winds through Appalachia and connects music venues and heritage sites that highlight the traditional music of the region; the gospel, bluegrass and mountain music that 's been passed down for generations by local families. Along the way you'll find stage shows, outdoor concerts, festivals, Appalachian crafts, galleries and some great scenery; however it 's the locals who bring the Crooked Road to life. Be it the banjo maker in Galax or the quilter in Floyd, they all have a story to tell. And part of the whole Crooked Road experience is simply taking the time to listen.

Technically the Crooked Road isn't just one road, but a route composed of many state routes and local roads. The best starting point is the eastern terminus, Rocky Mount, which is located 25 miles south of Roanoke. Just take VA 40 west towards Ferrum and follow the Crooked Road signs. Not only is this the easiest access point, but Ferrum makes a great first stop; as the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum offers a good overview on the regional heritage.

Located on the campus of Ferrum College, the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum features indoor gallery space plus an outdoor heritage farm museum. The gallery space hosts exhibitions which highlight the people and heritage of the region. There is level access to the museum, barrier-free access throughout the galleries and plenty of accessible parking outside.

Across the street, take some time to look through the Farm Museum which has gravel and dirt pathways, ramps up to the barns and a few steps up into the farmhouse. The pathways are doable for most people in dry weather and even though you can't access every display, you can still get a good feel for what Virginia farm life was like back in 1800.

Traveling west on the Crooked Road, you'll cross the Blue Ridge Parkway and enter Floyd County. Here 's where a little diversion is in order. Although it 's not on the official route, I highly recommend at least a short drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, as it 's very scenic. Either way, a stop is Floyd is a must; and if you are looking for overnight accommodations, look no further than the Oak Haven Lodge.

Opened in 2003, this 10-room rustic lodge features ramp access to the front porch and office, with accessible parking available in a gravel parking area next to the office. Room 1 is located downstairs and has wide doorways, two double beds, good pathway access and a 5-foot turnaround in the bathroom. Access features in the bathroom include a low-step shower, a roll-under sink, grab bars in the shower and around the toilet and a portable shower chair. A commode chair is also available upon request. All this for a very affordable $65 per night.

Continuing west, you'll pass through Galax and Abingdon before coming to Bristol. Here you'll find the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance Museum, which features exhibits on the roots of country music and the musicians that helped shape the genre. Access is excellent throughout the museum, with a level entrance and barrier-free access to all the exhibits. Best of all, admission is free.

There 's plenty of live music to be had in Bristol too, with weekly concerts at the Birthplace of Country Music Mural on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights and a Thursday morning jam session at the Star Barbershop on State Street. All of these musical events are free and open to the public. And as far as access goes, there is good wheelchair-access to the seating area at the mural and level access to the Star Barbershop.

Finally, no matter what you do on your Crooked Road adventure, save time for a visit to the Carter Family Fold for a Saturday night concert. Granted some advance planning is required to plan a Saturday night stay near the Hiltons, but fortunately it 's only about 20 minutes from Bristol.

Located on the AP and Sara Carter homestead, the Carter Family Fold is actually a large theater; and in keeping with tradition, only acoustic instruments are allowed and no alcohol is served. That said, each week there 's a different headliner, so no two shows are exactly alike. The energy however, is ever present.

Accessible parking is located near the theater with level access to the entrance. Accessible seating (with companion seating) is available up font and it 's the only reserved seating in the house. Indeed the front seats are the ones with an up-close look at all the action, because once the music starts, the area in front of the stage turns into a massive dance floor. But again, that 's all part of the show. All in all it 's great place to mix with the locals and an excellent opportunity to enjoy a real slice of Crooked Road culture.

About the Author

Candy Harrington covers accessible travel and is the author of 101 Accessible Vacations; Travel Ideas for Wheelers and Slow Walkers. Visit Accessible Vacations, or her blog, Barrier Free Travels.

Article Source: Content for Reprint

another 8 point Virginia buck

2007-11-25T09:59:00.000-08:00

My buddy Randy got this 8 point buck yesterday. He took it out of the same stand that I got mine from during muzzleloading season posted earlier. Apparently we made a pretty good decision in the placement of this stand. Someone has hunted out of it 5 days this season and there have been 5 deer harvested from it. Pretty good record. 3 of the deer taken have been 8 pointers and one big 6 pointer. I guess that is one stand we won't have to worry about moving next season.

I was a bit worried when we put it there that we wouldn't be able to see far enough because of the foliage, but as fall moves along and the leaves keep falling, it just keeps getting better and better.

peak foliage

2007-11-11T21:18:00.000-08:00

I believe the foliage is at it's peak here in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Today was a bit of a misty, rainy day, so the picture was not extraordinary, but with the drought conditions here in Virginia we won't be complaining about any rain at all.

deer season in Virginia

2007-11-11T18:26:00.000-08:00

Virginia has some great areas to whitetail deer hunt. At the moment it is black powder season. This deer was taken with a Knight black powder gun on November 10. It is an eight point buck and scored a 141 in Virginia's point system. For what it lacked in mass, it made up for in uniformity.

trout fishing scene along the Smith River in Virginia

2007-11-06T20:03:00.001-08:00

You can't teach em to early. The Smith River in Virginia offers some of the best trout fishing there is, along with some beautiful scenery.

Virginia foliage progression

2007-11-05T18:15:00.000-08:00

I thought this was an interesting bit of scenery. The lower elevations seem to have changed in this area before the upper elevation. Granted a lot of the trees in the background of this picture may be evergreens, I am familiar with the area enough to know that there are a significant amount of hardwoods here as well. All in all though the foliage is coming along nicely here in Virginia.

Virginia hunting trail scene

2007-11-01T21:34:00.001-07:00

This is a picture taken on one of the trails along a mountain in Virginia where I hunt. The scenery is beautiful in the woods during early hunting season as the leaves are turning.

Virginia historical scene

2007-11-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

Virginia is rich in history as well as scenery. Many battles were fought during the civil war in the state of Virginia. These pictures were taken during an annual civil war reenactment in New Market Virginia.

Ferrum foliage

2007-10-31T09:38:00.002-07:00

I took this picture this morning at Ferrum college. The mountian is right behind one of the sports fields behind the college. The area all around Ferrum looks like this now. The foliage is finally entering the scene in this part of Virginia.

hint of fall

2007-10-30T17:27:00.000-07:00

There is a hint of fall in the background of this picture. I really liked the way this picture turned out. If you look closely you can see the sunrays.

typical Virginia scenery

2007-10-28T13:22:00.003-07:00

This is a typical scene found in rural central and southwestern Virgina. A few cows grazing in a nice green pasture with mountains for a backdrop. As you can see the foliage here is yet to peak. This particular picture was taken in Franklin County Virginia, near Boones Mill. It is only about 10 miles or so south of where the Blue Ridge Parkway passes by Roanoke.

2 horses

2007-10-28T13:22:00.002-07:00

The foliage hasn't come around for us yet, but the scenery is still hard to beat here in southwest Virginia

2007-10-28T13:22:00.001-07:00

Went out looking around at the foliage today, There is still not much change, but here is a picture of a brilliant red maple.

lone maple

2007-10-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

Went out looking around at the foliage today. Still not much change but here is a picture of a lone brilliant red maple.

green scenery

2007-10-27T03:01:00.002-07:00

As you can see the foliage here has barely begun to change. Things are still pretty green. The rain has subsided finally. Locally here we got about 11 inches in 3 days. We really needed the rain, but it is somewhat of a pain when it all comes that quickly. Luckily there was only local flash flooding, but nothing really serious.
Hopefully this rain will bring the onset of some nice fall foliage shortly. The temperatures are going to drop pretty sharply according to the weather forecast over the next few days at night. That should spark the onset of colors.

rain rain rain

2007-10-25T22:35:00.000-07:00

I was up near the Blue Ridge parkway earlier today with intentions of capturing some photos of the fall foilage. Unfortunately for the pictures, it was raining so hard it was useless to try. We need the rain very badly in this area though, so we cannot complain.

2007-10-25T19:21:00.007-07:00

We are lucky here in Virginia. The scenery is not limited to one type of landscape. On the west side of Virginia we have the Blue Ridge Mountains, which produce some of the most beautiful fall foilage anywhere, making the drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway a sight to behold.

To the east, we have the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Chesepeake Bay, which has a host of rivers flowing into it that is home to an amazing variety of aquatic life. Talk about fresh crab, it doesn't get any fresher than this.

2007-10-25T19:21:00.006-07:00

Now don't get me wrong, this mild weather is nice, but here it is the end of October and the temperature is still in the high 70's in southern Virginia. It is seriously interfering with my hunting. I'm about ready for a day like the picture here. The
scenery takes on a whole new life when it is snow covered like this.

2007-10-25T19:21:00.005-07:00

Virginia has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, especially this time of year (fall). Unfortunately, this year we have been deprived from the much needed rain that normally produces the brilliant foilage on the trees. The temperatures
have been quite a bit above normal as well, that normally triggers the onset of the leaves changing colors. However I am keeping the faith that the beautiful Virginia scenery will come, albeit a bit delayed.

flyover

2007-10-25T19:21:00.004-07:00

Every fall this guy flys over on a little ultralight of some sort. I can just imagine the scenic views that he gets from up there. Just watching him is a beautiful sight to see. This too is taken from my house.

sky on fire

2007-10-25T19:21:00.003-07:00

This photo was taken as a storm was brewing right before dark. It literally looks like the sky was on fire. What an amazing sunset.

Virginia scenery

2007-10-25T19:21:00.000-07:00

I will be posting some pictures of the beautiful scenery that is created by the onset of fall here in Virgina shortly, as well as some other interesting photos of the scenery available to all those blessed enough to visit our great state of Virginia.