We took it easy this morning, enjoying our peaceful cabin and a big breakfast of pancakes and eggs. Slowly, we mobilized for an excursion to Shenandoah National Park. We picked out a hike that sounded about right (not too strenuous or crowded, with nice views) and were getting ready to head out. However, we got delayed a bit by the Direct TV repair person, but fortunately, he was able to fix the problem by replacing the dish, so it seemed worth the wait.
Once we reached the park, we went to the area near the trailhead for the hike we had chosen. Since it was already well into the afternoon, we decided to eat our PB&J sandwiches, rather than carry them. We perched on a rock overlooking Jewel Hollow and the beautiful Shenandoah Valley while we ate. From there, after a slow start trying to find the right point of entry (but encountering a nice deer in the process), we set out along the Appalachian Trail for Mary’s Rock, our destination. The trail was woodsy and green, with lots of wild rhododendrons, little violets and other flowers in bloom. We passed other hikers along the way, but not many. A couple told us there was a black bear cub up ahead. In fact, Laura, Sara and Evan caught a glimpse of him as he scrambled into the woods, but we weren’t quick enough to get a photo. Later on, we saw a docile deer off the side of the path who didn’t seem very intimidated by us. When we reached the peak, the views were terrific.
We sat on Mary’s Rock taking in the scenery for a while before we headed back the way we had come. On our return trip, we heard more reports of the playful bear cub, but he eluded us once again. We saw some hardy hikers pitching camp for the night near the little hut (“Byrd’s Nest”) along the trail. While we admired their fortitude, we were happy to head back to our relatively luxurious cabin and jacuzzi. Tonight, we dined on delicious pulled pork barbecue sandwiches that we had picked up at the Country Side Restaurant in Stanley. With our TV back in action, we watched the Warriors defeat the Thunder again and extend the series to a seventh game – yay! We finished the day watching the lightning bugs flash while we soaked in the jacuzzi.
Hike - Appalachian Trail to Mary's Rock
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