This is one very special place to photograph. The Valley is steeped in history, conflict and tradition. It was known as the breadbasket of the Confederacy during the Civil War and its strategic importance made it important for both the Union and Confederate Armies to control. It was the scene of three major war campaigns. Battle re-enactments, museums, memorabilia, road-side signs and flags all remind us today that not too long ago this Valley was premium real estate in the Civil War. On a lighter note, the Valley was the setting for the 1965 film titled 'Shenandoah' and if you like you can pull up the song entitled, 'Legends of Shenandoah' narrated by James Stewart. Or, you can listen to 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' by John Denver (although it only mentions the Shenandoah River which runs almost the entire length of the Valley). We did not even come close to covering this fabulous Valley. We want to return for more!
Whether it was the Blue Ridge Parkway or the Skyline Drive, we were never far away from a good view of the Shenandoah Valley below us. To better understand the Valley, we drove many narrow side roads looking at farms, small towns, interesting old buildings and farms that we had seen from above.
Oh!!! It is foggy this morning! Grab your camera and just 'drive around'.
The road into the RV park where we were staying along with Steve and Ken's family.
We were just driving around and happened to see out of the corner of our eye a waterfall. Wow! Turn around and go back. We met the owner of the property who told us it is a popular place for weddings, senior photographs, etc. She was happy to have us take photographs.
Hey Sweetheart, could you move over three feet? Then please, skunk me on a better composition! LOL
Entrance to McCormick State Park
In 1851, McCormick was awarded one of the highest honors granted by the Royal Commissioners of the Great World's Fair at London, England - the Council Medal. The London Times, commenting editorially said that the McCormick reaper was worth the whole cost of the Exposition, and: "The reaping machine from the United States is the most valuable contribution from abroad to the stock of our previous knowledge that we have yet discovered." Edmund Burke, U.S. Commissioner of Patents, wrote on March 4th, 1850: "It is one of those great and valuable inventions which commence a new era in the progress of improvement and whose beneficial influence is felt in all coming time."
These are treated railroad ties made by a small company in the Valley.
Mt. Joy, a Presbyterian Church. We saw many instances where the cemetery was very close to the church.
Ha! You thought there would be no cars in this posting! Tom drove by a guy painting his son's car.
For Karen.
For Phyllis.
We saw these for the first time as we rounded a corner driving Mellie to Front Royal. No place to pull over, of course. Marked our location and drove back to get photographs the next day. It was intermittently raining lightly and darkly overcast. Tom thinks this is the kudzu vine. It had completely overtaken whole swatches of the forest.
We fell in love with Virginia. There is so much to photograph that we could have stayed a year and not felt like we captured all the beauty and interest of the place.