That’s what that past 6 weeks was. A no-stops, back-to-school, end-of-summer, Yoga Teacher training, American Birding Expo, crazy-packed schedule, no time for self, and BAM fall is here kind of whirlwind.
And Breathe. I love fall the most. (Watch, I will probably say that about winter and spring, too, when they get here. But not summer.) Fall is fresh and cool and calm— thankfully calm.
Relaxing in the hot tub
Time to get away for a weekend to “your cabin in the woods,” surrounded by nature with great restaurants in town, and and enjoy some calm before the whirlwind of the holiday season.
Very special rates begin the end of October. And weekdays, starting now.
Too slow. Yep they got me. I will be helping the Chamber of Commerce again this year and be in the thick of it all. See our recent immersion or aversion blog and you will get how hard this is for me.
The fun part is while I am volunteering for the greater good, I will be reporting to you from the Bridge Day Festival Event Live. Do you have any requests of something you would like to see or have me do this year?
The weather looks good for this weekend’s Bridge Day Festival and the trees are proving me wrong, again, by putting on a great color show.
For as long as I can remember, the end of summer has been bitter-sweet.
On one hand, it meant the end of long days, vacations, sleeping-in and staying up late. That was the life!
On the other, it signaled the beginning of frosty mornings, turning leaves, blue-bird skies and my favorite pastime of all. Hunting.
There is something magical about the woods in the fall. The intense coloring of leaves brought on by shorter days and cool nights. The smells. It all keeps me returning to the woods time and time again.
Since I was a boy, I have tagged along on my Dad’s hunting and fishing trips. Every trip to the woods serves as a reminder of the things he has taught me and time spent together exploring. Dad doesn’t get to the woods anymore, but he’s always there with me in spirit.
For the past 18 years I have made the New River Gorge area my home. I have been exploring its woods from day one. In that time, I’ve barely scratched the surface of all there is to see. While it would take another lifetime to see all she has to offer, I intend to keep trying to see all I can.
The Cowpasture Trail at Cranberry Wilderness is just over 6 miles long. Mostly flat, gentle slopes and a wide, variety of terrain and plenty to explore.
Not too long ago, we loaded up and headed over to hike with a rag-tag group of kids.
6 miles. 6 kids. 3 photos. This, is the story.
Too often the simple fact of being unsure if you are prepared will prevent stepping outside and having an adventure.
Usually the hardest part is just (sorry Nike) “doing it”. Get up, throw the kids in the car, some water, some granola bars and roll. Yes, it can be that easy.
Warm colors of fall in the Cranberry Wilderness
Sometimes, it may be difficult to pry kids away from the Xbox, DS, or TV. The persistence in pushing them out the door is worth it. The adventure to be had on the trail is one that creates awareness of surroundings, and memories of time with friends and family.
On our way up, the fall colors were at their peak at Cranberry. Bright oranges, reds, yellow and muted brown. The colors there are about a week ahead of ours here in the New River Gorge.
It made for a beautiful drive.
The real story of the day was watching the kids experience new things. Unexpected wonders of fall from the deep rich colors, to the smells encountered just walking through the woods. Ready to set sail
From pine thicket to bog there was something new around every corner.
Milkweed pods? Check. Opening them to send the tiny seeds afloat with childhood wishes attached. They also make great projectiles for throwing at your sister (as my son demonstrated!).
The point is this: You do not need to plan an extensive backcountry trip to get out and have fun. Throw on your tennis shoes, grab some water and let your kids show you what they discover.
Clicking on the BOOK NOW tab provides cabin availability. It DOES NOT mean you’ve booked a cabin. After you confirm availability, there are several additional steps required regarding potential dates, minimum stay times, group size, and of course payment information.
If you prefer the peace of mind of speaking with someone to book your stay, Anna is amazing!
