geoff Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Opossum Creek Retreat

Are You Prejudiced Against Trees?

The New River Gorge (our backyard) is filled with trees. So what’s one more?

What follows is the story of our Royal Paulownia Tree, AKA the Princess Tree, and its life at Opossum Creek Retreat…

Scrophulariaceae) by James R. Allison, GA DNR, Bugwood.org — Princess tree blossoms

It’s weird to think that, if you packed your china in some seed pods to protect them (the original packing peanuts) on the long journey to your new job, that hundreds of years later your packing peanuts’ offspring might attack someone’s building foundation!

Science fiction its not.

Immigrants from the Far East used the seed pods from the Royal Paulownia Tree or Empress Tree as packing peanuts for a long time. Trains rattling up and down the New River Gorge brought in goods from all over the world to the people who lived in the great river valley (mostly the mine managers and owners). When the recipients opened their boxes, the seeds fell out on the ground.

Those seeds love disturbed soil like along train tracks or all around new towns like the ones being built during the coal mining days. Or, you know, next to the foundation of The Meadows Cabin. We found the damage the tree had caused when we excavated and put in a new drain system in preparation for the timber frame great room addition.

Now, the tree in question was a favorite, and anyone who’s been to Opossum Creek Retreat knows that we go a long way to blend the cabins into the rest of the environment. I mean, some of the trees are ridiculously close to where we built, but what can I say? I’m a tree hugger.

The Paulonwia is “an invasive plant species”, and to some that means it should be eradicated. The likelihood of that happening is about as high as getting rid of Starlings (I like them too). While it is not native, it’s been here for a long, long time. I wonder how long something has to be in a place to be from there?

It is doing very well here, and lots of people (including me) like the tree. It’s beautiful. I’m sure that way back when, even before us humans, things got moved around and took up residence wherever that volcano or hurricane blew them. Did that make them invasive? Just sayin’.

If a plant or animal happens to have ended up someplace new, with or without human help, is it really invasive? Or is it just part of evolution, in the long run? I’m sure some people will always look at newcomers to an area as invasive. But I guess that’s a rant for another blog.

I’m not saying invasive species don’t exist. They do. But I sure did hate to cut down our Princess Tree.

The Fastest Zipline Ever (Almost)

The entrance to some family fun at the Burning Rock Outdoor Adventure Park.

Cool shirts. Plus, they put on a great soccer camp

As a rental cabin owner guy, you get certain perks. This is a post about one of them.

Burning Rock Outdoor Adventure Park had invited The Opossum Creek Retreat Adventure Team ™ (that’s us) to test drive their Brand New Dual racing Zip line.

Having been a stranger in a strange land, I know it can make you do strange things. So I asked the coaches from our kid’s soccer camp, Challenger Sports (all from England) if they would like to peg the adrenaline meter with us on a zip line and they said “Yep we’re in!” And then they immediately said, “What’s a zip line?”

Thanks to Burning Rock’s hospitality they said yea, bring on the Brits too!

The Burning Rock zipline is always safety first.

There is something really great about taking people outside their comfort zone; when you do, it’s easier for everybody to just laugh out loud at themselves and at each other. Just another great thing about living in the mountains

Burning Rock has the fastest, longest zipline east of the Rockies, and I’ll say this about it: it feels like you’re flying.

View from top of Burningrock zip line over looking camp ground ATV track ready for burning rocks 2500 foot zip line.

Personally, I think it could be longer and faster. Hey, Woody (Duba, Burning Rock GM): I know you have a spot picked out. Go bigger next time, huh? (People say my sarcasm is endearing).

What else can you say? If you like speed, and thrills, and doing things you’ve never done before, and West Virginia, then this is for you. If you don’t like that stuff, you should probably stay home. Or maybe watch it on youtube.

What’s also cool about Burning Rock is the 8000-or-so acres and 100+ miles of West Virginia ATV trails. I’m not a huge ATV guy, but I like to ride every now and then, and I think it’s going to be a blast to take my kids.

In the past, we had sent guests down to the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System, which is a pretty cool place in its own right. But it was a fairly long drive to get there, and the system down there is actually several different trail systems, all connected together. Burning Rock is more of a one stop shop. Rentals, guides, gear… everything you need.

I’m definitely looking forward to what Opossum Creek Retreat guests have to say about it. Almost as much as I’m looking forward to going back myself.

Building The Perfect Cabin: A Love Story

What some people imagine when they hear "cabin in the woods".

For some reason, when you say “Cabin”, lots of people still think of the hunting camp. They imagine a stereotype of a cabin. You know, a moldy, dirty shack. Out house only. We still get people asking if we have running water. Even after they’ve seen our brochure or website.

I don’t get it.

That is not what we offer. Just sayin’.

Cabins 1 and 2 especially are “showcase cabins”. They’re over built for sure. From the ground up, we over did it. The question is, why?

We have a “grandfather clause” at Opossum Creek Retreat. That just means that, when we build a cabin or a table or whatever it is, we want to be able to show our grand children, and they can show theirs. It’s not the traditional meaning of “grandfather clause”, I know. But hey, being able to show generations what you built? That’s a good legacy.

Because the cabins are tucked in the woods, we didn’t want to dig a trench in the ground, cutting all the tree roots in the area. A tree is actually bigger underground than it is above. To minimize the impact of our

West Virginia Cabin rental Cabin 1 from outside

foundations, we dug small holes straight down to the bedrock, drilled into the rock, and tied the steal in the hole then poured cement. We still cut some roots, but only a fraction compared to standard perimeter foundations, and all the trees are still healthy.

These two were framed in conventional stick building style, with a lots of insulting and vapor barrier. All of the siding was sourced locally. We found a saw mill making pressure treated siding from poplar trees. We asked them if we were to buy enough, would they sell it to us before the pressure treating process (highly toxic arsenic)? They agreed, so we pulled a batch out of the production line and we hauled it home. We stained it with some nut oils, which was way nicer than arsenic pressure treated. It’s still in great shape, and should be for a long long time.

The interior trim is from the same mill. Poplar is not as knotty as aptly named knotty pine. It has all the shades and character. We tongue-and-grooved some of it, used it on the ceiling, and used some on the wall (not too much, I think). It’s still mostly drywall for that crisp, clean, this-is-not-a-hunting camp look.

The screened porch came from a different mill nearby. Back then, at the right time of year, mills cut hemlock for tobacco barns and that’s what we got in on. Beautiful golden hemlock wood, sawn post-and-beam with some

Timber frame screened pourch on Cabin rental 1

Japanese’s timber frame joints that one of our builders, Craig, did just for some style points.

You get the idea. A lot of thought and sweat and creativity went into these vacation cabins. You’re going to love them.

Your grand children will too.

The Best Family White Water Raft Trip Ever

Having a really cool, clean comfortable cabin to curl up with your clan is a must.

Okay, okay. This post is about the river, not the Cabins rentals. (Biased? Me biased?)

I have my PHD in rivertrip-ology. Really. I guided trips for a living/lifestyle for many years on many rivers in several countries. Rafting was very very good to me. I still occasionally take my family out for a New River Family rafting adventure (they’re still too young to drive or they would take themselves).

WE love taking first timers. This is how we like to go about a day on the river:

First and foremost is safety. Gear is checked. The kids deliver the safety talk to newbies, and if there aren’t any new bees, they give it to each other and us. It’s a ritual that takes place before each trip. Commercial or private.

Then we’re off, or, y’know, on, depending on how you look at it. You shove off but are on the river, anyway.

I really believe that everyone should start out with a mellow float trip first. Relaxing into it, getting a feel for the way the raft moves on the current. Becoming comfortable with the vocabulary, the pace, the fun. Feel your paddle move the raft. The buck and the dip as you slip down a wave train into a rapid, the tug of an eddyline as you pull into shore for a break, eating in your lap while sitting on a rock, swimming (floating) in your lifejacket- that’s a PFD (personal floatation device) for you professionals out there, standing up in the raft and not worrying you’re going to fall out.

Family and freinds Rafting the New River

After a while you’ll feel comfortable enough to enjoy the views. All these things make it easier to enjoy the big stuff when you get there, if you ever get there. We rarely get there anymore. Not just because we have kids that are just getting to the point they are big enough to self rescue, but it’s less stressful and more fun on the easy stuff.

Quality time for Father and Son Swiming with Dad on the New River WV

Don’t get me wrong. You can still get in a whole lot of trouble on the easy stuff that’s why we do the safety talk every time.

The industry has taken its cue from the guests and shortened trips to maximize the thrill factor. For my money and yours, you should take the time to start slow and easy. Get warmed up with a day on the Upper New. Then, if the kids are excited and really ready, meaning you don’t have to talk them into it, go for the Lower New.

But take a day’s rest in between. Don’t over schedule your activities plan in some downtime.

Here is the itinerary I would book for my family knowing what I know now.

Pull into The Gorge area before dark and go to the bridge over look check out the NPS visitor center. Get a feel for the area our history and culture. It’s well worth it. Then, go check in at the cabin, cook something on the grill, and soak off the day in the hot tub.

Day 1: Book the earliest trip you can get on the Upper New. Enjoy the day with your family. Swim, laugh, and relax. Take in the views.

Day 2: Back on dry land. Take a hike go out to eat. Rest up with a book or movie in the cabin. If you’re feeling adventurous, go rappel with New River Mount Guides or canopy tour (there are several in the area).

Day 3: Dinner trip. It’s not much more money, so just do it. It’s not the food that makes it worthwhile; it’s the fact that you’re on the water after everyone else has taken off. You have the place to yourselves, mostly. Definitely the right time to be on the water.

Day 4: Head home. Sure, there’s a lot more great stuff to do that could keep you busy all week, but this is a blog about the raft trip. The best white water vacation ever. And know going in that that’s impossible to obtain even in a month. I had the best raft trip ever, and it took me years to accomplish it.

Have questions? Let me know in the comments. See you on the river!

Why I Hate Soccer (Hint: It Kills Vacations)

Soccer sucks.

Don’t get me wrong; I love the games and the cheering and visiting with the other parents. Plus the kids need the exercise and really seem to get a big kick out of it. As a sport, I think it’s kind of awesome.

But soccer sucks up the time. It eats away at valuable family vacation time that you could be spending in our cabin rentals in West Virginia. Which is, of course, where you should be spending time (I’m a little biased).

There. I said it. You could be relaxing in a rental cabin in West Virginia. Instead, you’re driving kids from practice to game to camp and back, eating up every weekend from March to mid June and Labor Day to Thanksgiving.

Let’s just say you have a little family vacation planned for a weekend of rafting and hiking in the New River Gorge National Park, and then your kids’ team wins two games in a row for the first time in years and bang you’re in the championship game on the weekend you booked your family cabin. It’s great, but at the same time, ARRRRGGGHHH!

I know I am being selfish. I want you and your families to come and stay with us. The Big Game is very important (I know: I have had the good fortune to have both my kids play in the finials several times). It’s a great experience for them.

Or is it?

Most of the rest of the world teaches soccer to their children in a very different way. There are no teams. You just sign up and show up. Dads and Mom still volunteer to do the coaching there just aren’t any games no winners no LOSERS! No referees to yell at. Just skill building fun having no pressure drills of all kinds. Individual drills, group drills, ball handing, foot work, set plays, drills to learn the rules all are studied and practiced.

When they do go into a game situation or live scrimmage the coaches pick the teams and ref the action. This allows them to stop and start the game to point out key strategy and opportunities. The next practice may have more or less in the way of live scrimmage but they never have set teams or keep score until well into their teens.

Not to change the subject, but since it’s my blog, I can do whatever I want. WVU had a football coach named Don Nehlen. I didn’t really like his style, but he got us lot of W’s and a shot at the National Championship.

One day I heard him on the radio. He said something to this effect: “We should not be keeping score until college. Everyone should be practicing skills and drilling, and there’s too much emphasis placed on winning and losing. There’s not enough emphasis on skills sportsmanship and teamwork.

Pizza and ice cream help wash away the taste of Defeat

WOW! A coach of his caliber saying something so unAmerican?! No losers, no kids crying, no parents embarrassing themselves and their kids, yelling at the referees and coaches. No kids quitting because they never get on a “winning team”. We could eliminate those agonizing car rides home after a loss, and you would not have to miss the weekend getaway in the mountains of West Virginia. It’s win-win.

If we followed Coach Neilen’s advice, and the rest of the world’s example for youth sports, we’d be better off. Until then, we’ll see you after the championship.

5 Things Everyone Needs For A Beginner Bike Trip

This is easy.

That’s why we’re beginners, right? We like things easy. The easier it is, the more comfy we are when we fall on our faces. Easy makes things, especially outside things, better.

Check out this video we made last year…

So, with a trip like that in mind, here are 5 things that are absolutely indispensable to a New River Gorge mountain bike ride:

A bike.
Water. Skip the snacks and go out to lunch or dinner after the ride. You don’t even need to go back to the cabin to change- dirty mountain bikers aren’t unusual around town at all. Plus, it fits in with #4.
Lazy pump/co2 thing (see video).
Kids. They make it more fun. Why? They know how to take lots of brakes and look around and be amazed. If you don’t have kids handy, just try and remember what it was like and act like one you’re in the woods. No one you know will see you. Probably.
Pace yourself. This is not a race (well, it may be a race to get to the restaurant for lunch after the ride. Or, y’know, beer). But for now just take your time and enjoy the ride.

If you’re interested in going outside and testing the five tried-and-true principles for a successful beginners ride, the trail in the vid is the Cunard Trail. It’s flat and wide, and you can rent a great bike around town. They’ll even take you there and pick you up. And, they have guides!

The setup is perfect for beginners. Now all we need is have you come here and be as inexperienced as me.

Top 10 Reasons The Bird Fest Rocks

Let me just say this: The New River Birding And Nature Festival is so much fun.

A lot of work, yes. But who cares? It’s totally worth it. If you’re here, you know what I’m talking about. If you’re not, you should be.

Here are 10 reasons why:

-The Food. Local restaurants help us out with the fare, and its hard to stay the same size this week.

-Walking In The Rain. It rains here. If you’re ready for it, it’s quit enjoyable, and bird friendly. (beautiful sunshine today, though!)

-Anticipation. We work on this festival all year. People who come look forward to it all year. Maybe that’s why it’s great when we finaly get to start birding.

-The Face Ache. You know, from smiling so much.

-The Presentations. Nothing like a little edification for some after dinner fun. The presentations are enjoyable, informative, and, hey, they aid digestion!

-Spring In The Forest. ‘Nuff said.

–ZIPLINE!

-Making People Happy. This one’s kind of a gimme, since, as a cabin rental guy, it’s what I try to do all the time. But still, you really can’t get to much.

-Great Conversations. I’ve, um, been known to talk. A lot. So it shouldn’t be any surprise to people that know me that this makes the list. I’ll just say that, during the fest, I find myself doing a lot more listening.

-New Friends And Old. Best thing about the fest, hands down. As I’ve said before, you don’t need birds to make a good day birding. It’s all about the people. Especially these people.

And lastly…

Making A Difference In Someone’s Life. It’s not me; it’s the whole thing. The people. The camaraderie. The New River Gorge. Oh, and the birds. Let’s not forget them. The fest makes people’s lives richer. Especially mine.

Secret Stories Of People’s Favorite Cabins

The highest compliment we can receive is a repeat guest.

We actually have lots of them. Not bragging or anything. Just saying lots of people come back to Opossum Creek Retreat to stay in their little cabin in the woods. And since that’s what we do, we think it’s a beautiful thing.

Some folks come back several times a year. Others take the same cabin on the same holiday every time (and have for almost a decade). We’ve had guests that will change their vacation plans to get their favorite cabin. That’s not typical, but hey, neither is love.

Everyone’s got a reason. Some people say we saved their marriage. Others say we caused theirs. Still others still come back every year with more and more kids, and tell us it all started here. From first dates to first vows, there’s something special about this place (the hot tubs?) that people love to come back to.

Don’t get me wrong. Not everyone comes back. Not everyone gets it (a few really don’t get it: “there are bugs and noises outside the cabin, and the woods were very dark, so we left”). We don’t offer a paved environment, room service, valet parking or street lights lighting up the woods at night. So I guess that means to be prepared to, um, stay in a cabin.

I think (actually, I know) people request a particular cabin from year to year because that cabin in the woods makes them feel comfortable and at peace with the surroundings. They keep memories there, and add to them year after year. It makes us feel good to know they trust us to keep things just so and welcome them back. Very cool.

Each of the cabins has its own personality, and you can see it in the guest book comments. There’s a theme in each one (working on those posts, I promise). They all have the same basic features, but we’ve given them all their own unique touches of wood working and art. What’s the quote about the guy who loves what he does so much that he never has to go to work? That’s me.

I believe our guest come back to the same cabin over and over because it is here they find it easiest place in the world to relax. Just a guess.

And for the record, my own personal favorite cabin is whichever one I fall asleep in when I’m supposed to be doing yardwork 🙂

The Most Important Thing About Birding (Hint: It’s Not Birds)

The most important thing about a birding trip is not the birds. Really.

Here’s why: All kinds of things can influence the birds you see and hear. So let’s focus on stuff that really matters on a field trip: the people.

It’s like soup; too much of one ingredient is boring. I love time alone in the outdoors, to be sure, but being with a group of fellow bird nerds/naturalists when everyone gets a good look at a fun bird? And it’s a lifer for someone in the bunch? And everyone is smiling and giddy? You can’t help but be excited too.

The fun of birding in a group comes mostly from these moments. They’re contagious. People are dancing smiling laughing when they see something that’s -how can I put it- exotic for them. It’s fun to share these moments. Who you’re with is way more important than what you might see.

I’ve been on dozens of field trips under every type of circumstances, from research and banding to formal surveys and counts to paid private guided field trips. And with the most bizarre groups you can imagine. By far the best groups have beginners in them; If you go out with a bunch of really good birders it can get boring real fast. I think it’s because they all know every peep and who made it and why. There’s no give and take about what is going on around you.

Also sometimes I think they are afraid to say anything because they might (heaven forbid) make a mistake. I promise you if you are on a trip with me I will miss ID a bird at some point during the day, every day. And it’s usually something really obvious and easy like last year when I called a chirping Cardinal a Chat (this is a major bird nerd no-no). Everyone looked at me like I had lost my mind, and by that point in the week, I had.

But I’m not a hired gun. No degree. No life list (that’s another story). So maybe it’s okay for me to make mistakes. Personally I like to see the pros make a mistake once in a while it shows they are human too. Perfection is way overrated.

When you have a good field guide, and some beginners, and you mix them in with other levels of interest and experience, it’s more fun. Makes me smile just writing about it.

The most rewarding bird trips for me are when we’re giving back. You don’t have to be a great birder to be a ambassador for nature. You don’t have to be great at anything. “Showing is better than telling” a 4 year old told me, as I was talking too much to a school group I did a bird presentation for. She wanted more action.

I get really excited when out on a field trip and I see a new bird or bug or critter of some kind. Even plants. But when I see someone, young or old, really getting excited about what’s around them, maybe for the first time ever? That’s a wonderful feeling.

The New River Birding and Nature Festival sponsors hands-on learning experiences for local schools. These are the trips that give me the best feelings of all.

Share what you know, right?