video Archives - Opossum Creek Retreat

Frankenstorm 2012 at Opossum Creek Retreat

Want to know what the Frankenstorm was like for us here at Opossum Creek Retreat? We had some guests in the cabins and although they were happy, warm, and cozy, for lots of reasons we decided to extract them. It took four of us about 4 hours to get from the sign.

But back to the cabins… One big tree had broken off and landed in the road.

Most trees we could shake the heck out of and they would spring back up.

It was a long hard day and we all needed a rest.

We have more to do but it will be better done when things warm up and the snow is gone.

We’re very thankful there is no damage to buildings and we hope everyone affected recovers soon.

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…

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.

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.