Tag: Occoneechee State Park

On the Cusp

Today, as we squired our house sitters around Floyd and ate excellent “pig” from Bootleg BBQ, we tried to think if there was anything additional that we needed to get done before our departure to the airport tomorrow and flight Sunday.

One last thing, not knowing what kind of wifi we might have over there, was to refresh my FB page photos. I chose a pic of CJ from a couple of years ago, because as the leaves turn on the early trees (dogwood, maple) I’ve been reminded of falconry season, which will begin before I return. And seeing posts and inklings of friends near and far beginning to be ready for their own falconry seasons, I’m a bit jealous, but I know I will start the hunting as soon as possible after I get back.

And I chose a photo of sunset over Occoneechee State Park’s Buggs Island Lake (or Kerr Lake, depending on whether you’re standing on the VA or the NC shore) for a couple of reasons. We will be missing the activities and freedoms of traveling in Roomba for this trip (Occoneechee and North Bend campgrounds being among our favorite spots); and down in Clarksville, our upcoming tour leaders have a “family” farm they are able to occupy as much as possible between stints at their places of work, and we went to visit them last year, staying at Occoneechee. Soon, we shall meet up with them and our cycling tour friends for a new adventure.

We are heartily looking forward to our trip—not only the cycling but also the longish visit with family—and have heard from friends old and new with best wishes and “bon voyages.” We know that our critters are in the best possible hands, and those hands are supported by lots of big-hearted friends who have assured their assistance should any be required. It is lovely to feel confident in getting away when there are so many people standing beside those we hold dear.

More later, folks. And into the blue we go.

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Ciao, Occoneechee

We had another leisurely awakening and breakfast for our last day in camp (March 24, 2016). Noticed a lot of pollen on the car, table tops, and Roomba. From certain angles, the exterior appeared green instead of Roomba’s normal blue.

Another short bicycle “prowl” through the entire campground was on the schedule, and we visited closed-off camping areas, two marinas, and took the roller-coaster road out to and back from the equestrian camping center again. Ended up putting about 11 miles on the year’s tally.

During the ride we saw two more red-tailed hawks, and at least two red-headed woodpeckers. It is very weird to hear blue jays mimicking hawks/osprey and they had us fooled several times during our stay here.

I forgot to mention that, while in camp yesterday AM, we watched a (probably) nursing momma squirrel emerge from her cavity nest and just sun herself on the side of a tree, alternately stretching her front limbs, and taking an enormous yawn. Then she just “hung” there, plastered to the side of the tree, head-downwards, presumably warming herself for a while before returning to her hole.

It was pretty hot as we returned to camp, but the wind picked up (again), and we had lunch before beginning the stow-and-pack process. We began rolling out toward the dump station, to finalize the de-winterizing process, at about 2:30P.

  
Completely uneventful drive home, although we felt like it was almost entirely uphill from Danville to Meadows of Dan: about 2 hours of the drive. By the time we were trying to back Roomba up the gravel drive into the garage, the Soobie-Roo was decidedly hot. Had to take a few re-tries to get everything aligned right, and finally unhitched to let the TV (tow vehicle) rest and cool down.

We had a brief thought that we’d make Happy Hour at our local in Floyd (Dogtown Road House) but it was simply too late and frankly, we were tired. Strange, how sitting in a car for a few hours can make one feel exhausted. But, as light as an Alto is, hauling any type of trailer is just somewhat more stressful than simply driving. In addition, I always stress out trying to back Roomba into his chalet.

Saved all the unpacking until Friday, and we’re definitely getting into a “groove” on that front. It went quickly and easily, especially since we planned very well for our food needs this time, and didn’t have too much left to remove from Roomba’s ‘fridge to the house.

We’re thinking this will have to be a more frequent trip than only on our anniversary. Occoneechee State Park is truly lovely and there’s lots of cycling opportunities at and near the park.

Ciao, Occoneechee. Until next time.

  

Penultimate Day

As I start this blog entry (Wednesday, March 23, 2016), I’m sitting in the “screened porch” listening to the birds call one another, and to a squirrel scurrying around in the leaf litter, watching the sun get lower over the water. Even though the wind is really blowing, it is downright hot here in the “porch.” Of course, there is a fairly solid buffer of evergreen trees directly in front of me now. 

  

While we did see an osprey circling just off our camping site this AM, the single avian critter we’ve seen the most is the ubiquitous crow. Yesterday, we saw an American kestrel or two, and today, we heard (but did not see) a kingfisher. There was also a redtailed hawk soaring over one of the inlets of the lake.
Before we left for our short ride today, we had to roll up the awning, hoping we can re-pole it if the wind dies down during the day. But it was fiercely flapping as we finished breakfast and reading and suchlike before setting out on our ride. So we decided we didn’t want to worry about it while away, and secured it.

In about a month, we’re headed to the organized spring bicycle ride sponsored by Cycle North Carolina. Along the route back home from that ride, we’re scheduled for some Roomba camping, and the last stop before home is a federal campground called North Bend, which is a near neighbor to Occoneechee. North Bend is farther east, where the actual Kerr Reservoir hydro-electric dam is (in fact, when you cross the dam you’re in North Carolina), but it’s a very nice public area with an educational center, a visitors center, and all sorts of activities, events and special use areas. And tons of campsites. It’s the same body of water we call Bugg’s Island Lake and the North Carolinians call Kerr Lake.

Anyway, our goal today was to head over to North Bend and cycle around all of the camping areas, including the one we’ve reserved, just to check it all out. And, of course, to get a few “wind-down” miles on the bikes after our excesses of yesterday.

We had a very nice tootle about, and found, then scoped out, our scheduled site. We even circled through a lot of the still-closed areas where maintenance crews were working to ready the whole place for the camping/fishing/boating season.
Cycling through some of the sections with non-serviced sites, where the sites sit right next to the water, we envisioned ourselves able to get enough solar gain in some of them to manage a long time without shore power. The trick would be AC. It gets hot – really hot – down here in the Piedmont of Virginia during the summer. BUT. We also discovered that this particular federal campground does not prohibit generators. So if we returned and wanted to be right on the water near a beach in the summer, we could manage it with the screened porch and our generator that can run the AC system in the Alto. Not too shabby. 

Now maybe we have to get some kayaks. Not really – water sports just aren’t our thing.

Anyway: North Bend Campground is only 20 miles away from Occoneechee, and, by parking at the Visitor Center, we ended up cycling about 10 miles without leaving the campground. We didn’t push things, as we wanted to get back to camp to put our feet up a while, enjoy the 85-ish degree temps, and get an early start on the meal we’ve been anticipating as our “anniversary dinner.”

  

After showers and a bit of a laze-about, we started dinner prep. While we were having some artichoke bruschetta on some nice crackers, an adult redtailed hawk landed in the tree just above Roomba. Jack saw it land, and I saw it take off, handling the wind as it looked below for a possible meal. Red tails are the most beautiful critters on earth (but I’m biased).

Not long after that, I saw a bright flash of black and white – and there was a hint of red also. I first thought it might have been a rose-breasted grosbeak, but we looked harder, and it #1, didn’t fly or land like a grosbeak, and #2 had a LOT more red than it should.

In just a moment or two we decided it must be a red-headed woodpecker – a species I’d never seen in real life. Jack looked it up in our digital Peterson’s Guide, and yes, it WAS a red-headed! Then we saw a second one. We were so excited. 

One landed right outside the round window as we sat in our “nook” under the Big Front Window, and try as I might, I could not get a photo with my iPhone. Every now and then, I dearly wish I had a “real” camera with lenses and such (then I realize how much stuff I’d have to carry around with me if I did have one of those . . . And, well).

So, on the bird sightings front, this trip quickly moved from ho-hum to fun and exciting. I was very happy.

Dinner was Roquefort butter ribeye steak (thanks again, Jim G.), grilled asparagus, and cheese tortellini. Jack did his usual magic on the grill, with his rubs and spices, and I watched the sun set over the lake for the last time this trip. Got some photos as the day waned, but not much exciting to show (since I couldn’t get one of the woodpecker).

   
 

  
After our anniversary dinner, we retired to the screened porch for a final glass of wine or two and topped off the night (and the trip) with a dram of Glen Morangie single malt. Altogether a stellar trip and celebration of our 8th real anniversary. Multiply that by four for the number of years we’ve been officially married, as of Feb. 29, 1984 (then add 6 years of our “extended engagement” pre-wedded bliss).

Here’s to Sadie Hawkins Day and all the girls with the moxie to ask the boys for their hands in marriage!

 

  

  

  

 

Bicycling & Dinner w/Friends

We slept warm under our latest addition to the Roomba bedding list: a Rumpl blanket. But we elected to go without heat overnight, and when we awakened, it was a parallel inside/outside 40 degrees.

Although we heard the rain hitting the roof several times during the night, the sun arose shining brightly, and we were hopeful for a beautiful day.

We did not count on the wind being a factor, however.

As the morning hours progressed, the wind velocity did also. We appreciated turning the heat on during breakfast. At one point, a gust off the water walked our screen room a bit, so Jack jumped up to more securely tie it down from the windward side.

 

Our Screened-in Porch, in the sun with the pretty little redbud beside it.

The temps climbed during the day to the high 50s, but the wind was chill and fast. We finished the de-winterizing (except for dumping the bleach water from our tanks) hooked up the shore water, and I did the dishes from last night.

Alan and Mary said they’d come by and see the Alto set-up and take a short cycling ride around the park at 2PM, so we minded some additional chores, ate lunch, and then got ready to cycle. The sun on the east (entry door) side of Roomba allowed it to get quite warm inside, so we shut off the heater, and even had to vent a little to keep it from getting too hot inside.

Found everywhere along the way to the bathhouse near our campsite.

We tootled with Alan and Mary around the paved areas of Occoneechee State Park, and took a roller-coaster of a pedal down past the Cabins section all the way to the Equestrian camping section. From there, Alan remembered a rough trail that he thought Jack’s, Mary’s, and my bikes could manage (he had the only trail bicycle among us), but we decided it was a bit too rough. Next time we’ll have to come back with our mountain bikes and do the 7.5 mile Plantation Trail loop. The return along the roller-coaster road was an excellent time to get some interval training in, so I cranked it hard and worked up my heart rate.

Back at the campsite, we set a time for us to arrive at their house later for dinner, and parted company. I noticed that, when we got back to the peninsula on which we are camped, it is every bit of 10 degrees cooler here than anywhere else in the park. Amazing.

Still too much wind to put up the awning, so we just hung out a bit, doing this n’ that. Jack found that the screen room actually blocked a lot of the wind – or possibly, its lower situation gets it out of the wind a bit. He stretched out in the gravity chair and enjoyed the “porch” until he got too cold.

 

Our afternoon view from our bedroom window.

We both took showers and shortly thereafter, departed for Alan and Mary’s.
We’d been to their lovely home when they had led us on a bicycle tour exploring the Beaches to Bluegrass trail-in-progress, but I had frankly forgotten how stunning the place really is. (I cannot seem to link to prior content on this blog, but you can read all about that B2B trip in the archives). They designed it to have a vernacular, local barn appearance, with outdoor living space and plenty of room for guests.

We enjoyed a beverage and then took a hike into the woods, where they are creating paths and living areas. Our walk followed a small creek with interesting geology where the rocks are creating small, lovely, audible waterfalls.


  

 

Alan and Mary in their native habitat.

 

Alan and Mary are both teachers, as well as lifelong learners. They’ve been taking Master Gardener classes lately to learn about the intricacies of the ecosystems with which they are living and dealing.

This property is Mary’s family’s legacy, so there is an old cemetery they are trying to reclaim from nature’s roots and ravages, and we walked up there also to see the initial beating-back of the encroaching trees. They definitely have quite a lot of work to accomplish there, but Mary’s family isn’t the only one hereabouts that is involved, so Alan has been carefully marshaling support from neighboring individuals whose ancestors are also resting there.

The full moon had arisen over the treetops by the time we were headed back to the house, and I was surprised to have been able to capture some nice ones of the moon over their house.


Our dinner was Brunswick Stew and ham biscuits—completely evocative of the region and the way Mary had been raised. Delicious.

We indulged in a wee dram of the last of the single malt that we had bought and shared along the cycling paths of the most recent cycling trip we’d taken with Alan and Mary, to Nova Scotia. (Once again, unable to link to the blog posts about the trip we took to Nova Scotia last fall).  After which, we parted and drove the 10 minutes back to camp.

Lovely evening with excellent friends. It just doesn’t get any better than this.

Winter’s End

The crocus are pushing through the chill soil. The sun is out (for a change) and it’s relatively warm for March 13 in Meadows of Dan. The snowdrops are up in several places on the property, including on the puppies’ graves, where our beloved canine family has, over the years, been laid to rest: Sophie, Pippin, Jazz, Radar, Seth – all are fertilizer for the snowdrops, and the snowdrops remind us of the inevitable succession of life. We now have Chase and Mischief; after them, we will have a different but continuing canine family, to comfort, amuse, frustrate, delight, and love us.

  
   
 
Falconry season is nearly over – in fact, I’ve already stopped hunting with my juvenile redtailed hawk, Skye, in favor of allowing her broken feathers to go ahead and drop off, so she can grow new ones through the summer. I’ll keep CJ disturbing the crow populations around here for a while longer, because he and I are participating in a research program studying lead accumulations in scavenger species (from feeding on field dressed and/or “uncollected” rifle-shot game animals). The scientist wanted to include crows in his research, but was finding it difficult to find any to study. A falconer friend introduced me to the researcher and CJ and I have managed to help out.

   
    
 
But Jack and I are beginning to think bicycles, camping, and traveling. He’s the travel agent for our Roomba schedule, and we have a short trip to one of our favorite VA State Parks, Okeneechee, lined up for next week. By then, I will have completed my “beer magazine” duties (editing, layout, proofing, upload to the printer, etc.), and we will take our delayed “anniversary trip” that we manage every four years when our Sadie Hawkins Day anniversary comes around.

Last week’s wondrous, early spring weather inspired us to 3 bike rides. Not long ones, but it was truly good to get back in the saddle again – well, except for that “where the saddle meets the seat” part. That’s the most difficult aspect of getting back on the bicycles again: breaking in the body parts that spend a lot of time resting on the saddle. But this will pass soon, as the affected area toughens up and you just don’t notice it any longer.

It feels so great to exercise in a different way after a long winter of falconry, hiking through the woods and fields for hours. And being on the Blue Ridge Parkway again, in time to see the wildflowers emerge on their schedule, has me full of anticipation, watching for the rebirth of our native surroundings. I love being out there, spinning my wheels along the pavement, seeing what is to be seen; hearing what is to be heard. I’m so looking forward to the summer of traveling and cycling and Roomba-ing and exploring the new and the old. C’mon April!

The red-tailed hawk of one of my falconry apprentices