tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62444778858381776752024-03-13T21:18:26.425-07:00Kids Trails & TalesGRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-59207499575634311462015-06-26T07:54:00.001-07:002015-06-26T10:44:45.879-07:00Shenandoah Vacation - Hiking the Massanutten Ridge Trail<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oq3cprJf_GQ/VY1jh9c6imI/AAAAAAAABw4/RzEup457LRU/s1600/2015-06-16%2B08.02.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oq3cprJf_GQ/VY1jh9c6imI/AAAAAAAABw4/RzEup457LRU/s320/2015-06-16%2B08.02.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
FINALLY… we managed to eke out enough time as a family to
get out and do some hiking. During our
week-long summer vacation in the Shenandoah Valley Lori, Spencer, Braxton and I
hit the Massanutten Ridge Trail for an early morning hike. If you’re not familiar with the area,
Massanutten Resort is a four-seasons resort near Harrisonburg,
Virginia. They have a few ski slopes in the
winter, hiking, pools, golf, and adventure activities in the summer. They also have a great year round indoor
water park. If you‘re familiar with the
area but not the trail, take Del Webb Drive to the top of the mountain. The trail head is on the left with good
parking and a great view at the overlook.
From there you can hike the Ridge Trail, or cross the road and take the
Kaylor Knob Trail. The Ridge Trail runs 4 miles and can be accessed via a resort shuttle, allowing you to do it one-way. This was Momma Bear and Braxton’s first outing
carrying and riding in the back-pack, so we traveled about 1.5 miles and turned
back before we hit what other some reviews have referred to as a 'really rocky section'. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Highlights of the trip:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GgPpoD5Ls4Y/VY1jk22DTII/AAAAAAAABxI/HfwqljxpPoo/s1600/2015-06-16%2B08.35.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GgPpoD5Ls4Y/VY1jk22DTII/AAAAAAAABxI/HfwqljxpPoo/s320/2015-06-16%2B08.35.53.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GgPpoD5Ls4Y/VY1jk22DTII/AAAAAAAABxI/HfwqljxpPoo/s1600/2015-06-16%2B08.35.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>
<li>Spencer learned he is a rock
climber. We traveled 3 miles round
trip. Spencer traveled approximately 8 miles
total because he zigged and zagged up the trail so he could climb and jump off
each rock in the path. He had an absolute
blast.</li>
<li>Momma thought she heard a rattle
snake. She is very confident in this,
and her pace increased significantly all the way back to the car. I’m skeptical, and personally think she heard a bird or a locust, but don’t tell her that!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t3Td6I5Ic8A/VY1jmfZJJyI/AAAAAAAABxY/NexScUINL7w/s1600/2015-06-16%2B08.49.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t3Td6I5Ic8A/VY1jmfZJJyI/AAAAAAAABxY/NexScUINL7w/s320/2015-06-16%2B08.49.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>The views were gorgeous. The trail is well maintained and well-marked. We were up and hiking early, before the sun
had time to really heat things up. I recommend bug spray ANYWHERE outside in the Shenandoah this time of year, but they weren't too bad on our hike.</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YES_Y00aKEQ/VY1jo4dMiAI/AAAAAAAABxk/5sFWSZyFEhA/s1600/2015-06-17%2B16.08.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YES_Y00aKEQ/VY1jo4dMiAI/AAAAAAAABxk/5sFWSZyFEhA/s320/2015-06-17%2B16.08.41.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJHU7JTvujg/VY1ji989GeI/AAAAAAAABw8/LGYkoJhvTMw/s1600/2015-06-15%2B10.15.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJHU7JTvujg/VY1ji989GeI/AAAAAAAABw8/LGYkoJhvTMw/s320/2015-06-15%2B10.15.11.jpg" width="179" /></a>During our week the boys also made two evening trips to the water
park. Spencer was such a big boy, sliding
down the big water slides all by himself.
Momma almost had to be medicated watching her little boy go whisking off
down a spiral slide alone. Braxton didn’t
love it like Spencer did, but he had fun.
He’s still a little small for this sort of fun and he wasn’t crazy about
all the water in his eyes. Spencer also
enjoyed the bungee trampoline, which he had to go on twice, and he rode a horse all by himself. The boys both painted garden animals at a
craft class and we took a side trip to Luray Caverns. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Best quotes from Luray:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
Spencer: after apparently being
strapped in to his backpack a little too snugly (a cave is not the place you
want your child to pop out of the backpack unexpectedly), as the tour guide quieted
the crowd and began his speech, Spencer loudly announced (it echoed off the
cave walls) “Mom, my peter hurts”. We
quickly loosened the straps, and with burning red faces we continued the
tour. All was well and Spencer was once
again comfortable. <br />
(Learning lesson for dads out there. During potty training, when mom says to refer to it as a 'pot pot' rather than a 'peter', consider listening to her. It may save you some embarrassment in a cave someday)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br />
A little further along...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
Tour Guide: “and if you look to
your left you’ll see a formation that looks a little like Snoopy”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
Spencer: “Mom, did that man just
say poopy?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
Mom: “No son, he said Snoopy”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
Spencer (somewhat disappointed): “Oh”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--5Blwix_NPI/VY1jotO7EUI/AAAAAAAABxw/fgffq6qmaO4/s1600/2015-06-20%2B13.43.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--5Blwix_NPI/VY1jotO7EUI/AAAAAAAABxw/fgffq6qmaO4/s400/2015-06-20%2B13.43.11.jpg" width="225" /></a>Wonderful summer vacation. Everyone had a blast and the kids can’t wait
to go back next summer. Momma and I even had a chance to sneak off the the Crosskey Winery for lunch and a tasting. Wow, there are a lot of wineries in VA. We'll be back!!</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-39411368248784625472014-11-20T13:53:00.000-08:002015-06-26T11:00:19.101-07:00Are We Still the Best?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TCcbJYIa5V8/VG5erYuIQ1I/AAAAAAAABt0/V-_1I8k5JnE/s1600/american-flag1%2B(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TCcbJYIa5V8/VG5erYuIQ1I/AAAAAAAABt0/V-_1I8k5JnE/s1600/american-flag1%2B(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Mike Layne</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I consider myself a patriot.
Always have! I love my
country. I love its vibrant and tumultuous
past. I love its stories, its art, its mythology. The
fabric of our nation was not weaved from black and white thread. It is an astounding tapestry of shades and
colors, imagery and experiences. Some will tell you we have a great need to cultivate diversity. I
say we've always had diversity. Our story
spans 238 years and our accomplishments far outpace our years; our successes outpace
our failures. I am, and always will be
an American.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I've always had a special affinity for the great inspirational
quotes from American history. Nathan Hale’s last words “My only regret is
that I have but one life to give for my country”, Lincoln’s “Four score and
seven years ago” delivered at Gettysburg, and my personal favorite, Patrick
Henry’s 1775 “give me liberty or give me death” address to the Virginia
Convention. All three quotes were delivered by men with an
unshakable commitment to the concept and continuation of our country, at times
when that continuation was not guaranteed -- far from it. Henry and Hale had few reasons to be confident
that a break from Britain would be successful and the Civil War was far from
won when Lincoln spoke. Today the battle of Gettysburg is accepted as a turning
point in the war. In November of 1863 that
conclusion was still 16 months and a half a million casualties away. These men inspire me because they believed
despite the odds. Their love of country
was not skin deep. It defined them as
men, and as human beings.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fast forward now, past gold rushes and wagon trains,
cowboys, Indians and the page of a century turned, past T.R.’s rough riders,
prohibition and two World Wars, "nothing to fear but fear itself, “ask not what your country can do for you”, the
cold war, Vietnam, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall”, two towers, a five
sided building and a lonely field in Pennsylvania. Since Mr. Lincoln spoke in another
Pennsylvania field 151 years ago our country has moved from restless
adolescence into a mature and powerful nation. Loved by some and hated by others, we've known
biter failure and tremendous success. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I've heard it said lately that we are no longer the greatest
country on earth. Really? I’ve watched videos online and heard disturbing
statistics that place us behind other countries in math, science and literacy and
ahead of most in obesity and adult incarceration. I’ve read long lists of comments bemoaning the
state of the nation. There is a rising
tide of people who believe our best days are behind us. Are they right, or are we still the greatest
country in the world?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We do have problems. We give money to those who don’t deserve it
and sometimes fail to help those who do. Health care costs too much. Our politicians lie to us, our
education system is undoubtedly broken and obesity is out of control. The list is long. Indeed, we have our share of dumb dumbs, bad
politicians, moochers and round-waisted people.
If you are one, I make no apologies.
Read a book, take a class, put down the Ho Hos and run a mile. This country was built on the ability of the
common person to better their situation.
Better yours! America offers opportunity
and assistance in spades. If you fail
in life, that’s on you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VvQ9Zx5Us8c/VG5gIKVdgTI/AAAAAAAABuM/QyCWm7EJWV0/s1600/Washington_Crossing_the_Delaware_by_Emanuel_Leutze%2C_MMA-NYC%2C_1851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VvQ9Zx5Us8c/VG5gIKVdgTI/AAAAAAAABuM/QyCWm7EJWV0/s1600/Washington_Crossing_the_Delaware_by_Emanuel_Leutze%2C_MMA-NYC%2C_1851.jpg" width="320" /></a>Do you think George Washington ran the numbers before he
crossed the Delaware? Did MacArthur weigh the odds before he said “I came through and I shall return”? This country was not built on statistics, but
in spite of them. We’ve been the
underdog and we’ve been the hometown favorite and we have always
prevailed. Not because we checked the
polls, but because we came together and we believed; in God, in family, in freedom,
in a moral code and a way of life that set us apart from the rest of the
world. We are a shinning city on a hill. Let me say unequivocally that I
will never stop believing in these things, never! Because to stop believing is to give in to
the darkness and surrender. And to
surrender is to utterly desecrate the memory of the men and women who have died
to ensure our way of life survives. We
must never let that happen. Yes Virginia,
there is a Santa Claus, and yes, by the way, we are still the greatest country
on earth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i> “It is rather for us, the living, we here be
dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that, from these honored dead
we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last
full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve these dead shall not
have died in vain; that the nation, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that
government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from
the earth.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Abraham Lincoln, November 1863</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aAvzGFJRCWw/VG5fhO9AWEI/AAAAAAAABt8/R17MuxRRZXM/s1600/Abraham-Lincoln-standing-with-General-Abraham-Lincoln-Facts-For-Kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aAvzGFJRCWw/VG5fhO9AWEI/AAAAAAAABt8/R17MuxRRZXM/s1600/Abraham-Lincoln-standing-with-General-Abraham-Lincoln-Facts-For-Kids.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-88116520386352053102014-11-14T10:11:00.000-08:002014-11-14T12:48:26.005-08:00Life is a CrossFit Chipper<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ex8aBesfSGU/VGZEBlbC6_I/AAAAAAAABsE/ZatHQ5EGHO8/s1600/kettlebellconcord.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ex8aBesfSGU/VGZEBlbC6_I/AAAAAAAABsE/ZatHQ5EGHO8/s1600/kettlebellconcord.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>My wife Loreal and I jumped feet first (literally) into CrossFit
back in the spring and have never looked back.
We love it. Like the stereotypical
CrossFit devotees, we've molded our lives around our addiction. We arrange our schedules around workouts, we
strive for a clean Paleo diet, our social media is dominated by CrossFit
related posts and we talk about it at home all the time. It’s not strange for the last thing we say
before “I love you, good night” to be “hey, did they post tomorrow’s WOD yet”?<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we’re CrossFit people, simple as that. I could devote volumes to telling you how
wonderful the culture is. How the people
make the experience and how a community of like-minded people drive each other
to be better versions of ourselves. I
could talk about the physical changes we've seen after a short 6 months and how
we've abandoned counting pounds on the scale for counting the weight we can
lift and the speed of our workouts.
Those are all positive parts of the sport we love. But if I had to boil the
CrossFit experience down to the one element I believe is the most important, it
would be the mental focus and commitment it requires. These workouts are tough. Tough beyond what most people are prepared to
imagine. They strip away all the comforts of our modern
society and pit you against heavy bars of steel and your own body weight. Ten minutes into a twenty minute workout of constant
heavy movement, you’re breathing so hard your lungs burn, your arms and legs
feel like they are made of whipped cream, you’re drenched in sweat and everything
in you is screaming stop. What does it
take to keep going? What internal
fortitude must a person possess to force them to gut out the second half of the
workout, and more importantly, why does it matter? It matters because life is a Chipper.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the uninitiated, the Chipper is a CrossFit workout that
is long and grueling. It typically
consists of a high number of repetitions of a high number of exercises. For example, it might include 50 reps of 12 different
exercises ranging from push ups and pull ups to jump rope and Olympic lifts. Chippers hurt.
Chippers can be demoralizing if you let them. Chippers drain you of every ounce of energy
you can muster and you’ll finish on fumes, and sometimes tears. Luckily there is a secret to completing a
Chipper… Are you ready? You do them one exercise at a time, one rep
at a time. That’s it. Like any other enormous problem in life, if
you force your mind to take it in all at once it will overwhelm you. If you spend your time worrying about the
exercise that’s coming up, you may talk yourself out of doing the one you’re on
now. Learning to tough through Chippers
teaches us a lot about who we are and about living life in an unpredictable
world full of big problems.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>Eat the elephant one bite at a time. Big problems are only big if you let them be
big. Chunk them down into pieces you can
manage and tackle them one bite at a time.</li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>Tackle every problem with a positive can do
attitude. If you tell yourself from the
start that you can’t do something, the odds are very good that you’ll be right. Believe in yourself. You’re capable of way more than you know.</li>
<li>It’s normal to want to quit something that is
causing you enormous discomfort. It’s extraordinary
to be able to set your mind to something and complete it despite the pain. You can be normal or extraordinary. You choose, but choose wisely. The decision you make will dictate the
trajectory of your entire life!</li>
</ul>
<br />
And that’s why we’re CrossFit
people. Not just because our ‘Box’,<b><span style="color: blue;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ronin-Fitness/578658782191027">Ronnin Fitness</a></span></b>, is full of great people with great attitudes, and iron sharpens
iron. Not just because a healthy
lifestyle gives us our best chance of living a long active life with our
children. We’re CrossFit people because
the basics of CrossFit are the basics of life.
If you have what it takes to be good at CrossFit, then you have what it
takes to be good at life, and who doesn't want to be good at life?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mx3-Sknh5NU/VGZEuRUw35I/AAAAAAAABsQ/ya9pCzIx_jE/s1600/10665966_779359098787660_3364147517969806461_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mx3-Sknh5NU/VGZEuRUw35I/AAAAAAAABsQ/ya9pCzIx_jE/s1600/10665966_779359098787660_3364147517969806461_n.jpg" height="336" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-25443940843063780752014-11-13T07:09:00.000-08:002014-11-14T05:36:24.783-08:00The Stuff of Life<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1xHTyH7mvY/VGTGHKRbaWI/AAAAAAAABp8/wi_9HJLAJnA/s1600/2014-08-30%2B12.45.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1xHTyH7mvY/VGTGHKRbaWI/AAAAAAAABp8/wi_9HJLAJnA/s320/2014-08-30%2B12.45.24.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Let me start by saying I totally ripped this post off. I didn't write this. It's from an email a friend sent, but it does reflect my core belief in the importance of slowing down and smelling the roses. The truth is I haven't hiked or posted nearly as much as I've wanted to. It's been a busy summer. I discovered Spencer hates hiking in his carrier in the heat, so we didn't get out much in the hot months. I didn't do any of the camping trips I had planned. Our intention was to hike more in the fall and now the fall is slipping away to winter. When I read this email it reminded me of a previous post of mine titled <a href="http://www.kidsandtrails.com/2014/03/finding-beautiful.html">Finding the Beautiful</a> and I felt compelled to share this thought -- Time will fly by you if you let it. Don't let it go by without wringing it for every ounce of beauty and happiness you can, and sharing it with others.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>How much
do we notice as we go through a day? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Lisa Beamer is the wife of Todd Beamer who said 'Let's Roll!' and helped take down the plane
over Pennsylvania that was heading for Washington, DC back on 9/11. On Good Morning America recently she said it's
the little things that she misses most about Todd, such as hearing the garage
door open as he came home, and her children running to meet him. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Lisa
recalled this story:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15pt;">"I
had a very special teacher in high school many years ago whose husband died
suddenly of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of
her insight with a classroom of students. As the late afternoon sunlight came
streaming in through the </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15pt;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DI6-07QO9SI/VGUKMaEE3-I/AAAAAAAABrQ/F8hp7_MnXo4/s1600/classroom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DI6-07QO9SI/VGUKMaEE3-I/AAAAAAAABrQ/F8hp7_MnXo4/s320/classroom.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15pt;">classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she
moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there. With a
gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said, 'Class is over; I
would like to share with all of you, a thought that is unrelated to class, but
which I feel Is very important. Each of us is put here on earth to learn,
share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this
fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Perhaps
this is God's way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single
day. Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, So I would like you all to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15pt;">make
me a promise. From now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find
something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be something you see, it
could be a scent, perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone's
house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in
the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf as it falls
gently to the ground. Please look for these things, and cherish them. For,
although it may sound trite to some, these things are the "stuff" of
life. The little things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often
take for granted.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The class
was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and filed out of the room silently.
That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had
that whole semester. Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and
remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all
of those things that sometimes we all overlook.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15pt;">Take
notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today. Go barefoot. Walk
on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double dip
ice cream cone. For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often
regret, but the things we didn't do.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">If you
like this, please pass it on to a friend. If not, just delete it and go on with
your life! Life is measured many ways. None are as important as the number of moments that leave us in absolute awe of our universe and it's creator. Make a point to seek these moments out.</span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Have a wonderful day!</span></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<br /></div>
GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-30744638692053029792014-03-30T19:20:00.004-07:002014-03-31T05:51:09.398-07:005 Easy Ways to Take Better Outdoor PhotographsBy Mike Layne<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sgQzdVNuUQ4/UzjQwhzveaI/AAAAAAAABjQ/GnhMOqxU2aE/s1600/DSC_0412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sgQzdVNuUQ4/UzjQwhzveaI/AAAAAAAABjQ/GnhMOqxU2aE/s1600/DSC_0412.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
When it come to taking outdoor photos, people tend to fall into two categories. At one end of the spectrum are the amateur hobbyist and professional photographers. They use words like aperture, white balance, ISO, shutter speed and F-Stop. They use tri-pods, wear vests, have large full-frame cameras and they take stunning photographs, causing the rest of us no small amount of photo-envy. On the other end are the rest of us. We typically have a medium to high end point-and-click camera or a low to mid range DSLR (the one you can change lenses on). Because the terminology of photography can be intimidating, some folks shy away from using anything but the 'Automatic Mode' on their cameras. One easy way to upgrade the quality of your outdoor photography, without learning what ISO, F-Stop and Aperture really mean, is to learn, in layman's terms, when to use the other modes built into your camera. Here are five modes and when and how to use them. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--E86KVNGhcs/UzjJO_6ngdI/AAAAAAAABiw/bcWrUaW15xA/s1600/portrait-mode-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--E86KVNGhcs/UzjJO_6ngdI/AAAAAAAABiw/bcWrUaW15xA/s1600/portrait-mode-1.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>Portrait Mode</b> - The key to understanding portrait mode is to think about what is in focus and what is not. When photographing a person your photo will be more dramatic if the person is in focus and the background is slightly out of focus. This naturally draws your eyes to the subject of the photograph and eliminates distractions in the photo by keeping the background out of focus. Note that this works best if you have one subject. For a group of people, be careful the range of focus does not put some of the people in the photo out of focus. If in doubt, take a few photos in portrait and a few in auto mode. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ICFQ21S5mBo/UzjJO_I2hlI/AAAAAAAABiU/6BHW0FVJCVw/s1600/macro-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ICFQ21S5mBo/UzjJO_I2hlI/AAAAAAAABiU/6BHW0FVJCVw/s1600/macro-1.jpg" /></a><b>Macro Mode </b>- This is excellent for taking photos very close up. As you might have guessed from the icon, flowers are a good example of this. Where portrait mode narrows your range of focus slightly, making your background go out of focus, macro mode narrows the range of focus even smaller, so much so that you need to be careful what is in and out of focus or it can produce unwanted results. You can also play around with this mode for taking close-in shots of peoples faces. Playing with what is in and out of focus in your photos is an easy way to create photos that stand out from the everyday snap shots produced by automatic mode.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TsrTAif7Kog/UzjJO2G0lbI/AAAAAAAABik/mZ2Kvc505mg/s1600/landscape-icon-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TsrTAif7Kog/UzjJO2G0lbI/AAAAAAAABik/mZ2Kvc505mg/s1600/landscape-icon-1.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>Landscape Mode </b>- Where both portrait and macro mode seek to narrow your range of focus, landscape mode does the opposite. When you are photographing a landscape you typically want as much of the photo to be in focus as possible. You'll hear this referred to by photographers as depth-of-field. The larger the depth of field, the more of your photograph will be in focus.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_fGqkWOU5-8/UzjJPk4czxI/AAAAAAAABis/6oIxKJSKFEg/s1600/sports-icon-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_fGqkWOU5-8/UzjJPk4czxI/AAAAAAAABis/6oIxKJSKFEg/s1600/sports-icon-1.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>Sports Mode </b>- While portrait, macro and landscape mode are primarily concerned with what is in and out of focus, sports mode is concerned with stopping action. It does this by speeding up the shutter speed of your camera. The faster your shutter opens and closes, the better it can capture and stop motion with out blur.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t8TW2HNEz8Y/UzjIfhLbWAI/AAAAAAAABiM/7cNoF6gM03U/s1600/night-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t8TW2HNEz8Y/UzjIfhLbWAI/AAAAAAAABiM/7cNoF6gM03U/s1600/night-1.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>Night Mode</b> - Sports mode speeds up the shutter speed to stop motion. Night mode is not concerned with stopping motion, it's concerned with letting in enough light to produce good photographs in the dark. This is one of my personal favorites and the only mode I use a tri-pod for. If you understand that a fast shutter speed stops motion, you'll understand that a slow shutter speed is very susceptible to any kind of motion, which will show up as a blur in the photo. If you are using night mode, either use a tri-pod or rest your camera and body against something solid to prevent as much motion as possible. The photo below was taken with a point and click Nikon off the rail of a cruise ship in harbor at St. Thomas. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQ1MotqchA8/UzjOPBdcN1I/AAAAAAAABi8/eMMLz71k9vU/s1600/DSC_0380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQ1MotqchA8/UzjOPBdcN1I/AAAAAAAABi8/eMMLz71k9vU/s1600/DSC_0380.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Have any photography tips you'd like to share, or questions you'd like to ask? If so, tell us in the comments below. We'd love to hear from you.<br />
<br />
<br />GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-24804080600411698582014-03-29T12:42:00.002-07:002014-03-30T11:56:42.718-07:00Finding the Beautiful<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JiVwdN4nXJo/UzcWVCsif6I/AAAAAAAABfY/3q-PxqMLJBs/s1600/14+-+7" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JiVwdN4nXJo/UzcWVCsif6I/AAAAAAAABfY/3q-PxqMLJBs/s1600/14+-+7" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main Street, Clarksburg, WV</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By Mike Layne<br />
<br />
In a photography class in college, and in books I've read since, the idea of looking for beauty in the mundane has always struck me. To look at an ordinary every-day landscape and turn one unique angle into a stunning photograph is an ability I admire. I'm no photographer myself. I take well meaning snapshots and occasionally stumble across one that captures the scene the way I intended. What strikes me as magic about great photography is that everyone looks at the same scenes, but a photographer sees something the rest of us don't. Photographers see the beautiful in the midst of the ordinary. What a great euphemism for life. What if we all looked at life the way a photographer looks at landscapes? Because the beautiful is there if we look for it, in landscapes and in people. We can choose to see the bad, the mundane, the ordinary. Or, we can look past all that the way a photographer does and choose to find the beautiful.<br />
<br />
I was thinking along these lines this morning as Spencer and I set out on a hike through Clarksburg and up Lowndes Hill to the Civil War trenches. I run this route sometimes in the evenings. It's a moderate 3 mile round trip with around 350 feet in elevation gain. The views of the city of Clarksburg are decent from the top, but compared to a stunning waterfall or a massive rock formation, it is a little on the mundane side. Rain was in the forecast for the afternoon so a State Park trip was out. With only about an hour to spare before the weather changed, we needed something close and a three mile round trip <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tl6WzYdBzRg/UzcWVIGJIcI/AAAAAAAABgM/znskMo6j8nE/s1600/14+-+3" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tl6WzYdBzRg/UzcWVIGJIcI/AAAAAAAABgM/znskMo6j8nE/s1600/14+-+3" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rays of Sunlight</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
from door step to door step is as close as it gets. I was a little worried how Spencer would do in the child carrier on a more urban hike. I normally try to set him down every 20-30 minutes for play time. We'd be on public highway all the way so no place to set down if he got antsy. This turned out to be fine. Today I was again struck by the notion that kids have things to teach us. Spencer didn't see the aging buildings or vacant lots. Nor did he care much about the litter of beer cans and even an old couch at one point. Spencer saw a chance to get outside and explore. He was as happy on my back going down main street as he was in the natural beauty of Coopers Rock State Forest last weekend. We made our way through town and up Lowndes Hill as the sky continued to darken. Beyond the beer cans and the couch, we also saw 8 deer cross the road 50 feet in front of us. This is not an unusual occurrence in West Virginia and I've always suppressed a little amusement when tourist ouuu and awww about deer. But to a two year old child the experience was new and as exciting as if a bengle tiger had crossed in front of us. We made it too the Civil War trenches after 30 minutes of hiking, snapped some shots and turned around. On our way<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nD2aBzlJZDY/UzcWVM9YYpI/AAAAAAAABf4/cpTjlB56o0o/s1600/14+-+11" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nD2aBzlJZDY/UzcWVM9YYpI/AAAAAAAABf4/cpTjlB56o0o/s1600/14+-+11" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleepy Little Boy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
back down, just for a few minutes, the clouds broke and rays of sunlight spread out across the valley below us silhouetting the tree line. I snapped a few quick shots, the clouds closed in again and we continued down the hill.<br />
<br />
A few minutes later Spencer went to sleep. We finished the hike home and, as the rains set in, came inside for some breakfast. As I'm typing now the weather outside is nasty. The wind is blowing rain against the windows, the sky is grey and I hear we can expect this to change to snow in the AM. Sometimes when life makes it easy to see the ugly side of things, we have to remind ourselves to look a little harder. Sometimes it's all in how you frame it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-77570501749297221142014-03-26T19:53:00.002-07:002014-03-27T13:42:27.702-07:00Old Dogs, Children and Trains<div class="MsoNormal">
By Mike Layne</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There comes a point in our lives when, despite our best efforts to ignore the evidence, we're forced to admit that we are in fact getting a little older. A gray hair here, a wrinkle there and before you know it we're saying things like "well, back when I was a kid" and "darn kids these days". When we think about the ways we've changed over the years, it's convenient to say things like 'wisdom comes with age', but in reality what happens is more subtle. We become more aware of the passing of
time, of things lost and lessons learned.
Successes and failures mold us into older wiser versions of the
children we once were, and yet somewhere along the way something important is
lost. Lately I've been thinking about the difference
between things in life that are real and things that are not. That's a lot to tackle in one blog post, I realize, but stay with me. <br />
<br />
In our super-connected world of
information and globalization, it's ironic that our society is in danger of loosing our connection with the things in life that really matter. Every hour of every day we receive a relentless barrage of marketing and political propaganda. So much in fact, that the lines anchoring us to
reality become stretched and frayed. Relevant things are pushed aside to make room for progress, change and the other stories they tell us. Marketers
want us to believe nine out of ten dentists really do prefer the latest tooth
paste. That adding batteries to a regular razor gives
you a closer shave and last summer’s colors are simply not fashionable this year. Politicians want us to believe in phrases
like ‘too big to fail’ and that it takes a 4 trillion dollar budget to keep
America running. The common denominator is this;
none of it is real. Economies are built
on perceptions of value and can
crumble in the time it takes us to eat our breakfast. Marketers will stretch the limits of credulity, enshrining consumerism in the pursuit of profit. And in this sea of fabricated
realities, or if you prefer 'lies', what becomes of the the things that are real? Do we remember what they are, what they look like, the way they make us feel? How will we show them to our children? Here’s what I think.<o:p></o:p><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v8yrNTdNP-U/UzN6psuueHI/AAAAAAAABbE/d8Wjgkb98kk/s1600/sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sunset in St. Thomas" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v8yrNTdNP-U/UzN6psuueHI/AAAAAAAABbE/d8Wjgkb98kk/s1600/sunset.jpg" height="214" title="Sunset in St. Thomas" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset in St. Thomas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Real things are timeless, immeasurable. Their value transcends material worth. They are things we can touch and things we
cannot. They inspire us to dream, to
think, to feel, and if we let them, they impact our lives in profound
and lasting ways we only truly understand as we grow older. A few examples, so we know how to recognize real things when we see them.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The wispy way steam rises off the water at daybreak, with
the earthy scents of moss and pine needles thick in the air. The rush of cool air that sometimes comes just before dawn. Birds in the background mix songs with the
sound of running water and sunlight slides slowly down the trunks of trees. These things are real. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunrise and sunset, an introduction and a farewell,
they’re the bookends that hold the contents of our <o:p></o:p><br />
days. They are a quiet time made for contemplation
and coffee, for romance and reflection. They
smell like tobacco and old leather or candles and home cooked breakfast. They come every day, and
how many times do we really slow down to see them? We should make a point to because they are real.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Campfires are real. The
smell of wood smoke, the flickering flames.
They touch some primitive thing deep inside us that whispers of warmth and
survival, of caves and hearth fires. The
smoke pulls us in and the embers in-trance us in a way nothing else
can.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-747mZEXu4g8/UzOQ792Fp9I/AAAAAAAABbU/0Vi4vKUI0Ic/s1600/tracks+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Railroad tracks at Valley Falls State Park" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-747mZEXu4g8/UzOQ792Fp9I/AAAAAAAABbU/0Vi4vKUI0Ic/s1600/tracks+copy.jpg" height="320" title="Railroad tracks at Valley Falls State Park" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Railroad tracks at Valley Falls State Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Trains are real. As real as cowboys and cattle cars, Colt 45s and Kentucky Bourbon. Has
any other mechanical thing fueled the imagination of so many generations? Trains connected our coasts, built our economy,
enabled our wars and carried our families. Their rails are the backbone our
nation was built on, their whistles cry a song of history and freedom.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Old dogs are real. Growing
up in Pocahontas County, we lived next door to my sister and her family. They had a basset hound named Sam. Sam was, in the truest sense of the phrase, a
‘community dog’. For more than 15 years
Sam walked a daily route through our neighborhood. Everyone
knew him, everyone fed him and everyone loved him. You can still see his paths worn into the
dirt. It’s been close to 15 years now
since Sam left us and to this day people still tell stories about him with a nostalgic
smile. Old dogs hold a wisdom in their eyes far beyond their years and they teach us the value of loyalty. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Children are perhaps the realest of all
things real. Born with no prejudice, no preconceived
notions and only two natural fears, children love unconditionally. They represent us at our very best. If we let them, they’ll teach us to see
through the eyes of children again, to experience the wonders and joys that come so natural to them.<br />
<br />
So pet an old dog
today. Ride a train or watch the sun as
it sets behind the hills. Teach your children and let them
teach you and together we'll all move a little closer to the things in life that
are real.<o:p></o:p></div>
GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-10548304779451682592014-03-22T19:03:00.000-07:002014-03-24T06:34:16.622-07:00Hiking Coopers Rock State Forest<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>By Mike Layne</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Introduction</span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HftByTp4tXc/Uyxnx6Uav_I/AAAAAAAABVo/-pOcExyMLL8/s1600/activities-coopers-rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The view of Coopers Rock State Forest Overlook" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HftByTp4tXc/Uyxnx6Uav_I/AAAAAAAABVo/-pOcExyMLL8/s1600/activities-coopers-rock.jpg" height="212" title="Hiking the trails of Coopers Rock State Forest " width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Overlook</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coopers Rock is a 12,747 acre state forest in Monongalia and
Preston counties of West Virginia. It’s
southern edge boarders against Cheat Lake and the canyon section of Cheat River,
which is popular as an Eastern US destination for white water rafting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">History</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to legend, a fugitive from the law, a cooper by trade, hid
out from authorities near what is now the overlook. The legend says he lived and worked here for
many years, continuing to build barrels in his mountain hideout. In the thirties and forties (1936-1942)
Coopers Rock was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Many of their structures, including rustic
picnic shelters made of American chestnut, are still standing today and are
registered on the National Register of Historic Places.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Planning</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CES4rkpcUKI/Uy-RgxwWG_I/AAAAAAAABZY/GUGUAkASpZE/s1600/spencer+color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Spencer Layne Hiking at Coopers Rock State Forest in West Virginia" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CES4rkpcUKI/Uy-RgxwWG_I/AAAAAAAABZY/GUGUAkASpZE/s1600/spencer+color.jpg" height="214" title="Spencer Layne Hiking at Coopers Rock State Forest in West Virginia" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spencer Layne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A simple Google search for Coopers Rock Hiking produces pretty good
results. As with all state parks and
forests in West Virginia, they have a basic <a href="http://www.coopersrockstateforest.com/CRSF_Map.pdf" target="_blank">Trail Map .pdf file</a> you can view online
or download and print. The state page also has a short
piece labeled 'Things to Do' that covers the basics. Hiking/biking, climbing, picnicking, trading
post, and, of particular interest to me, playgrounds in the campsites and at
various picnic areas. On the state site, the page I found the most useful is '<a href="http://www.coopersrockstateforest.com/trails.html" target="_blank">Hiking/Biking Trails page</a>'. Each trail on the map is listed </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">along with trail length,
walking time, blaze, difficulty and a short description. They could improve this page by making an
easily printable version, or by adding it as a second page to the trail map pdf, but it’s fairly easy to print the whole thing and
take it as a companion to the map. You can see a <a href="http://www.wvstateparks.com/Brochures/CoopersRockStateForestBrochure.pdf" target="_blank">brochure pdf</a> online as well, but its basically the same information on the website. Something I’m having a hard time finding on
state websites, it’s especially noticeable because we are planning an early
spring trip here, is a good list of what is available during the off season. Having never been here before, it
would be great to know ahead of time if there is a gate, if it is unlocked in
the winter and early fall and what time it
is locked at night, if at all. Anything
that would make it easier to plan a trip outside of the standard summer season
would be helpful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We left the house Saturday around 11 a.m. This was a strategic decision, not a slow start. We planned to drop Braxton (our 3 month old) of with his Grandma around 11:30 and drive the hour up I-79 to arrive around 12:30. The reason; this is prime nap time!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #e69138;"><b>Parent Tip:</b></span> <i>For day hikes, try to plan drive time around nap time. The last thing you want to do is take a cranky toddler out of a confined car seat and try to put him into a child carrier. If they can get their regular nap in on the way, they are more likely to enjoy the carrier ride and hike. </i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Impressions</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cDy-6TUn1sE/Uy4OXW3t82I/AAAAAAAABW0/ebJNJqn0Rr8/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Day Parking Lot at Coopers Rock State Forest" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cDy-6TUn1sE/Uy4OXW3t82I/AAAAAAAABW0/ebJNJqn0Rr8/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" height="214" title="Parking lot at Coopers Rock State Forest" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day Parking Lot </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We exited the interstate and the first impression I got was that the road is nice new pavement with crisp painted lines. This may seem like a silly first impression, but with 90% of WV roads in shambles following a horrible winter, it's refreshing to see new pavement. The Day Use parking lot is less than 1/2 mile from the interstate. It has restroom facilities and, according to the sign, it's open 8 a.m. to dark. You can see the parking lot was less than half full when we </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">arrived. By the time we left there were cars covering every inch of parkable real estate, lining the road all the way our toward the interstate. So impression two was, if you are in search of solitude, at least on the first real day of spring, this is not your ideal day trip. But to stay on the positive side, the area is very well kept up. The trail heads are well marked and later in </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R1PQW0AGmCA/Uy4OjYgV4QI/AAAAAAAABW8/kADU5Ix8rOY/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Day Parking Lot at Coopers Rock State Forest" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R1PQW0AGmCA/Uy4OjYgV4QI/AAAAAAAABW8/kADU5Ix8rOY/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG" height="214" title="The day parking lot at Coppers Rock State Forest closes at sunset" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day Parking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
our day we discovered large maps posted at a kiosk between day parking and the overlook. I should say upfront that we never made it to the overlook. Our main objective on this trip was to see as much of the trail system as possible and taking the time to hike to the overlook, since you cannot drive past the gate at day parking, would have used up too much trail time. My recurring pet peeve with state parks and forests during the off season is that it is very hard to find out what is and isn't open in terms of gates and main areas. I assumed you would be able to drive all the way to the lookout area, but that is not the case. It would have been roughly a three mile hike taking the Road Side Trail. That confusion aside, the park is clean and well kept. We only encountered two places on the trails we hiked where there was an obstruction that needed to be circumvented. That's not such a big deal when you're hiking solo or with grown ups, but with a toddler on your back, you're much more aware of hazards off trails. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: #e69138;">Parent Tip:</span></b> <i>If you don't normally hike with a walking stick or trekking poles and you plan to carry a toddler on in a child carrier, consider trekking poles. I'm not currently using them, but I found myself wishing a few times that I was. </i> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Trails</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8YoxEvXvbLo/Uy4OXAUbljI/AAAAAAAABWw/ulZMEzOQpnk/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The trail head of Scotts Run Trail at Coopers Rock State Forest" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8YoxEvXvbLo/Uy4OXAUbljI/AAAAAAAABWw/ulZMEzOQpnk/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" height="214" title="Scotts Run Trail Head at Coopers Rock State Forest" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scotts Run Trail Head</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Having said what I've already said about the large crowd, we took the Scott's Run Trail on the north side of the road and found solitude. We picked this trail because it appears to take you the furthest from the main park proper. This assumption turned out to be correct. We only saw one other person while on this trail. The trail itself runs more or less down hill for the first mile, following its namesake Scott's Run as the stream increases in size with the addition of small tributaries. The creek isn't much to look at when you first see it, but it beauty factor increases exponentially as it increases in size. For the first mile or so, the surrounding forest scenery is just so-so as well. Don't misunderstand, it's still 20 times better than walking on pavement, just not a stunning view. Be prepared for regular good ole' forest scenes with some low growing briers and scrubby brush. At roughly a mile in, the path turns away from Scott's Run and into a </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-16q5pJpG4pA/Uy4OxR6s-7I/AAAAAAAABXM/b5fmuM54pXI/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-16q5pJpG4pA/Uy4OxR6s-7I/AAAAAAAABXM/b5fmuM54pXI/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scotts Run Trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
quarter-mile or so of steady uphill climbing. Very gradual, but it certainly reminds you that Junior is on your back. At the end of the climbing you come back out on the main road through the park. If you don't have a map this can look a little confusing because you can take the road three different directions. Luckily this is where the kiosk with the large map is located. And right next to the road is the Road Side Trail. We took this to our right headed back toward the parking lot. A few hundred yards past the large green water tower, we'd been on the Road Side Trail for less than a 1/4 mile and passed no less than 30 people headed toward the overlook, we took a left on what looked more like a gravel road than a trail. This took us past the power lines and down to the Reservoir Ski Trail. We took this all the way to the </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1KbAR0Ocb2I/Uy4P6zlZJUI/AAAAAAAABYE/o3bnhcs699k/s1600/DSC_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Toddler picking up rocks while hiking at Coopers Rock State Forest" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1KbAR0Ocb2I/Uy4P6zlZJUI/AAAAAAAABYE/o3bnhcs699k/s1600/DSC_0087.JPG" height="214" title="Hiking with my toddler at Coopers Rock State Park" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spencer discovers rocks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Advanced Ski Trail, took a right and came back out at the parking lot. I will say that this side of the trail system was much prettier than the other side. The undergrowth was much thinner, giving way to tall straight hardwood trees, moss covered rocks and ferns. The lack of undergrowth opens the forest up and gives a more spacious feel to the surrounding woods. It was long about this time that Spencer discovered the joys associated with picking up and throwing rocks. We set down in a wide spot for Cheezets and a diaper change, meet a family with three large friendly dogs, at whom Spencer grinned and growled several times. In the next 30 minutes we advanced roughly 100 yards of trail, as picking up every rock under 20lbs does tend to slow progress. But Spencer had an absolute ball and this was one of my favorite parts of the hike.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QkOBx7PCOVo/Uy4PUySZr-I/AAAAAAAABXc/eGyR0Lb8RM0/s1600/DSC_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ready to hike at Coopers Rock State Forest" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QkOBx7PCOVo/Uy4PUySZr-I/AAAAAAAABXc/eGyR0Lb8RM0/s1600/DSC_0023.JPG" height="214" style="cursor: move;" title="Ready to Hike at Coopers Rock State Forest" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spencer having fun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #e69138;">Parent Tip</b>: <i>Hiking with</i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> toddlers is not like hiking solo or with 'big' people. If you are going to keep them interested you have to keep them engaged. Stop every 20-30 minutes for snacks and play time. When they want to throw rocks, let them until their heart's content. I make it a point to show Spencer the different tree bark and move him close enough so he can touch it. He likes this and will ask for it from time to time. Anything to keep them engaged, learning and having fun.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After rock play time, the rest of the hike was uneventful. We made it back to the parking lot roughly 2.5 hours after leaving.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Closing thoughts</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will definitely be back during 'open season' to see the overlook. We may come back and </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hike out and back, but the road side trail is exactly what is says it is, 'roadside' and very crowded. Not really what I'm looking for in a hike. Other than that, I really liked our visit to Coopers Rock. There are a number of trails on the north side of the in interstate that are part of the state forest system. These look like they may be more remote than the south side, which appeals to me, so we may try this side next time out. Let us know your impressions of the trails. What did you like and dislike? Which trails should we try next. Until next time, happy trails. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0Coopers Rock State Forest, 61 County Line Drive, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525, USA39.6555556 -79.78777780000001539.5577686 -79.949139300000013 39.753342599999996 -79.626416300000017tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-11983075711331674222014-03-21T19:28:00.004-07:002014-03-29T18:25:43.661-07:00Watters Smith Memorial State Park<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cct_AZQSE1U/UyzzmKdtJZI/AAAAAAAABWY/sxro4CMnHoc/s1600/SmithCabin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="An old homestead in Watters Smith State Park in Harrison County West Virginia" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cct_AZQSE1U/UyzzmKdtJZI/AAAAAAAABWY/sxro4CMnHoc/s1600/SmithCabin2.jpg" height="236" title="Old structure at Watters Smith Memorial State Park in West Virginia" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Mike Layne</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hidden along a small stream named Duck Creek, on a road of
the same name, Watters Smith is 7 miles off of Interstate 79 in Harrison County. Until spring 2014 I wasn’t even aware this
park was here. We have visited Watters
Smith twice now, both times in the off season, so we haven’t had a chance to
experience the park while it’s open. I
can tell you that, for what I was looking for, solitude, Watters Smith in the off
season was perfect. A 532 acre
historical park and national historic district, Watters features a pioneer
homestead, museum, horseback riding, guided tours and swimming pool in the
summer months. In the off season the park can still be
accessed for hiking and biking. We
visited first on <a href="http://www.kidsandtrails.com/2014/03/first-hike-of-summer-watters-smith.html">March 8<sup>th</sup>, 2014.</a> The following week we returned to hike the
<a href="http://www.kidsandtrails.com/2014/03/back-to-watters-smith-saturday-hike.html">north portion of the park.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Location<br />
Watters Smith Memorial State Park may be reached by taking Exit 110 off I-79 (Lost Creek exit) and following the directional signs to West Milford, left on Duck Creek Road to Watters Smith State Park (approximately 7 miles). Visitors traveling US 19 should turn off at West Milford and follow signs three miles to the park. <br />
<b>TRAVEL NOTE</b>: Duck Creek road turns left just before you cross a bridge going into West Milford. Coming from the interstate, there is no sign pointing you toward the Watters Smith State Park like you would expect. If you go into West Milford (like we did) you’ll see the sign on your way back toward the interstate. <br />
<b>TRAVEL NOTE</b>: Google directions will tell you to get off exit 105, take US19 for 5.3 miles and follow Hackers Creek Road to the park. I don’t know if road signs have been stolen, but there is no sign for a Hackers Creek road on this stretch of 19. There is a Hidden Valley Road and I believe this is what they are pointing you to, but there are not signs on this road that let you know you are headed for the park<br />
<br />
<div>
History<br />
This is pulled from the State Park website. It’s a pretty comprehensive short history, so I didn't feel the need to re-write it. Watters Smith, the son of Thomas Smith of England, was himself born in Trenton, New Jersey, on July 15, 1767. In 1793 he married Elizabeth Davisson, a first cousin and neighbor of his father. His father owned a 1,000-acre tract of land in Harrison County, then in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Smith purchased 112 acres adjoining his father's for the sum of $266 in 1792, but the lingering threat of Indians prevented him from moving to the area immediately with his new bride.<br />
In 1796, he and his wife moved to their future farm on Duck Creek and began clearing the land, planting crops and building a cabin. His tools were made by hand and necessitated the construction of a blacksmith and a carpenter shop. The goods that could not be grown or handmade were obtained from distant urban areas over "roads" that were mere wide, hazardous trails cut through the wilderness. Watters and Elizabeth Smith had eight children, and Charles, their second, was the first white child born on Duck Creek. The youngest child, Watters Smith, Jr., eventually inherited the property. He, in turn, gave it to his son John, who passed it on to his son Alexander, who was born in 1847. In 1876, Alexander, better known as "Uncle Doc", had a home constructed to replace the original hand-hewn log Smith cabin. Today, this home is used as one of two museums on the park and is open to the public.<br />
<br /> The farm was operated as a business for four generations, and the implements seen in the museums and in the barns and sheds were used to keep it running. Thanks to the foresight and generosity of Burr Smith, the farm now stands as a lasting tribute to a family who carved a life out of the wilderness and preserves for us a view of frontier life from 1796 to the early 1900s.<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Planning<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We mostly used the state park website to plan our visit. We made the mistake of using Google directions to plan our approach and ended up doing a little unnecessary back road touring off of exit 105. This is probably a fine way into the park, it just lacks usable signage. My experience with state parks thus far has been that they do not do a good job of telling you what is available during the off season. My wife and I are off season kind of folks. We're not crazy about big crowds, long lines or paying full price for anything. Here is what I found to be available off season:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Duck Creek road runs through the middle of the park and is fully accessible and a public road. (no gates on this road)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are gates leading into the park at a few points that were closed and locked.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was one gate leading into the park that was open, but no sign to let you know when it closed, so we were afraid to park inside for fear of being shut in if we were late getting out. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We parked on the side of Duck Creek road in a wide spot and had no problems accessing all the hiking/biking trails from there.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because hiking is what we are primarily interested in this time of year, we were not disappointed, but no other facilities appeared to be open.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.rockiesfamilyadventures.com/2014/03/playing-tourist-in-banff-without-crowds.html" target="_blank">Click Here</a> for a good Canadian blog that addresses the joys of off-season trips</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Impressions<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the drive into Watters Smith, it was hard at first to get
the impression you were headed for a little secluded spot of wilderness. Back roads in West Virginia look remarkably
alike and the lack of signage coming from the interstate makes the problem
worse. However, once you pass the sign
that announces the park, the impression changes quickly. The fields are well kept, the homestead
buildings are visible from the road and signage on the park is good. Duck Creek is also visible from the road and
is a very nice little stream. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trails<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trails are all well marked with blazes of identifying
colors. They correspond to the online<a href="http://www.watterssmithstatepark.com/Watters_Smith_Map.pdf" target="_blank"> PDF Trail Map</a>. They are all well
maintained. Even in the off season there
was evidence of recent clearing of fallen trees. Click below to read more about each of two
visits so far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kidsandtrails.com/2014/03/first-hike-of-summer-watters-smith.html">Visit One - March 8, 2014</a><br /><a href="http://www.kidsandtrails.com/2014/03/back-to-watters-smith-saturday-hike.html">Visit Two – March 14, 2014</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Closing thoughts<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watters Smith is close to my home in Clarksburg, WV. A short 20 minute drive, so we will be making
many return trips. I’m anxious to see
the goings on at the park in the summer.
They advertise night hikes and programs that sound fun and I’m sure the
pool is a hit in the summer months. All
in all, this is a splendid example of the kind of place a family can easily
take advantage of to get the kids outdoors.
Mountain Biking seems to be the thing here, with tire tracks on every
trail we hiked. We saw a few bikers at
the wash racks near a small playground.
We’ll keep you posted on our return trips. Do you have any experience with Watters
Smith? Share your stories with us, or
submit a guest blog for consideration.
Thanks for reading and happy trails.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<script>
(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
})(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');
ga('create', 'UA-49238742-1', 'kidsandtrails.com');
ga('send', 'pageview');
</script></div>
GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0Watters Smith Memorial State Park, Lost Creek, WV, USA39.1616068 -80.41874250000000839.136983300000004 -80.459083 39.1862303 -80.378402000000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-34399920482410374032014-03-21T17:31:00.000-07:002014-03-23T14:30:37.423-07:00Deuter Kid Comfort II Review<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L4QM_gFIY2w/UyzVPJHlIkI/AAAAAAAABWI/gBcK7DxA334/s1600/71lY4ovT4dL._SX425_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L4QM_gFIY2w/UyzVPJHlIkI/AAAAAAAABWI/gBcK7DxA334/s1600/71lY4ovT4dL._SX425_.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><br />
<i>By Mike Layne</i><br />
<br />
Before purchasing our Deuter, we borrowed a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005XIR84A/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005XIR84A&linkCode=as2&tag=kidandtrawesv-20">Kelty Journey 2.0 Child Frame Carrier</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=kidandtrawesv-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B005XIR84A" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> from friends This is a great option for a child carrier and we may review it at some point. It's well worth looking into if you're already a Kelty fan. We made our decision to go with the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004I655DE/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004I655DE&linkCode=as2&tag=kidandtrawesv-20">Deuter Kid Comfort II Backpack/ Child Carrier</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=kidandtrawesv-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004I655DE" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> for two reasons.<br />
<br />
1. Tons of great online reviews. So many in fact, that I'm not going to make this review longer than it needs to be. My real goal is to let you know that we use it, we love it and we highly recommend it. I'll provide some links to other great reviews at the end.<br />
2. We have an absolutely love the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006TO5UU6/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B006TO5UU6&linkCode=as2&tag=kidandtrawesv-20">Deuter Aircontact 75+10 Backpacking Pack</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=kidandtrawesv-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B006TO5UU6" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. The Aircontact support system, shared by the Kid Comfort II, is by far one of the best we've used. Fully adjustable to fit a wide range of torso sizes, it is built with heavy loads and long hauls in mind. My only note of caution here is that this is not for light weight back packing. Coming in at 7lbs, this is one of the heavier options out there. We will be reviewing the pack in full soon.<br />
The choice to go with the Kid Comfort II from Deuter has proved, for us at least, to be a great purchase. You can get carriers for less, but the comfort and design Deuter puts into their products is worth the extra money for us. Features we like include:<br />
<ul>
<li>Very easy to get your child in and out of this pack. Compared to the Kelty we tried, the Deuter is much easier. The side straps on the left side of the pack release and the pack pivots apart to allow side entry. For smaller children this may not be a big deal, but for our nearly 2 year old son it is much easier to load him from the side than from the top.</li>
<li>Lots of storage space. In fairness to Kelty, the Journey 2.0 had plenty of space as well. Both packs provide multiple zippered storage spaces. The Deuter also provides mesh pouches on both sides and a zippered pocket on the waist belt. (this comes in handy for storing snacks to pass back to your child in case of a hunger emergency)</li>
<li>The hip belt and pads distribute weight very well and the shoulder straps are fully adjustable to fit a wide range of torso sizes. </li>
</ul>
<div>
It's easy to see why so many people give this child carrier such great reviews. Deuter has great craftmanship and attention to detail. Their gear does what they say it does. It's rugged, durable, comfortable and fun to use. </div>
<div>
Other Great reviews and videos</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.deuter.com/US/us/kid-carrier/kid-comfort-2-46514-125.html" target="_blank">Technical Specs from Deuter</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.familywilds.com/blog/2011/08/all-about-deuter-kid-comfort-ii-and-iii-part-1-choosing.html" target="_blank">Family Wilds</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mylifeoutdoors.com/2010/05/deuter-kid-comfort-ii-review.html" target="_blank">My Life Outdoors</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Packs/Infant%20and%20Child%20Carriers/Deuter%20Kid%20Comfort%20II%20Child%20Carrier/Owner%20Review%20by%20Suzi%20Gibson/" target="_blank">Backpack Gear Test</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPYUMjuHa6k" target="_blank">The Deuter 2 Baby Carrier (video)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyMxNUS8h98" target="_blank">Deuter II Kid Comfort Review and Features</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Please feel free to contact us with your questions. Just post a comment below and we'll respond to it, or email us if you prefer at <a href="mailto:kidsandtrails@gmail.com">kidsandtrails@gmail.com</a><br />
<br />
<script>
(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
})(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');
ga('create', 'UA-49238742-1', 'kidsandtrails.com');
ga('send', 'pageview');
</script>GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-57937087163026707152014-03-20T07:23:00.000-07:002014-03-23T14:31:30.445-07:0040 Years Outdoors - Lessons I've Learned<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5A5mHp-3SPM/Uyr3-MhoMnI/AAAAAAAABUI/5D_aABZGGTo/s1600/1902903_10152298580219124_1171671847_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5A5mHp-3SPM/Uyr3-MhoMnI/AAAAAAAABUI/5D_aABZGGTo/s1600/1902903_10152298580219124_1171671847_n.jpg" height="146" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Mike Layne</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night I was sitting in my son’s room watching him flip
and flop, pulling and tugging blankets as he wound down for sleep. Spencer is 22 months old. He recently transitioned to the ‘big boy’
toddler bed about the same time he discovered the magic of turning door
handles, so he requires a little ‘watching’ as he goes to sleep, just to make
sure he stays in his bed. Maybe that’s
just me trying to preserve that golden piece of time when he needed me to rock
him to sleep every night. Even writing
about it now, it stuns and saddens me how quickly these precious phases of life
pass by us. Like mile markers on the
interstate, take your eye off them for a minutes and you've missed a few before
you know it. I was thinking of this as I watched him wind down. At the same time I thought about all the
adventures we have in front of us, on trails, around camp fires, wadding through
cold mountain streams. This made me
think of all the times I've spent outdoors with my dad and of all
the lessons I've learned.
Here are a few lessons that have made me smile more than once over the
years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sandstone rocks explode in the
fire - For an 11 year old kid in Boy Scout camp this is a discovery on par with
nuclear fusion. 28 years later, from a
parent’s perspective, I see now what all the fuss was about. I plan to make up a huge scary lie about a
kid who lost one eye and most of one of his ears pulling a similar stunt.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xAtaJ1eKvTQ/Uyr1f5e1HAI/AAAAAAAABTo/2EuZIeiXlTs/s1600/1922466_10152305151059124_1704626292_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xAtaJ1eKvTQ/Uyr1f5e1HAI/AAAAAAAABTo/2EuZIeiXlTs/s1600/1922466_10152305151059124_1704626292_n.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></span></a>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t use bug spray to paint your
name on the ceiling of a canvas tent – while it is indeed neat to see the
sunlight come through your name during the day, it’s worth noting that at night
the rain also comes through. If you happen
to have painted directly over your head you’re in for a treat. (another 11 year
old stunt)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Parents, play the game ‘freeze’
with your kids – after many false alarms also referred to as ‘practice’, one
day “freeze” really did mean there was a large black rattlesnake laying
directly in my path. Talk about a little
boy grateful for all the ‘practice’.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t try to pour water out of a
rubber boot while you’re wearing it - One day, 3 miles down a trail in the
pouring rain, a little boy had water in his gum boots (don’t ask me why I was
hiking in gum boots) after stepping where he was told not to step. To save time the boot was turned upside down
with the foot still in it. You can
imagine where the water went. I think it
may have been a lesson in following directions.
The best lessons are the ones that stick with us.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G9BnSA3_0vw/Uyr1fy6kArI/AAAAAAAABT4/dIip-ZerkOk/s1600/27860_396147704123_7202136_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G9BnSA3_0vw/Uyr1fy6kArI/AAAAAAAABT4/dIip-ZerkOk/s1600/27860_396147704123_7202136_n.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></span></a>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you take your dog backpacking
and leave camp to go fishing without him, don’t tie him off to anything
connected to your tent. If you choose to
ignore this lesson, pack duct tape!</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t pack a container of fishing
worms in your bag and forget about them… enough said!</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Parents, if you plan to clean fish
and slice apples on the same day, consider carrying two pocket knives. There is a real possibility that doing both
with the same knife will gross your kids out.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dad says: “stop pulling the line,
I’m trying to detangle it”. Son says:” I’m
not pulling the line”. Dad says: “I can’t
detangle this while you’re pulling on it”.
Son says: “I’m not pulling on it”.
Repeat, repeat, repeat… The lesson – consider the possibly that a fish
might be pulling on the line. (because it was)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bnh13iNeUV8/Uyr11gBykxI/AAAAAAAABT8/3W3r4VUappA/s1600/27860_396147489123_7545599_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bnh13iNeUV8/Uyr11gBykxI/AAAAAAAABT8/3W3r4VUappA/s1600/27860_396147489123_7545599_n.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></span></a>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kids, the look on your dads face
will be priceless if, 2 days into a 5 day backpacking trip, he wakes to find you
down to three matches (three empty boxes on the ground) trying to start the
morning fire by yourself. He’ll be proud
of you for trying to help all by yourself and in the end you’ll learn the
valuable lesson of how to start a camp fire with just one match.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Number one lesson learned,
parents, take your kids outside and do something with them every chance you get. You’ll never get these years back and they
will fly by you like mile markers on the highway if you’re not careful. Time goes a little slower outdoors and it
seems to me that lessons learned outdoors just stick better. Mine certainly have</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l5 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l7 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l9 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo9; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<script>
(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
})(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');
ga('create', 'UA-49238742-1', 'kidsandtrails.com');
ga('send', 'pageview');
</script>GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-45409645010573150532014-03-16T15:26:00.001-07:002014-03-21T19:51:40.393-07:00One More Winter Day<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPc9IpLBNuM/UyYkz8mSE6I/AAAAAAAABQY/2suVc5Gyjm4/s1600/IMG_2409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPc9IpLBNuM/UyYkz8mSE6I/AAAAAAAABQY/2suVc5Gyjm4/s1600/IMG_2409.JPG" height="200" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Momma Layne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By Mike Layne<br />
<br />
With the clocks set forward and March half over, everyone is understandably sick of old man winter and I'm no exception. With subzero temperatures, snow storms, road-ice and biting wind, 2013-14 has been the winter that just won't let go. But soon enough we'll all be hot, sticky and muggy-miserable. So when it doesn't seem fair that we're once again watching the beautiful blue skies of Saturday turn to the bleak snow fields of Sunday, I try to remind myself that our unpredictability of seasons is part of the charm that is West Virginia. More than anywhere else I know of, West Virginia is the embodiment of four separate distinct seasons. Icy subzero winters give<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zlc7t5-L60Y/UyYkG5WOupI/AAAAAAAABQI/VC1fGqPLTjQ/s1600/IMG_2410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zlc7t5-L60Y/UyYkG5WOupI/AAAAAAAABQI/VC1fGqPLTjQ/s1600/IMG_2410.JPG" height="200" width="149" /></a>way to the lush green hills of regenerated life and beauty that is springtime in the mountain state. Hot dry summers invite pool parties, barbecues and long days on the lake. And before long we all find ourselves longing for the cool crisp air and patchwork beauty of autumn. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--n2xKXQYNek/UyYkl2ppMzI/AAAAAAAABQQ/cspqDFqkFek/s1600/IMG_2406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--n2xKXQYNek/UyYkl2ppMzI/AAAAAAAABQQ/cspqDFqkFek/s1600/IMG_2406.JPG" height="200" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look what I found Dad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So on days like this, with the mercury falling faster than the snowflakes and our patience with winter wearing thin, it's worth the effort to get off the couch and play in the snow one more time. If you've forgotten how to enjoy the sight of fresh falling snow, take a child outside. They will remind you. After all, God only gives us so many beautiful winter days to enjoy. Best not to take them for granted.
<script>
(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
})(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');
ga('create', 'UA-49238742-1', 'kidsandtrails.com');
ga('send', 'pageview');
</script>GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-50821183861627354252014-03-15T19:49:00.001-07:002014-03-21T19:51:50.151-07:00Back to Watters Smith - A Saturday Hike with Spencer<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c-AX2plAYv0/UyYOBp0hpCI/AAAAAAAABNc/ccOhgMibXP8/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c-AX2plAYv0/UyYOBp0hpCI/AAAAAAAABNc/ccOhgMibXP8/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a>By Mike Layne<br />
<br />
Back to Watters Smith today. The weather was a little cooler this than last week, but still sunny and a great <br />
day for a hike. We tried out the new Deuter Kids Comfort II kid carrier and loved it. Stopped off at a gas station for snacks on the way. We packed Gator-aid, little donuts, water and cheezets. Spencer loves cheezets.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTHKbbv0ZDc/UyYOTt2chbI/AAAAAAAABN8/XkjYyzxi8g0/s1600/IMG_2373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTHKbbv0ZDc/UyYOTt2chbI/AAAAAAAABN8/XkjYyzxi8g0/s1600/IMG_2373.JPG" height="200" width="149" /></a><br />
We made it to the park around 3 pm. This time we started out on the north side of the road, on the Dogwood trail. <a href="http://www.watterssmithstatepark.com/Watters_Smith_Map.pdf" target="_blank">(See trail map)</a> The trail starts with some gentle up hill past old farm equipment rusting near an old barn. About a quarter <br />
of mile up the trail, maybe a little less, the High Wall bypass trail branches off to the right. The hiking gets a little steeper now, but the trail is in great shape. Winding first to the right, then back to the left, across a gully and a small stream and into an open field. We stopped here for a snack. When we started out again we moved to the<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qi0oRTCOQ9A/UyYOdY341GI/AAAAAAAABOY/eGkC4aKMd0g/s1600/IMG_2392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qi0oRTCOQ9A/UyYOdY341GI/AAAAAAAABOY/eGkC4aKMd0g/s1600/IMG_2392.JPG" height="200" width="149" /></a></div>
Trick Track Trek trail, which winds around the base of a some steep cliffs. We ended up on the White Oak trail dropping back down into the historical area of the park and back to the road. For a little more up-hill training we crossed the road and climbed the hill to the cemetery we passed last week on the Burr Smith trail. Only a few dates were visible, the oldest born in 1796, died in 1844. Having spent two hours on the trails we headed back to the car around 5 pm. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hVcdl9Gf5B0/UyYOmtAegRI/AAAAAAAABOw/nsRj0hvy6V8/s1600/IMG_2394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hVcdl9Gf5B0/UyYOmtAegRI/AAAAAAAABOw/nsRj0hvy6V8/s1600/IMG_2394.JPG" height="200" width="149" /></a>Spencer did really well in the kid carrier. I've mentioned before, he's not exactly a sit-still kind of boy, so I was worried he would not like riding in the carrier, but he seems to really like it. We stop every 20 minutes or so, eat some cheezets, run around a little and then load back up. He chatters to me the whole time we are moving. I love that. I only understand a small part of it, but I love that he wants to talk to me while we hike and I try to talk back as intelligently as I can. I have some solo multi-day hikes planned for the summer and I'm finding that I'm probably going to miss having him back there chattering in my ear. He's my little hiking buddy now. He has a new thing where he puts his finger inside my hat band and tries to tip my hat off. He thinks it's the funniest thing ever.<br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HoltNerMe_Y/UyYO_wQWZaI/AAAAAAAABPU/YvcAdsa7244/s1600/IMG_2385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HoltNerMe_Y/UyYO_wQWZaI/AAAAAAAABPU/YvcAdsa7244/s1600/IMG_2385.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up from Trick Track Trek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="text-align: center;">After our hike we met up with Momma and Braxton at grandma and grandpa's house and granny made us all dinner. Everyone is sleeping peacefully now. It's 10:37 and it's time for dad to read a little and get some sleep. Momma works next weekend so I think we are going to plan a little longer hike someplace else, maybe Blackwater Falls.</span>
<script>
(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
})(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');
ga('create', 'UA-49238742-1', 'kidsandtrails.com');
ga('send', 'pageview');
</script>GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0Watters Smith Memorial State Park, Lost Creek, WV, USA39.1616068 -80.41874250000000839.136983300000004 -80.459083 39.1862303 -80.378402000000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-39640907527296557742014-03-14T19:41:00.000-07:002014-03-22T17:33:05.666-07:00First Hike of the Summer - Watters Smith State Park<embed id="mnkeva" style="display: block; height: 0.2px; width: 10px;" type="application/x-firefox-plg"></embed><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qSh-slJbmtg/UyO8_jemhLI/AAAAAAAAAFA/oL7cm3jXGV0/s1600/spencer+backpack2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qSh-slJbmtg/UyO8_jemhLI/AAAAAAAAAFA/oL7cm3jXGV0/s1600/spencer+backpack2.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a><br />
By Mike Layne<br />
<br />
Saturday, 3/8/14, the weather finally broke this weekend. Saturday was
a perfect spring day. No wind, no rain and very few clouds. Spencer
and I ventured out for the first hike of the summer. We borrowed a
kid-carrier from friends Frank and Kaycee and hit the road. Got out of
the house a little after noon with two items on the agenda. 1. get
Spencer a hair cut, and 2. find <a data-mce-href="http://www.watterssmithstatepark.com/" href="http://www.watterssmithstatepark.com/">Watters Smith State Park</a>
and get in the woods. Item one was bust. The Barber shop was packed and
by the time we were done hiking it was closed. Hiking was almost a
bust. If you follow Google directions to the park it will take you to
Exit 105 of I-79, which I learned is a back way in. The roads are not
marked so we spent an hour or so driving around lost. Not that driving
back roads exploring is a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but
Spencer is not what you'd call a car-seat kind of boy. Luckily he went
to sleep while I found the park. The correct directions, the ones on the
website I overlooked, are to get off exit 110 and follow the signs. One
last caveat is that there is no sign pointing toward the park driving
from the interstate to West Milford. You turn left just before you get
to the bridge entering WM. If you go into WM and drive back toward the
interstate you'll see the sign.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QT9L1-gK4VI/UyO8_xAf2kI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/3ZYaUU8RE-k/s1600/Spencer+backpack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QT9L1-gK4VI/UyO8_xAf2kI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/3ZYaUU8RE-k/s1600/Spencer+backpack.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v9Y-1p1JZh0/UyO9AxXp6LI/AAAAAAAAAFc/lHxLLUQf_lM/s1600/spencer+backpack4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v9Y-1p1JZh0/UyO9AxXp6LI/AAAAAAAAAFc/lHxLLUQf_lM/s1600/spencer+backpack4.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a>The park itself was deserted
this early in the year, which was perfect for us. From what I understand
the park has become somewhat of a haven for mountain biking. There was
ample evidence of biking on the trails, which were very well maintained,
but we did not see another living soul while we were out. We drove in
on Duck Creek road, parked on the side of the road and entered the woods
on the south side of the road. We crossed Duck Creek, and took the Burr
Smith loop trail 1.8 miles. Along the way we passed the old Smith
Cemetery. It being our first trip out using a kid-carrier, we did not
stop to read names for fear of not being able to get Spencer to go back
in the carrier, but I would like to look closer at the cemetery the next
trip out. We crossed over Duck Creek several times. It's a beautiful
stream of water. Not sure if the elevation is right, or if there is
enough cover to keep the water the right temperature for brook trout,
but the water size and habitat looked perfect. There is a fair amount of
elevation gain on this trail. It meanders up the hill through a series
of switchback turns and returns to the creek through a stand of old
growth timber. Not sure if it is actually virgin timber, but it is very
old. Some oaks looked to have circumferences that approach 12 feet. At
the bottom of the hill you cross a bridge back into a field. From here
you can see the road you came in on and the old buildings of the park.<br />
<br />
Watters
Smith was a great find. We live 20 minutes away and had no idea it was
there. Several other trails we plan to explore this spring. Spencer had a
blast and did great in the kid carrier. We've since bought a used
Deuter Kid Comfort II off Ebay for a respectable price. Hoping to try it
out this Saturday if the rain holds off.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c0mz35sfkT8/UyO9AJ1Z5GI/AAAAAAAAAFU/DKIKKvhKPlA/s1600/spencer+backpack3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c0mz35sfkT8/UyO9AJ1Z5GI/AAAAAAAAAFU/DKIKKvhKPlA/s1600/spencer+backpack3.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></div>
<script>
(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
})(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');
ga('create', 'UA-49238742-1', 'kidsandtrails.com');
ga('send', 'pageview');
</script>GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-77309533966829556332013-06-05T09:04:00.002-07:002014-03-21T19:52:14.705-07:00From Momma - Florida Trip Spring 2013<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 2 1 2 1 8 4 8 7 8;
mso-font-charset:2;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 0 65536 0 -2147483648 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Spencer,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-66cJz90rhmE/Ua9gsSBbmdI/AAAAAAAAAD4/7Jtprb0d3U8/s1600/DSC00841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-66cJz90rhmE/Ua9gsSBbmdI/AAAAAAAAAD4/7Jtprb0d3U8/s320/DSC00841.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h8bk4UQhu_g/Ua9gUzYMxQI/AAAAAAAAADw/fdJ07Vgl9hY/s1600/DSC00813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h8bk4UQhu_g/Ua9gUzYMxQI/AAAAAAAAADw/fdJ07Vgl9hY/s320/DSC00813.JPG" width="320" /></a>I decided that after months of nursing school that we needed
a trip, so we went to Florida so we could
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style> <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">visit your Aunt Joyce</span>. <style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 2 1 2 1 8 4 8 7 8;
mso-font-charset:2;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 0 65536 0 -2147483648 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
--</style><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This was your first trip on an airplane and you did so good! I was so
proud of you. The first night that we were there you did not want to go to
sleep, there were so many people there to love on you and play with you that
you were just to busy to sleep</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. </span>
You also met your first big dog, her name was Sandy and she had been hurt prior
to our visit, you were so loving with her! The next day that we were there you
went in the swimming pool and you LOVED it. Your cousin Logan had a soft
football in the water that you wanted, you held on to it and would not let go. Once we were out of
the pool you would not let the football go and I noticed that you were trying
to get up without letting go of the Football so I stood you up, and it was that
evening on May 15<sup>th</sup>, 2012 that you took your first steps!! I kept
your football, but sadly it is to big for the
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-una5iYxeVxY/Ua9hNqAEnQI/AAAAAAAAAEA/i8Da1C6IeZI/s1600/DSC00839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-una5iYxeVxY/Ua9hNqAEnQI/AAAAAAAAAEA/i8Da1C6IeZI/s320/DSC00839.JPG" width="320" /></a>memory box, but it will be kept
in a safe place for you! The next day we took you to the Florida Aquarium, you
saw so many things! You were just inches from a South African Penguin that tried
to get your straw you holding! You sat there for the whole presentation of the
penguins and just watched them with such curiousity on your face. You loved the
big turtles that were swimming around as well. You also found NEMO at the
Aquarium. I went to the gift shop and bought you a small turtle (they did not
have penguins) and your Aunt Joyce got you a penny that had Nemo on it and they
are both in your memory box. Son this was just the first of many trips that I
plan to take you on. I love to see things through your eyes as they are filled
with such amazement and wonder and as grown-ups you sometimes forget to see
things that way at times, you my love make me remember how to do that and I
can’t wait to have the memories that we will share throughout your life as we
go and see amazing places and things. I love you from the dirt to the moon to
the farthest planet back down and all the way around again, and that’s A LOT
!----Love-Momma</div>
<br />
Visit us on the web at <a href="http://www.bumbabox.com/">www.bumbabox.com</a>
<script>
(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
})(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');
ga('create', 'UA-49238742-1', 'kidsandtrails.com');
ga('send', 'pageview');
</script>GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-2036438227466369702013-05-10T05:23:00.002-07:002014-03-21T19:52:28.749-07:00How Mom Became a Nurse<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eFnye4uBfPY/UbH_3rSF3dI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/r-XPI1upgvs/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eFnye4uBfPY/UbH_3rSF3dI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/r-XPI1upgvs/s320/DSC_0006.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This sunrise is from our 2012 cruise. Momma was pregnant.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Spencer, <br />
<br />
I’m writing this at 5:30am on a Friday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m at the kitchen table drinking
coffee and eating Greek Yogurt. I’m watching the sun trying to come up. It’s cloudy but not a whisper of wind. The birds are making a ruckus outside
the window. Everyone in the house
is still sleeping. I’ve always
loved the sounds and feel of being up at this time of the morning, when most of
the world around you still sleeps.
There is a small timeless sliver of space just before sunrise that is
neither past nor future, a space that exists without baggage or expectations,
purely present and ephemeral. I
remember once on vacation at the beach, when I’d slept in well past this time,
your uncle Danny said something that has stuck with me over the years. He said “you only get so many sunrises
on this earth. A man ought to get
up and see a few of them.” And so
I pass this advice on to you son.
Get up and watch the sunrise whenever you get the chance. This time was made for drinking coffee
and watching the clouds.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A5Nf6w8ur-I/UYzmlaMOKDI/AAAAAAAAADg/0KD61Uj_7_Q/s1600/DSC00806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A5Nf6w8ur-I/UYzmlaMOKDI/AAAAAAAAADg/0KD61Uj_7_Q/s320/DSC00806.JPG" height="311" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I taught you to stick your tongue out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You had a big day yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not out of the ordinary for you to be awake by 6:00am. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Last night we attended Momma’s Pinning Ceremony at Fairmont State
University where she officially became a Nursing School Graduate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This isn’t her first degree from Fairmont
State, but I wasn’t around for the last one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The nursing school journey began several years before you were born.
Last night was the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice and no small
amount of tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through all the
ups and downs, the stops and starts, your mother has persevered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has put in countless hours of study
time, worked through the exhaustion of pregnancy and made class schedules work
around being a new mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has
accepted failures and setbacks with a stoic dignity that has made her family so
very proud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you are old enough to truly know your mother she will
be a nurse, and it will seem to you that she has always been a nurse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pause then to remember there was a time
when she wasn’t, a time when she could have easily given up and changed
directions, but she did not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I
write to you this Friday morning I’m surrounded by several vases of
flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Orange roses, pink tinted
daisies, purple flowers, yellow flowers, I don’t know all their names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon enough their petals will
wilt and their color will fade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But the pride… the pride never fades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The awesome sense of achievement that comes from struggling
to reach a goal is something nobody can ever take from you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be times in your life when
it seems like the enormity of the task you’ve taken on will overwhelm you and
you will want to quit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>At these times son, pause to remember that your mother was
not always a nurse.<br />
<br />
P.S. Look for your mother's nursing school pin in your collection case </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love - Dad</div>
<script>
(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
})(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');
ga('create', 'UA-49238742-1', 'kidsandtrails.com');
ga('send', 'pageview');
</script>GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-85346398774911850512013-05-05T18:33:00.000-07:002013-05-06T04:05:51.403-07:00Life, Love and an Evening at the Layne House<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style>Dear Spencer, <br />
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bazimfPLB6w/UYcHPSYcbPI/AAAAAAAAADQ/pag_uCoMV0c/s1600/DSC00680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bazimfPLB6w/UYcHPSYcbPI/AAAAAAAAADQ/pag_uCoMV0c/s320/DSC00680.JPG" width="278" /></a> In the evenings we have a pretty good routine working for us
these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After dinner you and I
play. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We juggle
wooden blocks and we’re learning to put shapes in the box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We've worked on this for a few months. Momma was the first to get you to put a shape in the right hole. Your favorite is the blue circle and you
can get it in the hole about half the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also read books, lots of books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your favorite books right now are The
Wiggle Waggle Lion (we always make his ears go wiggle waggle, then touch his
nose before reading the book), Snuggle Puppy and Am I a Cow?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You also love the Mickey Mouse
books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve recognized the Hot
Digity Dog song since you were a few months old and it always makes you smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After play time it’s bath time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Momma has been studying for her nursing
finals so I’ve been doing bath time these past few weeks, though sometimes if
you’re too tired you need momma with us for bath time too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your bath toys are the classic little
yellow rubber ducky, and two Thomas the Train squeeze toys, but you prefer to try
to stand up and get the big people shampoo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After bath time we divide and conquer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dry your hair and put lotion on you
while momma gets a bottle ready and gets you dressed in your PJs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have a favorite green blanket that was homemade by one
of your mom’s friends in nursing school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You let us know when you’re sleepy by pulling the blanket out on the
floor and laying your head down on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then it’s into daddy’s lap, one or two more books and it’s sleepy nite
nite time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rocking you to sleep is the most peaceful and wonderful
times of my day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s then that I
put everything else out of my mind and spend a few minutes thanking God for my
family and all the blessings in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I watch your little eyes grow heavy, then flutter shut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watch your chest rise and fall as
your breath evens out and I know you’re settling into sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ponder the miracle of life and love
and am constantly in awe of the power children have to fill us with joy, fear,
excitement, anxiety and hope all in the same instant, the same little
breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someday son, when you read
this, I want you to remember that every moment, every second, every little
breath in life is a gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be a man
who takes nothing for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be
a man who strives always to see the good in things and in people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be a man who cherishes those who
cherish you and, most of all son, be a man who loves unconditionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give of yourself, ask nothing in return
and you will be rewarded a thousand times over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sleep good son – Daddy.</div>
GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-90483061081811195032013-04-29T18:16:00.002-07:002013-06-07T08:51:46.955-07:00Learned to Throw the Ball<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Spencer,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C0s5yYpx4gY/UbIBQ8t6NII/AAAAAAAAAEc/9TNMoeKKvOg/s1600/IMG_1773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C0s5yYpx4gY/UbIBQ8t6NII/AAAAAAAAAEc/9TNMoeKKvOg/s320/IMG_1773.JPG" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You look a lot like your grandpa David here</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You and I have a game we play on the kitchen floor while
momma cooks dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dinnertime
is your <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">‘getting sleepy’ time and when you get sleepy you want momma and only
momma. </span>To distract you we have a
tennis ball that I throw against the wall by the fridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes the cats get in on the game
and try to get the ball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve
been trying to throw the ball for a while but today is the first time you
managed to make the ball go forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We clapped and cheered and you were so proud you could do it so you kept
doing it…. Until momma tried to leave the room, then you dropped the ball and followed momma :)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking forward to lots
of ball throwing in our future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Love - Dad<br />
<br /></div>
GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-33207297209368151572013-04-29T18:14:00.005-07:002013-05-03T17:27:52.360-07:00Firehouse Subs at the Park<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Saturday, April 27,
2013</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Spencer,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wGpgd8nnWJM/UYRVS2VhDyI/AAAAAAAAAB4/lHExgxrnUq4/s1600/IMG_1814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wGpgd8nnWJM/UYRVS2VhDyI/AAAAAAAAAB4/lHExgxrnUq4/s320/IMG_1814.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Mean Face!! :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Went to the Bridgeport Park today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We bought Firehouse subs and had a picnic lunch in the
grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tried to swing with you but
you were distracted by making sure you could keep momma in sight. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">You’re really into looking at things
that are above your head now, fans, lights and such.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You enjoyed pulling on the pine tree limbs but didn’t like
it when the pine needles poked you in the back of the head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I let you explore on your own and you
found an old soda can and almost got it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mom freaked a little and that was the end of exploring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of fun watching you learn and see
new things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love – Dad</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OWuTCWtWFeE/UYRVL5AT8vI/AAAAAAAAABw/GBZPnHrNFvo/s1600/IMG_1813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OWuTCWtWFeE/UYRVL5AT8vI/AAAAAAAAABw/GBZPnHrNFvo/s320/IMG_1813.JPG" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spencer & Momma</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244477885838177675.post-20170047692626363642013-04-27T15:30:00.001-07:002013-06-07T08:48:49.308-07:00The Circus<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Spencer,<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K8rFERBluUc/UXxejmi8Z8I/AAAAAAAAABc/HokvkWWq8rc/s1600/IMG_1807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K8rFERBluUc/UXxejmi8Z8I/AAAAAAAAABc/HokvkWWq8rc/s320/IMG_1807.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheepy Nite Nite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You went to the circus for the first time on Thursday, the Barnum
& Bailey and Ringling Bros. circus at Charleston, WV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was only your second over-night
stay in a hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We drove down <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grandma Carol and sister
Celeste went with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
beautiful sunny day but a little bit chilly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You wore a little red hoodie, but I forgot to pack myself a sweatshirt
or jacket and was cold in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had great seats right down close to the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You were such a good boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You only fussed a couple of times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You ate cotton candy for the first
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The elephants and the big
cats both caught your attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mom bought you a stuffed elephant when the show was over and when we got
home I think you recognized the elephants in your sound book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You couldn't quite make it through the entire show though. You were asleep during the loudest part and slept till we made it back to the car. Look for your ticket stub in your Bumba
Box Collection Case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom says we’re going back
every year now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Already looking
forward to next year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Love - Dad<br />
<br /></div>
GRAVEL West Virginiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02546705789821746563noreply@blogger.com2