Civil War Hanging Rock

Driving back to Roanoke from visiting George Washington's home on the Chesapeake we stumbled into the battle field of Manassas, picturesque and filled with walks to be explored another time. Similarly taking Cheyenne for an early morning walk I came across another more modest battlefield from the era, hardy noticed but impeccably maintained.

This state is packed with an unfair proportion of historic sites.

On June 21st 1864 a Union column retreating from a defeat at Lynchburg was intercepted on the Great Road to Salem (modern Route 11) in a small defile called Hanging Rock, and the Federals got their asses handed to them on a plate.

Confederate cavalry General Robert Ransom chased the retreating soldiers of Union General David Hunter and caught them here mangling their cannons and baggage train and ambulances such to make life difficult for the Federal Army.

Nowadays at seven am on a weekday the place is serenity itself, the perfect spot to contemplate life with your dog.

There is a quiet stream gurgling alongside the dirt trail...

...and I suppose a particular rock such as this must have given the place it's name.

Cheyenne likes an early morning tipple...

...so she got busy with the fresh cold stream water. I think Virginia is heaven for my dog, with it's luscious grasses good for sleeping on or eating, cool breezes and generally mild temperatures.

I have no idea what animal left a scent on the trail but Cheyenne found it. She isn't used to squirrels and such like so I wonder if she knew what animal had been there.

I think these are honeysuckle but I am going out on a limb as usual when I make firm pronouncements about flora.

Above, the commuters took their several and various great roads to work.

Better that than being ambushed on the trail below I suppose.


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Meadows Of Dan

Heading back to Florida from Roanoke I determined to see the Meadows of Dan, a much admired destination for people taking a day trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The parkway is quite lovely in the Spring, green winding and easy on the eyes.

The parkway rises at Mile Zero in Virginia near the Shenandoah park and they mark the miles with discreet little cement markers.

At first sight the Meadows of Dan don't look like much:

And close up it's not exactly scenic. The name of this little wide spot sounds Biblical but in fact Dan is a river that runs through these meadows. During the Revolutionary war Continental soldiers retreating from the British skipped across the river and made good their escape near here, confirming General Nathaniel Greene's tactical brilliance. I have no doubt the river was named for the fifth son of Jacob founder of the tribe of the same name though I don't actually know that for sure but it seems likely as the Bible is a source for many rural American names.

There is a restaurant and a convenience store packed with stuff and overseen by a cheerful woman who treats y'all like we were family as we stood in line shuffling from foot to foot desperate to pay and get on the road.

Motorcycles rumble through here as the eatery has a reputation but I was just here for a couple of sodas and a tank of gas, a liquid far cheaper than anything I've seen in Florida.

Further along the parkway Cheyenne and I had packed a dinner and we found one of the rare picnic areas on the parkway at this attractively named location, Groundhog Hill:

I missed my Bonneville, though I love my furry traveling companion!

Better than pulling over and going in the bushes. Technically parking on grass is illegal along the parkway but the road is criss-crossed by accessible side streets if you do get taken short far from public restrooms.

The picnic table was isolated away from the road and we had a quiet half hour off the grid.




By the time the sun went down we were southbound on I 77 in the Carolinas.




Leaving behind these green fields...




...and farms and villages.




She settled in for the night...




...and soon the car filled with the rumble of her snores.




Next morning we found salt water.




And we were home and ready for a night at work back in the fabulous Florida Keys.

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Roanoke's Greenways

The city of Roanoke Virginia has established a bunch of walking and cycling trails around and across the city.


They are a way to get out into nature in the middle of the urban sprawl of a city of a hundred thousand, but as I am quite unfamiliar with the geography of Roanoke I can only tell you I walked a couple of them wherever it was they went... The Murray Run started through a patch of wild strawberries.


The trail wandered between a school's sports field and a street of suburban homes.


The dirt and gravel is well graded to make for easy running or cycling, though some runners prefer the athletics field.


I took a seat and watched the action of which there wasn't much.


It was a delightfully peaceful spot on a weekday evening in the middle of the urban hustle.


I found some strange flowers, or whatever they are...


And the trail became wooded like a real forest. A hell of a commute!


Meanwhile, somewhere else in the city I found a similar greenway under the Memorial Street Bridge.


This one was more popular.


Quote a bit more popular yet hardly crowded!


People everywhere.


I paused for pictures while my dog hustled along seeking new smells.


Huckleberry Finn was out learning to kill fish on the Roanoke River.


Quite the spot.


Deep green grass to refresh a hot Labrador.


I don't think Cheyenne was missing mangroves and mugginess and limestone...



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Roanoke Mountain

There's a turn off the Blue Ridge Parkway that leads to the highest spot overlooking the Roanoke Valley around Mile Marker 120.


The four mile loop really isn't that bad but the parks service doesn't tell you that.


Cheyenne liked the altitude on a spring evening but the views didn't impress her.


Mill Mountain is the location of the world's largest artificial star, the usual hyperbole. The star is a cute way to give Roanoke a nickname. Birmingham Alabama is the magic city, Roanoke is e star city.


The sunset was okay but it was also an indication that the place was going to get dark and the parks service would sweep through the loop and hustle us out before they locked the gates.


It was pretty out there.


Virginia is filled with fields, narrow lanes and scattered houses.


The parking lot at the top was empty until my Labrador made an appearance and started prowling.


There was a narrow trail through the woods but it was too late to explore.


It looked intriguing with it's slate steps and handrail into the void.


So we came back next day and the wildlife was out in the sunshine.


It looked positively Hansen and Gretel in the light of day.


Cheyenne was wondering when the hills would stop.


She gamely climbed the steps my sweet aging girl.


The local undertaker came by and waited patiently,


...but Cheyenne easy to go just yet. We sat on a knob and admired the view together.


The hill was waiting for us on the return trip to the parking lot.


The view remained excellent.


We sat in the grass and I read while Cheyenne watched people come and go. I like the company of my dog.



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