"It is impossible for the emotions arising from the sublime to be felt beyond what they are here; so beautiful an arch, so elevated, so light, and springing as it were up to heaven, the rapture of the spectator is really indescribable!" 

- Thomas Jefferson

Yesterday, the fam and I filed into the car and drove to Natural Bridge, Virginia.  If you have never been to the Natural Bridge, then you are unaware of the walk you have to take in order to reach the bridge and Lace Falls.  We walked down 137 steps to reach the bridge, 1500 yards to reach lace falls, 1500 yards BACK to the bridge, and 137 steps BACK to the butterfly house/gift shop.  And although 3000 yards may not sound like a lot to some of you, all we have been doing this week is walking up and down mountains... By time we got back to the gift shop, we were a BIT tired.  However, it is really not fair to complain, because the Natural Bridge was amazing.  You walk around the corner and its like BAM, twenty stories of solid rock, shaped into an arch.  As you walk toward the bridge, on the Cedar Creek Nature Trail, you are immersed in nature.  Cedar Creek runs the length of the trail, and as you walk the half mile to mile long trail toward Lace Falls, you encounter both plants and animals.  Below I have posted a photograph of myself in front of the Natural Bridge, and a photograph of Lace Falls. 

After completing the trail, we stopped by their indoor Butterfly house to look at some of the butterfly species they had on display. 

After the Natural Bridge and Butterfly House, we once again filed back into the car and drove the short drive to the Natural Bridge Caverns.  It wasn't a remarkably long trip, but it was still enjoyable to get out of the heat (it was freezing down in the caverns).  

We once again got BACK in the car, this time we drove over to Lexington, VA to see the campuses of Washington & Lee and VMI, both were beautiful, and I could definitely see why President Trible (graduate of Washington and Lee) has built up CNU in it's image, it is stunning.  

We grabbed a bite to eat and headed back up the mountain to our resort.  I have seen a number of DIFFERENT animals over the last few days, and wanted to share with you once more, the nature I have come across while in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  

Enjoy. 

Two Fawns, snacking on the Golf Course

Baby Goose

Moth. 

Blue-Tailed Skink

Northern Water Snake (I saw two different ones)

Daddy Long-Legs.

"The earth is what we all have in common" - Wendell Berry

Since Friday, I have been on vacation in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  I have enjoyed myself so far, and look forward to what is to come over the next few days! Although I'm staying at a "resort"it definitely doesn't feel like it, making it an ideal place to spend some quality time out in nature. Yesterday I spent an hour walking around the area where I'm staying to see what critters I could find.  My experiences with the nature museum were tremendously useful as I found myself being able to identify a number of the animals I came across on my walk.   Below you will find a few of the images I took as I explored.

Eastern Chipmunk

White-Tailed Deer

(Same Deer as above) - Side Story: There was a bunch of boulders about 100 feet from where she was foraging.  I sat down on the boulder in the hopes of minimizing my movements. As she walked around looking for food she kept an eye on me, but apparently felt enough at ease to lie down and rest for a little while, with me sitting no more than 100 feet from her. 

Woodchuck (aka Groundhog)

Northern Flicker Woodpecker

As the week continues, and I spend more time hiking and walking around the resort, I will be sure to post additional images.  I hope you enjoyed!