Wild and wonderful West Virginia in autumn

 Damned South Fork of the Potomac River in West Virginia.

 Looking back at the mountains where we had been....

Looking across West Virginia from Rt. 33.

Looking over West Virginia from Rt. 33 west of Harrisonburg.

Once back in Virginia, we took the back roads from Rt. 33. We passed Silver Lake in Dayton, Virginia, and picked up Rt. 42 South back to Churchville. It was the perfect autumn day, cool and sunny, spent with friends. Doesn't get much better than that.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
13 October 2010

Back roads, trails, and horseback riding in George Washington National Forest

Bridge crosses stream at Braley Pond.

Many creeks are almost dry.

Horseback riding on dusty roadways.

Back roads slow the pace down a bit....

The trail around Braley Pond.

Braley Pond on an autumn afternoon.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
13 October 2010

Picnic at Braley Pond in George Washington National Forest

Braley Pond is a 4.5-acre lake built in the George Washington National Forest in 1965 by the U.S. Forest Service. Keeper-sized rainbow trout are stocked and largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish are thriving. It provides picnic tables, grills, and restrooms as well as a hiking trail that circles the lake.

 The  Braley Pond creek was covered with red sugar maple leaves.

 Bridge crosses creek leading to Braley Pond.

 Picnic tables are scattered throughout the trees in a well-kept area.

 Hiking trail circles the lake.

Barb took a moment on the bridge to watch the little bit of water in the creek.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
13 October 2010

Dancing with the mountains ... autumn arrives

 View from Little North Mountain Wildlife Management Area in western Augusta County.

 Road leading down Little North Mountain range.

 George Washington National Forest in western Augusta County.

 Wild and wonderful West Virginia!

 West Virginia back road through the piney woods.

Rt. 33 west of Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
13 October 2010

The Axis of the Fedoras marches on

Smitty in his famous fedora as Suzanne Curran and Tom White look on.

Two SWAC bloggers in the Axis of the Fedoras over at The Other McCain ... that's pretty good! Smitty continues to add to the lineup of "fedorables" as he traverses the country covering political races and catching up with various bloggers.

Smitty caught up with Fishersville Mike at the Staunton Starbucks a few weeks ago, and caught up with me at last weekend's Virginia tea party convention in Richmond. He was an interesting man to talk with and I was happy Tom White at Virginia Right! had invited him to join us in covering the convention, and that Tom was also added to the axis. Down in Shreveport, Pat donned the hat and also joined the fedorables.

Wherever the fedora goes, the axis grows ... and so it continues....

Hunting back roads of western Augusta County

Road heading down Little North Mountain in western Augusta County. It's bow season but we saw only two other pickup trucks on a beautiful autumn day.

SWAC Husband on top of the world overlooking the Shenandoah Valley.

Larry checking the backroads map as we prepare to head over the mountain ridges into West Virginia.

Western Virginia ... mountains, valleys, autumn.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
13 October 2010

Little North Mountain wildlife management area ... western Augusta County

The road less traveled ... hunting access roads on the ridges of the Appalachian Mountains in western Augusta County. It was a day of four-wheeling fun with Barb and Larry as the four of us piled into Larry's pickup and headed for points west....

The back roads of the Little North Mountain wildlife management area were open for bow season.

Hard to believe there was water in this mountaintop pond after the dry summer we had.

End of the road and time to stop and listen to the quiet....

Larry, SWAC Husband, Barb.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
13 October 2010

Nooks and crannies of the Virginia Governor's Mansion

It was a pleasure to attend Thursday's reception hosted by Gov. and Mrs. Bob McDonnell at the Executive Mansion in downtown Richmond's Capital Square with Shenandoah County conservative activist Suzanne Curran and former Augusta County Republican Committee Chairman Kurt Michael.

We were delighted to catch up with fellow Sixth Congressional District volunteers Christine Broughton, chairman of Botetourt County Republican Committee, and her husband Brad, and former Del. Chris Saxman.

Virginia conservative bloggers Jim Hoeft and Brian Kirwin with Bearing Drift, and Norm Leahy with Tertium Quids as well as blogger-turned-supervisor Shaun Kenney arrived from various points around the state, and low-tax proponent Jim Parmelee from Northern Virginia also attended.

The mansion is beautiful, a jewel in Virginia's historic crown, and the hospitality was gracious and welcoming. The sight of our capitol building always awes me, and the thought of those who walked those grounds and buildings before us makes this Virginian proud.

Many thanks to the McDonnells for opening their home for an evening of fellowship and the opportunity to spend some time with many like-minded folks from around the Commonwealth.


See also:
- Gov. Bob McDonnell: "Welcome to the people's house"
- Governor's mansion reception ... photos 1
- Governor's mansion reception ... photos 2
- Governor's mansion reception ... photos 3
- Governor's mansion reception ... photos 4

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
14 October 2010