A Walk in the Woods

It's been a long time since we have posted so we need to get busy and update what has been going on.

We had a wonderful visit together and did many things, traveling to Washington DC and the Shenandoah mountains as well as a very important meeting with the local school system to plan for Petra's son to attend next school year. Now we are both getting very anxious for word from immigration on moving to the next step. Every day seems to bring the hope and then disappointment if there is no news but we just have to be patient and wait for our turn.

We did decide that one thing we would like to do together as a family is hike through the abundant forests and natural space we have in and around here. We both enjoy it and there is a large trail system here that makes taking hikes an easy weekend adventure. One of the most famous hiking trails in the US runs right through the area, the Appalachian Trail, and the opportunity to explore parts of it are endless. The AT runs from the state of Georgia to Maine and is approximately 3500 km long almost entirely through forests and mountains. I took a look at what was around the stretch of it that runs through here this past weekend. I was amazed at how little I knew of the beauty that is waiting out there for anyone to enjoy.

There are many rock outcroppings that are very spooky when you come upon them all of a sudden. Waterfalls are common and I hear that there are some spectacular falls if you hike further into the forest.

One very interesting site is the ruins of a building built during our Revolutionary War period around the 1770's



A very little known site is the remains of a top-secret prisoner of war camp that held mostly German UBoat officers during WW II. I can see how they kept it secret because it is out in the middle of nowhere and even with directions, it took me a couple of hours to find it. LOL One prisoner etched his name on a bridge that crosses a small stream.

The forest was full of blooming flowers.
I came upon this lake that was deep in the woods and not a soul enjoying it but me.

I even made a new friend along the trail. LOL

I went out to explore some of the trails we can hike when Petra and her son move here and found that we will have plenty to keep us busy in the woods. I just hope the waiting game is over soon so we will have that chance this fall.