What the HECK?????: Virginia, The Fishers have Arrived

I don't think Virginia will ever be the same.

Thanks to Jennifer's generous Aunt Paula and Uncle Frank, we went, again, this year to Virginia. For some reason, Adam was invited this year, also. Must have been a fluke on their part, but I'm glad it happened. It was nice to spend time with him that wasn't constantly interrupted by texting. (He didn't get cell phone service out in the boonies.) Though I think you can see a little of the strain from withdrawal on his face in some of the pictures, over all, he had a great time, too.

How'd you like that incredibly long sentence?

We were kindly picked up at the Lynchburg, VA airport. Well, most of us were picked up at the Lynchburg airport. But that is not my story. That is Jennifer's or maybe Mace's story. And I digress.

Lynchburg has a tiny airport with 4 gates. All gates enter from the same door. After leaving your airplane from the walkway someone just pushed up to your plane, you walk out on the tarmac (fancy airport word there.) Once on the tarmac, you have to wait for the valet to bring you the carry on luggage that wouldn't fit in this tiny airplanes overhead compartments.

Just to give you some perspective here, Jess has one of the smaller carry on bags. It wouldn't fit and had to go in the valet area.

Then, you proceed to the one and only baggage claim for you other bags.

That, with some visiting and eating, was day one. Oh, and we had to retrieve someone later, but again, not my story.

The second day, Thursday, was site seeing day. That is where my camera came out and never returned. So, consequently, that is why you now have the option of seeing tons of pictures from our trip. Before I start showering everyone - all two of you- with tons of photos, I have a warning. I only put people pictures up this time. The scenery and obscure object photos will be coming later. You have been warned.

So.... On With the Show!

We're not in Texas any more!

These are my two handsome fellars.

Fisherhead looks a bit dazed because we just saw a snake and it rattled his brain.

(Pun fully intended there.)

This is the first of many photos of Jennifer that has a camera attached to her face.

Get used to it. I did.

Adam wasn't used to it yet, as you can tell by the, "Why are you taking my picture again?!" look.

I have to add something here. I did not touch up any of these photos for color saturation. All this green is real. Some parts of the good ol' USA actually stay green in the summer. It is amazing and some what overwhelming for those of us used to Texas, summer, brown on all of our plants.

We stopped on the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiked a trail and a half.

Isn't it great?!!!
Again. Even in the shade. It is green.

Mace tried to get back at us with his camcorder.

I wonder if he got that snake wiggling upstream to meet us?

The intrepid explorer.

It seems like the little boy in a guy takes a long time to go away.

I'm glad. Hope he does this kind of stuff until his knees won't let him anymore. Say, 20 something years from now.

What?!?!? He's still there!

Jennifer, again with her camera glued to her face.

I can't complain though. It is just what I was doing too.

That snake I mentioned? Yeah, it wriggled up that stream there. Right where Jennifer's toes are. We didn't see it til it was swimming up next to me a good 6 feet upstream from her.

Jesse was kind enough to wait for us slow poky girls. Well, once or twice, at least. Jennifer and I stop often to take pictures of stuff like - rocks, downed trees, dirt paths, sunlight on who knows what, etc.... It can be aggravating for someone going with us. So we really didn't mind being left behind until we heard about the 2 snakes they saw.

TWO! It took two snakes before they thought, "Maybe we should wait for the girls."

I don't know whether to be flattered that they thought we could take care of ourselves, or insulted that they totally forgot about us in their hiking excitement.

I think.... I choose to be flattered. Makes living with Fisherhead much nicer.

Yep. She's looking for a good shot. That is the only reason her camera is not in her face.

This place made me feel old. It was a great convenience/general store. You could get a fountain coke, a whole smoked ham and garden seeds all in one stop. What made me feel old was the fountain drink machine.

It had pull levers for the drinks. Does anyone remember those? I do. However, Adam didn't and thought they were the coolest things. You would have thought he just discovered a dinosaur bone! He insisted on getting his picture taken with it.

I want to know, who invited this kid, anyway?!
Dang whipper snapper!

This is the only photo of me you will see on this blog. Because I didn't take it or any others of me. I only put it up because - 1. I like it. and 2. I like talking to Zane. He thinks I'm cool.

I have to admit, I stole it from Jennifer's facebook.

I think I look a lot better here than at the family reunion. Makeup is definitely my friend.

Adam finally got some cell service. He just had to go to the top of a mountain to get it.

I don't think it would have been such a big deal, but he just met this girl.....

Well, we have all been there a time or two.

No. We did not ride a dinosaur. We weren't even offered a ride. But, we did go see Virginia's Natural Bridge. Which was great and is not is this group of photos. For some reason, this guy and his 'steed' were outside of the shop for Natural Bridge.

That bridge is awesome! And it really was a working bridge. Cars were zooming over our heads.

Don't you wish I had put a picture here for you?

Well, it is called a blog tease. It is meant to make you come back for more.

Is it working?

Jennifer on her own big rock. Adam didn't think she could do it, so she proved him wrong.

It was funny to hear him saying Mom type phrases like, "Stay away from the edge."

"Your getting too close."

" I wouldn't go there. It's not safe."

"Come back here, Jennifer!"

"Don't make me come after you!"

Uncle Frank made some of the biggest and best chicken wings I have ever had!

We scarfed them up.

I hope Jesse took notes, so we could make some ourselves.

This lovely, but poorly shot, creation is a pineapple cheesecake.

It was fantastic! Aunt Paula is the queen of cheesecakes.

Really! She has a crown that she wears when she bakes them.

Then we got to go out on the boat!

Man. I got to say. The whole time we were out, I kept thinking of and missing Nana and Grandude. I just remember him on the boat and how he taught me to drive it.
He got as much pleasure out of riding around on that old thing as we did.

I miss them and the boat.

Oops! This is a bit blurry. But, I like it.