Mike took the day off from work on my 64th birthday, and we ventured to the Shenandoah Mountains at the height of the fall’s colors.Β Usually it’s too crowded to visit the Skyline Drive on weekends in autumn, so I was pleased he was able to get off work so we could hike up to Mary’s Rock.
We drove into Shenandoah National Park and headed for milepost 33.5 at the Meadow Spring parking area.Β We found a brilliant red tree in the parking lot, then we crossed the road to pick up the trail. It was a relentless uphill climb until the Meadow Spring Trail intersectedΒ with the Appalachian Trail. We veered right onto the Appalachian Trail and followed it to the next trailpost, where we turned left to see the views at Mary’s Rock. Once we reached the summit, we retraced our steps back to Meadow Spring.
the brilliance of fall at Meadow Spring parking lot
I always love the moss, ferns, and fallen leaves on Virginia’s mountain trails.
moss along the Meadow Spring Trail
leaves on the Meadow Spring Trail
Meadow Spring Trail
more moss and leaves
strange shaped log
ferns on Meadow Spring Trail
an array of leaves and ferns
Mary’s Rock is a 3,514-foot (1,071 m) tall mountain and is the eighth highest peak in Shenandoah National Park. The summit of the rock offers views of the northern section of Shenandoah National Park and Page Valley.
view of the Valley from Mary’s Rock
view from Mary’s Rock
After admiring the views from the summit, we got back on the Appalachian Trail and began our descent.
descending the Appalachian Trail
back in the parking lot with our brilliant tree
We drove north along Skyline drive, stopping at various overlooks along the way.
overlook along the Skyline Drive
overlook along the Skyline Drive
overlook along the Skyline Drive
overlook along the Skyline Drive
Leaving Shenandoah National Park, we drove to a lunch spot we’d never tried before, where we scarfed down some delicious chili dogs with cheese fries, promptly undoing any health benefits we’d achieved on the hike.
Burgers “N” Things
Then we stopped at a farm market to pick up some apples, apple cider and honey.
farm stand
apples
jars of Shawnee Apple Butter
local honey
The next night, Mike arranged for our friends Michael and Karen to meet us at Nostos for a Greek dinner.Β Karen gave me a beautiful Italian leather journal and an Italian pen.Β We enjoyed wine and great camaraderie, as always, topping off yet another year in my meandering life. π
*11,709 steps, or 4.96 miles*
*Hike Friday, October 25 / dinner Saturday, October 26, 2019*
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On Sundays, I post about hikes or walks that I have taken in my travels; I may also post on other unrelated subjects. I will use these posts to participate in Joβs Monday Walks or any other challenges that catch my fancy.
This post is in response to Joβs Monday Walk: Fuseta to OlhΓ‘o.
~ wander.essence ~ 
I can’t imagine it crowded, but lovely to have the space to yourself, Cathy. The colours are glorious and you have some wonderful photos. Many thanks for linking π π
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It was nice to find it not crowded, Jo. Mainly, it’s the few entrance stations to the park and the one two-lane road that runs the length of the mountain ridges that get crowded. The trails themselves are generally okay. But sometimes in fall, you can wait in a long line to even get into the park. It was a beautiful way to spend a birthday! π
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Ah, lovely!
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Thanks, Sue. It was a nice way to celebrate. π
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Gorgeous colours. Indian Summer and fall colours are still on our bucket list. We have been thinking of travelling to New England for that, but now, thanks to your post here, we might not have to travel that far
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Thanks, Pit. We were lucky to find these colors, although I would have liked to have found a few more reds. New England may be better (I’ve never been at the peak of fall colors) but if you don’t feel like driving so far, Shenandoah is plenty nice. π
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Well, Virginia and West Virginia are still missing on our list of states we have bicycled at least 10 miles in. And with that, Shenandoah NP and all of the Shenandoah Valley are still on our bucket list.And with that, the Blue Ridge Parkway comes to my mind, as well as a stay – I’ve long been wanting to do that – at the Bavarian Inn in Sheperdstown/WV.
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Well, I sure hope you do make it to Virginia, Pit. It is a beautiful state, but as I’ve lived here most of my life I find it a bit boring. If you come to visit and would like to meet, I’d love to meet you both. So let me know if you will be in the D.C. area, or thereabouts. I’ve seen the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown and it looks impressive, so I hope you’ll find it to your liking! Here’s a post I wrote on Shepherdstown; I think it was 2015. π https://catbirdinamerica.wordpress.com/2015/11/14/a-drive-through-northern-virginia-to-shepherdstown-west-virginia/
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I’d love to meet you, Kathy. (West)Virginia will have to wait awhile, though. In May Mary and I will be travelling to Ireland, and in August to Germany. We’re also planning to do the Southwest again and finish what we couldn’t last September because of Mary’s bum knee. That will very likely be in autumn. And that may well be all our travelling this year. So maybe next year? We’ll see.
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It sounds like you have a very busy year ahead, as do I. Funny thing is, I may run into you in the southwest. I’m planning a trip to West Texas and New Mexico in late September to late October. Where will you be? Ireland and Germany both sound great, as does the southwest. But certainly, if you come to Virginia, please let me know. π
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It will be sometime in October. From here via NM to AZ [visiting the Grand Canyon & Sedona again], then to Las Vegas, and onto visit Bryce and Zion NPs. That’s the rough plan. We haven’t got down to any details yet.
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We’ll be out that way in October too, but not as far west as you. Must make it back home in time to vote! I don’t have details nailed down yet for my trip either, but I do know I won’t go further west than New Mexico on this trip. π
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We’ll possibly only drive through NM, with one stop there, about halfway towards a place near r=the Grand Canyon. But who knows.
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Sounds like a great trip! I hope it is a grand adventure!
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Would be great if we ran across each other.
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It certainly would! π
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We’ll be in touch. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for our paths to cross. π
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I was just looking at my map and we may be coming right through your part of Texas. But alas, I think you will be in Arizona by then! We should definitely keep in touch, Pit. π
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Your red tree is magnificent. I love this because we have visited Shenandoah NP in summer and this adds a different perspective.
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Thanks, Anabel. I wish we’d found more reds up there; I wonder if we had gone earlier if we might have found some reds and bright oranges. I’m glad this gave you a different perspective on Shenandoah NP. Thanks for coming for a visit. π
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What a wonderful time to have had. The chili dogs and fries make you real people! And, besides, apples and honey came after. The AT goes through where I live. I’ve walked it some. I’ve also been on the Skyline Parkway, though I have so much more to see of and from it. Happy Birthday, Cathy, when it was and the next time!
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It was a good day, Christopher. Most of my birthdays are not memorable, so it was nice to have one that was. Chili dogs and fries are one of my favorite things to eat! I just went to the Vienna Inn last week to eat their famous chili dogs. Yum! Nice that you’ve walked some of the Appalachian Trail. It’s a lovely drive along the Skyline Drive, and since I’ve done it many times, I’ve taken many hikes. But I still haven’t come close to seeing everything. Where do you live near the trail? And thank you for the birthday wishes. Luckily my next big one, 65, won’t be till October! π
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I live in Mechanicsburg, a small town near Harrisburg (PA). Between Mechanicsburg and Carlisle, the next town the west, the trail runs. it moves southerly from there to Boiling Springs, another small town closeby. The AT has a sizeable way station in Boiling Springs–in town and along the small lake there. So life here includes living near and sometimes on the trail. It’s an element of who we are.
My 6-5 will be next year in September. My sister’s birthday is in October, but she’s three years younger than me–she’s a kid!
Cathy, I hope you have a terrific week!
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I wonder if I’ve ever been to Mechanicsburg. It sounds familiar but maybe I’ve just driven by on my way to somewhere else. I’ve also heard of Bolling Springs. I know the trail goes all the way to Maine in the north.
Wow! Your 6-5 will be just before mine. Happy birthday in advance! Although we certainly don’t want these birthdays to come along too fast. π Your sister is a kid! What day is her birthday?
I hope you have a wonderful week too, Christopher. π
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My sister’s birthday is 12 October, traditional Columbus Day. The real Columbus Day, she likes to say. I think that’s also Canada’s Thanksgiving.
Interstate 81 runs north of Mechanicsburg, the Pennsylvania Turnpike to the south. Also a half-hour’s drive (south) to Gettysburg. There is the same-sounding name for the town in Virginia. I think it’s Mechanicsville? Mechanicsburg is actually named for covered-wagon fixers.
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Oh, that’s a good day for a birthday, at least easy to remember! Yes, we have a Mechanicsville, like your Mechanicsburg. Must have been a lot of mechanics living in those towns, like your covered-wagon mechanics. π
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[…] Celebrating a birthday at Mary’s Rock […]
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[…] Celebrating a birthday at Mary’s Rock […]
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Those colours! Those photos! I envy you such trips and the ability to make them. Now that I can no longer hike or trek as I used to I love reading other people’s adventures on trails I might once have done. Thanks for a lovely post and a very happy birthday to you and many more to followl. XX
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It was a beautiful time of year for a hike, Mari. I was so happy to walk under those golden leaves. Thank you so much, and thank you for the belated birthday wishes. It was a lovely day all around. π
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We’ll see.
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