Milling Around

August 2, 2015August 2, 2015 ~ Larissa ~ Leave a comment

“Little by little, one travels far…” – J. R. R. Tolkien

Yes, there was still one more stop to make on our Fayette County adventure before heading home. We headed back North on Route 19 and took the familiar exit heading East on Route 60, enjoying the air conditioning as we rode down the two-lane highway. The 25 minute drive flew by, and before we knew it, we were at the turn off (which, despite being a familiar place, we still nearly missed – thank goodness for signage). I couldn’t wait to see this photogenic spot and hear the babble of the water running over the rocks below the Glade Creek Grist Mill at Babcock State Park.

Although our last trip to Babcock had only been a year and one month prior, the scenery was transformed from what I had remembered. It never ceases to amaze me the difference in foliage between the month of April and the month of May. During our last visit, most of the trees had been bare; this time, they were bursting with green. While some people who come to West Virginia from out of state complain that the rolling hills can be too green to handle and that the amount of trees can make them feel claustrophobic, I honestly can’t get enough of them. It’s like being wrapped in an emerald blanket, embraced by nature.

The grist mill is another one of the most photographed places in West Virginia. I actually had several photos of it pinned to my exploration board on Pinterest long before I made plans to move to the Mountain State. The photos of the fall foliage are breathtaking.

Unfortunately, the water wheel at the mill wasn’t turning, but that did not take away from its charm. The Glade Creek Grist Mill was built in 1976 and is still in use today. Visitors can purchase freshly ground cornmeal at the mill and visitor’s center, depending on availability and stream conditions. The mill was actually constructed from parts and pieces of three different mills that once stood in West Virginia. According to the Babcock State Park website, “The basic structure of the mill came from the Stoney Creek Grist Mill which dates back to 1890. It was dismantled and moved piece by piece to Babcock from a spot near Campbelltown in Pocahontas County. After an accidental fire destroyed the Spring Run Grist Mill near Petersburg, Grant County, only the overshot water wheel could be salvaged. Other parts for the mill came from the Onego Grist Mill near Seneca Rocks in Pendleton County.”

Downstream from the mill is a beautiful waterfall, along with plenty of flat areas for fishermen to cast their lines.

After enjoying the soothing sounds of the water, we decided it was time to head home. I could not have asked for a better end to a perfect day.

New River, New Adventure

May 21, 2015May 21, 2015 ~ Larissa ~ Leave a comment

“He who seeks beauty will find it.” – Bill Cunningham

When we jumped in the car and headed out of Fayetteville, I thought I knew exactly where we would go next. We would head back North and get off on the Route 60 exit and head to a familiar spot. But, as we turned back onto Route 19, a new plan sprung up in my mind. One of the most beautiful landmarks in West Virginia was about to be under our wheels, and despite having lived in the Mountain State for nearly three years, I had yet to stop and see it. So we pulled off quickly to the visitor’s center and overlook at the New River Gorge Bridge.

The bridge is easily one of the most photographed landmarks in the state and even appears on the back of the West Virginia state quarter. It was also mentioned in an episode of the Fox show Bones, and the year I moved here, there was a showcase on The Price is Right that offered a trip to see the bridge from the New River on a jet boat (I mistakenly thought the bridge was new and called it the River Gorge Bridge when I told my friends about seeing the prize package, which elicited quite a few laughs). That day, a trip to see the New River Gorge Bridge in person was added to my bucket list.

I wanted to hit the visitor’s center first, which I blame on my inquisitive nature. I wanted to see the informational displays and understand just how much it took to build this landmark. I quickly learned that the bridge was not nearly as old as I thought it was. The first piece of steel was positioned above the gorge in 1974, and construction of the bridge wasn’t completed until 1977. Prior to the construction of the bridge, drivers had to travel narrow, winding roads down into the gorge, across a small bridge above the New River, and back up the other side of the mountain, which took about 40 minutes. Now, travel takes less than a minute.

But just because the travel time is faster doesn’t mean that the New River Gorge Bridge should go unseen. It is the largest steel span in the western hemisphere and the third highest in the United States. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013 by the National Park Service. If that wasn’t enough, the New River itself is one of the oldest rivers in North America, and some believe it to be one of the oldest in the world, second only to the Nile River in Egypt.

In addition to a wealth of information on the bridge and the New River, the visitor’s center also offers beautiful views of the river.

After taking in the scene, I was ready to head to the overlook. Of course, I couldn’t resist snapping a few quick pictures of passing scenery on our way there…

And once we finally made it to the overlook, I was far from disappointed. There’s nothing like looking at a huge structure, built by hardworking human hands, to make you feel small. I mean this in the best way, of course. It reminded me that I am a small part of the universe, but I am still lucky enough to be a part of it.

Maybe one year I will come down for Bridge Day. I’ve heard that the traffic can be crazy, but I think the festivities would more than make up for that. However, this gal will not be BASE jumping or rappelling off that perfectly good bridge… I’ll just stick to seeing the amazing views and enjoying good music and food.

After climbing back out of the gorge, we stopped at the ice cream stand and gift shop near the visitor’s center for a quick, cold treat, then hit the road again. There was still one more stop we needed to make before heading home…

April Showers and Mountain Flowers

April 21, 2015April 21, 2015 ~ Larissa ~ Leave a comment

“Sweet April showers do Spring May flowers.” – Thomas Tusser, A Hundred Good Points of Husbandry (1557).

This is a rhyme I have often heard but never thought too much of. In the Sonoran desert, our rainy season hits in midsummer, not April, and other than the rare perfectly manicured suburban lawn, there are not too many flowers to speak of in May. However, since my move into the mountains, I have developed a deeper connection with this age-old phrase, and with the change of seasons itself.

April is nearly over now, and it has certainly been a damp one. The state has experienced major flooding on multiple occasions, as well as a severe landslide at the end of the runway at Charleston’s Yeager Airport that has displaced several families from their homes. My heart goes out to those people who have been impacted by the weather, and I hope that they will be able to find solutions to the problems resulting from landslides all over the state very soon.

But, as my mother used to say, every cloud has its silver lining. The rains have been crucial to raising the water levels at lakes all across West Virginia, bringing them closer to summer pool for the upcoming recreational season. In addition, creeks, ponds, and temporary pools from the rain are beginning to teem with life as aquatic and amphibious animals have begun mating, and flowers are blooming everywhere. Never before have I seen so many trees, bushes, and lawns covered in blossoms. Even invasive species, like the dandelions and African violets covering our front yard, are a beautiful sight.

I find myself completely fascinated by the revival brought about in the spring. Watching the hillsides transform from shades of brown to shades of green with splashes of white, pink, purple, and red never ceases to amaze me. At times I feel as though my sense of wonder is childlike, and I cannot help but ask dozens of questions of the locals – “What kind of tree is that? What kind of flowers are those? How long will they bloom? Do they come back every year? Is that species indigenous to the area or did someone import it?” I think perhaps it is in our nature to take for granted the things we experience so often, because sometimes my questions grant me some very strange looks from the natives. However, I am always grateful to those who take the time to explain and share their experiences with me, because I want to soak up as much information about my home as I can.

My other springtime quirk is snapping as many flower pictures as I possibly can. I actually spent half an hour yesterday afternoon wandering around campus taking photographs on my cell phone before the sky opened up. Again, this tends to elicit some interesting looks, and I have no doubt that some of the bystanders were thinking to themselves, “Hasn’t that girl ever seen flowering plants before?” Little do they know that for all the years I spent surrounded by cacti and Palo Verde trees, I may as well not have. These blooms are unlike anything I ever saw growing up, and knowing that all too soon they will be replaced by a myriad of greens, I plan to enjoy their presence as much as my schedule will allow.

Here are a few of the photos I’ve snapped this week…

Now I feel like I am having a Julie Andrews moment where I could burst into song about all of my favorite things. Dew drops on roses and the smell of cut grass, bird calls and rainfall and lakes smooth as glass… But in all seriousness, springtime in the Mountain State is one of my most favorite things. When you have a moment, take the time to pause and observe the scenery changing around you. Who knows – you may just discover a new favorite thing or two.