Oh, Shenandoah!

Howdy Tuesday folks!

I hope your weekend has treated you well.

It is truly, fall y’all! But here in my neck of the woods we've had downright summer like temps over the weekend. I think the mercury reached 80 F (27F).

Peter and I could indeed hang out on the deck with a glass of wine before sunset. After sunset it gets colder, of course. 

But it is fall regardless, and this week I am saying goodbye to all my summer clothes until April next year. Good riddance, I am so sick and tired of them. HA!

Peter and I went out to our “own” dear national park, Shenandoah on Saturday.

We have been there so many times before, as you all know. But the park is big (and so very beautiful) and there are hundreds of miles of hiking trails there.

The park was packed, people want to go leaf peeping now as the trees are turning golden.

Next week, it’ll be peak week, but there were so many people there on Saturday as well. Peter and I decided to hike up Hawksbill Mountain, the highest peak in the park. Let me tell you, we were not alone in doing so. It is a popular hike due to the splendid views.

 

Lovely, beautiful Shenandoah.

A rock near our parking spot with splendid views!

Hiking on.  The trail was rocky and covered with leaves.

But the views were there!

We started the hike on the Appalachian Trail, and said trail was empty where we hiked.

Thankful for that since it is a pretty technical area with some drop offs (not a fan of those) and a very rocky terrain. 

I am glad Peter and I were alone because I treaded so carefully due to the drop offs and the rocks.

Then we reached the trail head for Hawksbill Summit and it was PACKED.  The trail up to the summit is HARD. I had to stop several times just to catch my breath. Sometimes I wonder why I hike when it is so damn hard, haha.

 

The summit.  Packed, but lovely.

Yes, one can never get enough of these vistas!

Here I am climbing up.  It does not show how steep the trail is, but I had to stop and rest numerous times

DEAD, red and sweaty as a hog.

We came to the summit and it was all too crazy packed for our liking. We took a few pics and went down again.

We did not feel like eating our lunch there. So we hiked back to the car and drove to a quiet place nearby. As I said earlier, it is a big national park and you can always find total solitude there.

 

The leaves are turning.

People everywhere.

Shenandoah, isn't that name so very dreamy!!

The Appalachian Trail.

Skyline Drive is the stunning road that'll take you thru this big park.

The drop off is steep here, but you cannot really tell from this pic.

Shenandoah National Park is located one hour from Reston, so it is not far from us. We left the house at 7:30 in the morning and we returned around 16:00. A good day indeed.

 

Loveliness.

Skyline Drive.

Our lunch spot.  And yes, coffee is a must!
No wonder there were so many people in the park since the trees are turning.

Our lunch spot.  Pretty nice, huh?

And I have taken up my morning walks again. It is so dark in the mornings now so I will have to wait until after 7:00 these days.

I wish you all a good Tuesday!