Such lovely weekend.

Thank you all for your lovely birthday wishes!!

… Yes, both here and on Instagram. 

It really warmed my heart!!

NOW I am indeed 60 years old!

We have had a really, really nice weekend at Cacapon State Park Lodge Resort in Berkeley Springs in West Virginia. 

Berkeley Springs is located about one hour and 45 minutes from Reston.

Before we started our journey west, something came in the mail for me!

An envelope from my old, dear blogging friend, Brysselkakan. Brysselkakan does no longer blog, but she is such faithful and wise reader/commentator of my blog.

Brysselkakan is also the one who once told me about the BOKON-service for Kindle! And look what she and her hubby got me!! It made me so happy and surprised. THANK YOU!!

SO very, very nice!!! Thanks!!

So off we went, and as we walked into our room at the hotel I spotted a wine chiller with a bottle inside of it.

I said to Peter,

-OH you ordered some bubbly for us?

-NO, he said, I did not.

I looked at the printed paper that was placed next to the chiller, it was a gift from my blog group, Bloggbrudarna (Anna in Portugal, Anna-Channal in Norrköping, Monnah in Blekinge and Sara in Barcelona).

WHAT a damn surprise!!! THAT I did not expect. Thank you ladies!!!

 

I could not believe my eyes!!! THANKS so much!!

Since we got to the hotel late in the afternoon we headed straight to the bar for Happy Hour.

And yea, the bartenders were so nice. I can tell you, the staff at this lodge were ALL so beyond friendly. WE hung out until dinner.

The following day was gray and damp.

We grabbed our hiking gear, my new Canon and headed for the trails in the park. WE got in a very good hike that morning. After a while Peter had to house Miss Canon in his backpack.  It is so much easier just photographing with one's phone when hiking since we use hiking poles as well. 

BUT, Miss Canon came out to play anyway at times. However, on hikes of these kind she has to stay back, she’s too heavy for me as I hike with poles.

 

Time to head for the woods.  Nature is...OMG...SO boring this time of the year.  But that is to be expected.  Nature is still nature.

Pic taken with Miss Canon, after this she was placed into Peter's backpack.

Rocky, rocky parts on much of this trail.  One has to be very careful.

The winter views are still pretty.

There he goes.

One of the lakes in Cacapon State Park.

In the afternoon we went into Berkley Springs for a fika and some antiquing. 

We did not find much, but I got a few cordial glasses and Peter got some beer glasses.

The Antique Mall is way overpriced. It is probably located too close to the metropolitan DC-area.

Back to the hotel for the pool and hot tub. And then, Happy hour and dinner.

 

In Berkeley Springs.  A Cat cafe cought my eye.  We did not go inside since we have allergies.  But here you can drink coffee and adopt a cat, if you so like.

An outdoor fika place.  But,  it was too cold to hang outside. 
Berkeley Springs is located in a valley between several mountains. Miss Canon in action on all pics from this outing.

Saturday was windy and sunny.

We skipped the hotel breakfast and had lunch at Proof in Berkeley Springs.

SO good! OMG, I enjoyed the best appetizer I have had in forever … Pretzel knots in beer cheese with crabmeat. I will have to try making this at home, because YUM!!!

Then a burger for me with jalapeno poppers. SOOO good. However, I was not a fan of the fries. Peter liked them, though.  BUT let me tell you one thing, this meal held me over for the entire day.  I could hardly enjoy my soup for dinner.  I was SO full.  No kidding, right?

THE best app in forever!! YES, we shared it.

My spicy jalapeno popper burger was so good.  I was not a fan of the fries, though.

After that we ventured out on windy country roads in Western Maryland. Up and down. And so beautiful!!

Peter at a lookout. All the following pics are taken with Miss Canon.

Gravel country/mountain road.

The view of the Potomac River and West Virginia.

Bikers on their way west.

And Sunday morning, time to go home.

BUT we’ll be back!! Next time we’re planning on renting one of the cabins on site.

Sunday at home was easy peasy. We watched the Academy Awards, always fun. 

And we stuck with it all the way to the bitter end. I liked it, as always.

 

Pics from our walk Saturday morning in the state park. Pretty much all of them by Miss Canon.

Fishermen hoping to get some trout.

Me and Miss Canon are caught by Peter.

Have a wonderful Tuesday, dear friends!!