St. Michaels, Maryland
postcards from the road
Canaan Valley ~ Blackwater Falls
Blackwater Falls
First stop on the trek is right across the river from Davis, in Blackwater Falls State Park. In precise geological terms, Davis is just outside Canaan Valley. The Blackwater River emerges from the valley interior, seeping from the bogs and swamps that cover the valley floor. Gathering itself together, it meanders north where eons ago it cut a gap through the raised lip of the bowl, where it passes in front of Davis before tumbling over a set of spectacular falls. From there it carves a canyon down through the mountains on its way to the Ohio River. Canaan Valley sits on the Allegheny Ridge, an eastern Continental Divide deep in the Appalachians. Water on the eastern side of the ridge flows toward the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic, water on the west side flows north and west, into the Mississippi and down to the Gulf of Mexico.
The route taken. Link to map.
Canaan Valley ~ Davis, WV
Blackwater Falls
Another side trip (a trend I wish to continue). This one a Christmas present to ourselves. The plan, when T made the reservations a month ago, was to spend two days cross country skiing at White Grass in Canaan Valley. Alas, no snow is hard to ski in. They had a pile not much bigger than a cow pie out front of the lodge with a sign in it, selling it for $120 an ounce.
No matter. No matter even that it rained all weekend. We hiked and explored and read and ate well. No crowds to contend with. Met a lot of nice people, too.
“Come join us, our ship is sinking!”
So they said.
“Sure, I like boats,” says I.
We have a small brewery in our little old one block long town. We’ve lived here long enough that the kids I coached at soccer, when they were first graders, are now past college and grown into young adults. Last night, a few of them stood on the sidewalk outside the brewery and, after a few double-takes at my grey and grizzled countenance, recognized me and invited me in to join them.
Sure, I like boats, says I.
Also, this:
A New Large-Scale Installation of Boats and Tangled Thread by Artist Chiharu Shiota
link: http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2017/01/where-are-we-going-chiharu-shiota/
Random Snows
And sounds.
Snow falling on the shop today. One of those quiet ones without wind, when small sounds seem amplified.
This just shot with a phone.
Wind & Sand
Wicker & Waves
