Chris, Mel, and I had a lovely weekend in Shenandoah National Park. C&M were training for their trip to Switzerland, so we did an nine-mile hike along the Appalachian Trail Saturday, including about 2,000 feet of elevation change. We saw deer, chimpunks, various birds, and a black bear! Plus several through-hikers and a lot of day-hikers. We were very weary when we finally arrived Saturday night, so we took it easy Sunday (instead of hiking back the way we had come, as had been our original plan). Da Grrlz did some photgraphy and sketching, and I did another short hike (two miles, about 700 feet up and down) so as to see the view from Hawksbill, a mountain we had hiked around the side of the day before. I'll post pictures later.
I have such lovely friends! I am really very fortunate to have such good pals, and I will miss them sorely when we go our separate ways!
