4th July Celebrations.

I have been trying this weekend to get everything done that needs to be done while still having a good holiday week (my timing with the move sucks) and seeing everyone I want to before I leave. And I think I have done pretty well. I have packed the boxes ready to go next week. And I have just sold my chair which, other than the bed which goes tomorrow, was my last piece of furniture. So the next week is not going to be the most comfortable but will make me appreciate furniture all the more in the future. Plus it's a lot easier to clean! (Or would be if I hadn't covered the floor with the things that were in the said furniture.)

Anyway, Cait asked if I want to join her and some friends for the evening on Saturday, Independence Day. I jumped at the chance not to spent the evening packing! Plus, I was secretly hoping someone would ask me to do something for my last (for a while at least) Independence Day. :)

Her friends were so lovely and I really appreciate them letting me join them. The food was amazing, though I only took a photo of the best watermelon ever. (Though Cait thought it was a gun. It is the US of A after all.)

Watermelon flag.

 After nibbles, I played my first ever game of corn hole. I have seen this a lot of tailgate parties (pre-game parties using involving truck tailgates oddly enough) but have never played. The idea is, in teams of 2, to throw the beanbag onto the board (1 point) or through the hole in the board. Cait and I lost miserably - we really weren't very good. But were having too much fun to care.  :)

Playing corn hole. 

After playing and eating, Cait and Lauren practice some of their Acro Yoga. Thankfully they know what they were doing and no one got hurt! It was super impressive. (I wish my balance was that good.)

Flying

The throne

No idea what this one was called but still impressive.

Deb also decided to have a go. They asked if I wanted to to and normally why not? I'd give it a go. But I have 3 flights int the next 2 weeks and really don't need any broken bones. Plus I didn't want to hurt any one! With my current weight and amazing grace (not!), that's more of a certainty than possibility.

Deb flying!

After this we went up to the deck ready for the fireworks. Thanks to the rain in the last few days, the bugs were out in force. I have (thankfully) doused myself in bug spray (I was not going through that again so soon) but I forgot to bring it with me. Cait went to extra lengths to avoid the bugs. 

The ghost that is Cait!

The fireworks were very cool. And, as usual, at the end, they just seemed to set everything off. The deck was perfect for watching the display.

After the fireworks, we rushed back inside to avoid the bug invasion and eat desert. And it was all gluten free so I was in heaven!
We spent a few hours playing card games (I now know some very cool new ones) and Taboo. It was so much fun and I spent most of the night just laughing. A great way to spent the holiday evening. I love all my friend here but I have been missing nights like this with people my own age, so it was great to do that and I really appreciate them including me. :)

Today I spent the morning skyping home, organizing next weekend and finished the boxes (now 90% ready to go - just waiting for the labels to be spent). And a few hours this afternoon with Cait and some of her friends playing Kickball and soccer at the Blacksburg Rec Centre. As there were only 5 of us, kickball was a lot more running than I have done in a very long time. It's basically a cross between baseball where you kick the ball instead of hit it, and dodge ball, so if someone can hit you with the ball you are out. So a lot of fun but with our small numbers, much running.

After kickball. we tried soccer. Much better as I installed myself in goal as soon as possible. You may get hit with the ball a few times (which I am fine with) but a lot less running. Plus they were very competitive. And like I said, broke bones = bad!

group photo, post soccer

We were all pretty tired (and hot) at the end. And I am definitely the less fit. :( they all do cross fit etc so this didn't come as a surprise.  But it was nice to get out.
now I get to spend the rest of the evening doing some more packing. Oh the joy! :(

Walk 'N' Wine.

On Saturday I dragged Steve on a outing with Blacksburg Rec Centre. ;-) It was called Walk 'N' Wine. The first part was a hike (around 4 miles) to a the 2nd tallest waterfall in Virginia, followed by a visited to a nearby vinegar, AmRhien. 

It took about an hour on the bus from the Rec center to get to the start of the hike so I just chatted to people. Once again it was an interesting and diverse group. Though no one else from VT which is very unusual.

Start of the trail

I didn't take many photos on the hike to the falls. It was cold! And I forgot to pack my gloves. But I did get a few.

Random house craving

Forest

Fall color

When we got to the falls, I was a little disappointed as it was on the over side of the gorge and it hadn't rained recently so it wasn't very impressive. Still, we sat and ate lunch and it was a better view than my normal lunch view (i.e a wall!).

Bent mountain falls.

Playing with the camera

On the way back, as a group we decided to take a different route which was longer but went near the creek, which was nice. Though he did say there were no hills. And he lied!!!!

Showing Christmas ferns

Our guide, Travis (who I shared a canoe with on the last trip), showed us the local fauna. He even gave out a sheet of leaves, though he missed off Poison Ivy, one I would very much like to know what it looks like!!!

Berries

The creek was a little way off the trail but we all clambered down as it was very pretty. I took some time to take photos and was the last one down there. (I got back up the trail pretty quickly when I realized in case they left me!)

Bottom Creek

The trail (Knight's trail) also went past an old Scout pond, used for swimming.

Pond

Color

At the beginning of the hike, Travis had explained how this was public land so there shouldn't be any hunting. But it was surrounding by private land and they do hunt there (and bullets don't respect those lines), he did have hunting vests for those who wanted them. At that point, someone came down a nearby drive in full hunting gear. I was pretty much first in line. And had to get a photo in my very fetching "I'm not a dear so please don't shoot me" vest.

My fetching "Don't kill me - I don't taste good" vest

After the hike, we went to a vineyard, conveniently placed at the entrance to the hike, and did a wine tasting. We all very much felt we had deserved our wine and most of us got a glass after the tasting to enjoy. Like most VA wines, they were for the most greatly overpriced. But I did get 2 of the sweet wines which were very nicely priced. And one was said to go really well with ice-cream in a peach wine and ice-cream smoothie (so that has to happen!) and the other great with chocolate. I couldn't go wrong really. (Though there was a nice white, I can get an equally good one cheaper elsewhere and frankly the reds were not good!)

Inside AmRhein

Harvest bird saying hi.

I spent the evening, guess what, working. I am crazy busy at the moment. Sunday was fun at RAD and on the radio - explained in my next post! :-)

Fall Foliage Float

On Saturday I went with the Blacksburg Parks and recreation center on a canoe trip down the James River. The weather was supposed to be very cold (which is was) and sunny (which for the most part it was not!). But the colors are pretty good at the moment. On the way to the rec center I walk past this great derelict house and amazing tree.

Old house.

After meeting at the rec center, they drove us up past Roanoke to the drop off on the James river in Botetourt county. We got kitted up and waited for the instructors to unload the canoes and get the shuttle over to a pickup point.

Canoes at the ready

Ready to go.

Because I was on my own and everyone else was in pairs (the usual story), I ended up sharing a canoe with Travis, the guy in charge. Which had its good and bad sides. Good side - I was with someone who knew exactly that they were doing. Bad side - we went through all the rapids first to test out the best path and he was slightly insane! He liked to rock the boat. Literally! I really did think we were going to get dunked. Especially when he stood up in the canoe yelling "This is what not to do!" Thankfully that did not happe. (Did I mention it was really cold?)

Getting the canoes in.

Despite the clouds, the sun did come through a couple of times and it was very pretty and peaceful.

The James River

There were a lot of different groups on the trip. There were a few parent/kid groups (one of who were the first to going for an unplanned swim but despite being freezing the kid was a trooper!).  They were all great fun and we had a good laugh (usually when someone ran into a tree or kept going in circles).

Along the trip there were some quite impressive rapids as the water was really high apparently. I loved it! Despite the splashes of cold water. (And mild terror occasionally - maybe due to the crazy man steering!)

Camille (11) and her mom, Alex 

We stopped on the river for lunch. This was after a couple of big rapids (which I didm't get any photos of - I was too busy paddling and hoping not to go swimming) so it was nice to have a chance to dry off a little. and chat.

Climbing ashore for lunch.

The little guy is the one who went swimming.

Fall leaves

After lunch we headed out again. On this section, we spent some time holding onto each other canoes and just drifting while we waited for some else to be fished out of the drink. It was nice just to chill out and drift and chat.

Near miss with a tree!

Some rocky water

The sun did come out in the afternoon for a little and made all the difference. I got a bit wet in each of the rapids (Travis like to aim for the wave trains - the biggest waves - which was fun until you a re freezing after!). Anyway the heat from the sun was much appreciated!

The sun comes out.

Doesn't look like it but there was sun I promise.

The trees weren't as good as I had hoped. High winds have removed a lot of the leaves, especially the red one for some reason. (someone tried to explain but I didn't get it). But they were still pretty, especially in the sun.

Fall colors

Moody shot

And we were lucky enough to see a red-tailed hawk. This was the best shot I could get with my little waterproof. I would have loved to have had my DSLR but there was no way it was going anywhere near the water! (I didn't even ask it for the bus just in case I was tempted.)

red-tailed Hawk

The second stop was just to stretch our legs and try to scalage for a snack. Most people stayed in their canoes to avoid getting their feet wet. But mine were already wet (thanks to the amount of water now in the bottom of the canoe) so why not? A few of us went looking for pawpaws which are apparently a cross between a fig and a banana. I was very curious (they aren't sold in shops, generally scavenged from river sides, and are only available on the female version of the tree). Unfortunately it seems everyone else on the river before us had the same plan and the trees were bare. :-(

Break site.

Looking for extra layers to stay warm (Travis is the guy in red)

More fall colors

Getting out of the break site back onto the river was tricky. The water here wasn't very deep so we pretty much had to shuffle the boats along with our butts and paddles. Not the most elegant (and in fact quite comical at times) but it worked.

Some blue sky!

Of course as we got close to our takeout point (just before the bridge), the clouds cleared and the sun came out. Thankfully the last leg was uneventful (we did go through the biggest rapid and everyone got wet but no one went swimming there). Everyone was really grateful for the heat when we got out and desperate to get back to the shuttle to change into warm clothes!

Sunny at last!

In total only 3 people capsized. I was happy not to be one of them. In the summer, sure. But not in 50 F weather. It was a lovely day and I topped it off with Thai curry and R collection cab sauv wine when I got home. I'll definitely be doing more of the rec center trips in the future (one in a few weeks in fact) and certainly more of the canoeing/kayaking trips. But in the spring/summer!
Sunday was spent working. Boring but necessary. Also planning conferences and travel for next year though. So I have some fun things to look forward to! :-)