"Every Picture Tells a Story ... Don't It:" On the Road - The Colorful Shenandoah, Chapter I | Eastern North Carolina Now

   Publisher's note: I am in the Shenandoah Valley, and it is a most beautiful time. This short pictorial is but a teaser of what is yet to come.

    I love the Shenandoah Valley, the Mountains, and the rich history of this region of Virginia. I am finding that I travel here at least once a year: For business, personal and creative purposes.

    This time it may be for all three; however, considering what I see around me, taking pictures and making memories will be a huge part of this trip. Consequently, I will bring you this teaser, with more images to follow.
Elkton, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, is the "jumping off point" to leave the valley and enter the center of the Skyline Drive of the Shenandoah National Park. This image reflects the rustic flavor of this small high hamlet in the valley: Above. Skyline Drive was inundated with motorists from all over the world. Washington, DC is less than an hour away from the northern portal to the National Park at Front Royal, Virginia: Below.     photos by Stan Deatherage
    The Shenandoah valley is extra-expansive, especially by my North Carolina standards. In North Carolina, we have huge mountains, compared to Virginia's highest heights. In Virginia it is all about this pastoral, historic valley - the Shenandoah. The roads are good, the quaint towns are plentiful and the scenery is remarkable in all of the seasons. In this edition of "Every Picture tells a Story," we examine the picturesque qualities of Autumn, and its resplendent colors.

Skyline Drive is great; however, I try to find hiking trails where ever I can. The image above is from one trail just off the drive. Below is the rugged trail down to Lewis Falls near Big Meadow.     photos by Stan Deatherage
The view after we descend about 1.2 miles linear, down the rugged trail, to Lewis Falls: Above. From the top of Lewis Falls, I find this precarious position to record this image of the water as it makes ready to plunge the 83 feet drop that is Lewis Falls: Below.     photos by Stan Deatherage
From the aforementioned precarious position, I make this shot of a gathering group of college students on the huge rocky outcrop. They are looking mostly west: Above.     photo by Stan Deatherage
Remarkably, I edged myself into a small herd of deer, doe and near-grown fawns at Big Meadows in the Shenandoah National Park. This doe is just about ready to spring for a quick romp: Above. The day ends as we look west to Massanutten Mountain and the Massanutten Range: Below.     photos by Stan Deatherage