Hi all,
The holidays are all about relaxing, chillin, and watching cool videos with your loved ones. I came across this amazing video of a guy building a sawmill! Definitely worth a watch. His ingenuity, skills, work ethic and knowledge base is truly inspiring. Hope you enjoy! We definitely did.
Happy Holidays!
11/5/2023: On an unseasonably warm autumn day, with a high of 69F, we continued our exploration of the state parks southwest of Richmond, about an hour’s drive to High Bridge Trail State Park. Located near Farmville, Virginia.
The park is named after it’s centerpiece, the High Bridge. Spanning over 2400 feet long and 125 feet above the Appomattox River it is the longest recreational bridge in Virginia and one of the longest in the United States. It is marked as a Virginia Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. The entire trail is 31 miles long and it can be enjoyed on foot, bike, or even horseback. The trail was actually once a rail bed and as such it is very wide, level and flat overall – ideal for little munchkins on their bikes/balance bikes or even strollers.
We parked slightly west of the bridge at the River Road/Farmville, Cumberland County parking lot. From here, the High Bridge was a short 0.9mile bike ride. There are also restroom facilities at this location as well.
It looked like we were about a couple weeks away from peak foliage but the sights were still fantastic. The sun was out, and the kids were ready to pedal. They particularly enjoyed the view atop of the bridge, looking into miles of forest, and the meandering appomattox river below. I’d like to one day do the trail starting from Farmville. Hoping everyone had a great thanksgiving, and here’s to a happy and healthy, holiday season.
Photos taken with Sony a6700 (tamron 17-28mm lens)
Visit the High Bridge Trail State Park Website here: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/high-bridge-trail
A blast from the summer. I finally got around to editing this short video from a week in the Outerbanks. Filmed with my Sony a6000, iPhone 11 Pro and Sony action camera FDR X 3000.
Stay safe and healthy out there everyone. Here’s to a happy upcoming holiday season.
10/22/2023: A beautiful fall day took us southwest of Richmond, about an hour’s drive to Twin Lakes State Park. Located near FarmVille, Virginia, the park is 548 acres and is centered around Prince Edward Lake (36 acres) and then Goodwin Lake (15 acres). We’ve been on a quest to explore new state parks in Virginia, and as always they never disappoint. This was also my chance to shoot with my Sony a6700. I’ve been using the A6000 for the past 8 years and it has not let me down, in my opinion, that camera still competes with the best of them. I purchased the a6700 mostly for it’s video capabilities, it’s external mic options and it’s longer battery life. So far, I’ve been super impressed with it.
We took on an easy 1 mile loop around Goodwin lake, which is flat and easy to navigate. Our one and a Half year old boy was able to hike the whole thing himself. The park was especially quiet on a Sunday and we saw only one other person on the trail. The kids enjoyed skipping rocks, leaf hunting, rock hunting and checking out the trees.
The discovery center, was open and a ranger showed the kids numerous pelts of different animals, and showed us the living occupants of the discovery center. One large red eared slider named “Myrtle the Turtle” and a large northern copperhead. All of this took us several hours and it was then nap time for our youngest. Otherwise, we would have liked to explore the larger of the twin lakes, Prince Edward Lake. The forest ranger, told us that this larger lake was slightly more remote and was ideal for canoeing. Another reason for us to come back!
There are still a few state parks in central Virginia that we have not visited: James River State Park and the High Bridge Trail State Park. So many places to see, so little time. Fall is here, make sure you get your flu shot. And stay healthy out there.
Photos taken with Sony a6700 (tamron 17-28mm lens)
Visit the Twin Lakes State Park Website here: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/twin-lakes
One of our kids’ favorite places in Richmond, is the Science Museum of Virginia. We haven’t been back however since our youngest son was born so it’s been a couple of years. Since then, we were pleased to learn that the museum had completed some projects to improve the experience. A new parking deck was finished in 2021 and makes museum access much easier and safer. The old parking lot was turned into a green area with a new art display. The kids were a big fan of this.
The museum offers a plethora of hands on and interactive experiences for everyone. From a race track where you time yourself against t-rex, Usain bolt and a cheetah, to playing air hockey against a robot. There’s plenty to keep yourself engaged. For children 5 and under there is a kids zone, with fun activities and climbing area.
I love museums because they always inspire me to think differently. It make me question “how?” when it comes to the functioning of the world around us. As I watch my kids interact with each exhibit, I know their fears are turning and I can see the wonder in their eyes. They always leave the museum a little bit wiser and with new eyes to experiment in this fascinating world around us.
Support the science museum of Virginia below:
Photos shot with Sony a6000 and Tameron 28-75mm. 10/8/2023
Change is in the air. In Virginia we’ve finally had a break in the heat. The kids are back in school and they are transitioning well. We spent a sunny Saturday morning to explore our own backyard, in River City, Richmond, Virginia. The kids wanted to explore the James River off of Belle Isle and we made a quick trip to the Virginia War Memorial located in the same vicinity. I have been to the memorial before, but never inside. I was surprised to learn that there were several exhibits and learning centers, all free to the public.
The Virginia War Memorial was established in 1955 dedicated to Virginians killed in World War II and the Korean War, it was later enlarged in 1980 to honor those killed in the Vietnam War. In 1996 the names of Virginians killed in Desert Storm were added. There are almost 12,000 Virginians whose names are on the memorial. There was an additional shrine honoring over 250 Virginians killed in the Global War on Terror. The memorial is certainly worth a visit.
From the Virginia War Memorial it is a short and beautiful walk to the Belle Isle suspension bridge, and over to Belle Isle. The kids enjoyed the short hike and exploring the life of the James River. As they transition back into school mode, we’ve been making some updates in the workshop. Here’s to another upcoming fall season in Virginia. With COVID on the uptick again, please stay staff and healthy out there.
Photos shot with Sony a6000 and Tameron 28-75mm.
A beautiful week in the outerbanks of North Carolina. We had good weather, good sun, good waves and a killer time. Photos taken with Sony a6000
This past Saturday, we were blessed with a beautiful Spring day in Virginia. We rounded up the rugrats and headed to our favorite local park – Pocahontas State Park! It would be our one year old’s first time in the ol backpack and he seemed to enjoy it quite a bit. There is something certainly magical and calming about the beauty of the forest. Have you ever noticed that after spending time in the forest, you just generally feel better? Well there’s a good amount of published medical literature regarding the biophysiological changes that happen after spending time in the forest. This area of research has been picking up steam in the past several decades in several countries, linking it to positive effects on your immune system, heart rate, blood pressure, and mood. The Japanese have actually come up with a term called: Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing). Studies demonstrate that spending time in the forest (not necessarily exercising), is linked to improve natural immunity cell function, blood pressure, sleep, anti-anxiety and more benefits that we have still not come to understand as of yet.
In many countries where preventative and primary care is strongly developed, many physicians actually prescribe their patients “time in the forest”. The positive effects of shinrin-yoku “forest bathing” seemed to last for several weeks after the time in the forest. There is certainly something primordial about reconnecting with the earth by spending time in the forest. Have you ever stared at a tree, it’s trunk and it’s branches and wondered how this shape came to be? This branching shape is ubiquitous to everything that is life. In the human body for instance, the blood vessels that course through our lungs (pulmonary artery tree) and through our eyes (the retinal vasculature) share the same branching shapes. The rivers that flow through our land are another example. This arterial network throughout the earth and life is truly amazing.
For our children, they are truly in their element in the woods. Chasing the sounds of the bull frogs, the woodpeckers, the wind through the trees, watching them marvel at everything is a joy. Pocahontas also has a pretty amazing nature center, where children can learn about rocks, live animals (snakes and snapping turtles), furs, campsites, camp gear, and loads more. We also visited the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) museum for the first time. They all had a blast. I’m hoping the effects of shinrin-yoku linger till our next trip back outdoors. I wish everyone good health and be safe when exploring.
We try to make it out to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia for vacation during peak fall foliage time each year — a chance to breathe in the cold mountain air, watch the colors change and reset as a family.
We stayed this time in Massanutten (a census designated place), in the heart of Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Much of the attraction to this area centers around the ski-resort, however during the fall time it served as a great base for us to explore the surrounding region.
One of the first adventures took us to the Massanutten Story Book Trail, located in Shenandoah County. It was a short, paved hike about 0.7 miles long. It was perfect for our family with kids of ages 5, 2.5 and 8 months. The trail is paved and very accessible for the most part. There are numerous boulders and a wide array of oak species to explore. The view at the end is pretty spectacular – with Shenandoah National Park in the far distance. We took this trail on in late October and I was surprised that there were a lot of gnats about, so be sure to pack some bug spray.
One of the highlights of our trip for the kids was visiting Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouse in Timberville, Virginia. On a weekday, we found that we had the orchard mostly to ourselves. The kids got to enjoy some donuts, cider and apple treats. The trees in the orchard were packed with apples and were low lying. Fuji apples were in season at the time and the kids had no trouble filling up the bags. Old Hill Ciders are also pressed and made at this same farm in Timberville. We were blessed with spectacular clear skies.
The Massanutten ski resort area still had plenty of activities for the kids in the off season. There were playgrounds, ponds to fish, a water park, trails to explore, restaurants and even an area for gem hunting. The kids were never bored.
On our way back home, we made a stop in the small town of Gordonsville, Virginia for a lunch break. A local recommended The Jackson and Company Market and I’m glad that they did. It was a chilly fall day and it was the perfect place for the kids to warm up with soup and for the grown ups to have coffee. With a population of approximately 1500, the main street was where all of the action seemed to be. Shops were busy and people were getting ready to put up the town’s Christmas lights. There was even a blacksmith shoppe that we unfortunately didn’t have time to check out, but I guess it’s just more reason for us to come back to the mountains. We’ve been coming to the Virginia blue ridge and Shenandoah for years, and maybe we’re just simple folk, but it just seems like there’s endless things to see, do, and enjoy in this special place.
In traditional dad fashion, I filmed our trip on my trusty a6000. I’ve had the camera for 8 years, and it’s still going strong.
WAY NORTH 