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High Bridge Trail State Park

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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.

West of the High Bridge. We parked at the River road entrance, a short 0.9 mile bike ride to the bridge.
The trail was a former rail bed. It is wide, flat and easy to travel on.

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.

Appomattox River
Enjoying the views at the top.

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

Autumn Hike in Twin Lakes State Park

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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.

Twin Lakes State Park is approximately a 1 hour drive, south west of Richmond. It is near the town of FarmVille.

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 Toyota Sienna Hybrid is a dad’s beast. Woodland Edition.
Would be fun to swim here in the summer

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!

Mica hunting
Mica

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.

Northern Copperhead at Twin Lakes State Park
Goodwin Lake a 15 acre lake at Twin Lakes State Park.

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

Day trip to the Science Museum of Virginia – Richmond, VA

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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.

See live animals like this Bearded Dragon in the animal laboratory.
A model SR 71 blackbird hands from the ceiling at the Science Museum of Virginia. Richmond, Virginia.
A kids play area for children under 5, provides ample activities to keep the young minds wondering.

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:

https://smv.org

No museum is complete without a tyrannosaurus skull
The race track at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond, Va.

Photos shot with Sony a6000 and Tameron 28-75mm. 10/8/2023

Last days of Summer – Virginia War Memorial & Belle Isle

John4 Comments

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.

Virginia War Memorial, on a Saturday morning
The Virginia War Memorial’s Motto: “Honoring our Veterans, Preserving our History, Educating our Youth, and Inspiring Patriotism in All”.

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 trip to our nation’s capital – Washington DC.

John3 Comments

As our two oldest children, (ages 5 and 3) have gotten older, their fascination with the outside world has only blossomed. They are in awe at the size of trees, they dig and search for rocks and gemstones, they wonder about the dinosaurs and the search for animals of all types. They love all of it. They learned about the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC through their children’s books and have been itching to go. What would be cooler than visiting the world’s largest museum, education and research complex?

the anticipation….
this place is as cool as it gets

So on a Friday night before Memorial Day weekend, we set off for our Nation’s Capital, Washington D.C. We arrived in the heart of the city just blocks away from the National Mall. After a good night’s sleep, we awoke to 2 giddy children eager to walk over to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The kids marveled at pretty much everything. From the stunning rock and gem collections to the towering full scale dinosaur skeletons, it was everything they had hoped for and more.

gems
Allosaurus, an all time favorite.
Camarasarus

We ventured through an area I haven’t visited, the Smithsonian gardens. In a busy city, this section was a nice escape from the crowds as we enjoyed the vast array of plants, flowers and trees. Our meandering took us through the gardens and into the National Museum of American Art, where we were once again just amazed by the beautiful collections, and the history behind each piece.

taking a breather at the national mall lawn

We spent our next couple days, exploring the national mall, the national monument, the Lincoln memorial. The wonderful part of it all was the fact that we just walked and took the very easy to access Metro subway.

The metro was a great way to get around
The National Mall area has an impressive collection of old trees. Lots of old oak and American elm.
Lincoln Memorial in the distance. The walkway was lined with very old elm trees.

It had been decades since I’ve been to the Smithsonian Museums, National Mall and all of the memorials, and I feel like I was just as amazed as I was as a child. I think visiting this area can be described as both powerful and uplifting. This is a beautiful country – the combination of memorials, monuments, bustling federal buildings and museums really paint a landscape of history, present and future. Our monuments and memorials celebrate the thousands of lives lost to give us our freedom. A strong reminder that freedom is very fragile. The museums demonstrate what we are able to discover and learn under the blanket of that freedom. This knowledge will hopefully help us to provide a better future, and the very active federal buildings show the day to day work which keeps the country running. Washington D.C. is a remarkable place for all ages.

Spring hike in Pocahontas – Shinrin-Yoku

John5 Comments

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.

Photograph of the fundus of the eye. This recurring architecture of branching vessels is seen throughout the natural world in trees, rivers and plants.

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.

The CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) was a voluntary government work relief program that ran from 1933 to 1942, initiated by Franklin D. Roosevelt. They helped to establish many parks such as Pocahontas State Park. We are grateful for their efforts and foresight to allow future generations to enjoy these treasures.
Interesting video about the Civilian Conservation Corps

Petersburg National Battlefield – Petersburg, Virginia

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The city of Petersburg is a short 40 minute drive away from the capital of Virginia, Richmond. These two cities played pivotal roles in the American Civil War. It was here, where the final days of the civil war were fought. The “Siege of Petersburg” was a series of battles fought from June 9, 1864 to March 25, 1865 that led to the end of the civil war.

“Nine and a half months, 70,000 casualties, the suffering of civilians, thousands of U. S. Colored Troops fighting for the freedom of their race, and the decline of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of No. Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. It was here Gen. Ulysses S. Grant cut off all of Petersburg’s supply lines ensuring the fall of Richmond on April 3, 1865. Six days later, Lee surrendered.” – National Park Service

I wanted to take the kids out for some epic learning and exploration. We have never actually spent any time in Petersburg, but the park was certainly impressive. There was loads to see and we explored just a small fraction.

Photos taken on Sony a6000 w/Tamron 28-75mm lens

Telephoto trial on the Piankatank River

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We took the family to spend a couple of days on the Piankatank River. The water was calm and the wildlife was out and about. I was able to get a shot of the bald eagles that have been hunting our segment of the river for years. I’ve been breaking in the Sigma 100-400mm telephoto lens. I still have it attached to the trusty old Sony a6000 that’s been pulling it’s weight for the past 5 years now. Hard to believe it’s been that long. I still have much to learn about telephoto lenses, but it’s been a lot of fun. Happy Holidays to everyone. Stay safe and healthy out there…and keep those masks on! Cheers.