So here are *some* (at this I giggle because I am long-winded when it comes to pictures!).
Beginning of our excursion into the Island Ford Cave system. The system has been mapped twice and has a total of 2200 feet of passages before ending in a pool at the end. It's open to the public for amature spelunking - it's relatively safe (no huge chasms, nothing vertical, the water wasn't more than two or three inches deep until you got to the pool). We saw a salamander in there and some doves, but no bats. This is the before when we were all clean.
Here I am, crawling through between two rocks - Jim went over, but I'm kinda short, so... Remember it's pitch black in there with just our head lamps and the illumination when the camera flashes went off. FUN! :)
I was crawling up this one boulder when I lost my grip and fell from my hands and knees to my stomach. Up until this point I had stayed fairly clean, considering. Not any more! Jim just stood there laughing.
And after. What a mess. We ended up clogging the wash machine with the mud and had to wash the mud out in the river, and then put the clothes back into the wash machine...
Later that day, after a well deserved lunch and some relaxing, I was given a pep talk about the fun of kayaking and some much needed reassurance that I would be fine and no, the water wasn't all that deep! Into the kayak I go, all nerves.
Once I was on the river (Jackson River) for a while, I loosened up. See my smile?
Hanging out with Jim. The scenery was beautiful and you couldn't have asked for a nicer day, although it was a bit on the cool side.
Ahh....
At the end, I didn't really want to get off the river. I was tired, though (we all were), and we were loosing light fast. It was best to take out and go have some dinner!
So THIS is Falling Spring Waterfall. You drive up to a parking lot, walk along the road for a bit and then you see the waterfall from the observation area. Beautiful.
Move around the observation area for a better view.
And if you're so inclined to make the way down to the bottom, you can opt for a better vantage point from the bottom!
With just a little bit MORE effort (really not that much at all), you can get yet another view.
After spending about a half hour or so at the bottom of the falls just taking in the beauty, we decided to head back up. You can take a little trail to the top of the waterfall, which of course we did.
Jim likes to take different perspective pictures - normally he's taking a picture of me. Here he's taking a picture, I'm taking one of him, and our friends took one of us both! Thought it was a funny picture. We're still at the top of the falls.
Jim stopped at the overlook back from Falling Spring Waterfall for me. The day was so clear and we could see for a long distance. Nothing like Montana, but Montana's nothing like there!
First little bridge over Roaring Run. I believe there were four of these little stone and wood bridges.
The hiking trail along Roaring Run.
The locals here were sliding down this rock into the swimming pool below. For a local haunt, I was delightfully surprised at how there was NO trash anywhere in the park!
Another of the numerous falls. There had to be at least a half dozen substantial ones and too many to count smaller ones.
Roaring Run Falls. The main waterfall, although they were all beautiful.
Great rocks along the stream! Almost has an Azteca feeling although we're in southwestern Virgnia.
Jim and I on the hike along Roaring Run.
Roaring Run Furnace - iron ore furnace from the mid 1800's.
The swinging footbridge over the Jackson River. As I understand it, this bridge provides landowners a way to get over the river should their roads become flooded.
Gathright Dam and Lake Moomaw - up from the dam.
Down from the dam.
The lake itself. While we were there we kept seeing some pretty large splashing so I got the binocs and I think we were either seeing Nessy or some turtles!It was a fantastic weekend and I am so very glad I went. Can't wait for next time!
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