An Unexpected Hike

 

AN UNEXPECTED HIKE - to Stone Mountain

      The end of June, we stopped by Stone Mountain State Park in Roaring Gap, North Carolina, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Our intention was to walk along an easy one-quarter mile trail to a scenic view of the stone mountain.  At least, that is what I thought I read in the brochure.  However, it appears that I must have imagined such a trail, because it doesn't seem to exist.

       These words by Alexander Graham Bell had special meaning when we ended up taking an unexpected two-mile hike in the woods:  "Don't keep forever on the public road, going only where others have gone and following after the other like a flock of sheep.  Leave the beaten track occasionally and dive into the woods.  Every time you do so you will be certain to find something that you have never seen before." 

 

     Well, we did "dive into the woods," and in spite of everything it turned out to be a nice adventure with a lot of good exercise - up and down and all-around on what seemed at the time to be a never-ending trail.  We were able to maneuver over tangles of roots, fallen trees, numerous wide steps, and a sad lack of signage to finally arrive at our destination -- a stunning stone mountain, complete with a furnished homestead and outbuildings from an extended family who lived there for over a century, beginning in 1855 when they built the house. 

    I'm reminded of the many wonderful Bible verses that speak of mountains, here are just a few:

--"For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands," Isaiah 55:12.

--I will lift up my eyes to the hills -- from whence comes my help?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth," Psalm 121:1-2.

--"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God," Psalm 90:2.

--"He puts His hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the roots," Job 28:9.

--"For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you," Isaiah 54:10.

Pulaski, Virginia

PULASKI, VIRGINIA

 

       The end of June, we spent an evening in Pulaski, Virginia - located near the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The photo is their park which sits beside an active railroad track.  The hotel we stayed in is the brick building at the end of the street.  The town of Pulaski was incorporated in 1886 and named for Count Casimir Pulaski, a Revolutionary War hero and nobleman from Poland.

       We stayed at the Jackson Park Inn which is a lovingly converted 1920's grocery warehouse.  An outer wall of original brick, exposed post and beam timbers and wide plank wood floors offer a wonderful glimpse of early craftsmanship.  The three floors are beautifully decorated and we very much enjoyed staying there (my second time).

      We enjoyed a walk around the quiet town.  There are many nice, old buildings that are empty, but there is evidence of revitalization taking place and hopefully, the town will soon be vibrant again.  There's a lot of potential there.  Here are a few photos from our walk:

               This picturesque Episcopal church sits right beside the river running through the town.

      This triple stone arch has quite a history.  It was built in 1907 for a display at the Jamestown Exposition of 1907 (right near us in Norfolk!).  After the event ended, they dismantled the arch and brought it back to Pulaski where it was erected as a permanent entrance for the stately granite courthouse below (ca 1896).  Our good friend Martha is from Pulaski and I would love to hear some of her stories of growing up in that town.

 I'll end with these beautiful pink hydrangeas growing along the 

black iron fence across the street from the courthouse.

We enjoyed our brief stay in the small town named after Count Pulaski of Poland!  It's always nice to explore a new place.  So thankful the Lord "will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore," Psalm 121:7-8

National D-Day Memorial

NATIONAL D-DAY MEMORIAL

       The end of June we visited the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia, not far from the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The 50-acre monument reminds us of the sacrifice of more than 4,415 men who died on June 6, 1944, when allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy France.  D-Day was the largest amphibious assault in human history as well as one of the most pivotal battles of World War II.
 

   The most touching and dramatic scene represents a soldier wading through water as bullets whiz around him, another soldier lying in the sand, and life-size soldiers storming the beach.  The pops of water representing bullets is especially chilling.

A soldier bravely climbs toward the enemy bunkers

     This statue of a soldier is a special memorial to the Bedford Boys from that county.  On D-Day, that small, rural county lost more young men per capita than anywhere else in America.  There were 44 Bedford Boys in the battle that day -- 20 of them were killed.  Certainly a mighty sacrifice for this small tight-knit community.

     We are reminded of the courage and bravery of all those men that day -- and throughout the history of our country.  Some who gave their lives and others who fought long and hard in the trenches to bring freedom to those held in the clutches of evil.  We thank God for His blessing on our land.  

      "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance.  From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth - He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do," Psalm 33:12-15.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!