Photos from the Road - October 2016

September 2016

I have been on the road again.  I usually try to have some posts scheduled, but I had just completed a project and had no new pictures of a project ready to be posted.   This was one of our longest trips away this year.  I am usually only away for a few days.

October 2016

The hurricane stayed south of us, although we did get some rain from it.  It had veered out to see and most of the impact was along the coast.  It really rained though, and I was concerned about flooding down below.  When it rains hard up here, flash floods can come in no time at all lower down.  Most of the way to the cabin it was just overcast.  It only started raining the last hour of the trip.  However, we still had to unload the van in the pouring rain.  The rain continued until the next afternoon, but by evening it was clearing out.  The rain produced a bumper crop of mushrooms near a stump in the yard.

Our old shed.

The rain made for a very muddy trip to the Wine and Garlic Festival at Rebec Vineyards.  Straw had been laid in the low areas to keep the walkways from being huge mud puddles.  Even with that, we were still slogging through mud in some places.  My boots and pants legs were covered with mud.  But despite the mud we still had a very enjoyable time.  I am not sure that there were as many wineries there this year, although I can only think of one that was missing.  As far as I could tell, there were very few garlic vendors giving out samples, although there was plenty of garlic for sale.  I am sure that there were garlic oriented foods there, but they were not promoted as much as they had been in previous years.  Although some people feel that eating raw garlic is a bit too much for a festival, if you are having a wine and garlic festival, I think there ought to be some emphasis on garlic as well as the wine. If you ever get a chance to come to this festival, you should be here.  The festival is at a time of year that the weather is comfortable, and Rebec has gone to great lengths to make this a great festival.

It used to be that this weekend was just at the peak of color in the mountains.  On our way up, everything was still green.  By the time we left, the leaves were just starting to get tinges of yellow here and there.  It does not seem like it is going to be a year of the brightest colors.  So far, it appears to be a year of gold and brown and burgundy. 

At the cabin, leaves are already falling.  We arrived to a yard full of leaves.  During the week we were there we cleared the yard of leaves twice.  We were removing leaves by the tarp full.  When we go up again, I am sure the yard will be just as full of leaves as before.  The rest of the times was spent working on the porch.  The severe weather up there takes it toll on everything.  The porch needed to be taken out and joists replaced and new decking put down.  It was another big job.  Snakes live under the porch: garter snakes and black ring neckers.  They were not exactly happy with the change in their habitat.  I am sure that they were glad when the project was completed and the noise had stopped.

I shot the photo of the old barn in the first picture in September.  I am glad I was able to get the photo.  When we came back, the barn had been torn down.  It is very sad to see another piece of old Virginia taken away.  I am sure that it had become unstable enough to pose a hazard to those who had to work near it.  The shed on our property is approaching the same condition.  It leans further and further each visit.  The floor has collapsed and the walls are starting to bulge.  

During our travels I tried to get some photos of local road art.  I am not seeing as much out there this year.  I did manage to snap a couple of photos though.  The chicken is about five feet tall.  It used to stand on top of the brick pillar.  Although we drove by it quickly, it appeared that the pillar was damaged, which might account for why the chicken is on the ground.

The photo of the silhouette of a man on a horse comes up quickly around a corner.  It is hard to get a photo of it because it we come up on it so quickly.  It is strategically placed.  At first glance it actually looks like a man riding his horse across the field.  You have to look twice to realize that it is a metal silhouette.  There is a shop in Nelson County that makes these types of art objects.  The side of the building has several types of cut metal figures.  I suspect that the artist also makes other types of metal fabrications as well.   

Just the barest touch of color on the trees.

I will be back to blogging now that the trip is over.  I have some photos to show you of a current project.  Check back Thursday for what is new on the blog.