Tag Archives: summer

A Quiet Place To Run

18 Sunday Aug 2013

Posted by in Day Trips, Ramblings

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What I love most about this place we live is that there is always a new place, always a place with no people, always green and water and sweet air.

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Sometimes you just have to look a little further, venture someplace you don’t know.

The dogs and I have five places we usually run, and in all five, for most of the year, we have the trails to ourselves.  This time of year, the two river trails are busy with summer people, and the other three trails, beyond the gates on tree company land, were closed to entry two weeks ago because of elevated fire danger.

So we’ve been going to the river trails in the early morning before the summer people have had their breakfast, but a late shift Friday had us out in the afternoon with no place to go, so we went further up Larch Mountain, into the National Forest land, to find a place.

At milepost 9, we found a gate with paved road and walked in.

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Well, I walked.  The dogs exuberated.  (No, it’s not a word.)  (But it should be.)

I expected, it being Larch Mountain and all, and Larch Mountain having a large network of trails, that we would come across a trail that would take us off into the woods, but two miles of paved, and another mile of pack gravel before we ran into a Bull Run Watershed No Trespassing sign, and nary a trail.

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Still.  Beautiful little creeks that those of us in the party with four nimble legs could get down to for a cool down, wildflowers by the road, gorgeous forest, and quiet.

Venture out someplace you don’t know.  There’s something there, I promise.

Here, have a smile.

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Snapshot No. 7

27 Saturday Jul 2013

Posted by in And Around, Ramblings, Snapshots

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The end of July always feels like it came too soon.  There is such a brief moment of summer, and where has it gone.  Beauty day after beauty day slips away in the thousand things, defined by the small pieces of each, and the next time you look around, the greens have faded under the sun, and the river runs low and green, and the dark comes earlier every day.

It is the time to slow down and notice the tiny gifts, to make the most of the strong days and soft evenings.

And to go out in the yard and sleep with an old dog under a starred night sky.

Image:  Loree Harrell, July 2013, King by the spring on Larch Mountain.

Snapshot 6

05 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by in And Around, Day Trips, Ramblings, Snapshots

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huckleberry red

I have to tell you a funny story about red huckleberries.

You didn’t even know there was a funny story about red huckleberries, did you?

Well, anyway.

Back in the days when I was married, my husband and I went on a trip.  We must have been somewhere out in The Woods, because we were on a dirt road in a much-loved F150, and I spotted red berries on a bush and said Stop! I Want Some Of Those Berries!

My husband, being a good and sensible man, said, Are You Sure Those Berries Are Edible?

I said, Yes, of course they are.  I remember those berries from my childhood.  Dad said they were edible and we ate them and we didn’t die and so, Yes.  Of Course They Are.

My husband, being a both good and reasonable man, stopped the much-loved F150, and I debarked and ate several handfuls of the berries.

…

A mile or so down the dirt road, my logic superceded my enthusiasm, and I wasn’t Quite as sure those were the berries of my childhood, and I said, I Think those were the same berries we ate and didn’t die.

I could see him, being a good man, and also an ex- Eagle Scout, making a Plan for how to get me to a hospital without breaking the much-loved F150, and, really, I was being silly (probably) so I said, I’m sure those were the berries of my childhood, and we both pretended to relax while waiting for me not to die.

Anyway.

The point is.

Last week there were no huckleberries.
This week there are huckleberries.
The moral of the story is there are cycles in life.
Or the moral of the story is there are huckleberries in life.
[Both red and blue.]

huckleberry

One of those.

Larch Mountain is as much information as you get because, really, there ain’t enough for both of us.

Could there possibly be a better time of year?

01 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by in And Around, Community, Day Trips

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I love this time of year.  Not because my house often reaches an inside temperature in the mid- to upper-80s, not because it’s high season at the hotel and a bit crazy at times (okay, it’s a bit crazy often), not because it’s a good excuse to buy another slew of $4.00 tank tops…

Berries.  Cherries (cherrrrrrriessss!).  Rhubarb.  U-Pick.  Roadside stands.  I could live on fresh fruit with frequent yogurt and occasional ice cream.  Fresh lavender in big beautiful delicious purple bundles.

If you drive the Historic highway, without pulling over at least (at least) once for something straight out of the field, you’re missing a smile.  So grab a container big enough to sustain you through the summer traffic at the Falls. Here’s a sampling along the Historic Highway…

Troutdale main drag
The Fruit Stop… great selection of local fruit and veggies, plus beautiful hanging baskets.

Market on Saturdays at the old train Depot…

(and don’t miss the First Friday art walk this week!!)

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Kerslake Farms (also the Mirror at the top of the page)

Springdale
George Knierem’s place… u-pick raspberries.  Just past Dabney State Park on your right, Woodard (to your left) goes up and over the hill to drop into Springdale.  Watch for the signs!

Kerslake Farms:  u-pick and picked raspberries and blueberries.
Past the Stark Street bridge, through the curves and past the dragon, first right on Northway and follow the signs.

Watch for bouquets of fresh dahlias in little huts with a jar to leave a couple bucks in along the way!

To get to Wills Farm: [“tons of different fruit all summer” according to an inside source], bear right on Hurlburt (just past the Springdale Pub and catty-corner from the Springdale School), and turn right on Christensen Road.

Corbett
After you pass the Corbett Market (yes, stop), and the fire station (hats off to the magnificent volunteer Corbett Fire Dept), keep an eye out to your left (I’m speaking to the passenger-side person here, of course).  You will pass a stand in front of Kirby’s blueberry field with (oddly) blueberries, cherries, rhubarb (whatever is fresh and lovely) for sale, or grab a bucket and pick your own blues.

Still looking to the left, watch for the lavender signs… there’s no better way to scent your car or your room, and the best thing about lavender is you can skip the vase and just let the stalks look and smell pretty as they dry.

Larch Mountain
Right after Women’s Forum, follow Larch Mountain Road to the right, and take a quick right onto Salzman to get to Klock’s blueberries – u-pick.  The field is a bit higher, so berries are on a bit later and the fields are huge!  U-pick starting soon, check their site.

If you eat half a pound (each) while driving the 14 miles up to the top of Larch, you won’t even notice that the steps up to Sherrard Point are steep.  Promise.

Enjoy : ).