Llamas, Goats and More

The Farm at Court Manor

Last weekend I posted some pictures of the round barn at Court Manor. I took so many pictures that day! Here are some of the friendly animals that I met. The llamas were adorable.

For a place that was only open for one season on weekends, they really go all out. Here we see the duck race, with multiple pumps and troughs.

My friendly animal at home managed to stay by himself while I was on this adventure. He is gradually conquering his separation anxiety. I left him again yesterday while I went to the pharmacy for a booster shot, and he did very well.

Here is a picture of Charlie with added color from a Picsart filter.

Favorite Part of Town

Theme Day: City Daily Photo

When I first considered this months theme, “My favorite part of town,” I felt puzzled. Most of my favorite places are not in my town. But then I remembered that the Shenandoah River is on the edge of town, and we even have a state park there! Of course, that’s it!

I go to Seven Bends State Park at least once a week, often more. Today I took Charlie for a walk near the Lupton Road entrance. I bundled up because the weather has just turned cold. Many of the leaves have fallen, but there’s still some bright yellow ones and the grass is still green.

Charlie likes all the smells of the park. Is it his favorite place? Let’s ask him.

Charlie: “No. It’s interesting, but my favorite place is the dog park. It’s the most fun. I get to run really fast.

Yesterday, Sadie went there with us. I wasn’t too sure that was a good idea, but we had a good time. Some of my friends were there. It’s the best place ever when your friends are there!”

Discovering Sweet Run State Park

Loudoun County

I read that a new state park was open near Purcellville, so a week ago I went to check it out. I ran into heavy traffic on Route 9 because it is the detour for 340 in Harpers Ferry, which is closed for rock slide repairs.  Other than that, the ride was pleasant. 

I came to the Sawmill Road entrance first. It is basically access for horse trailers, but the road looked splendid in fall colors.

I drove back out to Harpers Ferry Road and found the main entrance to the park. The property was obviously a farm at one time. There is a restored farmhouse among other farm buildings.

I was a little puzzled by some things that were new. Our local state park was basically undeveloped when it opened, but this one is farther along than ours already.  Then I saw a sign that explained it.

The property was improved by the Robert and Dee Leggett foundation as the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship. 

Sweet Run State Park

Rails to Trails

Theme: Transportation

Here we see a train in Waynesboro. We don’t see them in Shenandoah County anymore. There are proposals to turn the old railroad right-of-way into a path for biking and walking. Three million dollars have already been allocated for an engineering study.

I am familiar with rails to trails concept through the successful one in Northern Virginia. 

W&OD Bike Path in Herndon

Not everyone supports the idea. There are still people who think the railroad may come back. Norfolk Southern, however, is not interested in spending the money to modernize those old tracks. 

The path would run about 50 miles from Front Royal to Broadway. It would go through some fantastic scenery. I would love to walk out on the old river bridges across the Shenandoah River.

Links: CDP Theme Day / Shenandoah Rail Trail / Shadow Shot Sunday

Park Critters and Effects

Seven Bends, Hollingsworth Road

 Our state park turns out to be a good place for a sniffari. That’s a walk where a dog gets to sniff a lot. And since Charlie’s a beagle, sniffing is an intense activity for him, and actually tires him out.

On Wednesday, I took him to the Hollingsworth Road entrance to the park. I was pleased to see the peacock again because I haven’t seen him in a long time. He belongs to a residence next to the entrance which also has geese. I believe this is a Sepastopol goose.

I parked in the lot by the river because I didn’t want to deal with the birds while walking the dog. The first time I met the peacock, he jumped up on my car and would not get off!

My photo of a man fishing near the swinging bridge was not very satisfying so I filtered it in an app. Friends liked the result, so I tried a painterly effect on a picture of some deer that ran through the park after a jogger startled them. They show up better now, but the trees suddenly acquired fall colors.

I don’t want to leave Charlie out of the special effects.

Concert Coming to Our State Park

Camp Lupton Barn

I took this picture to illustrate an fundraising event at Seven Bends State Park. It will be held this Saturday from 4 to 6 pm. UPDATE: The event has been postponed to October 14.

This pony barn is the only remaining building from the days when the property was a summer camp. The concert will be held outdoors.

Thursday in Clear Brook

Frederick County, VA

After taking some pictures in Winchester, I decided to go up to Clear Brook Park to get some pictures of the lake. I had stopped at the park once, but had not walked out to the lake. The water level turned out to be low, like most of our rivers and lakes are right now. It’s been a fairly dry summer.

Some people were fishing, and others were walking along the trails. 

I saw this cute green frog. It did not move, so I was able to get closer. I modified his close-up in the Oilbrush app. 

The park has a number of amenities, including an old caboose.

The parking lot is surrounded by Rose of Sharon trees. 

The Clear Brook community is still somewhat rural, although it’s proximity to I-81 has made it a trucking hub. There is a large Amazon Fulfillment Center. 

The post office is still small.

When I got back to the veterinary to pick up Charlie from day boarding, I found one of the resident cats sleeping in the waiting room. 

I’ll close with a picture of Charlie that I took today. He was quite pleased because he not only chased the ball and played with it, he brought it back and laid it near my feet. He is not a retriever breed so it has taken him a while to learn to bring the ball back.