Fall on the shenandoah brings out the colors.
.
Even an hour can make a difference.
Fall on the River
November 8, 2026
farm, nature, river autumn leaves, fall, nature, shenadoah river, shenandoah Leave a comment
Really Tall River Daisies
October 15, 2026
flowers, nature, river daisies, flowers, wild flowers Leave a comment
River Run with Eli
October 7, 2026
birds, river blue heron, eagles, eli, floating, josh, kayak, river run, shanandoah, shanandoah river Leave a comment
A short run on the low river.
Yay.
Very local rock art.
The rookery.
Progeny.
Red.
Blue heron flies.
Quantum.
Takeoff.
Eagle zoom.
The Moving Rocks
October 7, 2026
art, dogs, farm, river dog, dogs, migrating rocks, moonshine, river, shenandoah Leave a comment
One day they just showed up. Brother John suggested that they migrated there, “just like those rocks in Arizona.” Faster, for sure.
The dog did not care.
Antti on the Shenandoah
July 31, 2026
animals, dogs, nature, river antti, kayak, maybelline, moonshine, river, romey, shenandoah river Leave a comment
It’s fun to pay a friend back. Several years ago (in 2011), Antti took me sea kayaking outside of Helsinki. Now that he is visiting Virginia again, it is time for a Shenandoah payback run.
It was a stunning day and a very nice run.
Later, the dogs had to assess Antti.
Maybe asked Romey if that was fine.
That was fine.
Now I think Antti owes me a cocktail.
Ghost Catfish
April 27, 2026
nature, river catfish, ghost catfish, path, shenandoah river, walking, white fish Leave a comment
Is it Walter? Maybe. Back from the dead and downstream. We spotted this from the path by the river.
Probably 4 feet long.
On the Boat in Amsterdam
March 2, 2026
photography, river, travel, who knows amsterdam, canal, okura, seven bridges, tourism, travel 1 Comment
Romey and I hired a boat for a canal tour. We also hired a bottle of champagne. The boat ride was excellent.
We started from the pier at the Okura just after dark.
The boat itself was built of teak and glass in 1903.
The lights are a sight to see.
Seven bridges
A Wild Adventure
January 25, 2025
animals, hiking, nature, river falling throuigh the ice, ice emergency, maybelline, river 1 Comment
Posted to Mastadon 1/20 4:47pm
About a mile from home. Maybelline went about 50 feet out on the Shenandoah river ice after some geese and fell through.
She was floundering and unable to get up on the ice. So I called Romey and alerted her and then went out after maybe.
About 20 feet in, flat on my tummy I broke all the way through into four feet of water. I kind of expected it, but it was cold and I was all the way under. I pushed to maybe, breaking the ice out toward her. When I reached her she swam back in my wake.
I lifted her up on the thick ice then climbed out of the water myself. Then began the extremely tough jog home soaking wet in 17 degrees. All is well thanks to romey who came out and met me on the trail. I am now dry and sitting by the fire after warning my extremities in cold water. Maybe is here with me.
The river water was not that cold. (In fact it is 41.72 https://freshwatertemps.com/sites/shenandoah-river-at-millville-wv/). I was wearing layers including my ski pants over nylon/silk sweats, a sweatshirt over a nylon tee and my oilskin Australian hunting coat which is insulated. Only my fingers which were in modern tech gloves got way too cold. I also had on wool socks and hiking boots.
The water soaked through all my layers but once I was out they kept my core warm.
All that said, my jog/slog back was real work and very challenging. I would not do it on purpose. I have WSI training too for water emergencies, so I knew what I was in for.
The next day, I revisited the “scene of the crime” in the Shenandoah river. The area is completely iced over already, but you can see where the ice shelf broke and how far away from the other edge of the resulting big hole is exactly. Wild!
https://infosec.exchange/@noplasticshower/113868648816427913
The dog seems glad to be alive.
Iulie’s Flowers
November 20, 2024
animals, dogs, farm, flowers, hiking, river, who knows flowers, iulianna, iulie, JC, maybe, moonshine, odessa, tree, walking Leave a comment
Iulie has grown, and so have her zinias. Last time we checked, they were about two inches tall.
The tree has grown too.
Of course we walked. Twice, in fact.
The dogs were hosed off and toweled “dry.”
Bubbie had some fun things to do.
There were fresh eggs (and lots of them). 18!
And, as always, there was the rope for swinging.
Up high.
Here they come.
Mama!
Maybe always wants in on the action.
