Another "Good Day"....

We started the summer (Memorial Day weekend) with a day on the Creeper Trail with our Community Group and we ended the summer (Labor Day weekend) with another day on the Creeper....this time with our grandson, Cody who was visiting us from the Virginia Beach area. 

It was an early rising for a young man who had driven the day before....but at least he didn't have to drive and we did feed him before we started out on our trek to get to Damascus, VA to meet our start time.  I definitely have to give a shout-out to Adventure Damascus and their handling of a messed-up reservation.  They were ready to do everything in their power to get us out at our scheduled time....and in fact, made a special trip up the mountain, getting us there early!  Our kudos....if you ever need an outfitter in the Damascus area, I would DEFINITELY recommend them!

Of course, we had to make a stop at the Christmas tree farm for the obligatory grandkid picture with the Christmas trees....

For anyone interested, they even have a special excursion closer to Christmas where you can pick your own tree (and there ARE some gorgeous ones out there) and they will cut it and take it back down the mountain to meet you when you are done with your ride!

A fellow rider was kind enough to take one of all three of us....

 Even without any photogenic grandkids posing, it is a beautiful sight....

 Our first real stop was at the old Green Cove train station...

...with lots of interesting "artifacts" inside...

We made a stop at this sight.....

Hmm....still seems a little "off" to be advertising for these type of services/accomodations in front of this run-down abandoned building!

 

While we were there we were met by this pup who Cody affectionately dubbed "Trail Dog"...they were equally taken with each other...."Trail Dog" put his paws on Cody's foot and would move with him whenever he moved his foot!   No fear, tho'....we did see and hear his owners calling for him as he started to follow us down the trail.

I really expected to see more butterflies than we did since there were so many wildflowers in bloom...

...but I did spot these two on the same flower....

As always, there are so many little areas that just make me go, "Ahhhhhhh...."

 

 Mr. Man took possession of the camera for a few minutes and used me for his subject...

Of course, some of MY favorite subjects are flowers...of all shapes and sizes....

We were all more than a little weary when we finally made it back home, but this is another day that will definitely go in the "Good Day" column!

 

It was definitely a joy to spend time with Cody and to share a little part of our world with him.  He was able to stay long enough to go to church with us on Sunday....and then we sent him on his way with prayers for safe travel and thanksgiving for his life.