2017 CROSS-COUNTRY ROAD TRIP - SUNDAY, APRIL 9TH, 2017

Sunday, April 9th, 2017

It was 9.38 a.m. when we started from home and the odometer showed 48175.   

At 2.00 p.m. we found The Natural Bridge and it is located in a town of the same name, Natural Bridge.  Below you can see where it is, which is still in Virginia.

It was once owned by Thomas Jefferson and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  It is 215 feet tall and is a limestone gorge carved out by Cedar Creek, which still exists far below.

We walked around the visitor center where we bought our tickets.  There were lots of souvenirs, but our favorite was Mr. Bear.  Sadly I couldn't bring him along.  He just wouldn't fit and he wasn't for sale anyhow.  Just as well, we would have had to cut a hole in the ceiling to accommodate him.

Below, if you enlarge the photo, you can read about the early settlers.  It makes for a very interesting read.

You can click on any of these photos to see more clearly.

We have had this place on our bucket list for a very long time, and neither of us knew what to expect.  However, it exceeded our expectations. 

We took the shuttle bus down and from the bus it was an easy walk to the bridge.  Stalwarts can walk all the way down from the visitor center, but that involves 137 steps.  You have a lovely walk to the bridge and beyond, and then retrace your steps and walk 137 steps back up to the center and to the parking lot.  I am not the spring chicken I used to be and my knees and ankles and other parts are iffy.  The shuttle won out, especially when I read that the steps are steep, uneven and often wet and slippery.  The driver was very friendly and smiled easily.  In fact, all the staff we encountered were very nice.  

We passed under the bridge and walked further along the path, looked up at the swallows flying around, took our time to look at every part of this amazing wonder. It is very hard to wrap your head around the fact that this creek actually caused this amazing spectacle.  

There was the occasional graffiti and I preferred looking at the natural patterns on the walls.

It was very pleasant walking along the creek, and we sat down to watch the fish.  I overheard one of the Park Rangers say that they refilled the creek with them occasionally.  

There were also several varieties of wildflowers growing out of the cliff walls and in any spare bit of dirt.  

Columbines

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Dutchmen's Breeches

And this one I am not sure about.  Any guesses?

(If we had walked even further we would have encountered a life-size replica of an American Indian village and a waterfall, but we figured we could make a trip out here again now that we know how very interesting it is.)  In no time at all it was time to get back on the shuttle.  

One last photo of a lady trying to take a photo of her dog.  He was more interested in what was going in the other direction.

We stayed the night in Stuart, Virginia, at a neat little hotel but I will concentrate on places we visited first and then maybe do a post later on any interesting hotels we enjoyed.

If you go to this link you can read more interesting information about The Natural Bridge.