Friday, August 2, 2019

PILOT'S PERCH CABIN VACATION - PART 2 - JULY 21ST TO 26TH, 2019


We are back home but I am sharing my diary/
journal from each day while away.  I will also be repeating this paragraph and sharing the link in red to the website, for anyone who would like to take a look at this pretty place, and if you ever want a lovely spot to stay if ever you find yourself in this picturesque area. 

Part 2 
July 21st to July 26th, 2019 



Monday, July 22nd, 2019
10.30 a.m.
Starting off with a promise of rain.  The skies looked very foreboding when we started out, but cleared up some after a drop of rain.


We had a late start but there is no need to hurry.  

Lexington is home to the Virginia Military Institute, and Gregg wanted to see what it was like.  


I took these photos while driving by in the passenger seat.  

Students are home for the summer and it was very quiet.  
Their homepage can be found here.
On the way to our destination I had noticed signs to a dinosaur and safari park.  Forever curious we took a detour and set out to find them.  Not sure what happened to the GPS.  It sent us down winding, country roads...
and no traffic behind us or in front of us.  They were very pretty roads, with wild-growing Chicory all along our route.
I love the color of this pretty flower.  If you look here it will tell you all about chicory.  The first time I heard the name was when we went to New Orleans many years ago.  It was the first time I had ever tasted chicory coffee. 

I sometimes think these confusions with directions take you to places you do enjoy but would otherwise miss, definitely and more often than not, a happy happenstance.  We even found a make-shift road sign that read 'Tinkerbelle Lane'.

Eventually we came across dozens of old, broken dinosaur statues on the side of one road, on a stretch of land about the size of a small parking lot.  From what I could see, as we didn't bother to stop,  they looked very run down, many in pieces and lying on their side.  We also might still not have been in the right place.  We have fun looking around kitschy places but it looked way beyond kitschy, as though it had been abandoned years ago.  We never did find the safari park but we enjoyed our side trip.

At noon we found a Starbucks in Roanoke.  Nice, friendly young people.  
I like looking at the prints in these places. Each one we go into is always differently decorated.

  I saw a coffee press for sale that I thought might come in useful, not just on this trip but also future ones. The young lady informed Gregg that he had more than enough points on his account to get the coffee press.  She said quite seriously and very surprised, "You have LOADS of points!"  He looked over at me and said, "She drinks a LOT of coffee!" (not to mention all his Iced Black Tea Lemonades I said under my breath and yes, the occasional cookie).  I have cut back considerably but after all, we were on vacation.  Certain things slide when having fun.  

I asked Gregg if he had ever used any of those points - he usually picks up our drinks on the way back from the library - and the answer was a negative.  I said to him when he deposited our new coffee press on the table, that we ought to do our Christmas shopping here.  He thought I was joking.  I was, sort of says I with a smile.

We made a quick stop at Blacksburg as Gregg wanted to see the university. "Take a photo!"  Another snapshot from the passenger side.  I can't remember much of what we saw, as I didn't take any more photos in Blacksburg.  Probably getting drowsy again and it started sprinkling.  A good excuse to go back for a walk around on a sunnier day.
Not sure of the exact time but at around 4 to 4.30 p.m.'ish and when we knew we weren't far from the cabin, we stopped at a supermarket for a few supplies.  By that time it was raining harder.  It wasn't long after that we found Pilot's Perch and you know all about our reaction at my post here.  It was so much fun to explore this pretty cabin, and enjoy the view even with the rain.  It wasn't a torrent, and we were able to go out on the balcony.  There was enough shelter without getting damp.  A great first time experience looking at the view.  Stormy clouds overhead and mist rising from Yadkin Valley, absolutely gorgeous!

I have lots more to share and will continue our trip in my next post.


32 comments:

  1. Wow, lovely photos! Thanks for sharing your journey with us!

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  2. http://virginiasafaripark.com/ This is the link to the website of the Safari Park. We have been a lot, what with taking the grandchildren and friends. You would both love it! You drive through, looking at all kinds of wild animals and can feed them through the car window. Ostriches, Llamas, zebras, etc. They also have a smaller petting zoo and a gift shop. It is near Lexington and Natural Bridge. Sadly, the dinosaur place is in ruins and does not exist anymore.

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    1. That's great! Thank you so much Ginny. I have checked out the website and it looks a wonderful place to visit. Really appreciate you sharing this.

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  3. As always, thank you for taking us along - and I did enjoy the side-trip.

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    1. Muito obrigado e desejo-lhe um ótimo final de semana também.

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  5. Looks like a great trip! What a neat free-floating feeling at the Pilot Perch site that show the clouds move so beautifully. You really feel above it all seeing that. :)

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    1. You described Pilot's Perch perfectly Penelope. Isn't that a great first shot on their website?

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  6. Lovely photos. We have masses of chicory along the side of the road here, so pretty. Happy weekend Diane

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    1. Thank you Diane. How interesting! Happy weekend to you too!

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  7. Hello, I am sure the safari park would be fun. I love the views of the countryside and chicory. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend!

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    1. Sounds like it was from Ginny's comment Eileen, next time we must really go. You have a great day and weekend also.

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  8. Very pretty landscape. Throw in some flowers and it adds more.

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  9. I did not know chicory has flowers. they are beautiful. coffee flowers on tinkerbell lane, what could be better. beautiful buildings and a plus there are no people to mess up the photos

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    1. I learned a lot about these pretty flowers, always fun. Thanks Sandra!

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  10. A good day, enjoyed your photos.

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  11. You share many wonderful shots here, and narrative is so easy to follow and enjoy!

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  12. Hi Denise,
    Seems to me that GPS not working got you away from the busy roads and along some delightful country roads.
    I have never seen chicory flowers previously but they a beautiful.
    All the best,
    John

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    1. Hi John, isn't that the truth? Always the way it seems, we have been very lucky. Thank you and all the best to you too :)

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  13. Always nice to see your photographs.

    All the best Jan

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    1. So glad you think so, thank you Jan and all the best to you too.

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  14. Wow, those skies are amazing. Sounds like you had fun adventures on your trip. Too funny about all those unused points. Cute gif at the end of the post! I'll click over to the Pilot's Perch cabin.

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    1. Thanks Ellen, the point thing did make me chuckle, Gregg too.

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  15. My nephew absolutely loves the VMI...I had to look at the date you were there...he was there last week I think. He loves to go and look around.

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    1. Hi Rose, so good to hear that. It looked like a very interesting place.

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