Wednesday 17 March 2010

Blue Ridge (The Gallery #3)


Has a week really passed that quickly? It's time for The Gallery again (how I used to wish my drawings were good enough to send in to Tony Hart....) and this week the theme of the photography is Colours.

This photo was taken last summer, near Charlottesville in Virginia where we were staying with my husband's Virginian relatives. The area borders the Blue Ridge mountains, which stretch from Georgia to Pennysylvania; you can see from this why it is so named. In the searing heat of the Virginian summer, the pale blue haze of the hills almost seems to merge with the sky, in contrast with the lush green of the vegetation in the valley.

It is the most beautiful area; entering the Shenandoah National Park, you can drive along a scenic road called Skyline Drive and wonder at the view from countless overlooks; you can stop and picnic (although you have to beware of bears...) or you can hike parts of the Appalachian Trail. Driving back down, you pass wooden houses where old men sit out on the porches in their checked shirts in the heat of the afternoon; the roar of the cicadas as dusk approaches is deafening. We sit on the terrace in the darkening evening, looking at this view.

We first came here in 1995, when we were still students - coming back 14 years later with kids, nothing much had changed. But we won't see this exact view again - the Doctor's relatives moved out of the house that following week, after many years. So, it's one to be savoured.


13 comments:

The Moiderer said...

I once pass through there on my way to one of our American offices (can't for the life of me remember which one though). It is beautiful. Couldn't stop singing the Laurel and Hardy song all the way through though!

Cherished By Me said...

Breathtaking. I would love to see that 'in the flesh' one day.

Anonymous said...

How're you doing after all that rain? One of the teachers at my niece's school only just got power back *yesterday*, and I heard Lawn Guyland was hit worse than the city.

Potty Mummy said...

That looks lovely - so peaceful. And I can hear those cicadas!

Dorset Dispatches said...

What an amazing view. Would have been amazing to sit out on a terrace, drink in hand, savouring it all. Can't believe they moved!

If I Could Escape . . . said...

We took a fantastic road trip to that area before we had children. It's somewhere I would love to go back to with my boys. Great photo!

nappy valley girl said...

The Moiderer - it's fairly near Washington DC so maybe there?

Nova - I hope you get the opportuniity!

Conuly - we were relatively unscathed thank goodness - further out on L.I. they had lots of power cuts. It definitely was a big storm....

PM - very peaceful and a very calm place to spend time.

Brit in Bosnia - they had lived there for years but it was a big property and their children had all grown up and moved away. Now they are living on a yacht I believe....

If I could escape - yes, it's a good place for boys - full of outdoorsy stuff to do.....

Liz (LivingwithKids) said...

Fabulous photo - I haven't spent that much time in Virginia but it makes me want to go back and see it a bit more.

ella said...

I visited there as a child, it really was breathtakingly beautiful. Lovely pic.

angelsandurchinsblog said...

I've always wanted to visit the area around there, ever since listening endlessly to Laurel & Hardy (my father is a huge fan) singing 'The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, on the trail of the lonesome pie...' This from memory, so the actual words might be some crazy Chinese whisper from childhood.

Jo Beaufoix said...

What a beautiful place and how cool to have a photo of a view you love so much. The haze over the trees and mountains is gorgeous.

nappy valley girl said...

Liz - it's a good place for a holiday. But best not to go in midsummer, as it's just incredibly hot and humid...

Ella - Thanks. I can't remember if I took it or my husband - hopefully me!

Angels&Urchins - Yes, you're the second commenter to mention that, and now I come to think of it I do know the song. It also makes me think of the John Denver classic Take me home country roads (which mentions Shenandoah). That was on the radio all the time when I was little!

Jo - yes, I'm very glad to have that photo. Just looking at it makes me feel calm.

Calif Lorna said...

Looks gorgeous. I don't know that part of the States very well. Clearly we need to put that on our list of trips!

Where are you from in Essex?! I grew up in Danbury.