Stalactites, Stalagmites, and Bears...Oh My!

Justin visited me July 17-20 & we went camping & hiking in Shenandoah National Park. We saw our first wild black bears while on the trail & did the jump-up-and-down "we saw a bear" dance. There were also fearless (& probably quite stupid) deer all over the place, including at our campsite. We saw waterfalls; took a dip in a refreshing swimming-hole; & learned a lot about the people who lived & endured in the wilderness there & through the Civil War until the federal government kicked them out to create the park. Despite the 90+ degree weather, we hiked 20-25 miles in two days, enjoying the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and each other's company.

On Sunday, though, it capped 100 degrees & we drove into the village of Luray for a break. We cooled off by touring the amazing Luray Caverns, the likes of which I have never seen! Spectacular limestone formations of every shade of brown, green & white go on seemingly endlessly. There's even a "stalacpipe organ" which functions by hitting various stalactites, thus reverberating the crystal within & playing a note. It was the most haunting version of "America the Beautiful" I have ever heard.

We then went to the movie theater & saw Batman: The Dark Knight. I highly recommend it, especially for Heath Ledger's outstanding performance. I pigged out on popcorn & sour gummy worms, since life on the farm doesn't allow for such splurges.