Rip Rap Swimming Hole

We have encountered a few swimming holes on our hikes over the years….and they are always a fun place to stop for a break, and maybe a short dip to cool off in  as our hike progresses.  But, there is one spot that we have found that we return to again and again just for the swimmin’ hole, and that is along the Rip Rap Trail.  The Rip Rap Trail  hike in its entirety is about 5 miles in one direction, and you can travel that  from the base of the mountain up to Skyline Drive, or do it in the opposite. (Or if you are REALLY adventurous, do a round trip)   Along the way, there are a handful of swimming holes, but this one here reigns supreme:

The quickest way to the swimming hole is to access the trail head for the Rip Rap hike is located in the area of Crimoria, between the towns of Grottoes and Waynesboro.  We did not have our GPS to mark it, but we estimated the swimming hole to be about 1.5 miles in, on mostly flat (but rocky) terrain.  There are 3 river crossings, and they can be pretty high depending on the recent rainfall levels.  On our most recent trip, we hit them high…but have also hit them dry.  Regardless, wear shoes that can get wet, and ones that have good grips.

Actual directions from 340 (heading from Grottoes towards Waynesboro):

Left on Route 612 – travel about 1.7 miles

Left on Black Bear Lane

Quick left when you see the sign for Rip Rap Trail (after just about .1 mile)

Travel about .9 miles to parking lot on right.

Important note:  One thing to be aware of when heading to this trail head:  It butts up against a lot of privately owned land.   And you will see lots of No Trespassing signs.  Be careful not to park in any of those areas, and be respectful of people’s private residences when you visit these areas.

 

I like this swimming hole because it take a bit of work to get into it, but not too much.   Thus, un-experienced hikers can easily tackle it for the fun of the swimming hole.   Yet it is just enough of a hike in to deter some, keeping the crowds down.  It has never been crowded when we visit.  However, we have never been on the weekends, so maybe it gets more crowded then.  Regardless, there is plenty of space to set up camp and enjoy the beautiful surrounds.  There are also ample natural rock settings that can serve as seats and props for picnics.  All in all, it is a great place to spend the day.

 

 

 

But, be aware:  Billy and JJ and friend let out a audible sigh in reaction to the cold water as they took their first plunge.  Because of all the rain we have had, the center of the hole was pretty deep.  Billy eventually succeeded in touching the bottom!

 

 

 

 

 

Of us all, J-Wow might have enjoyed the ole swimmin’ hole the most.  And, since we were mostly alone, she was allowed off her leash to really explore!  Her favorite place, the ‘waterside’ that leads down the mountain into the hole!

 

Our rankings:  (4.7 out of 5)

Billy: 4 (Not too far in, very fun and the perfect size)

JJ:  4.5 (Great, but the water is too cold!!!!!)

Minnie:  5 (Loved it!)

J-wow: 5 (can I give it a 6, or even 10?)

The B’s* : 5!  (So Fun!)

*Mickey could not join us on this adventure because we went during the week.  But, we were lucky enough to be accompanied by our good friends, the B’s.  So, they are filling in as guest judges so that we keep all the rankings uniform!!!  They have had just a few forays into the ‘great outdoors’, but I am hopefully optimist that their experience at the Rip Rap Swimmin’ Hole will lead to them want to join us on the trails a little more in the future!

Viva Virginia – Dinosaur Trail at Grand Caverns in Grottoes

 

There are so many activities to decide upon at Grand Caverns park.

JJ has been wanting the rest of our family to experience this trail for some time now.  It is just a short trip from Harrisonburg to Grottoes, and the Grand Caverns park.  I just love this park.  It has the feel of a tourist attraction  when things were simpler and less shiny……but full of old fashion (and cheap) fun.  That is what this whole park is about.  It has no bells and whistles, but it has about everything else you would want for some outdoor pursuits.  A river, whose possibilities are endless.  A pool, putt putt golf, biking and hiking trails, horseshoes, baseball and tennis.  And this is to not even mention the crown jewel of the park:  The Caverns themselves.

Grand Caverns were first discovered in 1804, and have been continuously operating as a show cavern since 1806.  Which makes it the oldest caverns in North America by that distinction.  There are  many caverns in this area, and a few that get more fanfare than Grand Caverns.  But, that does not mean these are any less ‘Grand’.  In fact, in 2002, Parade Magazine ranked Grand Caverns as the #2 cave in all of America.  There are over 200 rare ‘shield’ formations in Grand Caverns.  Make a plan to visit for yourself to see what those are.  We did not visit the Caverns on this visit…..though we have visited a few times in the past.  One visit in fact, resulted in a story that remains very popular in our family folklore, told over and over again….about the time that a bat landed squarely on Mickey’s chest……very shortly after I (Minnie) asked the tour guide if the large number of bats in the cave ever bothered humans.  To which she replied, ‘No’!    Mickey’s bat friend will forever be etched in my memory!

If you are not content to visit ‘yesteryear’ and you are a bit adventurous, you can step even further back into time at Grand Caverns Park.  Likes 1,000’s of years ago – to prehistoric time when dinosaurs walked the earth.  A dinosaur trail has been added recently, and after months of hearing about it from JJ (who went last fall with his grandparents), we were ready for the challenge!

Neither of my boys were ever really into dinosaurs, like I know some boys are.  Nonetheless, we all know a T-Rex when we see one:

 

Lucky for us, this guy seemed pretty nice

We were not able to off hand identify any of the rest of these, but they were all fun to encounter.  I think perhaps the Momma and her baby are Triceratops though.

 

 

 

 

 

Is it me, or do they all look pretty realistic?  They are made out of fiberglass by the same artist (Mark Cline) who created Foamhenge that we visited at the beginning of the summer.  Check it out:  http://virginiavinesandtrails.com/2014/06/13/viva-virginia-foamhenge-and-natural-bridge  He had them in their own attraction called Dinosaur Kingdom at Natural Bridge, and is looking to (maybe) move more to Grottoes in the future.    Here is hoping they do.

Grand Caverns park is a great place to spend the day, no matter what attracts you there.  For us, it was to click off another Viva Virgina with the dinosaurs….but we already have plans to head back with our bikes and explore.

The Blue Ridge Boot Camp

The View from Pinnacles Overlook, just north of Skyland Resort.

Say you have some family friends visiting from out of town, and these same friends want to spend a few days hiking on Skyline Drive.  And use these hikes as a training session before they spend a week hiking the Italian Alps in a few weeks time.  Where do you even start with suggesting hikes for them, with all the wonderful ones this area has to offer?

 

A summit hike (Stony Man)…..or

A waterfall (Camp Rapidan)….                          What is your pick?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My thought process:

1) At least one ‘summit hike’

2) At least one ‘waterfall hike’

3) A ‘famous’ Virginia hike

4) A hike Unique to Virginia.

It is so fun to share our little slice of heaven with old and very dear friends!

 

Add in that they were staying at Skyland resort on Skyline Drive; and this is what I came up with:

Day #1:  A combo of  Stony Man, Little Stony Man Cliffs (and they tacked on Millers Head for more mileage).  Check off #1 & #3 off the above list.

Day #2:  Camp Rapidan (also know as Camp Hoover or Rapidan River Hike), with the option of walking along the Appalachian Trail for a bit afterwards, and/or tackling Milam gap trail for more mileage .  Check off #2 and #4.

And the itinerary for The Blue Ridge Boot Camp, as these few days came to be known was born!

We had a good feel for all of these hikes, having done Camp Rapidan and Little Stony Man Cliffs before.  Stony Man has been on our list for awhile, but that trail is one of a handful of trails in the Shenandoah National Park where dogs are not allowed.

Because of its popularity, there are no dogs or horses allow on Stony Man Hike

The logistics on day one worked out well to do the Stoney Man combo.  They were coming from the Baltimore area, and Mickey and I had been in DC that weekend celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary; a trip which Billy,  JJ and J-wow did not accompany us on.  When better to do a non-dog hike than when you do not have your dog? (Because I HATE leaving J-Wow out of the fun!)   Further, the Stony Man hikes set out from a parking lot adjacent to Skyland, so really it was a no-brainer that we begin the Blue Ridge Boot Camp there.

 

Billy is a great tour guide. Here he is pointing out things of interest from the top of Little Stony Man Cliffs

 

In the summer, it is a little harder…but if you look real close, you can see the Stony Man formation from the cliffs

Stony Man hike is a pretty famous hike in these parts.  In fact, it rates as the #1 thing to do on Trip Advisor in Luray, beating out the World Famous  Luray Caverns.    And, it is listed on any number of top Virginia hikes lists that I have read over the years.  So, I hate to say this…..but I was a little underwhelmed with it!   The view, while wonderful would not rank anywhere near the top of the list of views from the hikes we have done over the years.   And, it really is a short, and quite easy hike to the summit.  But, in further reflection, and discussion with Mickey, I think that is the point.  It is a great reward for a minimal amount of work, perfect for people just wanting a small detour off Skyline Drive…..or as a family activity while staying at Skyland Resort.  So, it is good for sightseers.  Then, if you combine it with Little Stony Man (and as our friends did, Miller’s Head), you can log some distance, see a bunch of different views and end up with a really great day on the trials. Which is good for hikers.

Total Distance:  2.95 miles if you combine Stony Man and the Cliffs….and an additional 4 miles if you add Millers head as a round trip.

 

 

Speaking of Skyland Resort…..we arrived sooner than our friends, and since Skyland was our rendezvous point, I had a fair amount of time to explore there.  We have been before, on bathroom and snack breaks…..but this time I had a chance to take in some history of not only that resort but Stony Man summit, Skyline drive and the Shenandoah National Park itself.  What a great story.   Skyland Resort was established in 1888 by a man named George Pollock.  He wanted a summer retreat for the upper-class to come and escape the hustle and bustle of city life, spending time enjoying the cool mountain air, and views in his words that were ‘beauty beyond description’.  As I looked at some of the old pictures and guides of times at Skyland at the turn of the century, I was amazed at events and entertainment available to guests.    Apparently, George Polluck would awaken guests each morning with a bugle call, and keep them entertained with fancy balls, masquerade parties, jousting tournaments, high tea, and bonfires until the day was done.  And, everything was so formal:  Ladies sitting atop Stony Man in dresses fancier than I have ever worn, and men in jackets and ties engaging in a wide range of sporting pursuits.     This was all well before Skyline Drive, and the only transportation in was through horse or wagon.  Is it any wonder his guest typically stayed for all three months of the summer?

You can make out Skyland Resort in the distance in this photo from Stony Man peak.  And a bit of Skyline Drive as well.

Skyland resort has expanded over the years, and now has over 20 buildings with accommodations ranging from traditional rooms to cabins and cottages.  They all remain rustic, without a lot of bells and whistles….but clean, comfortable and safe.  The lodge dining room is reported to be very good (as confirmed by our friends), and there is wifi available!!!!  All in all, a wonderful place to still take in the cool mountain air and views just like it was 125 years ago!  But, these days, you can wear shorts and tank tops!

 

We will stay on the  subject of history, as it ties into our second day of the Blue Ridge Boot Camp, when we hiked down to president Hoover’s  Camp Rapidian (his version of the modern day Camp David).  This hike can be accessed across the street from Big Meadows Lodge.  Or  South a few miles,  at Milam Gap Overlook (MM 53).  We prefer the later start, because it eliminates a long section of a fire road, and interacts with the Rapidan river at various points.  The beauty of the river is one thing, but nothing beats the sound of the rushing water while on a hike!

A few years ago, we ranked this hike as #2 on our list of favorite hikes, and I do not think that distinction will change anytime soon.  (For that write up, look here:  http://virginiavinesandtrails.com/category/camp-rapidian-hike/ ) We have completed many more, and varied  hikes since we first wrote about Camp Rapidan , and have not experienced anything that will come close to knocking it off.  It is beautiful, challenging and leads to such a unique spot in the woods, but also in history.

 

 

 

Dont miss the self guided tour inside the Prime Minister’s cabin.

Since our original write-up, I will add a few things:  #1) They have added a self-guided tour through the Prime Minister’s residence.  And it is really nice.  So nice in fact, that Billy wanted to move in!  #2) We had a chance to talk to the caretaker of the area, and in fact during the summer months, someone will always be in attendance to guide you through the main house.  We visited on a Monday, and were the only guests.   We really enjoyed speaking to this guy, as much as the first one we met a few years ago.  (As a side note, I have decided  this would be a great job for Billy in future years.  He could not live at the Prime Minister’s house, but would have his own bungalow just up the trail. ).  3) This hike is wet…..there are 3 fairly major river crossings (6 round trip), and if you meet up with it on a day where the water is high, it can be dangerous.  There are rocks that serve as ‘bridges’, but when the water levels are as high as we encountered, be careful.  We also experienced standing and running water on the trail in a few areas.  So, wear proper footwear!  But, on the bring side,  all this water on the trail also means….swimming holes.  There are two of them, the second one you meet up with on the way down is the deepest, and more easily accessed.

There are lots of rocky river crossings on Camp Rapidan hike.

 

 

The alternative start to this hike at Milam Gap entrance also affords you the opportunity to tack on another hike (Milam Gap Trail, 4+ miles round trip), or walk a bit on the Appalachian trail.  You need to cross Skyline Drive to start the hike, and you use the Appalachian trail to do so.

Total Distance:  4.2 miles Round trip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, and one more thing about Camp Rapidan.  This:

You dont even have to ‘look real close’ to see this guys rattles!

Yep, spotted this guy just off the trail, about equidistant between the Prime Minister’s House and the Main House at Camp Rapidan.  Biggest, and fattest and closest to a rattlesnake we have ever seen. Yuck.  But, also…..’my best performance in a snake sighting yet.’  My scream was not deafening, and I only ran about 20 yards away, close enough to alert the Park Ranger. (I thought he would attempt to remove this creature, but he just wanted to get a closer look!)

On the deck of Camp Rapidan.

So, our first ever Blue Ridge Boot camp was a success.  If you are local and a hiker, would you have chosen differently for hikes to showcase this area?

If you are not local…..come visit us, and we will use this itinerary (or come up with a unique one to you) for your very own Blue Ridge Bootcamp!

 

 

 

 

And now for the all important trail mix recipe, in what we will call Blue Ridge Boot Camp mix:

Reece’s Pieces

Almonds

Cashews

Banana Chips

Dried Apricots

*The first ingredient is a little sweet for JJ / the middle two nuts are for Billy and I, and the dried fruit are for our guests and Mickey (because the three of them are healthy!)  I have to say, it is one of our best yet!

Pippin Hill Cooking Class- 2014

We loved Chef’s Lee’s enthusiasm for his craft, and loved hearing his kitchen stories!

Last year, we discovered a most wonderful experience at our favorite winery, Pippin Hill.   So, naturally we wanted to go back for a repeat performance.

In round two, mostly everything was the same; and as equally fabulous.  We were joined by (the same) four of our favorite people, in a most ideal setting, cultivating more knowledge and experience in one of our most favorite hobbies:  cooking.  The two differences were our Chef:  (This time we had Chef Lee.  And he was just as fabulous as Chef Amalia from last year.  But in a different way).  And our menu:  this time it was pasta making instead of cooking basics.

Behold:  A quick picture tutorial entitled ‘We make pasta from scratch’:

We started with flour, eggs, salt and some olive oil….

 

Manipulated the dough….

Learned how to roll out the dough in a pressing machine

Added a filling….then pinched and curved and sealed our very own ravioli….

 

And this beautiful dish….staring our homemade pappardelle noodles

 

What a memorable experience for Mickey and I!

Everything else about the evening was essentially the same as our first go round, which is to say 100% perfect!  So, I do not feel the need to do a full write-up.  You can read about our first cooking class in 2013 here: http://virginiavinesandtrails.com/2013/06/28/pippin-hill-cooking-class/

Pippin Hill offers a set schedule of cooking classes you can sign up for on your own, or you can tailor the menu and experience to your own liking by working with them directly.    If you like cooking, vineyards, new experiences, and fun with friends….you will not be disappointed in a cooking class at Pippin Hill.

Biking Through First Landing State Park

Mickey running and the boys biking in First Landing State Park

As has been the case for the past year, and will probably be for the foreseeable future, our family recreation time is centered around requirements Billy and JJ  are pursuing for scouts.  For two years, we worked on earning belt loops and pins through the Cub Scouts Sports and Academic program.    And through that, we discovered things we really enjoy as a family that we may not have known without the spur by scouts:  chess, geography, tennis, kickball and basketball, just to name a few.  Now that Billy has crossed over to the troop, he is tasked with earning Merit Badges.  And the first one he set his sights on is Cycling.  Among the many requirements for the badge is a series of progressively longer bike rides.  He has tackled the shorter mileage ones around town, accompanying Mickey on his weekend runs.   But, for the two 25 milers, and a 50 miler, we knew it would behoove us to get away from the hills of Harrisonburg.

Since we were going to be in Virginia Beach for the weekend, we decided to take our bikes and tackle First Landing State Park.  We were staying out by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel…..and knew right where an entrance to that multi-use trail system is located.  We are actually pretty familiar with this park, having done some running  over the years there.   We knew if you followed the main trail (Cape Henry) from out starting point, it would spill us out onto the oceanfront area after about 6 1/2 miles.  Tacking on the boardwalk section, and we were going to be just a few miles short of our 25, which we just planned to backtrack a bit to reach the full mileage.

Lucky for us, we took a wrong turn, and encountered some wonderful scenery.  Since I am still not quite sure where we were, I will just let the pictures do the talking:

 

Billy on a mission to earn his cycling merit badge

Part of our ‘detour’ took us through an amazing residential area. This house had its own helicopter landing port. Just like ‘TC’ on Magnum!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We spied an amazing osprey nest.

 

 

We also encountered a small ‘beachfront’ area on our trek.

Our surroundings changed constantly on the whole 25 miles. We certainly did not get bored!

Beauty around every corner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are a lot of ‘spur’ trails from the main trail in First Landing State park. We were so glad for our ‘detour’!

 

There are so many connecting trails, you could ride forever in VA Beach. And at times, our 25 miles felt like we were!

At one point, we made our way back to the Cape Henry Trail, and then onto the Maritime Trail as we approached the oceanfront and the boardwalk.

Finally, the Boardwalk!

We were joined on this adventure by Aunt Pie, and our ‘Master Plan’ was this:  Mickey, though he has not fully committed, is thinking of doing a marathon this fall.  So, his intentions were a 15 mile ‘training run’.  JJ would stick with him.  Billy and I aimed for the full 25, and Pie was going to ‘hang’ with us, and at some point turn around and return with Mickey and JJ.  But, because of our detour, we lost connection with them…..and she was stuck doing the whole 25 miles with us.  Best laid plans…..especially since the three of us encountered  our ‘detour’  just about a minute after she said, ‘Yeah, I think I will turnaround soon!’  But, like a true Scout…..and those of us that engage in ‘scouting support’ she was PREPARED to solider on.  And, Billy and I so enjoyed her company.

Mango-Cream cheese French Toast!

Post excursion for us all, we met up at the ohhhh so delicious Citrus Cafe on West Great Neck  for a most deserving brunch.  This place is on the top of a lot of lists….and we try to partake of the awesomeness as much as we can on our visits to VA Beach.

 

 

 

We did it!

I have to say, I never thought I was a biker at all.  Cycling classes hurt my knees….and road biking freaks me out.  In the last few years, Billy, JJ and I all frequent Hillendale Trails in Harrisonburg.  Which we all love.  But, I always thought that is an isolated experience.  I like trail biking, but cannot fathom real mountain biking with heavy elevation gain.  But, in researching other long (and flat trails) we can do, imagine my surprise that Virginia (and neighboring states) have a lot of bike trails waiting for us to discover.

So a new family hobby has been born.  Plans are being made for our next 25 miler…..maybe along the C&O railroad near Harpers Ferry, maybe on the Greenbrier Trail in West Virginia, or High Bridge near Richmond.  And then our 50 miler, on the Virginia Creeper Trail.    We will report it all back here on Virginiavinesandtrails!!!!

A ‘selfie’ passing Neptune!