Monday, October 18, 2010

Country road, take me home...

Yes, we were singing that John Denver tune all the way around the winding roads of West Virginia last weekend. My parents (plus Abby the 15-year-old schnauzer) joined our family in a mini-vacation to the Dancing Bear Cabin and nearby Franklin, WV. Matt and I had spent a long weekend there last year for our anniversary, and we thought it would be a fun family getaway. Here are some of the highlights, in pictures:

Hiking up the Seneca Rocks


Apparently, our family owns a line of trucks--can you see the "Hartman Trucking" sign on the truck? (something to fall back on if this chemistry professor gig falls through...)

Gorgeous fall color


Thatcher is a train aficionado, so we paid a visit to the Cass Scenic Railroad. But we didn't ride it--2 hour train ride + 3 year old boy = whine-o-rama. Watching the train from the outside was much better!


Callan loves rockets and space as much as Thatcher loves trains, so there just happened to be a huge radio telescope very nearby the Cass Railroad, including a neat space museum. I italicized the word "happened" because I feel God really blessed our boys on this trip by giving them things to do (in the middle of nowhere) that specifically related to their interests.

Thatcher will take any opportunity to snuggle that he can get--even under a rock!

A family pic, high atop Spruce Knob, West Virginia's highest peak.

A shot of the Dancing Bear Cabin, so named because the owners snapped a shot of two bears up on hind legs "dancing." We never saw any bears during our time there, dancing or otherwise.

Callan signed the guest book.

On our way home from WV, we stopped at our favorite out-of-the-way apple orchard, Dickie Brothers in Roseland, VA. The pictures sum it up: Thatcher ate and Callan picked!

So, there you have it. Great views, perfect weather, peak foliage, and fun family bonding time. It turns out West Virginia is for lovers, too!

2 comments:

yellowinter said...

I love, love when you post! :). The picture of you and Thatcher under the rock, I actually thought it was Callan. So funny to see the striking resemblance. I love C's little note. My heart would melt if I were Mr. K. :)

Jan said...

Looks like a wonderful time away! Love the eyelashes on Callan's drawing.