10 days of Fun

We had a complicated but very fun vacation.  I won't bore you with how it all evolved--just give the Cliff Notes version:

1. Weekend in the Shenandoah Mountains with nephew Paul and his two daughters from D.C.  Tour of Thomas Jefferson's home Monticello with them.
2. Shuttle hike on the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park from Sunday to Tuesday.  We left our car at Lewis Mountain, and Paul took us to our starting point about 25 miles north.  We hiked from lodge to lodge, staying at Skyland and Big Meadows Lodges.  Both were great, and the trail was wonderful.  The mountain laurel was in full bloom--absolutely beautiful.
3. Wednesday, Alan gets on Amtrak in Charlottesville, VA and goes to New York to have fun with his friend Garth from Chicago.  I go to Harrisonburg, VA to attend a Bach/Mozart Festival (Elderhostel) with my sister Rosemary.  Rosie and I went to fantastic concerts and enjoyed spending time with each other.  (I am certain that I was the only person at the Elderhostel who had hiked 9 1/2 miles on the Appalachian Trail the day before.)
4. Sunday, I pick up Alan in Charlottesville, and we head home--both having had a wonderful time.

Turn up the volume on your computer, so you can hear Alan talk on the video below.  It is blurry when you look at it full screen, for some reason, so it looks better if you just click on the "play" arrow.

Columbine

Remember that you can click on the pictures to make them larger. 
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One of the series of "Rhoda with Mountain Laurel" pictures


Alan and Garth did many things in New York.  I will just put in a few of the
pictures I found most interesting. 

The mosaic in New York honoring John Lennon

Alan and Garth saw many wonderful exhibits in New York.  This is one in Central
Park by the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.  He designed the "birdsnest" stadium
for the Olympics.  He is now in jail as a dissident in China.

Sorry, I just had to put in another snake.

Ellie and Emma Bliese at Monticello

The girls enjoyed the pool at Cabin Creekwood.