Bertram Adventures: Shenandoah and Manassas

We spent 4 days and 3 nights at Shenandoah National Park--we really enjoyed this park! It is long (over 100 miles) and narrow and the Appalachian Trail runs down almost the entire park. We camped at Matthews Arm Campground at mile 21. It had very few campers which was nice. The first full day we were there we did 3 hikes. It was fun for us to actually do a little hiking on the Appalachian Trail. We got back to our campground about 7 p.m. and a man came over to tell us that a bear had been in our campsite earlier--just reminding us to put all food away. That got our attention! We were so hungry after the hikes and fixed chicken quesadillas. We didn't sleep very soundly that night. In fact, about sunrise we did hear the bear very near our tent. He just wandered back into the woods. Next morning we did find some prints in the mud. After a delicious breakfast of omelettes, we headed out for a hike to Mary's Rock. We had an early dinner (spaghetti and salad) and headed to a lookout to watch the sunset. As we were leaving the campground I looked over and there was a bear! Sorry I didn't get a better picture of him--but he was really big and fat. I was really excited to see a bear on our visit to the park. Shenandoah has the largest concentration of Black Bears, so it would have been disappointing not to see one. After watching the sunset, we headed back to camp to enjoy a fire. Oh...the stars are just amazing in the park!

We met some couples who were very inspiring to us. One couple was in their 80's. They live in Seattle and have been traveling for a year! They were on the hike up to Hawksbill. Another couple was in our campground and they are in their 70's...camping in a tent, too. They have made their home on a boat for 22 years and have done a lot of hiking. They did an 18 mile hike in Shenandoah--in one day! They have also hiked the Colorado Trail (over 500 miles). So I hope and pray Don and I are still enjoying these trips for at least the next 20 years or so!!!!

Our first hike in Shenandoah!

At the top of Upper Hawksbill

I'm so excited to be on the AT!!! These white blazes mark the Trail.

Our home in the woods.

On our hike to Mary's Rock


A beautiful caterpillar--he was about 3 inches long!

Here's the bear!

Sunset over the Appalachian Mountains

Skyline Drive--75 overlooks--this is one of the few straight areas in the road!

This morning we broke camp pretty early and drove to Manassas, Virginia, the site of the first battle of the Civil War (Bull Run). It was so interesting. We went to the museum, watched a movie about the battle and then went on a Ranger-led talk around the field where the battle happened. Once again, it was very moving.