Back to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of western Virginia!

To the mountains of Virginia for our last few days of this trip.  We are in a really nice, woody campsite at Hungry Mother State Park Campground. Our goal is Mt. Rogers, the highest point of land in Virginia.  The high elevation gives the area the flora and feel of Maine. The Appalachian Trail that runs from GA to ME is big in this area.

Hungry Mother has a large lake created in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the "stimulus" package of the times.  Fishing, swimming, and hiking are the primary activities here.

We drove to the relatively close Grayson Highlands State Park, where we did most of our exploring.  Yes, this is a beautiful area.

Even at the high elevations (4000 ft or so), the wildflowers are abundant.  Lots and lots of Bee Balm.  This little tree snail likes the leaves.

On a clear day - or even a partially gray day - you can see forever.  You see why this is called the Blue Ridge....the pollen from the pine trees give a blue haze and the ridges go on forever.

Off for a hike, climbing the rock steps along the trail.

This should be used on one of those motivational posters about "perseverance"

The damp woods was full of mushrooms, like this glistening one.

At the end of our 1/2 mile hike, we were treated to a great view of the mountains.  We felt like we were in Maine.  Even picked blueberries!!

Lunch brought from home, then a second trail, off to find the wild ponies, Shetlands.  This hike was in a mainly open field so the plants were different.  Luke got this fabulous picture of an orange flower and the bee.

Mission accomplished!  A beautiful pony meandered her way along the trail right beside Luke.

Tomorrow we return home.  So, unless something amazing happens along the way, for the blog of this trip, it is THE END.