Category Archives: Rural Virginia
Antithesis of Consumerism and Cynicism
This life has been given to you for repentance. Do not waste it on vain pursuits. St. Isaac the Syrian The Christmas shopping season is upon us. It used to be that merchants would, at least, wait until our Thanksgiving meals have been well digested and football fans had plenty of time to cheer or …
Taskinas Creek Trail: In The Heart Of The Marsh
Yes, it is open again! The Taskinas Creek Trail at York River State Park was renown as one of the best hikes east of I-95. Due to storm damage, it was closed to the public for two years. Park staff and volunteers worked hard to re-route and restore the trail. Despite some significant changes, Taskinas Creek is a hike that is …
Benefits of Plan B
You would think that with “Gresham’s Law*” being a part of our lives that everyone would have some sort of back up plan for their outdoor adventures. I used to be one of those poor souls. I would come home in a foul mood if the fish weren’t biting, the weather turned bad, or if …
Walkerton: Tidal Marsh Trip
Walkerton, Virginia is one of those little spots of real estate that barely show up on a map or GPS. The King & Queen County town was once a busy little port on the Mattaponi River. As with its upriver sister Aylett, Walkerton’s importance dwindled as more people relied on automobiles. There is an attractive mill-pond, a couple …
Not Just The Roe
People can be so wasteful it is embarrassing. For many decades, watermen harvested the roe (egg sacks) from certain fish and throwing the carcasses to the dogs, scavengers, or letting them rot. This was the fate of the once numerous Atlantic Sturgeon, Blueback Herring, American and Hickory Shad. Fortunately, all but the sturgeon remain in numbers …
Trails To Hike In 2012
Yes, it is “THE BEST OF …” season. Everyone in every hobby and occupation is talking about the great stuff about 2011 and what to do in 2012. I’m sorry that I couldn’t resist jumping on the bandwagon. But, there are a few places I recommend to people who want to put their new outdoor …
Ode to the Country Store
Before supermarkets, truck stops, convenience stores, and “Wally-Worlds;” communities were served by local markets. They were small and did little if any advertising. Most of the shop owners lived nearby, some right beside the store. The prices were marked up only to make a small profit. Some owners let customers run a tab to be …
