False Cape State Park, Virginia
Ryan: "My friend Glen and I backpacked into False Cape State Park this past weekend, 11/19-20/2022.
The park is on the North Carolina border and south of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which is now restricted to limited access during the bird migration. The weather Saturday was sunny and about 50 degrees - perfect for hiking the ocean beach - and there weren't many people.
The birds were amazing. Sandpipers were doing their frantic little dances with the surf. Seagulls and pelicans flew by. We came upon a large flock of sandpipers and gulls hanging out at the waters edge. One seagull separated itself from the flocks and strutted through the surf right in front of us. I said it was very handsome, and Glen said it was a rat with wings.
We found amazing shells and the dead sea turtle washed up on the beach. Two buzzards were hanging around at a distance as we passed on Saturday. On Sunday we found the turtle had been shifted by the tide, and a buzzard was picking at it until we approached. Saturday, Glen got the prize find of a large conch shell completely intact except for a patina on the outside. The inside was beautiful and looked like a map of the world. He also found a small, nearly intact shell that fit inside the larger one like a baby snuggled in it's mother's arms. I picked up one shell on Saturday and the rest on Sunday and played with them yesterday until I came up with the arrangement I photographed.
We set up camp and went for a walk to a beautiful bayside view with a marsh on the other side of the trail. A Great Blue Heron flew away from us across the marsh and perched in a big tree. We got back to camp before sunset and took our stuff down the road to the boathouse where there were flush toilets and sinks and a picnic table. We enjoyed the sunset as we sipped hot tea and bourbon and cooked dinner. Ducks, Snow Geese and other birds were flying all around. The temperature dropped as the sun went down, but we were comfortably warm through the night in our shelters and bags. The birds were calling all around us throughout the night but got quieter in the very early hours.
Sunday morning we returned to the boathouse for breakfast. As we were eating breakfast and enjoying our coffees, five Snow Geese flew across the bay towards us with the sunlight highlighting every feature of their beauty. They flew low and slow directly towards us, then circled to our right around us and away. It was stunning."
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Owl Orchard Firewood
Ryan: "After helping my friend Don at Owl Orchard cut up trees killed by the Emerald Ash Borer
last year, I was able to take advantage of the free firewood this year. I made several trips to the orchard
and eventually filled the firewood ring on our 3rd floor balcony. Sitting in the hammock, enjoying the
afternoon sun, I noticed the sculptural beauty of the stack and took the photo."
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