Let's Go North

Our trip north starting with visiting Curt and Diane outside St. Augustine. Fun quick visit, then over the bridge toward Virginia, Floyd Virginia, to visit Joanne and Greg in the Blue Ridge mountains where they summer in the Airstream.

Was fun to get some cool air and see hilly countryside as we headed north. Our cute 1927 hotel, Pine Tavern Lodge, was picturesque and a tad quirky making it our kind of place. Current owners decided to retire back where they went to college - Virginia Tech. They decided to buy, renovate the lodge which took 5 years. With Covid, the historic roadside restaurant next door had closed. So we were unable to enjoy their well liked meals. Hoping they reopen with new owner. 

Pine Tavern Lodge

This area is an odd, interesting mix of super conservative and super liberal thinkers. So a yoga studio may be next door to a home covered with Trump paraphernalia. The old farmsteads, barns and side roads were rustic and real. It made me wonder how long the countryside would look like this as more people search for livable areas outside of cities. Floyd is only 55 miles outside of Roanoke. 

typical old barn alongside roadway

just a part of the property's messaging

happy Turk gets to hike

 The town of Floyd, as was explained to me by the Lodge owner, was a farm town back in the 60's when college kids started setting up communes in the area. He claims there were at least 3. The locals, though conservative and not hippy friendly, merely put up with the kids and the kids didnt cause problems. Over time, and with maturity, everyone just got along for the most part. The kids who stayed settled into homes, built businesses and contributed to the community. Today, largely from this influence, there is an abundance of artists, especially potters, bakers, organic farmers, and holistic practitioners. 

Weekend evenings, everyone meets downtown for impromptu live music. We noticed some clogging as well by kids and oldsters. Seems everyone has an interesting dog, and the evenings were busy with people catching up with old friends, and entertaining visitors with their stories. No focus was on the Trump rally, apparently a weekly happening outside the Confederate soldier statue in front of City Hall.

you think this is for tourists?

civil war era graves in town

general store across street from city hall

We got some RV experience hanging out at the park with Joanne and Greg. A beautiful setting, but RVs are nestled very close to one another. One learns to respect your neighbor's space. Because the park is small and most of the residents are owners, it seemed like a tight knit, friendly group.

the chefs were busy

Turk finds a grill everywhere he goes

Joanne (left) me (right) as deer ornaments

We drove out to Roanoke one day, visiting some breweries along the way. Many, many breweries! 

one brewery, complete with Joanne and Greg

Turk's fave brewery due to wood fire pizza oven

field of sunflowers at brewery

 

We ended up at Black Dog Salvage that had a show on DIY until 2020. Fun to explore their warehouse and grounds, especially after watching their business grow over the years via the show.

Black Dog Salvage fans

one of their trucks

an art installation at their picnic grounds

cool art deco piece

so many cool architectural pieces

Black Dog apparently goes to bathroom

ya, boxes of all kinds of things

We got to do a beautiful hike near Blacksburg, complete with waterfalls! A fun, beautiful day with friends.

babbling brook

Turk looks tiny

people were swimming downstream

posing !

amazing rocks

Eventually we had to go home, but still saw rustic Virginia farmlands, and whimsical creatures.

tractor has seen better days

typical run down barn

saw THIS at entrance to homestead

Friendly dinosaur on exit to highway

closeup of Igor

our escort out of town

Quite a Collection of Quilts

 Dunedin Fine Arts Center and Leepa-Ratner Art Museum coordinated an international quilt exhibit this summer.  I was excited to see quilts from Africa, Egypt and here in Florida for an eclectic display of fabric art.

The Egyptian works were done by men, Egyptian tent makers.  Historically, Egyptian tent panels are decorative, colorful displays of fabric pieces sewn in geometric designs or images.  Now this craft is being used to create wall hangings.  The sewing is intricate and almost invisible. Many of the designs are Ottoman inspired.

example of more symmetrical design

Tree of Live design - so much detail

These quilts from  Liberia, Africa are made by local women, some of whom are resurrecting traditional patterns. The coffee tree design from Liberia is famous and often replicated.  Liberia was settled by former US slaves prior to the Civil Was.  In 1892, former Tennessee slave, now Liberian free woman, Martha Ricks presented her artistic quilt to the Queen of England at Windsor Castle. England recognized the new country of Liberia's independence in 1847,  before the United States.  

Tulips are a common design

Liberian quilts known for white quilted background

Coffee Tree design

The quilt exhibit leaped to Florida quilts that ranged from artistic, to fun, to interesting. So much local talent. 

So much to see! They really captured Florida

Looks amazing from a distance, red on beaks

loved the looks and 3D paraphernalia

Always a flamingo. Love the breast feathering

Springs, Hikes, Wines

 From lush coastal redwoods, we headed inland to much warmer temperatures, drier air, springs, hills and vineyards as we traveled between Ukiah and Calistoga. Our first destination was Vichy Springs, established in 1854, and the only naturally warm and carbonated Vichy mineral baths in North America. It is located on 700 acres of hiking hills and trails. 

This area was inhabited by the Pomo native Americans over 5000 years ago, though the springs are over 5 million years old. Like today, the Pomos used the springs for healing and health. The gold rush brought white settlers and businessmen. One purchased the springs from the current Mexican land owner (California was part of Mexico). From there a series of investors and property managers have run the springs. Local and international celebrities of the times have visited the springs including: The Bhiradelli family, Presidents Grant, Harrison and Teddy Roosevelt, Mark Twain, Jack London, Robert Louis Stevenson to today's Nancy Pelosi, Dustin Hoffman, James Coburn and even Sandy Koufax. And now, me and the Turk!

we stayed in one of the original buildings from 1860's.

turk enjoying borax soak

one of the finds on a  morning hike

Turk finds yet another old truck

hiking near the nearly dry creek. Drought conditions

rolling hills of Ukiah area

 

rolling hills of Ukiah area with madrone woodlands

    

of course we found wine! Testa winery in Calpella CA settled by Italian family 1912. Still family owned.

more wineries going south from Ukiah

made it to Calistoga: 'our' hotel!

We explored the Napa area a bit more than usual because we were doing only a few winery visits. We discovered the Bale Grist Mill State Park in St. Helena, featuring the mill built in 1846. It is fully operational and while we were there, squatting since the park wasnt officially open (state was still opening after Covid closures), a couple of park rangers showed up and started turning the wheel to check if all the gears were still operational - they were!

water runs from creek up to this channel

channel releases water over the wheel

the park actually grinds grain with this wheel, and sells it

We ended up at Mustards Grill for dinner one night, sitting outside in a lovely area next to their vegetable garden which make the Turk very happy. 

happy Turk near artichokes

hiking along Napa River

croissants from Model Bakery, Oxbow Public Mkt

Beautiful produce at Napa Farmers Market

tasting at Chimney Rock - our splurge!