Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Monday, July 21, 2014

Cass Scenic Railroad--Part II

The Views from the train as we traveled up that mountain were fantastic. The mountain in the distance is the Skyline Drive area in VIRGINIA. (Are you over there, GINNY?)
 I hope you did not miss my last post talking about us taking a train ride at Cass, West VA on June 24, 2014, while we enjoyed celebrating our anniversary in that area.  We took a ride WAY UP the mountain to Bald Knob on an open-air train, powered by an old steam locomotive.  It was fantastic.  If you DID miss that post,  be sure to read it first in order to get all of the history and information about that fabulous ride and its area...  AND--be sure and listen to the short video near the beginning of that post..  Click HERE for that post.

Today,  I'll share with you what we did and saw during that adventure... Hope you enjoy our ride.  The first several photos are of some gorgeous mountain views that we experienced from the train as we traveled up that mountain.  Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements.


This was where we stopped along the way,  the Whittaker Station.  (There is another  train one can take --if you want a shorter ride--to Whittaker and back.)  We did stop at Whittaker since they had a concession stand there, some historical items and of course,  restrooms.



It was a marvelous day to be on that train.  The views were all breath-taking.



Here's another view of the gorgeous West VA mountains--taken from the train.



I couldn't stop taking pictures of the mountains and mountain views.



The higher we got in elevation while on the train,  the more RED SPRUCE trees we saw.  The Spruce trees 'take over' in the higher elevations... The dead-looking trees beside the dark Red Spruce are/were Hemlocks.  As has happened in many areas of our country,  the hemlocks  are being destroyed by the Wooly Adelgid insects... So sad!  Hope nothing ever damages the beautiful Spruce trees here.



We saw LOTS of WILDFLOWERS along our way... So pretty!!!



The ferns and those dense mountains were just fantastic... There were so many GREEN forests all around!  I love seeing the woods knowing that in most of these areas,  they are enjoyed totally by all of the wildlife and critters--and not by humans!  That's what we love about this area of West Virginia... Tourism has not ruined it...



We made it to the TOP ---to Bald Knob,  where at over 4800 feet in elevation,  the air was much cooler!!!  We had more beautiful views from here --and this is where most of us had our lunch that day.

Here is the view from the overlook (photo of it in my last post from here) of the mountains all around us.. What fabulous views!!!



Oh My Goodness.... Click on this one for sure to see that farm located deep within these mountains.... I used my zoom lens to get this photo.  IF I were much younger,  I'd love to live somewhere deep within the mountains!!! Talk about privacy!  Wow!




Here is that farm and others within the mountains --taken with my regular lens... These last three photos were taken from the overlook at Bald Knob.



Of course,  the deer were at Bald Knob --as we started leaving the area.  He was begging and they tell the folks not to feed the deer.  BUT--many DID.... He was 'licking his chops' (See his tongue?)   --after getting some goodies from one of the train passengers. 



Heading back down the mountain,  I loved this beautiful photo of all of the layers of mountains in the distance.



Here's one more photo as we headed down that mountain of the 'views from the train'...
Hope you enjoyed seeing some of what we enjoyed while being on that train.... Although I loved the wildflowers and the critters and the deep woods,  my favorite (as you can tell by my many photos) was all of the fantastic views we had of the surrounding mountains.  On such a beautiful summer day in West VA,  what could ever be any better than this?????

Have a wonderful Monday ---and I'll be back on Thursday.

Hugs,

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

What beautiful scenery!

Ginny Hartzler said...

You snapped the deer just at the perfect minute! So the grey trees are the ones damaged by the insects... the scenery is gorgeous, things you just cannot see hiking or driving. I love the shot of all of you there and at the picnic tables with the train beside you.

Fun60 said...

How you must have enjoyed that trip. those views are just spectacular.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

What a fantastic trip this way with fabulous scenery.

Sharon said...

West Virginia is truly an underrated state! We were two that were guilty of just that until we spent a week there several years ago. Can't wait to go back and see more!

Arkansas Patti said...

Now that is my kind of "hiking." What a lovely trip and I really liked the layered look but also had to smile at the moocher. What a cutie.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

those clouds are gorgeous!! looks like a lovely day. i always wonder if they would go on the trip if it were rainy? our trip there was perfect day as well. trying to recall what year that was?? the hubby made me get a shot of him laying the tracks ... you know those shows where folks are tied to the tracks begging for a rescue. he is too silly. ( :

have a great week. i am talking Ash Cave today. enjoy your minutes. July is flying by.

linda m said...

Those are some of the best photos of the mountains. Just makes me wish I could move there. Mountains and the ocean are my two favorite places that I would love to live near. You certainly had a wonderful trip.

George said...

You got some great photos of the mountains from the train and from the top of Bald Knob. It was a glorious day in every respect.

Beth said...

Stupendous views! Perhaps we can plan to go there next year as we both like trains and history.
That farm looked quite private--Ha!
I enjoyed the video of the train in the first post.Thanks for making it available. :>)

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

It is always so pretty up there. Glad you had a great day for a train ride.

Betsy said...

Such beautiful pictures! You certainly have the gift of photography. I, too, would love to live on a farm so private. Although every year when our forest fires start burning out west here I'm happy to live in the city. Thank you for taking us along on your train ride.
Blessings,
Betsy

Out on the prairie said...

Real nice area to explore.I saw the deer in Washington that were not very afraid of humans in the Cascade Mountains.

David said...

Betsy, Great photos! We definitely need to explore this area...and ride the train. Regarding that deer, we have a neighbor who has a half dozen peach trees in her side yard. When we drive by, the deer feeding on the ripe peaches barely glance up from their feast! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Nellie said...

Beautiful, beautiful scenery! It sounds like a wonderful trip.

Hugs,
Nellie

Jeevan said...

Here along our mountain passes, forest department requests to not feed monkeys on the way to keep them away from hit by passing vehicles.
Awesome series on the mountain views... Great capture on the farm patches and I am sure it quite paradise staying over there. The Bald Knob station seems like a scene from fairly tales.

Sylvia K said...

A gorgeous place and what a wonderful trip!! Love the train!! The views are breathtaking!! Thanks so much for sharing the fun and the beauty, Betsy!! Have a great week!

Jim and Sandie said...

Finally getting caught up a little bit on blog reading. Loved your posts about the train. Don't think we'll have time to do much sight seeing in West Virginia this time. If I could get Jim to quit fishing so we could travel more, but that ain't going to happen. So thanks for taking us along.

Larry said...

I so wish my health would allow me to travel the way you folks do... it's wonderful that experience so many beautiful areas... I really do miss the mountains... especially after being reminded how beautiful they are by your posts! Larry

Larry said...

I so wish my health would allow me to travel the way you folks do... it's wonderful that experience so many beautiful areas... I really do miss the mountains... especially after being reminded how beautiful they are by your posts! Larry

A Colorful World said...

Oh the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of Va. and W Va!!!! Oh, how I love them! Russell and I were planning on retiring in their foothills so these kinds of views would be ours! We retired here in AZ instead so we could be close to our wonderful kids! And our trip this last two weeks to the Rockies sure made me long for the mountains! The Rockies are my second favorite. SOOO beautiful! So happy you two got to go on this trip! I would adore going on this steam train trip! Wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, Very nice photographs! That deer has people trained. What a character. Nice scenic views. By the way, Yellowstone scenery on my blog today as per your fine request. Have a great day and enjoy your days off from blogging!

Small City Scenes said...

Gorgeous views there, Betsy. I love the hills too. If I was younger I would live way out somewhere. Sorta did anyway but not as isolated as I would have liked. Glad you had a Joyful Anniversary trip. MB

Kay said...

Great views.

Ann said...

Those are some fabulous views and I would love to live on one of those farms all hidden away like that.
I don't think I would be able to resist feeding that deer either :)

diane b said...

Thanks for the train ride through those beautiful mountains. The scenery is breathtaking.

Terry and Linda said...

I always say---Some day I'll...now with all your travels I get to say NOW!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

Mary said...

Beautiful scenery! You guys always take such great trips.

happyone said...

All the pictures are gorgeous. What a wonderful outing.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Simply beautiful! Your photos had me playing a John Denver song in my head. Country Roads, I think is the name of it. Anyway, you saw some gorgeous views! I hope to see this area sometime. It's near the top of my bucket list!

Big Dude said...

Thanks for the great views Betsy

Helen said...

Wow, what a view, Betsy! thanks for taking us there.

Rose said...

That sky was a perfect backdrop for the beautiful scenes...I would have been right with you in taking a bunch of photos. LOVE those views!

DeniseinVA said...

Amazing scenery along that rail line. Thanks for sharing this wonderful trip Betsy. Your adventures are always so enjoyable.

Thank you for leaving such sweet comments on Father-in-law's D-Day trip to Normandy :)

Hootin Anni said...

What gorgeous views Betsy!! Thanks so much for sharing this with us all.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Those mountain views are spectacular. I love all the layers.

Our photos said...

I agree, this is a beautiful place !

Debbie Taillieu said...

Thank you so much for taking us along on your ride! The views were stunning! I love the picture of everyone sitting and standing near the train during your stop. It reminded me of an old time photograph!
Ha, I thought the deer's tongue was a potato chip!!
Debbie

Peaches McGinty said...

Hi Betsy!
What an adorable deer! I would have wanted to feed it too! the views are stunning on your trip, to witness such a vastness of land and beauty must have a been truly incredible experience x x x

Unknown said...

These are some stunning views, I can see why you like the Mountains so much, beautiful!! Like the one of the train and the deer too.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Cute capture of the deer- and the mountains are just gorgeous!

Small Kucing said...

how did you manage such a clear shot of the deer . It's lovely :)

Connie said...

Fantastic photos, Betsy! So much pretty scenery there. Looks like you had a wonderful trip. :)

Twilight Man said...

I am sure you had a marvelous time to ride on the train which is so classic looking. The view was fantastic as far as your eyes could see. You know that I also took trains around the Southern of Japan recently and the view was so different from yours. It was Spring then and their Sakura flowers were in full blooms! Lovely!

I miss Virginia a lot as I recall the days we drove across to visit Washington DC.

Joe Todd said...

Thanks for the tour Betsy.. Beautiful photos as always

Pat Tillett said...

Based on your great photos, it looks like a great train ride. I would love to live on an isolated farm like that. Well, like you said, maybe when I was younger. Great photos Betsy!

Linda said...

Beautiful! And the deer is cute in spite of being a shameless beggar.

Neal said...

I absolutely love those mountain shots....with layer after layer of mountains. Patti and I need to do that trip.