Sharp Top Mountain

See that picture above???? That is one of three peaks which can be found at the Peaks of Otter. This one is called Sharp Top. While we were there last Thursday to celebrate my birthday, I noticed that they offered a bus trip to the top of Sharp Top... I got excited about that since I knew that I couldn't possibly hike all of the way UP there (due to my recent knee surgery). SO--we decided to take the bus up to the top...

WELL-----------what I didn't know at the time was that there were still 1500 feet to go once the bus let us out. That doesn't sound too bad, does it????? HA!!!! All 1500 feet were straight UP---with tons of uneven steps to climb. There must have been a million steps... Okay---I exaggerated a little ---but for someone who had just had knee surgery, it felt like a million. BUT--I MADE it (one step at a time).... GADS!!!!!

Here are some pictures starting with the picture above of Sharp Top --with more pictures below.

Here was our bus ---which took us up the mountain!!!!

This is just an example of one set of steps we had to climb --once we got off of the bus. I think there were TONS of steps since we climbed all of the way up into heaven!!!!! ha

"Are we there yet, George??????????" At least, I was still smiling --and my hair wasn't dripping wet yet..... I thought it was going to be cool on that mountain---so for some reason, I took a sweater.... NOT NEEDED!!! ha

Well----we made it to the top... As you can see, the elevation is 3875 feet.

From the top, this picture shows the 3rd peak (Harkening Hill) to the left --and a bit of Flat Top on the right. You can see the Blue Ridge Parkway ---and you can see our resort (Peaks of Otter) below --where we stayed the night before.

Here is a zoomed-in picture of our resort.. The housing area is to the right. We were in the middle building. The building to the left is the conference center and restaurant.

Here's the Birthday Gal ---at the top of Sharp Top Mountain... Think they could have offered an elevator down for this old woman who truly had more trouble going down than up... My knee got a HUGE workout this day!!!! But---be proud of me because I did it (with lots of help from George)!!!!

Here's my HERO----standing at the TIP TOP of the world!!!!! NOW---if you scroll back to that first photo, you may be able to see the rocks on the top of Sharp Top Mountain... That's where we were!!!!!!

Moral of this story: Ask how far the bus will take you FIRST, before making a decision to take that trip. However, I must admit that I'm glad that I went --and was proud of myself for doing it!!! It was gorgeous up there... I'd do it again--even after knowing about the steps!!!

Hugs,

Peaks of Otter, VA

We are home ---and I am here to say that this may have been the best Birthday trip I have ever had.. George had it all planned ---and I just thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our four days. We only took about 600 pictures----so it will take me a few days to share them all... Ha Ha Ha....

On my birthday (Thurs), George took me on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia (north of Roanoke) to the Peaks of Otter. The second day, after visiting the top of one of the mountains (peaks), we drove north into the Shenandoah National Park -on the Skyline Drive, stopping at most every overlook along the way. We spent that second night in the Shenandoah National Park at the Skyland Resort--where we had a room with a view (looking down into the Shenandoah Valley).

The third day (Sat), we continued on north to the end of the Skyline Drive at Front Royal, VA. We then took country roads through the Shenandoah Valley on our way back south. We spent that night at a Holiday Inn in Staunton, VA ---and spent the evening visiting special blog friend GINNY and her husband Phil. What a JOY that was!!!

Then, yesterday, we reluctantly drove home. Sniff Sniff!!! One thing which made this trip SO perfect was our weather. After the storm passed throughon Thursday afternoon, the temperatures stayed in the 70's during the daytime --and went down into the 50's/60's at nights... That was FABULOUS --after all of our horrible heat this summer here at home (which incidentally is STILL here --now that we are back home)... Baaaaaa!

I cannot tell you a highlight of our trip because every minute seemed to be a highlight in itself. I will talk about the trip in various posts --and it may take a long time... That's why I have started a new label called BIRTHDAY 2010--where I will keep all of my posts.

Today, I will show you some pictures from the Peaks of Otter---beginning with the sign above telling a little about the area. Below are more.

We ran through a storm while driving up the mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Aren't these mountains just magnificent, especially with storms all around?

Our room at this resort (we were in the middle building) looked out onto a gorgeous lake--with mountains and PEAKS surrounding us. The place was well-maintained with lots of walking paths --so we took some walks along the lake and to the restaurant.

This is the lake (in front of our room) --with a picture of one of the three peaks in this area.. This peak is called Sharp Top---and I will have a story to tell you about us going up there tomorrow!!!!! Isn't the reflection beautiful?

Here is the Birthday Girl sitting on our patio (after a delicious dinner of Prime Rib and the fixings)---waiting for a beautiful sunset (after the rains).

Do you think this gorgeous sky was worth waiting to see????? WOW---what a fabulous birthday!!!! Thank You, George... You are my EVERYTHING!!

More to come!!!! Hope you all had a great weekend... I will begin (somehow) to catch up with your blogs this week....

Hugs,