hiking – Eat On Edgecliff

Wednesday, 4/17/24

Courtney and I hit the road around 6:00AM heading to Shenandoah National Park. We arrived after an uneventful six and half hour drive and headed up the mountains on Skyline Drive. The park is centered on Skyline Drive that winds through the mountains for 105 miles and connects with the Blue Ridge Parkway on the south end. We stopped for a picnic lunch that we brought with us at Elkwallow picnic area. We kept heading up the mountains and stopped at several of the numerous outlooks built into the road to admire the scenery. We hiked the Limberlost trail which was super easy and then headed to the Skyland area where we were staying for the night. We arrived at 3:00PM and were able to check in to our little cabin. After unpacking and sitting on the porch for a bit we hiked the Stony Man trail which was just around the corner. The hike was not that long – just about two miles – but was an uphill trail to the look out of stony man mountain. A great view. Headed back to our cabin, had a drink or two and then walked up to the lodge where we had a surprisingly good dinner. We each had salads and Courtney had a bison pasta bolognese and I had a bowl of Brunswick stew. Blackberry ice cream pie topped with meringue for dessert won the prize though.

These beautiful stone walls line much of the drive in the mountains.

A national parks marker on one of our hikes

view from stony man – still early spring at the top of the mountains.

hanging out on the patio of our little cabin

A+ blackberry ice cream pie topped with meringue and blackberry sauce

Thursday, 4/18/24

We packed out things up in the morning and went up to the lodge again for breakfast. We split an order of blackberry french toast which was very good. We hit the park again on a beautiful spring morning. We first hiked Dark Hollow Falls trail which was a beautiful trail going down into the valley following a small stream and ending in a nice set of waterfalls. We were worried the hike back up would be rough but we made it no problem. We then hiked the Bearfence Mountain trail which was just the opposite – hiking up up up to a rocky overlook. This was about the only time we saw other people on any of our hikes. It was blessedly almost empty on this off season week day. We continued driving through the park and arrived at Blue Mountain Brewery around 1:00. The brewery was a great place with amazing scenery and it was suddenly 80 degrees and sunny once we were down from the mountains. We had some good beers and a good lunch and then headed back on the road to Roanoke. It took us about two hours to drive to Emily and Dan’s house. Once Dan was done working we headed out to downtown Roanoke and had cocktails and apps at the Liberty Trust – a cool swanky hotel converted from an old bank. We then walked a few blocks to Sidecar – a belgian restaurant where we had an excellent dinner.

Heading down down down the dark hollow falls trail.

khachapuri appetizer at The Vault. Gooey, eggy cheese inside bread – delicious.

Friday, 4/19/24

We had a leisurely morning breakfasting at Emily and Dan’s and then drove to Carvins Cove for a hike in the woods along the reservoir. It was a cloudy day and started raining a bit but it was a great hike. We stopped at Parkway Brewing Company on the way back for a quick beer, stopped at a coffee and wine shop and then back home and relaxed for the rest of the day. We headed back downtown to get our registration materials for tomorrow’s race and attend a concert that was part of the weekend activities. Emily packed an excellent picnic and it was fun to hang out and listen to some live music.

Saturday, 4/20/24

Saturday was race day so we were up early and off to Roanoke around 7:00AM. Courtney, Emily and I walked the 10K and Dan ran the 1/2 marathon. The race is billed as one of the toughest in the country as it goes up several mountains. Thankfully the 10K went up only one mountain – that was enough. It was a fun race with many spectators and also stops for jello shots and mimosas. We hung out for a while after the race having a few beers, walked around Roanoke a bit and stopped at a bakery for some coffee and treats. We went back to Em and Dan’s for the afternoon, went to a nice pizza near them for dinner and hung out and watched a movie.

At about mile 3 on top of the mountain… it was a long way up but we made it.

Sunday, 4/21/24

We hit the road after a quick breakfast with Dan and Emily and and an easy drive back to CLE.

WED 3/27/2024: I went on a solo trip to Las Vegas to visit Grace and Thomas and attend their engagement party. My early morning Frontier direct flight was zero hassle and better yet I started a book as soon as we took off and I finished it as soon as we touched down… perfect. (BTW I read “This Other Eden” by Paul Harding which was **excellent**. Five star PJH review)

I took a cab to Grace’s office, dropped my bags off with her and went on a walk waiting for her to finish work.

It was a beautiful day in Vegas – warm and sunny skies.

I met Grace at the Venetian where we had a great birthday lunch at Estiatorio Milos.

We both ordered the prix fixe lunch – I had oysters and salmon and Grace had greek spreads and a whole sea bream – all very good.

We spent the rest of the afternoon basking in the sunshine at Grace’s pool and cooked dinner at their place.

THU 3/28/24: I dropped off Thomas at work in the morning so I could use the car and then drove to Death Valley National Park in California. It was a two hour scenic drive through the desert.

I stopped first at Zabriskie point which had a short walk up to a beautiful view. I then headed to the Visitor Center at Furnace Creek to buy an annual National Park Pass (hopeful to visit multiple national parks in the next 12 months) and to change into shorts as it was now in the 80s.

I then went to the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and walked among the dunes for about an hour.

Pictures of course don’t do justice for any of the views – but the dunes were beautiful, large with strange looking plants and driftwood everywhere.

I drove a short distance down the road to the Mosaic Canyon. Here is the start of the trail into the canyon.

It was a beautiful hike with several slot canyons and amazing scenery everywhere.

You can see the scale with the person in front of me.

My last stop was Dante’s View at the top of a crazy drive. You can see the salt flats that run down the middle of the whole park. I wish I had more time to spend exploring – but overall the Park was much more than what I was expecting – very large with mountains, valleys, beautiful rock formations and beautiful views everywhere. I think it would be ideal to spend one night in the park as the sunset and sunrise would be amazing. Next time.

I arrived at Grace’s just as TJ and Grace got home from work. We took an Uber downtown, had Pizza at Evel’s Pizza and then went to Corduroy for a night of Boozy Bingo.

Didn’t have much luck at Bingo but had a fun night.

FRI 3/29/24 Grace and Thomas were both off today so they slept in and we hung out in the AM watching NCAA basketball. We ventured out mid afternoon back downtown to Nevada Brew Works where we hung outside drinking beer and eating pizza.

We checked out Stray Pirate – a new tiki bar that just opened up around the corner and had some fancy drinks. We then headed back to their neighborhood gaming parlor where I was introduced to Keno and watched more NCAA basketball.

SAT 3/30/24 Today was the engagement party at Thomas’s Dad’s house – a 15 minute drive from Grace and Thomas’.

The party was super fun and it was great to meat all of Thomas parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The food was over the top. Check out the huge chunk of gruyere for the raclette. Delicious. There was Mediterranean – kebabs, tabouleh, baba, humus, rice and then also soul food – fried chicken and macaroni and cheese and much moor. Everything was outstanding – but the macaroni and cheese was for sure my favorite.

Thomas, Grace’s friend Brittany and Grace.

Thomas brother, step mother and brother’s girl friend.

Everyone was so nice and so excited about Grace and TJ’s upcoming wedding.

SUN 3/30/24 – I guess I didn’t take any pictures – Easter – Everyone slept in after a long fun day. Thomas and Claudia came over for a super casual brunch and we went out to dinner to a nearby food hall place that just opened up.