Appalachian Mountains on PBS

Southwest Virginia made national television last night. I hope you had a chance to watch the first part of Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People on PBS. Southwest Virginia was specifically mentioned in the documentary.

Watch and Learn

The videography was truly awesome. Last night's segment, which dealt with the geological beginnings of the mountains, was interesting---way more interesting than I expected from a lesson in geology. They explained how continents shifted and moved into their current state. While doing so, the Appalachian Mountains were formed. The documentary is narrated by Virginia resident and actress Sissy Spacek.

That's Old!

According to the program, the mountains of southwest Virginia are one billion years old. Trees began to grow here 200 million years ago. The first humans lived here about 14,000 years ago.

The Indians were first to arrive. The documentary said they were a very advanced and complex society that had the tools necessary to survive and thrive. Then the Europeans, led by Spain's Hernando De Soto, came. Unfortunately, they brought European diseases with them and half the native population died.

Incredible Hunting

It's hard to imagine but the scientists interviewed on the broadcast said the first animals to live in the Appalachians were camels, elephants, and sabertooth tigers. Imagine walking out the cabin door and seeing that. From that piont on, every species, whether human or beast, found the mountains to be a wonderful source of life. They said no other mountain region anywhere in the world supports the kind of life that is supported by the Appalachians.

Indian Name

The Appalachian Mountains got their name from the Alpalche Indians. According to the documentary, in 1560, the Indian name became the mountains' name and, early on, they were known as the Apalation Mountains.

What's Next?

Last night's segment was the first in a series. With the geological explanation completed, the program will focus more on the people and history of Appalachia. In most parts of Virginia, the documentary will air on PBS the next few Thursdays at 9 p.m. but as they say, check your local listings.

The series looks like it will be educational and entertaining. It made for great television last night and was especially interesting knowing that much of the porgram was discussing land that is near and dear to us.

(Photo by Burton Floyd Photography. See the link on the right.)

Round the Mountain to Region's Artisans

There are some incredible artisans in this part of country. When spending a Saturday afternoon in downtown Stuart a while back, I heard about Round the Mountain. It’s a program under the Virginia Works Initiative that began in 2004 to assist the artisans in southwest Virginia with marketing, educational, and entrepreneurial opportunities. It is establishing a craft trail network, much like the Crooked Road does with music, through 19 counties in this part of the Commonwealth. Patrick County, where the Fairystone Cabin is located, is one of the counties.

The Round the Mountain Web Site

If you’re into pottery, photography, painting, crafts, homemade preserves, road side produce stands and the like, you’ll want to check out the Round the Mountain web site, http://www.roundthemountain.org/. It lists a bunch of events along the route where you can meet the farmers and artists and see their goods.

For example, the first event I clicked on was “Art Off the Wall,” a show that features seven artisans in seven different three-dimensional media: clay, wood, stone, stained glass, fabric, metal, and lampwork glass beads. It takes place in Floyd, May 1st through May 3rd. Pretty cool! There are many events like that on the site.

Artists in the Fairystone Cabin

When we began furnishing the Fairystone Cabin, we decided we would do our best to buy things that came from Virginia. The artists and craftspeople are so talented here, why not enjoy their work in the cabin? Most of our furniture, crafts, pottery, photos, and paintings are from south and west Virginia. (A few things came from central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley.) Traveling to the communities around Fairystone to make the cabin a home has been fun. We’ve seen cool places, met some great people, and learned much about the region.

On a Roll

The first “art” we purchased for the cabin was a series of nature photos taken by Burton Floyd, an incredibly talented photographer and friend from the Shenandoah Valley. His work has been featured in Blue Ridge Country Magazine. http://www.burtonfloyd.com/ The photo at the top of this post is one of his.

Hanging his photos in the cabin gave us the idea of staying “local,” or at least staying “Virginia.” We followed the photos with a painting of Mabry Mill that we found in downtown Stuart. Then a candle holder we came across in Floyd. A cool handmade vase, also from Floyd, came next. We were off and running. The furniture is from Bassett, Rocky Mount, and Roanoke. A painting by P. Buckley Moss brought some central Virginia into the mix.

It’s All Right Here

This region has so much to offer with the incredible music, trails, lakes, rivers, mountains, and scenery. Don’t forget to add art to the list.

Richmond Times Features Crooked Road

I was excited to see a full page story about the Crooked Road in Sunday's (April 5th) edition of the Richmond Times. http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/travel/regional/article/S-ROAD05_20090401-203837/246700/It was written by Bill Lohmann who has been covering travel and feature stories in Virginia for years. I wrote about the Crooked Road a couple of blog posts ago. Four of its major sites are close to our cabin. Lohmann's online story includes a link to a great slide show about the Road.

Crooked Road Sites

In his article, Lohmann lists eight sites along the Crooked Road and he also includes what he calls "partners"--- places along the Road like the Dairy Queen in Rocky Mount where you can find live bluegrass every Thursday from 9 to 10 a.m. in addition to weekly jams.

We Had No Idea

When we bought our cabin a few years ago, we purchased it because of it's proximity to Fairystone State Park---right next door---and all the great things the Park has to offer. Knowing the Blue Ridge Parkway was close by was also a factor. But we had no idea that it was on the Crooked Road. Talk about luck!

Spreading the Word

Stories like the one in yesterday's Richmond Times certainly help inform others about this incredibly unique and important stretch of road that connects to the roots of country music. I've seen and heard more and more stories in the media about the Road in the last couple years. The people in charge of the marketing it are doing an excellent job. Hopefully, especially as people vacation a little closer to home this year, Virginians and North Carolinains will take advantage of this wonderful stretch of American history.

A Blast From the Past-Covered Bridges

I wonder what it was like when people relied on covered bridges. Did folks really use them to dodge rain storms? Did kids hang out on them? Did young couples meet there?

There are only eight covered bridges in all of Virginia and two are about ten minutes away from the cabin. Both are located a short distance from one another in Patrick County.

Bob White Bridge

The Bob White Bridge is near Woolwine just off Route 8. There are plenty of signs so you can't miss it. It's a big bridge---80-feet long. It's the bridge in the photo. Originally, it was a connector between the road and a church. The road and church are still there---and so is the bridge. I’m told it's not the original bridge. It's been replaced. But it's open and you can walk on it. It's really something to see. The Smith River runs underneath. It's a cool area to either relax or let children run around and play on the banks of the River. It's fun to imagine people 80 years ago using the bridge to get to church.

Jack's Creek Bridge

A couple miles away you’ll find Jack's Creek Bridge. It crosses the meandering Smith River, too. It's smaller than the Bob White Bridge, just 48-feet long. According to VDOT, the original was built in 1914 and was later replaced with more modern materials. Still, it looks old and when there, your mind wanders back generations.

Covered Bridge History

There were hundreds of covered bridges in Virginia at one point. Floods and fire damaged or destroyed many. A VDOT publication I read stated metal bolts and steel made the bridges all but obsolete. With so few to be found, it's a rare and special treat to have two of them right in the neighborhood. They are in terrific shape.

Honest, It’s Fun

When you hear someone say, "We're going to visit the covered bridges," it doesn't necessarily make you think “party time.” But, when I visited both bridges with my family, we ended up spending hours there---taking pictures, playing near the water, and just hanging around. It made for a wonderful afternoon. Somehow, like many other places around Fairystone, the covered bridges make you slow down, relax, and enjoy. I hope you'll take some time to see both bridges sometime. They are a real treat.

A Crooked Road to America's Music

When driving this 250-mile stretch of road across southern Virginia you’ll see some of the most beautiful country in America. But the Crooked Road offers more than breathtaking ridges, mountains, creeks, and rivers.

This stretch of one and two lane highway is historically significant. If you like music---especially bluegrass, country, and old time music----you’ll find this piece of road is extremely significant. The very beginning of American music is traced to the towns along the Crooked Road. It all started here.

From the Fairystone Cabin

There are eight major heritage music venues along the Crooked Road. I first learned about them in Joe Wilson’s book, A Guide to the Crooked Road:Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. There is a wealth of information available regarding the Crooked Road. A good place to start is: http://www.thecrookedroad.org/

Of the eight venues, four of them are close to our cabin, located next to Fairystone State Park. They include:

1. Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
2. Floyd Country Store
3. Blue Ridge Music Center
4. Rex Theatre & Old Fiddlers Convention

Blue Ridge Institute & Museum

The “BRI” is located at Ferrum College in the small town of Ferrum. It’s open all year and it’s a terrific place to learn about the Crooked Road, its music, and people. The displays here are excellent and the Museum puts forth great effort to rotate the exhibits and keep things interesting. You can see and hear the music thanks to audio and video displays. The big annual event at the BRI is its Blue Ridge Folklife Festival held on the fourth Saturday in October. The website link is at the right of this page.

Floyd Country Store

There aren’t many places like the Floyd Country Store. You realize just how many people, from all walks of life, enjoy the music when you visit this unique place. On the far back wall, for instance, is a photo of then Virginia Gov. Mark Warner jamming on stage with then Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine. The live music here on weekends gets people get up and dancing. You haven’t lived until you’ve experience the Friday Night Jamboree there. See the website link on the right column of this page.

Blue Ridge Music Center

As if the Blue Ridge Parkway isn’t already incredible, add the Blue Ridge Music Center at mile 213 to the experience. Established by Congress, it’s open from May through October. This outdoor venue also hosts an exhibit hall that tells the story of the music. The music here is great and scenery is awesome. For a schedule, check out: http://www.blueridgemusiccenter.org/.

Rex Theatre & Old Fiddlers Convention

Live audience, live music, and live radio combine to make a great experience at Blue Ridge Backroads at the Rex. Since 1999, the concert has been broadcast live on Blue Ridge Country 98.1 FM. The Rex is home to many other events, too, throughout the year. It’s located in Galax.

The Old Fiddlers convention has been around for almost three-quarters of a century. In the second week of August each year, people flock to Galax to hear incredible music.

Try It You’ll Like It

If you haven’t experienced the Crooked Road, I highly recommend you do. Whether just visiting one of the major stops, or driving from one end of the Road to the other, you’ll see beautiful scenery, listen to great music, and learn how it all started in southern Virginia.

Every Hour is Earth Hour Here

Have you heard about Earth Hour? Are you going to participate? Earth Hour takes place tomorrow night: Saturday, March 28th from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Organizers are asking people to turn off their lights for that one hour to show support for the environment and for the future of the planet.

Almost 3,000 cities across the globe are participating. Landmarks like the Las Vegas Strip, the Empire State Building, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris will turn off their lights for that 60-minute period. People, organizations, and governments in over 80 countries are taking part.

When reading and hearing about Earth Hour, I've noticed most of the attention has been focused on the big cities and major monuments that are on board. Many people are wondering what a city will look like at night without any lights turned on. In fact, a number of web sites are encouraging people to submit photos they take Saturday night.

I'm certain the experience tomorrow night in major cities will be fantastic. But when you're in the Fairystone area---in the woods, in a cabin---every nighttime hour is Earth Hour. All 12 months, all 52 weeks, all 365 nights. The area is beautiful during the day but there is no place like it at night. Out the cabin door, across the porch, down the stairs, a few steps forward, look up, and...Wow!

Many people will get a glimpse of that tomorrow night in various cities across the world. If they want to see it all night, any night of the year, they should visit the Fairystone area. Enjoy!

Blues Traveler, Floydfest and Rain

I was visiting the Floydfest 8 web site this evening and was surprised and excited to see that Blues Traveler will be performing at the event this July. That's a pretty big name for Floydfest, a four-day concert (in Floyd, of course) that often showcases lesser-known, but excellent, musicians and bands.

Here's the link to the Floydfest 8 web site: http://atwproductions.com/index.php?pr=ffhome.

If you are unfamiliar with Floyfest, I recommend checking out its site. After hearing about it for years, I finally attended the Woodstock-like concert for the first time last summer. My 14-year-old daughter and I went to the Friday night activities---it runs from Thursday through Sunday. It's so cool to see all those people, all ages, hanging out and going from stage to stage listening to live bluegrass, country, acoustic, and other music. With the mountains as the backdrop it makes for a terrific experience.

I'm so psyched! After work tomorrow, I'm heading to the cabin for the weekend. It looks like rain but there's a chance I can squeeze in an early morning hike Saturday. If not, there is nothing more relaxing than listening to the rain falling on the roof of a log cabin. Rain or shine, I figure I'll be happy.

One of my favorite activities at the cabin is listening to Blue Ridge Backroads live from the Rex Theatre on Blue Ridge Country 98.1 FM on Friday nights. http://www.blueridgecountry98.com/

A bluegrass concert broadcast live on a radio station. You don't find that in many places. One more thing that makes the Fairystone area so special.

Have a great weekend. Enjoy the music and the rain.

Beautiful Log Cabin for Rent!

After months of discussion, we've finally decided to rent our beautiful log cabin to people looking for an outstanding getaway in the woods. It's simply too nice to keep to ourselves. (And, to be honest, we can use the money for our kids' college funds!)

Our cabin is located right next door to Fairystone State Park, one of Virginia's many fantastic, award-winning parks. Fairystone is in Patrick County, ten miles from the small community of Bassett. It's also 14 miles from the town of Ferrum. Basically, it's close to many places but in the middle of nowhere at the same time.

Our cabin is three years old. It's located in a small, quiet "neighborhood" of about 20 log homes. The main floor includes a master bedroom with a queen size bed and a full master bathroom, a second full bathroom, fireplace, living room, dining room and complete kitchen. There's a deck in the back and a great covered porch in the front. Upstairs, two lofts have two single beds each.

Log "cabin" may be misleading. It's really a log "home." New and comfortable. No phone and cell service is spotty inside the cabin. No internet, either. Staying here means being unplugged. But, it's comfortable. A flat screen with over 100 DVDs, CD player and radio, air conditioning, microwave, dishes, silverware, cookware, etc. We provide everything except for food and toiletries.

We know the economy is making it tough for many people to take a break and get away. So, we decided to charge rates similar to those charged for the cabins in the state park next door. However, the experience in our cabin is different. The cabins in the park are smaller and rustic. Ours is bigger and modern.

Our rates are $625 for one week (Saturday to Saturday). Three-day weekends are $275. A two-night weekend stay is $190. We ask that your family or group consist of four or fewer people. No pets. No smoking. Please e-mail us at logcabin@embarqmail.com if you are interested or have any questions.

So, why a blog? When people like you aren't staying in the cabin, we probably will be there---at least on weekends. So, I thought I would tell you about the cabin and the area by blogging after each one of our visits. I'll write about the hiking, music, food, nearby towns, sites, and all the cabin and surrounding area have to offer. I hope you enjoy the blog and I hope you'll think about staying at our log home. There is no better way to relax and re-charge your batteries. Thanks.