Last weekend, I was at my art show in Wintergreen Resort. I have been doing that art, on and off, for many years. Wintergreen has three great overlooks looking east, west and south. With that in mind, I always bring my cameras with me to the show. There are many beautiful sunrises that I have made photographs of but the sunsets have always eluded me. Sunsets are always nice, but they never had that great amount of color and light. From Raven's Roost overlook on Sept 5, I photographed what I felt was, finally, a beautiful Wintergreen sunset. But I will let you be the judge of that. A great sunset, friendly company and good wine. Thanks, it added to the moment.

The next morning, I arose before sunrise and drove to the Wintergreen overlook. There was fog in the valley below as the sun rose on the horizon. Another great Wintergreen sunrise.

This Saturday, Sept 5, I will have a booth set up at the Shenandoah County Fair. Some images will be on display(and for sale ;) from the trip along with some other local photos. My booth will be located in the activity tent behind the grandstand.

This photo will be on display at the fair and it is of the truss bridge that crosses the Shenandoah River downstream from the Inn at Narrow Passage near Woodstock. During my journey in April, Spring had arrived and the "green line" was creeping up the mountain side. The trees on top of the mountain are the last to sprout their spring leaves.

Carmen at preschool graduation from Grasshopper Green. They grow up so fast...

A bald eagle soaring above the Shenandoah River. Whenever it wasn't raining during the journey, I saw many eagles along the Shenandoah. When it did rain, I rarely saw any wildlife. Which I can understand because what animal in his right mind would be out in bad weather on the river?

These are images from the first day. John Politz and I are at the marker placed near the spring. The other is of the spring where we started hiking.

Journey's End

The final day of the journey down the Shenandoah River began a several miles upstream from the confluence with the Potomac River. The river is flat and slow at this point until you reach the rapids where it gets challenging. The first day that John and I started canoeing on this journey there was rain, the river was up and moving fast. A sharp contrast from over 150 miles back and two weeks ago at the start of canoeing up until today. We decided to finish the journey on Saturday, a day earlier than the scheduled because Sunday there will be rain. Around half of the days on this journey had some amount of rain and it would be nice to end it with no rain.

We approached the drop known as Bull Falls and pull up to a rock to take a closer look. As we are looking at the falls, a flotilla of rafts from some of the area's river guides appear around the bend. John and I decide to wait and watch the rafts go through first. Slowly, one by one, they go through Bull Falls. When the last of over a dozen rafts approaches the falls, we load up in the canoe for our turn. We have lightened the load for this final section of the journey. I have only brought a video camera in a small water tight box and plan to use it when there is little chance of it getting wet. John has brought his small video camera and rubber bands it to the underside of the lid of his LSU baseball cap. He also brings the only phone and his wallet in a water box. We also brought a bottle of spring water that we have been carrying with us from the spring at the beginning of this journey where we filled up the bottle. One other item we brought that needs mentioning is an extra flotation device to help keep the canoe afloat when filled with water. My daughter was happy to lend us her penguin snow tube. The tube has an attachment on one side that is in the shape of a penguin head. We strapped it down in the middle of the canoe. With our penguin and canoe, we paddle out to the falls.

The falls that we are going through is one of three chutes on the left side of the river. There is a left, center and right chute. Ours is on the right. The many rafters have gone through and are waiting below the falls. I see the falls getting closer and the scores of people watching from beyond. We slowly are drawn into the falls, speed up and crash through the first wave. Taking on lots of water, we work to line the canoe up for the next wave. We ride the wave to the top where it pushes the canoe sideways and dumps us. A short float out from the rapids and we are able to stand up and pull the canoe to a rock where we turn it over and drain out the water. Cheers and whistles come from the crowd of people at our attempt at the falls.

The rafts begin there journey and I check my video camera and it looks fine. I get some video of the falls and some more of the rafts. After chatting with some of the people we load back up and float some more. No one ever commented about the penguin. Maybe no one noticed. It looks like a regular tube except for the fact there is a separate tube that looks like a head attached to one side. It could be possible that everyone is so into the river, rapids and the moment that they do not notice much else. That is what the river and nature is all about. Experiencing that moment in nature and here in the Shenandoah Valley and on the river, you can find these moments everywhere.

We continue on down the Shenandoah and go through many rapids, crash into many waves and bail lots of water out of the canoe but were never swamped or rolled again that day. The sight of our final destination of the Potomac Wayside comes into view. I can see a woman with a little girl on the shoreline. It's Nina and Carmen to come and pick us wet river dogs up for the last time. We reach the shore, John and I get out and have a drink of our spring water that we have carried over 180 miles.

The water that we collected at the spring, carried all the way and then drank at the end is about as good as water gets. I would not drink the water from the river at the end of this journey. The water from the spring to the Potomac was polluted and trashed along the way. We picked up trash that filled up about dozen trash bags. There seems to be a certain amount of people that just do not care about the environment in which they live. The simple task of properly throwing trash away and even recycling can make a difference. We can teach our children and others that we have a responsibility to our environment. You can even show them what this river and valley have to offer.

Thanks to everyone who helped me with this journey and to everyone that tuned in. I have an art show in Crozet, Virginia next weekend (May 9-10). So if you are in the Charlottesville area, stop by for a visit. Some point in the near future, I will post more images of the journey as I will have more time to edit through the thousand or more images. Check back from time to time to see if I added anything new. Thanks again and enjoy the outdoors.

Do to the looming bad weather for tomorrow, we are going to try and complete the rest of the journey today. There are about a dozen miles to go. We can certainly finish that today. Now that everything is dry and with a good nights sleep, we feel we can finish this journey before the weather gets bad again. After being rained on a few times and having to camp in the rain, I am going to try and avoid any more rain. So today should be the day of the journey's end.

Along the way, I seen some great scenery. The Shenandoah Valley is a great place to live. We are all fortunate to be in such a place as this. If everyone could take care of there property, help clean up, volunteer with one of the many organizations that look after the river and valley or just be someone who can do some small part in caring for what we have here, then we can help preserve this great treasure that we call the Shenandoah River and Valley.

Thanks for following along with the blog. After the end of the journey, I will add some more images that I made along the way and show everyone some of the great views I had the privilege to witness. I would also like to thank, all the people who helped, family, friends and the property owners that allowed me to camp along the way.

It has been a great journey and I will show some more photos from the trip as I will be able to have time to edit through the thousand or so images collected along the way. Even though the journey nears its end, there will be more postings to the blog later. Thanks again.

This photo is near the end of the day when it finally stopped raining and the sun came out with a little blue sky.

We have been in the rain for a couple days and everything is soaking wet. We decided to go back to the house for the night and dry everything then start at dawn the next day. My wife picked up John and I at the boat ramp. Nina and Carmen come down to help secure the canoe and unload the gear. As we begin to unload, Nina comments that we smell like dirty, wet dogs. I try to give my daughter a hug and she says no because I smell and need a shower, clean clothes before any hugs.

I tell her, "What you smell Carmen, is the smell of discovery." She tells me she's not buying it and I still need a shower.

Even though there has been some rainy days lately, we have been able to keep to the schedule. We have finished Virginia today and entered into West Virginia. It looks like I will be able to keep to my original finish of Sunday, May 3 at the Potomac Wayside probably around 4pm.

The Potomac Wayside is where one takes out of the Potomac. The parking lot for the Wayside is located at the Route 340 bridge crossing the Potomac River from Maryland to Virginia. The parking lot and take out is on the Virginia side.

On this journey, I have seen some great scenery and wildlife. I have also seen lots of trash along the way and picked up what I could. It would be nice if everyone could be responsible with there trash but I guess there will always be those few people who don't care. The river we play in, fish in, float on, farm with and drink from is all we have and its condition needs to improve since we depend on it.

The photo is of Bullskin Run just before it reaches the Shenandoah River. It is raining at the time but with an umbrella, I am able to do some, but limited, photography.

The confluence of the North Fork, on the right, and the South Fork, on the left. Thinking of sunny days.

Day whatever

This entry was completed by Nina Thayer.

I woke the boys up at 4:30am with breakfast and coffee ready. They ate and we loaded the van with the gear and the most important item...a sleeping Carmen. There didn't appear to be a cloud in the sky for pictures of the sunrise from the Shenandoah River, but as I was driving back to the house I noticed that Andy very well might get some color this morning. They will see some wildlife for sure. Yesterday there was a lot of people on the river, but today being a workday for most the boys should have the river to themselves and the various animals that they will come across.

They got off without a problem this morning and I'm too hopped up on coffee to go back to sleep.

I want to give a special "thank you" to Andrew Keller who allowed us to use his beautiful property last night to take out and put back in this morning. It will be a place I remember always because that is where Carmen caught her first fish. Uncle John bought her a "big girl" fishing pole because now she is a professional fisherwoman! Thanks Uncle John.

Hopefully the boys won't be on the river all day today. I think they are doing 12 miles and I'll be taking them out at Morgans Ford in Warren County. At least I don't have to cross the low water bridge! Have a wonderful day and thanks for reading along.

Day 10 - Strasburg

Today is Sunday and it is hot on the river. A good day to be at the river and there are many people scattered along this stretch of the journey enjoying the river in boats, canoes, kayaks, tubes, rafts or by fishing, swimming or just relaxing.

Because of the more people around there was less wildlife. Clouds started to move in by the afternoon making the lighting better for scenics. I have an image of a group of turtles and the railroad bridge with Signal Knob in the background.

I just want to give a quick thanks to the Friends of the North Fork for a great dinner and cold drinks at their annual meeting. Thanks to everyone at the group for what you all are doing and to the members that help support them and all the volunteers.

I am back out for another day and this time it is to Strasburg or swamp.

John caught some fish during these last couple days. I do not know much about fish but this one looks healthy.

Frogs.

Cormorants at sunset.

Bald eagle.

Osprey with a fish.

Baltimore Oriole.

A canada goose nesting in a tree.

Day 8 and 9 Seven Bends of the Shenandoah and beyond

What takes people 10 miles and 15 minutes to get from Woodstock to Strasburg on Route 11 is an easy journey by car. By river, it has been 30 miles and two days because of the meandering river. It will still take another day to get to Strasburg. During the 1800s, men loaded these long boats called gundalows and floated down the North Fork to Front Royal and then on to Harpers Ferry where their goods (such as flour and iron) would be moved by the C&O Canal or later by train to the east coast cities. The gundalows were also sold for wood since there was no way for the boats to get back up river. After selling their goods and boats, these men would walk back up the valley to return home. I have a greater appreciation for these men of long ago whose job it was to float down the river to bring products to market. They probably saw similar things that I have been seeing.

With the last couple days of sunny weather, the wildlife has come out. The wildlife is smart enough to stay inside during bad weather leaving only crazy people and nature photographers insane enough to be out in cold, rainy, high waters and big rapids as it was earlier this week. The water then was a dark green but now it has turned more of an olive color and clearing up.

The wildlife of the last few days starts with turtles, muskrats, many deer on many occasions and John said he saw a mink, which is possible since I have seen a mink on another trip. The bird list starts with the most common such as great blue herons, green herons, belted kingfishers, mallards, wood ducks, canada geese which are just now having the young. I have seen two sets of goslings and one of ducklings. To finish the list are orioles, ospreys, mergansers and eagles.

Great wildlife is all around us here in the valley. A good reason to take care of what we have.

This insert was completed by Nina Thayer, so just know that I might make a few mistakes or have more add libs that my husband doesn't approve of, ha-ha!!

After the wonderfully cold night on the Hovatter farm, Rob (Andy's oldest brother) and Andy headed down the river leaving Carmen, John, and me (Nina) to break down camp. The "night log" made it through the night so we had enough firewood to have a morning fire. John and Carmen did some fishing while we waited for the tent to dry and then loaded up gear and headed home.

The next stop was at the Inn at Narrow Passage, which is a bed and breakfast lovely inn. The owners, Ellen and Ed Markel (1-800-459-8002) gave Andy and John a FREE room! That was very nice of them and helped us out tremendously. Ed had breakfast waiting for them and there was a crackling fire in the fire place. They had grapefruit and "pain-par-dous," which means French Toast to ya'll non-Cajuns. Andy made some really nice pictures of the breakfast set up and the boys standing in front of the fire. Apparently, John got Mr. Ed all fired up talking politics. You know the Politzs', always causing trouble (myself included)!!!

After having a wonderful breakfast and a good night sleep at the Inn at Narrow Passage, John and Andy got a late start and we also had car issues, so Carmen stayed with Uncle John and he taught her how to cast with her fishing pole. The plan was for Carmen and Uncle John to fish that night, but they rolled in right at dusk, so she didn't get to fish.

I set up camp for the boys at Stonewall Mill. This is a private piece of property next to the river owned by Mr. Frank Cihlar. He gave Andy permission to camp on his property. Mr. Frank has done a beautiful job preserving the mill and making it a beautiful place to see. I set up camp by myself because Nancy Thayer (grandmother a/k/a "Tutu") watched Carmen at the house while I did the manual labor and then she brought her to me on the river to wait for the boys to make it to camp. I lit the lanterns and placed them as close to the river that I could. Right before dusk I saw Uncle John's head lamp coming down the river. I was happy to see that the boys made it before it got too dark to see. They barely got wet, but did have to carry the boat and equipment around three different obstacles in the river. Andy will have to give you more information on that.

The boys were gone when Mrs. Jackie Sager dropped me off at the campsite...still having car issues, but not anymore thanks to Ms. Jackie!! The boys had a wonderful night sleep last night on Mr. Frank's property. He showed up this morning and I got to meet him and his wonderful family while I was tearing down the tent. (I got my first war wound by busting my knuckle. I've broken several nails, but those don't count.) Mr. Frank is a very nice man with a beautiful home and was happy to allow Andy to camp on his property and told me that he wished that he could do the journey with Andy.

Everyone that we have met so far along the way has been so nice and helpful. I hope the journey continues along those lines.

I think that tonight Andy, John, Carmen and I will be having dinner with the "Friends of the North Fork." I don't know the details, but I'm sure I will be filling ya'll in when I get back in this evening or tomorrow morning. Have a wonderful day everyone. It's a beautiful day to be on the river and keep those boys in your prayers so that they can stay safe, but most importantly have a wonderful time. I know that Andy is having the time of his life and John is enjoying himself now that the rain has stopped!

More later...

Day 7 Mt. Jackson to Woodstock

Today, my brother has joined me for the day. John needed a break after three days of rain, high waters and big rapids. After those conditions, he deserves a break for helping me get through all that. Rob Thayer will be stepping in the canoe today. During the morning, there were some clouds which always makes the light more interesting. There were some strong winds on the river that blew us around a bit. By afternoon, it was all sun. So the animals were out.

Saw ospreys on many occasions. Great Blue Herons, kingfishers, green herons and turtles. Yesterday, I saw a bald eagle soaring far above us. The next few days look sunny so I will get more chances to photograph the wildlife.

One note on the day 6 journey. John and I came upon a rapid that was the most difficult for the day. Between Timberville and New Market is a falls called Plains Mill Falls. It occurs right after a sharp left bend. Leaving little time to pick your course. We picked the correct course but took on lots of water from the waves. So a quick pull over after the rapid for some bailing was required.

Today's only big rapid was after passing Red Banks called the ledges falls as there are a few ledges that drop for a total of about five feet. Rob and I choose our line and had to make a quick left turn to avoid a rock at the bottom of the last ledge. I was here last summer and the water level was so low that floating through was impossible. I thought that with the right amount of water would make this a good rapid. I was right.

Tonight, we won't be needing the tent. Ellen and Ed Markel are hosting us at their bed and breakfast next to the Shenandoah River near Woodstock. www.innatnarrowpassage.com I am looking forward to their breakfast and know that it will be a great start to the next of my journey down the Shenandoah River.

One last note about the night in Mt. Jackson. I talked my wife and daughter to camp with us. They did and Carmen got her smores.

21 April Day 5

Brocks Gap to Timberville
The day begins with some fog and soon the sun breaks through. It is a welcome sight from yesterday's rain. The previous day was filled with fast water and rapids. The water level has dropped a little today but it is still fast. After floating through some nice rapids and the Route 259 bridge at Cootes Store, we approach our first major obstacle, Battle Bluff low water bridge. We pull into a little cove just before the bridge on the right and beach the canoe. I grab my camera, a snack and walk to the bridge for a closer look and a photo.

The water level is high enough that it's flowing over the bridge. After some discussion, we agree on the line we want and get back into the canoe for the ride. We approach the bridge straight on. The front of the canoe slams through the first big wave and water pours all over us. We ride out the next few rapids and look for a place to pull over and do some water bailing. The canoe took on a lot of water but stayed afloat. The canoe has been tough and able to get through fine under some difficult situations and weather. Thanks to Josh Warner at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports in Warrenton for their help in finding me the canoe.

After we get all the water out of the canoe, clouds move in and it begins to rain. Which means I won't be getting my camera out as often as I would like.

This concludes the first part of today's journey. I will include a photo of the low water bridge we rode.

Pictures of the biggest rapids on this day begin to appear in the distance. The other photo is the approach to Brocks Gap.

Day Four - Fulks Run to Brocks Gap

The day started with rain and that continued during the whole day in the form of rain, drizzle or sprinkles. The river rose a couple feet during the day creating many large rapids. Not long after Lairs Run bridge, there was a big tree laying across the river. We pulled off the side for a moment to contemplate our options. The tree was stable looking and in between some limbs hanging down and the distance between the trunk and the water level looked like an opening just big enough for us to squeeze through. After a discussion, we set off and was successful in shooting the gap. However, until the tree is dealt with, this is a dangerous obstacle.

More rapids, more rain. The river is up and moving fast. The river flow doesn't give us much time to prepare and look at the next rapids to chose our line. We have been choosing some good lines with big waves. As we crash into each wave, water flies over the bow and drenches me. It's cold water but I'm having fun. A few stops had to be made this day so that we could bail the water out of the canoe that accumulates with every rapid.

We finally reach our lunch objective by the afternoon. Wet, cold and hungry, we staggered into Fulks Run Grocery next to the river. Ron and Peggy Turner run the store. John and I, each order a hot pork barbecue sandwich and a suger-cured county ham sandwich. During our conversation about the weather, Ron and Peggy mention that on their Ramon's Brownie Calender it says that there will be rain on April 20. I now realize that I have using the wrong calender. Peggy gives me a calender so that I can better prepare for rest of the year. We thank them for the great sandwiches and visit then continue on.

Downstream from the store, we see off in the distance the white tops of rapids. The river narrows, the rapids begin and then the river turns left because of a rocky outcrop on the right. After the turn, more rapids. We near the rapids and see that they are about four to five feet in height, the largest we've seen on this trip. We hit it straight on and some of each wave ends up in the canoe. Turning to the left, more waves, more water on board but we made it through.

Now a new situation arises. We went through so many big waves that the canoe is filled up to our sets with water and dangerously close to swamping. We quickly paddle to shore and take out so we can begin bailing water. After the canoe is back in order, I gather a few pieces of trash laying around. At every stop we have made, there was always some trash laying around. Today's trash bag that I have brought along for this day's trash clean up contains such items as beer cans, soda cans and bottles, plastic bags, one quart of oil bottle and a soleless tennis shoe. I may not save the world, but I can leave a place better than the way I found it.

We ended today's trip at Bennie's Beach in Brocks Gap. With the canoe out of the river, we walk up to the resturaunt for a cold beer and hot vegetable soup after a cold, rainy day We meet Buzzy Taylor who sets us up with what we need. My wife and daughter pick us up so that we head home tonight to warm up and dry out for tomorrow's rainy looking weather. The river today was up and fast and there were a couple of rapids and trees that needed special attention but overall, an excellent day.

The first three days were hiking and now that is over, I look back and see how important it is to have the right equipment. Just having the right shoes and socks for what you are doing can make a big difference. The nearly 30 miles I hiked were made easier with the help of Steve and Gayle Shaffer of Blue Canoe Crew in Woodstock. Thank you guys for your help. I could have hiked another 30 miles but since I can float the rest of the way, I gonna go with floating.

Three days of an excellent walk in the woods. I wanted to post a few images of the first day. One is of the sunrise that Friday morning. About 6:30 AM and the temp. is in the upper 30s on top of the mountain with a light breeze. The Blue Ridge Mtns are in the far back. The Peaked Mtn of the Massanutten Mtns can be seen abruptly dropping to the valley floor.

The other photos will be the spring itself where the river begins. A waterfall on the German River. Dying hemlocks with many branches on the ground. Dangerous place to be on a windy day. Friday is a bright sunny day and no wind.

First Day in the Canoe by Nina

Just wanted to let ya'll know that I dropped the men off at Lairs...run...I think. I't back near Bergton, VA and Folks Run, VA. It was cold and rainy, but the men were able to load up the canoe and head down the river. The lighting was very interesting, so Andrew should make some nice photos today. I'm sure Andrew will post something tonight, but just wanted ya'll to know that they are on their way!!

Day Three - From Criders and Bergton to the Fulks Run area of Brocks Gap



I got up before dawn to see what the sunrise would be and saw an overcast sky. The sun will rise but I won't be able to see it. We have some breakfast and pack up. As we are the days journey, I soon discover that the spaghetti dinner I had promised my daughter and wife was to be held today for lunch, Sunday. By that time, we will have moved on down the road.



However, my daughter did get her spaghetti dinner. They say around here that when you pass through Brocks Gap you are going "out the way". Saturday night, I took my family "out the way" to Timberville for spaghetti. Dinner ended and a happy child and wife dropped us off at base camp for the third night of camping.

Along the trek on the third day, we see little white flowers called bloodroot, one of the first forest flowers to appear. We find our way to the Bergton store to buy some snacks. Just beyond the store, the German River and Crab Run converge to become the North Fork.

Our next stop is Blue Hole, the name of a place along the North Fork. I get the cameras out for some photos and then take a break. There is some trash around the area and we pick up what we can as we have been doing all along the way. I encourage everyone to try and leave a place better than the way you found it. I think there will always be people who just don't care. The bright side is anyone can make a difference.

The hiking continued into the Fulks Run area until we reached our destination. We will begin the canoeing part of this journey tomorrow, Monday. The weather looks like it will be raining the next two days. If one goes on the river, one must expect to get wet either from below or from above. There won't be many photos because of rain.

Tomorrow we will be canoeing "out the way", rain or shine.

Day one and Day Two of the Journey

This Post was completed by Nina Thayer (Andrew's wife) because he is hiking and has not access to email or even cell phone coverage, but these are Andrew's notes:

Day One:

The day started before sunrise. The temperature was just above freezing with some wind. The sun rose to a cloudless sky, so not the best photo opportunity. From our vantage point, the peaked mountains off the Massanuttan Mountains is in the distance with the Blue Ridge Mountains beyond. We hiked to the spring, filled up some water bottles and get some to drink. After some photos were taken, I look around and find a deet path and begin the decent through the mountain laurel that is not yet in bloom. After some time, John Politz and I begin to enter the dying forest of the hemlocks. There is a nasty parasite that is slowly killing these beautiful trees and soon they will all be gone. As we head down the mountain ther are many streams that feed into the German River making it much bigger the father we walk. It was becoming more difficult to crossthe stream or river. We may soon end up with wet feet, but that's all part of the journey.

We reach the bottom and arrive at our campsite by late afternoon. It was another cold night, but at least this campsite has dry wood for a roaring campfire. All in all it was an excellent day.

Day 2:

The sun may rise at 6:30am, but in the narrow hollow or "holler" as the locals say, the sun didn't shine until long after sunrise (around 9:30am). We started hiking and with each mile the valley floor begins to widen into the farmland community of Criders. We stop at the Crider's Store for some lunch and to visit with the locals. The owner, Sue Siever serves John and I two good "healthy" cheeseburger with french fries.

The hike continues until we reach our next campsite. Nearby was a little waterfall that drops into the German river. We stop for some photos.

We are meeting my wife, Nina Thayer and my daughter Carmen at the campsite to resupply and deliver the camping equipment. I had heard that the locals were having a spagetti dinner tonight and was looking forward to joining them, but I guess the fundraiser was cancelled. There were no cars and no sign of any people which lead me to believe that there would be no spagetti dinner, so we hoped in the van and drove to Broadway or "down the way" as the locals say and had pizza at a local resturant while Carmen had spagetti with her sauce on the side. Carmen had her heart set on having spagetti for dinner and I didn't let her down. After eating dinner and picking up a few odds and ends at the local Food Lion, we headed back to the campsite to end another spectacular day on my two week journey.

I'll have more to say tomorrow. (I'm sure Andy will have something to say about the little add libs that I put in, Ha-ha). I do have one note that my wonderful husband is too nice to mention, but I can't let this pass. No, maybe I'll leave ya'll in suspence and let Andy tell the story of Bud Waddell's eventful day carrying the camping equipment from the top of the mountain to the second camp sight!! Make sure you ask so he'll be forced to tell! Funny story and all part of the trip!

Thanks to all of ya'll interested in this journey and there will be more updates to come.

The journey is about to start. I have everything packed and ready to go. Some of the people behind the scenes that will be joining on this journey are two friends, John Politz and Bud Waddell. At any given time, one of them will be with me while the other will meet us along the way for resupplying. My wife, Nina and our five year old daughter, Carmen will also be resupplying the journey at certain points. I have even talked them into joining us for a one night of camping as long as the weather cooperates. Carmen has prepared for her night of camping with just the essentials, chocolate bars, marshmallows, graham crackers, popcorn and some water to drink. She told me that's all she needs. For those of you with kids and know of Sponge Bob, she wants to sing the c-a-m-p-f-i-r-e-s-o-n-g. It is a tongue twister.

Headwaters

In April 2008, I made a couple trips to the headwaters. The spring is below the crest of the mountain within a thicket of mountain laurel and trees. Mountain laurel usually blooms in June, so I am a couple months early. Right now, Spring is happening around the Shenandoah Valley floor, flowers are out. The redbud blossoms are here but are not peaking. The dogwoods will begin to blossom. On top of the mountain, the Spring season is just beginning to arrive.

Downstream from the spring and the mountain laurel is a dead forest of eastern hemlock trees. They died a few years ago and are still in the process of falling down. The hemlock is being devastated by the an insect called the woolly adelgid. The insect first arrived on the North American west coast in the 1920s and made it to the east coast in 30 years, destroying forests along the way. This forest is one of its latest victims.

The weather is looking good for the first couple days of the journey. If it gets bad, I could fall behind schedule. I have a couple weeks to complete this journey before my wife and I go back to work and daily routines. Unfavourable weather could compromise the tight schedule that I have planned. If all goes well, I should arrive at the Potomac River on Sunday, May 3. If it doesn't go well, I will try to get as close as possible.

I am all packed up and ready to begin. The canoe is ready to be dropped into the Shenandoah River. I would like to thank Josh Warner at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports in Warrenton (www.brmsstore.com) for helping me with the canoe and accessories. With my camping and hiking gear, Steve and Gayle Shaffer at the Blue Canoe Crew (www.bluecanoecrew.com) store in Woodstock helped get me prepared for the journey. These people and businesses enjoy the outdoors and are dedicated in trying to preserve nature for us and generations to come.

I have some last minute grocery shopping to do for the final preparations of the journey. One more trip to the store should make it all complete.

I plan on being at the top of the mountain when the sun rises on Friday for some photos before I start hiking. With a little luck and the right weather conditions, the sunrise could be a spectacular show. We will see.

The images that uploaded are from a float last year. I plan on uploading some writing every night during the journey. I probably won't upload images but every few days since there will be editing and sizing needed before putting on them on the blog. After canoeing 15 miles a day, I think the only thing on my mind will getting the tent up, eating and then sleeping.

If you want to check out some more photos from a float last year, go to my web. www.athayer.com

As a nature photographer, I have made many photographic journeys over the last several years. When the season approaches for photography (mine being spring and autumn), I head out with a certain destination in mind and hope that the weather, color and light will all come together to create those great moments in nature that happen around us all the time.



On a journey, I would start from point A and head towards the general area of point B. I always try to take a different path along the way to see something new. Sometimes, it is the different path that makes the journey worth it.



However, this river journey has a definite path from point A to B making it unique to the other journeys I have made including the fact that I will be in a canoe and not in a dry, comfortable car. There are many unknowns to any journey. There are many parts of this river that I have not been on and always the question of, "What will I see around the next bend?"



A river has its own environment different from the countryside. The trees, plants and wildlife provide a unique experience for anyone. I recommend that everyone should have the opportunity to see what this environment provides whether it be on the river or by it. Time seems to slow down and when you slow down, you see so much more. However one chooses to visit nature, safety is necessary in the journey. So plan ahead and be prepared.

My five year old daughter and I were looking out the window today at the snow flurries. She mentioned that maybe if enough snow comes, I could make a snowman during my journey. I thought, if it snows enough on my journey, I will turn into a snowman. It doesn't look like the weather will cooperate. The show must go on.

Many years ago, I was at an art show selling my photographs when a met a fellow nature photographer doing the same. Joe Cook is from Georgia and he had some great photographs of nature and a book about a journey he took down the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola Rivers named River Song. We got to talking about his journey he took in the 1990s, the environment and photography. I eventually ended up buying his book because of the great photography but more importantly, the message.

The message is about how we need to take care of the environment and our rivers because it is the water we all depend on for our food and drinking water. I thought what a great idea to get the word out about how we need to be responsible with our resources in nature.

Soon after, my daughter was born and I became a stay-at-home dad. Everything else became secondary to my daughter. Then the fish started dying in large numbers in the Shenandoah River. Development of subdivisions and shopping malls began chewing up the land at an alarming rate. I began to think that maybe with my camera and a canoe, I could in some way help protect and preserve the Shenandoah River and Valley. Now that my daughter is five and I am not getting any younger, now is the time.

Joe Cook is the riverkeeper for the Coosa River and the executive director for the Coosa River Basin Initiative, a grassroots environmental organization dedicated in protecting the Coosa River Basin. You can visit the webs of Joe Cook and the CRBI to get a better understanding of there mission. www.coosa.org and joecook.net

During the planning of this journey down the Shenandoah, I have been fortunate to meet many great people along the way. Leslie Mitchell-Watson, executive director of the Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, has been very helpful. She and all the other people at the FNFSR ( www.fnfsr.org ) are doing an important job of looking after river by water sampling to check the purity of the river, river cleanups and educating the local communities about what is happening to the river and what we can do to protect it.

The FNFSR's counterpart is the Friends of the Shenandoah River ( www.fosr.org ). George Ohrstrom, president of FOSR, and everyone else at the FOSR monitor the South Fork and the main stem, the stretch of river beginning at the confluence of the South Fork and the North Fork and continuing to Harpers Ferry, WV.

Jeff Kelble, the Shenandoah Riverkeeper ( www.shenandoahriverkeeper.org ), is the person who is also dedicated in protecting the river. He handles the legal actions with cleaning up the river by taking polluters to court and monitors companies and developers to make sure they are following and respecting the Clean Water Act.

Steve and Gayle Shaffer, owners of Blue Canoe Crew ( www.bluecanoecrew.com ), have been great with helping me be prepared for my journey. They also have been kind enough to display some of my photographs of the river in their store. If you need outdoor clothing, camping gear, etc, they have a great store located along Route 11 on north side of Woodstock, VA. They also have seminars throughout the year on hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and other topics listed on their website. Stop by for what you need in the outdoors.

These many people and groups need your support. Become a member, volunteer some free time, or give them your business. They are all dedicated to the Shenandoah River and Valley in trying to protect and preserve it. When I take my little daughter down to river and spend some time, we enjoy the great gift of the outdoors. Sadly, we always see trash around and do our part by picking up what we can. If my five year old daughter can help take care of this River and Valley, so can anyone.

The Shenandoah River has been a place that I have been drawn to since I grew up near its banks as a child. On a hot summer day during my youth, the river would be the place to cool off and enjoy nature. Today, the beauty of the Shenandoah is still there but its health has worsened. Fish kills in the last few years have shown that its purity has been compromised and recent tests have found dozens of chemicals. Pollution, consumption, development and drought have made the Shenandoah one of the most endangered rivers in the nation. Because of this, I have decided to take on a project of photographing the Shenandoah and its tributaries to show its beauty during the seasons and its wildlife. I will also go on a journey in April of 2009 in which I will hike and canoe the entire length of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, 180+ miles, from the spring where it begins in the mountains to where it meets the Potomac River. I hope to promote awareness and action to help protect and preserve the River and the Valley.