Lizzy’s Latest – Take me Home, Country Roads

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HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my family, friends, followers, and visitors!  2021 will be an epic year, I can feel it!  😉  Do y’all do resolutions?  I do not.  Resolutions are so easily broken.  Haha!  Instead, I focus on being a better version of myself than the previous year.  For 2021, that will entail getting out of my comfort zone, particularly when it comes to nature. 

Anyone who knows me or has been following my blog knows I am an “indoors” girl.  Now, I’ve gotten a little better over the years especially since Dad and I started visiting Civil War battlefields beginning with the Sesquicentennial in 2011.  Given that Dad is not very outdoorsy either, we have had our close encounters with wildlife.  This post in particular always makes me laugh.  Read it here.  😊

Now, I’m pretty confident at battlefields, but I tend to hesitate with activities in the woods, such as hiking.  So, when my East Coast BFF, Packy, suggested a girls getaway to West Virginia to hike several parks, I was excited, but also concerned about what may be lurking in the woods of WV.  However, I wanted to conquer my fears and having Packy by my side (she’s the Queen of the Outdoors!) gave me encouragement and confidence that I too could be “nature girl,” at least for that one weekend.  😉

She advised me to dress for the outdoors.  What does that even mean?!  I brought jeans, tops, and sneakers.  I even brought heels to change into for pictures, which Packy found comical.  She looked at me and said, “You’re not gonna need those!”  Me without heels?  Perish the thought!  Yet, Packy was right, so I left my heels behind…sigh.  

We stayed in the Canaan Valley area, a popular resort.  Knowing my aversion to the outdoors, Packy chose Blackwater Falls State Park as our first park.  I was very nervous about encountering snakes, bears, and whatever else existed in my outdoor nightmares.  However, what I found were paved paths and very easy trails.  My nervousness quickly dissipated.  When we finally got to the waterfall, I felt so accomplished!  😊 No encounter with wildlife; I breathed a sigh of relief!  Lol!  Though, we were not very impressed with the waterfall. 

 

We headed to the next park, Lindy Point Trailhead.  The big draw to this park is the chimney shaped rock at the beautiful overlook.  With adrenaline pumping, we got on the trail and started walking.  However, this trail was very different than the trails at Blackwater.  It was narrower and scarier!  At one point we were one in front of the other and sometimes had to move aside to let people pass. 

My confidence waning, we saw an older couple and we chatted with them for a few minutes.  I told them my BFF was MAKING me do outdoors stuff and I was fearful that there might be snakes on this trail.  The man’s attempt to assuage my fears fell short when he told me, not to worry because snakes usually hide under the rocks. 

WHAT?! 

GREAT!!! 

So, every rock we passed became more menacing than the last!  The trail felt never ending.  Finally, we got to the opening and WOW!  My fears subsided at the striking view.  Nature in all its glory surrounded us.  I wanted pictures and lots of pictures.  I’m not afraid of heights, but Packy, concerned, kept reminding me to stay away from the edges!  Haha!!!    

You can see the rock that looks like a chimney in front of Packy.

Packy is doing the “Trinity pose.” Trinity is her young daughter. 🙂

Packy knows I HATE selfies, but we needed a pic together…

By the time we were done with this trail, it was just a few hours before sunset and we decided to head to one more park to catch a glimpse of the setting sun.  We raced to Dolly Sods, my favorite park of all the parks we visited on this trip.  

However, it was also the most challenging park to hike.  There wasn’t a specific trail.  It was just a large area filled with rocks.  At this park, you make your own trail, so that’s what we did.  And surprisingly, I wasn’t as panicked as I thought I would be.  I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Packy’s steadfast encouragement throughout.  She kept me calm and didn’t let my vivid imagination wander.  I can still hear her weekend mantra for me, “You’re doing a great job!”  😊

 

Breathtaking views!

Sunset with my bestie! 🙂

The next day, we visited Swallow Falls Canyon Trail in Oakland, MD.  It was quite challenging navigating the trails and all the people!  I couldn’t believe how crowded this park was, but we had a great time.  There were three waterfalls and we checked out all three.  I truly felt “outdoorsy” by the end of our hike.  I figured with so many people wandering about, the bears and snakes would stay away.  And if that’s not the case, please don’t tell me!  😉  

So much climbing and it was so cold that day! Fortunately, the rain paused while we enjoyed the park.

Let’s hope that rock never falls!

We had to improvise on some of the trails, creating our own path up and down the mountain. Packy is a warrior!

Living on the edge! 😉

Y’all know how much I love the paranormal! Check out these shots, one taken right after the other.

Where did that mist (not visible with the naked eye) come from?! These woods are haunted! 😉

This was the biggest waterfall there. I asked a couple to take our picture for this shot. We were quite lucky with timing to have the rock all to ourselves. As soon as we were done, the rock had a swarm of people climbing it for pics.

I DID IT!!! I conquered the outdoors!  🙂 As I told Packy, that was my outdoors quota for 2020! LOL!

Packy and I have known each other since college.  She’s beautiful, loyal, funny, sweet, and humble.  She’s a wife, a mom, a sister, and my best friend.  We have so many memories we share.  Our unbreakable bond is forged in laughter and tears.  Our secrets safe, our love unconditional.  I’m so blessed to have Packy in my life.

Adventures with Packy are sprinkled throughout my blog.  She is the unassuming style icon in my “About” page.  It is Packy who planted the seeds that blossomed into my passion for heels.  And her indifference about a New Kids on the Block concert she attended with me can be read here.  😊

Happy 2021!!!  Surround yourself with people who will encourage you to come out of your comfort zone and experience new things.  It’s the best way to grow as an individual and a good way to live life.  I experienced that on my trip with Packy.  I may never be as outdoorsy as Packy, but at least I know I can indulge in her outdoor passions with her.  And isn’t that what true friendship is all about?      

Have a beautiful and safe weekend!  Lizzy’s Latest for next week is the INC Kenjay d’Orsay pumps.  Special thanks to V for helping me select this set.  🙂  My review of these heels will post later next week or the week after.  For now, enjoy the pictures.         

Style with a Smile! 

XoXo,

Lizzy