Tuesday August 31, 2010

    

 

Road Trip – Day 3

Natural Bridge

Firday, August 20

 

 

This is a place I’ve wanted to see for a long time, but it’s the first time it fit into our travel plans.

 

 

The arch is composed of solid grey limestone and is 215 feet high (55 feet higher than Niagara Falls). It is 40 feet thick, 100 feet wide, and spans 90 feet between the massive walls. The span contains 450,000 cubic feet of rock.

 

 

According to legend, in 1750 the youthful George Washington, engaged by Lord Fairfax, surveyed the surrounding acreage of Natural Bridge, and during his visit scaled twenty-three feet up the left wall of the bridge and carved his initials G.W. which can be seen today.

 

 

At it’s highest point, the bridge is approximately 1,160 feet above sea level. Before white men came to our shores, the Monacan Indians considered this ancient wonder a sacred site and called it The Bridge of God.

 

 

On the entrance side of the bridge, I noticed this woman sketching it. She gave me permission to take this picture.

 

 

 

 

It was a beautiful day to walk Cedar Creek Nature Trail.

 

 

 

 

Lost River

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This couple was just ahead of us, and pointed out a snake that was sunning in the tree below us.

 

 

 

 

From the beginning of the trail to the end at Lace Falls, the distance is about one mile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We could see lots of tiny fish in the shallow part of the creek.

 

 

 

 

On the return trip, we spent some time talking with the couple who showed us the snake. They are retired and walk this trail almost every day of the year.

The only days they don’t walk is when the trail is closed because there are large icicles on the bridge or the creek is in flood stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final part of the walk was the toughest – when we climbed the 137 steps to the visitors center. (For those who cannot ascend the steps or do not wish to, they can take a shuttle bus.) 

 

 

Partway up the steps, we came upon this old, interesting tree.

 

 

Natural Bridge literature says it is 1,500 years old.

 

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There is an Native Indian Village along the trail, and because I took quite a few pictures, I will post those photos tomorrow night.

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