"a" and her dad, "g", planned to visit during Family Weekend at American University. "a's" a sophomore and majoring in biology, and they planned to hike for some nature-look-see.

During the research and planning phase for this trip, it was purely accidental that "g" learned from the Hat that Shenandoah National Park (VA) was about 2.5 hours from the university. In his younger years, he and his wife had hiked the park extensively, and the Hat had some ideas...

So, mid September "g" drove 8-hours to DC for a little R&R with his daughter. Upon his arrival they scoped-out her part time job at Hudson Trails, bought a few cool things for hiking and running, had a wonderful meal at The Poets Table, and then headed 45 miles west to spend the night at Uncle Rob and Aunt Jeannie's place (AKA: Obi-One Kenobi [Jedi Knight] and Margarita Jeannie). The next morning it was a mere 45 minute drive to the northern entrance of Shenandoah National Park.

Shenandoah National Park runs north and south and hosts the Skyline Drive - a two-lane scenic road that rolls up and down, and meanders around it's hilly landscape. The park hosts zillions of trails for day hiking, opportunities to thru-hike, overnight camping, and cave hunting. There are 75 scenic overlooks along the way. At it's southern tip, the park joins the Smoky Mountains and 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Below is a photo essay of the Jogging LaBella's in hiking shoes as they roam the scenic trails of
Shenandoah National Park.

			Left: Trying to out-class the Hat, "a" poses for the winter issue of Elmer Fudd Magazine.
Great views along Skyline Drive!   At the Mathew Arms Camp Ground (mile marker 22), our autumn leaf-peepers picked up a section of the Tuscara Overall Run Trail. Here they would hike down to some magnificent views of the 100 foot Overall Run Waterfall.
			Left: Checking out the cool trail sign; With her magnetic eye for anything that crawls, "a" became the Pied Piper of Stick Bugs!
			Left: Twin Falls - the upper section of the Overall Run Waterfall.
			Left: Hanging-out on the perch over looking Overall Run Waterfall. With a week of rain the previous week, this ordinarily dry rock wall was a gushing eye-full!
Although a little windy, the rain finally broke and "a" and her dad had wonderful hiking weather! It was now Saturday about 4:00 PM, and the Hiking LaBellas drove east to Fredricksburg. After finagling a deal with the Virginia Commissioner of Corrections, they were able to spend a little time with Grandma and Grandpa (AKA: Black Fly Mike '49 and I'm Campin' on My Honeymoon Ruth). G & G were able to be home due to the nature of their work release program from OldGuy Prison for the Cute and Handsome. Although brief and supervised, they dined on sumptuous bread and butter and tall glasses of water, and laughed about knocking over lemonade stands in the good old days. (Oh, my.) On Sunday, "g" drove his daughter to work in DC, and then home to NY; "a" returned to college life. It had been a very cool time...