Rockfish Valley Hike- June 28, 2014

Fourteen hikers enjoyed the Rockfish Valley on Saturday, June 28.  Overcast skies helped to keep the hike cool on these exposed trails including the Rockfish Valley Trail System and Spruce Creek Trails. We began at the Rockfish Valley Natural History Center on the Spruce Creek trail and walked along the model farm and Reids Creek.  We continued on the Glenthorne Loop which included a road walk.  Chicory, pearly everlasting, and day lilies lined our walkway.  This is also a Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail with twenty five bluebird boxes on the edges of the trail.

Front: Karen Ramsey, John Brandt, Lee Wenzler, Katharine Maus, Marian Styles, Marit Gay (leader), Briana Taylor, Andy Willgruber, Claire Cline, Leon Gorman and sitting on the fence - Norman Best, Karen Rockwell and Gus (her dog), with  Brian Muszynski on the end --not pictured: Mark Perschel (photographer)

We stopped for a snack of homemade cookies at the Rockfish River trailhead.  The kiosk supplied an interesting assortment of brochures, natural history information, and trail map.  The river provided soothing sounds as we walked to the final fence line. If it had been a little warmer we would have waded in the river, but instead we made our way back to the Spruce Creek Park to end the 5.5 mile hike.  Everyone decided to have lunch at the Bold Rock Cidery, which was celebrating its second anniversary.  Music, food vendors, and tents with tables made for a festive afternoon.