I was trying to get us to the mountains somehow, but the Lynchburg KOA is where we ended up. When we arrived at our cabin, it was pitch dark. It seemed to be a cabin in the middle of the woods, all by itself, down a steep gravel drive. Carmen and I had to go to the bathroom up the hill and I wondered if we'd even make it back alive. Bears, lost, killers all viable options. I couldn't see very well even with my camera flashlight, and I just couldn't understand why there was no one else around.
When we woke up in the morning light and looked outside, this was in front of our cabin! There were no other cabins because there was a large lake in front of us!
Our cabin was cool at first, but there was an odd smell inside. Carmen literally pinched her nose shut for an hour before she finally fell asleep.
We had the jump pad to ourselves, but we'd been spoiled by Williamsburg KOA's jumping pillow, to which there is no comparison. If you've never been on a jumping pillow, you're missing out.
There seemed to be a lot to do here, but we were somehow bored by the second day. They had foosball, pingpong, shuffleboard, and a playground. Maybe it was because school had already started and not many people were here.
We brought our hammock again, and sure enough there were two perfect trees right in front of our cabin.
Can't be in the middle of the woods without a nature walk.
I spy a frog.
I spy a butterfly.
This time, we brought Diego's bike and Carmen's trike. The terrain here was more suited for Diego and he enjoyed riding the paths.
They also had an old-fashioned train ride that went around the park at 0.5 mph. I rode with the littles and inhaled the worst fumes for the 15 minute ride. Note to self: don't ride right behind the engine.
As our strange boredom kicked in, I asked the store people what was close by to do. It turns out we were very close to Natural Bridge, somewhere I'd always wanted to go....so with some deft convincing, off we went.
The information guy told us we'd arrived on just the right day. Just last week, it had become a state park so the prices were drastically lowered...music to our cheap ears.
There's steps, like 139 or something, but it wasn't that bad at all.
This tree has a story to it, but I can't remember what it was. Still a cool tree.
Now, of course, no picture will do this place any justice. I had my long lens, so I couldn't even get a good one of the entire thing in one frame. Even if you've seen it in a good picture, the enormity and beauty of the place cannot be contained in an image, so if you ever get a chance to go, I say do it. The kids were thoroughly impressed, and that's hard to do.
So there's the bridge, but there's also three other points of interest if you keep walking. The first is a replica of a Native American Indian village. We've been to lots of these, so the kids weren't too interested, but I thought it was neat it was a Monacan Indian village because the name of my high school was Monacan.
I snapped this picture and immediately knew I had almost an identical picture of a wild looking girl in a wigwam when she was only seven or so, but I couldn't find it.
Sweet little Diego growing up. Maybe he's staring at the Lost River. It's a small stream flowing out of rock, and scientists have been unable to discover it's source. We all love a good mystery.
So the path meanders along a somewhat rushing river with the promise of waterfalls at the end. Here are the boys testing my heart attack levels.
After we made it to the Lacy Falls, the boys, including JP, took off to race back to the beginning and us girls enjoyed our time leisurely strolling back. It was a gorgeous, perfect, beginning of fall day.
So there's our take on the Lynchburg KOA. Not our favorite, but a big score for Natural Bridge. Each KOA is it's own adventure.
