View from Woodstock Tower
A breezy day with temperatures in the 70s is not typical weather for a summer day in Virginia. Low humidity and crystal blue skies made for a delightful morning coffee in the hot tub. We discussed several options for taking advantage of the outdoors and decided to visit the Woodstock Tower and hike in the George Washington National Forest. Woodstock is the county seat for Shenandoah County and is located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. Rancho Russo is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains which forms one border of the Valley and is not a far drive up I-81 from Woodstock. The town is famous as the site where Peter Muhlenberg, a Virginia House of Burgesses member and Lutheran minister, issued a famous call to arms for the Revolutionary War from the pulpit of his church. The story says that after he read from Ecclesiastes’ third chapter (the “To everything there is a season” one) he came to the verse that states, “a time of war and a time of peace” he announced that “this is a time of war” then removed his clerical robe to reveal his uniform as a Colonel in the 8th Virginia Regiment. He had been recruited by George Washington. The men of the congregation walked down the aisle and enlisted on the spot. The next day he led 300 men from the county headed to defend the South Carolina coast. A cool Revolutionary moment.
Don’t tread on me!
Today we were heading to the outskirts of town. We planned to visit the Civil War site of the action at Toms Brook, hit a local thrift shop I’ve been looking to visit, grab a little lunch, climb the Woodstock Tower to see the 7 bends of the Shenandoah River and hike a little on the mountain. We arrived at Shenandoah County Park, famous for it’s 18 hole Frisbee Golf Course. The course was empty and we trekked across it to reach the lame Civil War Marker.
Although the Civil War marker was a let down, there was a really cool pond there which was the home to an inordinate amount of little turtles. Damian loved it and we had to stop counting how many little heads we saw poking up from the water’s surface.
We left the park and drove through town in search of lunch. An old sign hanging in front of a small building with a lot of cars in front caught my eye. The Sunrise Cafe had been a full service diner for 30 years. Our server is the son of the owners whose picture hangs on the wall. This is the epitome of a ‘Mom & Pop’ establishment.
The Sunrise Cafe’s awesome old sign
He tells us that they now only serve breakfast (available all day) and lunch because it’s just too much for his elderly parents. The place is full of locals and has a counter in front where they showcase their homemade cookies which are for sale 50 cents each. The place has yellow walls, dark wainscoting and suns galore! Pictures, pottery, signs, all different types of suns. I love the place.
The cookie counter
The menu is simple. Sandwiches are served with our local and amazing Route 11 Potato Chips, pickle and a Hershey’s kiss! They have gourmet coffees which seem to be a big hit with the locals. As we are paying our check I order 4 cookies but then notice they have a separate case which houses some extra special cookies. They have a grasshopper cookie which is a mint cookie half-dipped into dark chocolate. This is Damian’s absolute favorite. I try to amend my order but Don informs me that he has already paid for the 4 I selected and the grasshopper cookie costs extra. Our server simply puts the grasshopper cookie into my order. Total Class Act! If you are in Woodstock check out the Sunrise Cafe.
Seal of approval for the Club Sandwich
Now here’s where the story becomes amazing. We are heading up to find the Woodstock Tower. This is a structure that was built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corp, part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, as a fire watch tower (I believe) but now provides a view of the 7 bends in the Shenandoah River. We drive the impressively steep, hairpin turn laden road and end up in a parking area that Google Maps assures me is where the tower resides. We don’t see any tower but there are trail markers for a 2 mile trail and an 8 mile trail that ascends up the mountain. I seem to recall reading a Yelp review of the tower that mentions a 2 mile trail so we opt to head in this direction. It’s about a 33 degree incline full of rocks and still no visible tower. We do hear voices up ahead. We advance to a clearing and stumble upon a group of men who are setting up their hang gliders in preparation to jump off the mountain and fly down the valley.
Anthony’s glider
Glider of the guy from Norway who lived in Brooklyn
We were definitely intrigued but didn’t want to impose but I ask if I can take some photos of their rigs. They are most inviting and an older gentleman with a radio comes up to Don and introduces himself as a fellow veteran (7th Cav Airborne). This man has a lilting brogue from the Ould Sod and tells us he was born in Ireland. He recently returned to the homeland to bury his 96 yr old Da who as of age 94 was still climbing onto his roof to clean his gutters. There’s another older guy who is a certified instructor and has been flying these things since 1976. They are helping the 2 younger guys launch and keeping contact with the 2 who are already in the air. We ask them if they have any idea where the tower is and they point us to a rock filled deer trail and tell us it’s just over that ridge. They also tell us to go ahead and climb the tower but then come back because they will be ready to launch by then and we wouldn’t want to miss it. They are so right!
Don & our Irish friend standing in front of the launch site.
Deer trail that I can’t even see that’s supposed to get me to the tower.
We cautiously pick our way through the deer trail. OK, Don & I cautiously pick our way. Damian runs up it like a gazelle on the savanna. We arrive right at the base of the tower. Damian decides he definitely does NOT want to ascend the tower. We sandwich him between us and force him up. It’s an old, metal structure with narrow stairs so I am cautious. We arrive at the top but because of all the tree cover we cannot see the 7 bends of the river. I am pissed off. We actually had a better view down at the launch site.
Obstructed view of the 7 bends from the tower.
We spend some moments taking in the view then decide to descend so we can witness the flight of the gliders.
Ready to go!
While preparations are under way on the ground the guys are in contact with the gliders in the air. We are informed that Edinburg Gap is a tricky area for the gliders. If they get the proper draft they can continue over it but if not, they may descend. The gliders are equipped with a system that gives them an audible signal when they ascend or descend. The guys have some preferred landing areas and we witness one of the gliders land in an open field. However, a second glider starts to go down and looks like he’s heading for some trees. He is able to come down safely but he comes down on a road much to the surprise of the passing cars. This is not an ideal situation but he is able to retrieve and fold up his glider and come back to the mountain where we are located. (The gliders sort of fold in half and then they can be carried. They weigh about 80 lbs.)
I now know why none of their wives are here with them. I am holding my breath watching the guy I don’t even know go down unexpectedly. Don and Damian now inform me that when we go to the Outer Banks in July they want to try hang gliding and our new friends are enthusiastic supporters! The time is at hand for the launch. Don is recruited to assist.
It takes a while for the pilot to get the readings he needs on his equipment and determine that conditions are OK for launch. I film about 4 separate videos anticipating lift off only to find that it’s no go yet. Finally, the moment is right and we have lift off!
I am always amazed, humbled and grateful because we stumble upon these amazing opportunities to interact with our fellow humans when we are travelling through this life. I can’t tell you how exhilarating, exciting and amazing it was to witness these guys jump off a mountain and soar! Damian is so lucky to have been able to hear first hand from these amazing men about their passion. They were so kind, inviting and informative. Today was an amazing adventure that we were so blessed to share in and we were never expecting it! Oh, by the way, at the On Second Thought Thrift Store I scored a silk blouse with mother-of-pearl buttons and an adorable pair of J. Crew shorts with tropical drinks embroidered on them for $11.
My thrift store finds.
Damian got a Xbox game for $7.50 and Don scored some shorts and a polo. Shout out to my girl Jennnifer Cooke Katt, who many years ago introduced me to the joys of thrifting. Hope you are enjoying your summer. Stay tuned for our visit to Harry Potter World at Universal Studios Orlando (I can’t wait because I am such a geek!)
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