Virginia Mountain Dreams

Winter: A “Secret Season” in the South’s Loftiest National Parks | National Parks Traveler

Gary Boyd — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:32:29 +0000

Shenandoah National Park

Both Shenandoah and the Blue Ridge Parkway straddle the eastern-most “front range” of the Appalachians. That can mean that most of the snow from the region’s storms falls on more westerly ridges West Virginia peaks can receive nearly 200 inches of snow!.

via Winter: A “Secret Season” in the South’s Loftiest National Parks | National Parks Traveler.

Head To Cumberland Gap National Historical Park To Taste Appalachian Christmas Cheer | National Parks Traveler

Gary Boyd — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:15:28 +0000

John-Boy might not be there, but you’ll still get a taste of Appalachian Christmas cheer with a visit to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park this coming Saturday.

Each year, deep in Appalachia, the holiday season is ushered in as Christmas-red cardinals decorate snow-covered hemlocks. Icicles become nature’s diamonds frosting rocky mountainsides. The brisk air makes one’s skin tingle. Christmas bells treat ears to a medley of jingles. And at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park’s “Taste of Christmas Past” children of all ages will thrill in the magic of mountain holidays of old.

via Head To Cumberland Gap National Historical Park To Taste Appalachian Christmas Cheer | National Parks Traveler.

Hard Cider Coming To Nelson County

Gary Boyd — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:54:54 +0000

John Washburn, who grew up in Ruffin, N.C., and graduated from George Washington High School in 1965, is currently building Bold Rock Cidery and Brewpub near Wintergreen in Nelson County, where he now lives. Right now, 15,000 square feet of cidery buildings and a restaurant are under construction, but eventually the cider pub will offer four varieties of hard ciders and a relaxing atmosphere nestled in the Blue Ridge countryside.“It’s a bold project,” Washburn said.

Washburn and friend Brian Shanks, co-founded Bold Rock Partners Lt. in March after deciding to pursue cider, or alcoholic fermented apple juice. Shanks has more than 30 years experience in the cider business, including in New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain. Washburn, who bought a farm in Wintergreen and developed property there for about 14 years, saw an opportunity to add cider to the area’s burgeoning brewery scene.

via Danville native to open Virginia cidery | GoDanRiver.com.

Coming Together

Christmas Along the Crooked Road- Kingsport Times-News

Gary Boyd — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 13:41:54 +0000

A group of musicians living along the Crooked Road have teamed up to record some of their favorite Christmas songs — mountain music style. “Christmas Along the Crooked Road” features the talents of Gerald Anderson, Jimmy Edmonds, Wayne Henderson, Steve Lewis, Jeff Little, Josh Scott, Spencer Strickland, Helen White and the Junior Appalachian Musicians.

The idea for a Christmas CD sprang from a performance by this group of musicians at the Rex Theater, an anchor venue located on the Crooked Road in Galax, Va. Debbie Robinson, Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s director of programs, was coordinating the show and invited Galax native and Miss America 1979 Kylene Barker McNeill to serve as emcee.

via Christmas Along the Crooked Road- Kingsport Times-News.

Fred First

Gary Boyd — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:28:05 +0000

Doug Thompson has posted a video of my friend Fred First reading a piece from his book Slow Road Homeat the Floyd Country Store on his new YouTube Channel, Buffalo Mountain Films.

Thanks Doug…