South Fork Shenandoah and Hail

Moody Boat Launch campsites. The lovely Shenandoah River winds in tight squiggles here in Virginia, and so do the roads. Pretty. So green. Some wildflowers, including lavender and white rocket, daisy fleabane, and blue flag iris. Something smells good too - maybe honeysuckle?

Rain held off ... until the moment we arrived at the campsite. LOL.

This free site (Forest Service) is on the south fork of the Shenandoah near a canoe launch. There are multiple potential places to camp, with some fire pits, between the trees near the riverbank. You can't drive into these sites. Have to park along the gravel road (only steps away really).  There's room for 3-6 vehicles, and more room in the turnaround. We picked a spot in the turnaround - bc it was level and higher above the river. Severe thunderstorm warnings (of course - doesn't that always go with camping?) and the river does flood (warning sign along the road) so we wanted to be on high ground.

Shortly after we parked, the rain really let loose. Thunder, lightning, wind... and hail! Started off cute little pebbles of ice bouncing off the roof, sounding like popcorn.

The golf-ball-size hail was not so cute.

Bob lowered the roof to protect the tenting in the poptop. Worked like a charm because as soon as he did, it stopped hailing. Ha!

Later in the evening, after we ate our supper of macn cheese and baked beans, the rain stopped and Bob caught a few fish - a smallmouth and this red breast sunfish. The sunfish is a new one for roughfish, and at 8 inches, a new record for him as well :)

o Shenandoah, i long to see you, a-and hear your rolling river. o Shenandoah, i long to see you. A-way, I'm bound a-way, 'cross the wide Missouri."

This song keeps going through my head. Such a beautiful place to camp, right next to the river.  We read that the weekends often bring party-ers, but it's quiet today, because we're the only ones here! Well, that is... except for the lovely toad that greeted me when I stepped outside the camper to use the facilities.Read more