OUR FIRST SPRINGTIME HIKE IN THE VIRGINIA MOUNTAINS

After our first week of work, we were ready to get outside to enjoy the local scenery.  On our first day off, we decided to take a hike in the New River State Park in Galax, VA, about 15 miles from Hillsville.  The New River Trail is a 57-mile park that follows an abandoned railroad right-of-way.  While this is Virginia's longest park, it is also the narrowest, with a mere 80-foot wide right-of-way from the former railroad.  The part of the trail we hiked was very flat.  We parked at the Galax trailhead and began our journey.  

There were lush plants and flowers in bloom all along the trail.  Below are some of our favorites.

Robin's Plantain,

 
Bulbous Buttercup,

Golden Ragwort,

and Yellow Rocket,

We searched for quite some time but were unable to identify the following flowers.  We thought we should share them with you for their beauty.
 
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We nicknamed this tree the pretzel tree because of the way the vines are entwined near the base.

All along our hike we were serenaded non-stop by chirping songbirds.  A cardinal was watching us from above.

Here Paul stops to admire the view from a bridge over Chestnut Creek.  You can readily see the trees are mostly just beginning to get their summer leaves.  And you can see the steep slope of the hillside along this part of the river.

All along the trail we would see bird houses such as this one, attached to the trees.  This trail was also listed as a birding trail.

From time to time, the geese in the area along the creek would honk loudly.  Here is a pair of adult geese and 5 goslings.

We found several old mileage markers left from when this was an active train route. 
  

Later during our hike we found another family of geese with 8 goslings.  The adult geese each had a group following them as they swam upstream.

We watched as these geese swam with the adults in total control of the family of young ones.  As the geese family approached a small set of rapids, they changed their formation and put all 8 goslings between the two adults.

When they reached the rapids, the adults acted as lifeguards while their little ones played in the rapids.  The babies would jump off a rock in the stream and try to swim upstream.  Not being strong enough to swim against the current in the rapids, they would then float back body surfing style behind the rock, creating their own little water park.

All along the trail, at least one of the sides of the trail was a fairly steep hillside above the creek.  Sometimes, there were farms that bordered the trail, with livestock who would watch us as we walked by.

Here is a view looking down at the creek.  You can see the trail curving to the left directly above the creek.

Since we hadn't hiked in many months, this level hike was a great way to begin our Virginia hiking experience. The weather was cool at the beginning but warmed up considerably as the day progressed.  We are looking forward to exploring other portions of this trail with our bikes later in the summer.