Kennedy Peak

We had done hike to Kennedy Peak on 29th July . It is located in Luray, Virginia State.

Hike Location
Name: Kennedy Peak
Distance: 88 miles from Herndon(approx)
Total hiking distance: 5.2 miles.
Elevation Gain: 895 ft
Hike Team:  my wife and me.

Hiking Experience: Started around 5:46 am. Weather prediction was good for today. Reached the parking by 7:40 am.

There was already a car parked at the parking lot. It was sunny weather with cool breeze.Started hiking around 7:45 am on the Massanutten Trail(orange blazed). The trail is wide for two people to easily walk side by side. There were huge trees on both sides the trail. The trail has so many rocks on it making the climb little challenging. The steep increased gradually and as we ascended we saw the valley on one side of the hill. We could see farms, river streams, houses all looking tiny. Soon we were in the middle of the jungle. As the trail is sovered y the shades of huge trees we have not felt the heat and hike was smooth. The trail has ups and downs which motivated  to continue the hike without taking any breaks. Soon we reached a hair pin bend of the trail in the midst of the jungle and from there the steep of the trail increased. we continued our hike  enjoying the cool shade and amazing views of the valley on one side of the trail. We reached an intersection and we took right towards Kennedy Peak Trail (white blazed). It was very steep and full of stones. After walking for around 0.2 miles we reached the fire tower of the Kennedy peak. The tower is built with wood . There were wooden steps to reach the top of the tower. we reach around 9:15 am.

The view from the tower is spectacular. We could see the River if the Shenandoah park, Luray Valley and mountains. We had our breakfast at the tower. Enjoyed the views and then started around 9:45 am. Being steep while coming, now it was little easy to descent except for walking on the sharp rocks. We reached back the intersection and took left on to Massanutten trail and retraced our path back to parking lot.we have not taken any breaks and were surprised to feel that we have done the entire hike without taking any breaks. we met few fellow hikers on our way back making us aware of the fact that this places is very popular. We reached parking lot around 11:00 am. The view at the parking lot is also awesome. we sat on the grass for sometime engrossed in viewing the mountain valleys and farms. We then did few stretching exercises and left for home. Reached home around 12:50 pm. It was a very memorable experience as the trail was completely in the jungle and gave us the feel that we are in nature and have not taken any break during the hike. This is a great hike and the views are wonderful. All is Well.
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Antietam Bloody Lane

We had done hike to Antietam Bloody Lane on july 21st 2018. It is located in Sharpsburg,MD.

Hike Location
Name: Antietam Bloody Lane
Distance: 52.7 miles from Herndon(approx)
Total hiking distance: 4.6 miles.
Elevation Gain: 230 ft
Hike Team:  my wife and me.

Hiking Experience: We started around 5:55 am in the morning. We reached Parking lot around 7:02 am. There was very small place for parking. Climate was pleasant and cool. We started our hiking around 7:12 am.

We crossed the road from our parking and went other side. It was a paved path and  to both sides of path there were huge grasslands. We saw plenty of buffaloes grazing. After 0.7 miles of walking on the road we reached the observation tower. We tried to reach top of the  tower, but there was big groundhog on the stairs. So we came out of the tower and continued the hike. We saw many fields around the tower. We hiked on the bloody lane and soon we reached monuement. As we continued we reached visitor center, it was on a small hill.We crossed the road to go to  the visitor center. There we saw few cannons. We informed the park ranger about the ground hog at the observation tower. We left the visitor center and came back to same road which we have crossed before and went left side of the road and then took right into the narrow trail. It is educational trail and after continuing on it for few mins trail is now Mumma farms trail. As we hiked, We saw many buffaloes grazing and small wooden bridge. There were very old type houses on the hills which were on both sides of the trails. we felt like we were in a typical old village. we reached the small stones trail, from this trail we saw the observation tower. It was like big ground covered with green grass and some trees.

We came to 3 farm trail. We had our breakfast 8:45 am on side of the trail. We saw many fields but we do not know what crops are being cultivated there. We hiked along the trail which led us through the middle of the fields. Soon the trail is covered with big trees. The climate was so good and very pleasant. we heard different voices of birds. We enjoyed those sweet sounds very much. After that we heard the voice of water as though coming from a stream, we thought that was a river. We continued and soon reached wooden bridge and saw the park ranger again. He told us that he, along with two other rangers, had driven the groundhog out of the tower and we can now go and visit the top view from the tower. we continued our hike and soon we saw highway. To cross the highway we climbed down the stairs and crossed under the highway bridge and it lead us to another trail. We again heard the water falling sound, much louder this time but we didn't saw any water flow around us. Then after 5 to 10 minutes we saw the water flowing on the small rocks. The stream was very big and beautiful , there was also a bench near the stream. We spent 10 minutes there enjoying the beautiful water stream and captured few photos. Then we saw another wooden bridge.

After that we saw big ground, a large moor and many big trees. Then we went up the trail from the bridge. While hiking through trail we entered into Sherick farm trail. We saw a deer which stared at us for almost a minute before running away. After 0.5 miles of hiking we saw grass trail ,huge trees, big ground and other side of the trail are many farms. Around 10:06 am we returned to the car parking lot from Sherick farm trail. Then we went to the observation tower in the car and went to top of the tower around 10:15 am. The view was awesome. We saw the entire place from top of the tower. There we felt so much windy. Around 10:25 am we return to the car parking and started to home around 10:30 am. We had our lunch around 11:10 am in the car. Then we filled the gas on our way. We reached home around 12:12 pm. This hiking gave us a different experience. The entire hiking was through the fields, trees and sometimes beside the river, the total hike was very much different from all hikes we had done before. We collected more awesome memories and enjoyed a lot. All is Well.
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North Bend Park

We had done camp on 23rd June 2018. It is located in Virginia State.

Camp Location
Name: North Bend Park.
Distance: 208 miles from Herndon(approx)
Site type: Non-Electric
Camp Team: me and my wife.
Camp Items: Camp Stove, Gas, Charcoal, Lighter, Food items, Table Cloth, fire wood, tent, Sleeping bag, Cutlery, Trays, Water, Torches, Lantern, Small fan, Small table, Two beds, Projector, Projector Screen, Laptop, Pillows.

Camping Experience: We started around 10:40 am. First we went to Walmart and Indian store to purchase some items. Around  12:30  am we ordered food for lunch while we were on the way to campsite. We picked our food and continue to campsite.

We got stuck in the traffic and had our lunch around 1:00 pm in the car. We entered to Boydton city ,that was very pleasant and next we entered into North Bend Park area. Before reaching the camp site we saw John H Kerr dam and reservoir then we entered into our campsite. We registered and bought firewood in gas station which is near to our camp site. We reached our camp ground around 5 pm.The camp ground was so beautiful. There we have large trees. One of the best thing was there is beach on the back side of our camp ground. The weather was pleasant and sunny. There were so many mosquitoes also at the camp ground. Camp ground has clean area for tent. Entire camp ground was fully covered with small stones. There were Wooden picnic table, fire pit and grill on top of it for barbecue and place for car parking at the camp ground. First we pitched our tent in the designated area. This time we bought many new things for camping. We bought two folding beds, pillows, one small table,one small fan, projector, projector screen. We arranged the two beds in the tent and set the table in front of the beds.

On that table we kept laptop and projector and kept screen in front of projector. While I was doing all these set up in the tent, my wife arranged all the things for food. We kept all cooking items in the car and went to the beach. The river was so beautiful. The entire view was excellent. The river water was very cold. We spent more than one hour at the river. Then we came back from river to our camp ground. The marination was ready for cooking. Then took the coal and firewood for panneer tikka. Lighted the coal and firewood using the lighter fuel.Covered the grill with aluminium foil. Once the grill was heated enough, placed panneer tikka sticks(skewers having veggies along with panneer) on the grill. In between added coal to have the consistency of heat. Meanwhile we cooked rice in pressure cooker for rice wraps. After the panneer tikka we placed the rice wraps in between the heated charcoal. Our food was ready to eat. We packed all the items used for food and kept in the car. We took the food and went into the tent. We had our dinner around 11:00 pm . We watched a movie in the tent.

Felt like watching the movie in theater except for the fact that we were watching while leaning on bed. Then we slept around 1:30 am. We woke up in the morning around 6:30 am.We done our morning chores. Then we went to the river to play in the river water.Around 10 am we had bornvita and curd rice for breakfast. Then we were decided to pack the tent and get back to home because it's getting hot and no wind as well. We dumped our trash. Next we parked our car in tree shadow place and went to the river. We spend nearly one hour time there then we came back to the car. we freshened ourselves in the campground restrooms. Then we started to home around 1 pm. We had our lunch around 2:00 pm in subway. We reached home around  5:30 pm. This time we very much enjoyed the camping (near river, arranged projector, screen and watching movie in the tent). It was a wonderful experience to us. It was a beautiful and memorable experience. All is Well.
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