Bridge Day 2014

Last weekend was the 35th Annual Bridge Day in Fayetteville, WV where 450 BASE jumpers gathered to jump off the 876 foot tall New River Gorge Bridge, one of the world's longest steel single-span arch bridges.

The third Saturday of every October is the only day all year that BASE jumpers -- whose acronym stands for these fixed points: building, antenna, span and earth -- can legally jump off the bridge. The jumpers carry parachutes designed to deploy quickly, softening their landings.

The Bridge Day Festival is billed as the largest extreme sports event in the world and attracts nearly 100,000 people to Fayetteville.

Here's a view of the New River Gorge Bridge which illustrates
the 876 foot drop from the roadway to the ground/river.
When the bridge was completed in 1977,
it was the highest vehicular bridge in the world.
Currently, it is the 3rd highest in the United States.

About 450 BASE jumpers leaped off the bridge 903 times at last year's festival, and about 80,000 spectators packed the bridge and surrounding area to watch them.

For the second year, a smaller group of jumpers got to use a human catapult system in 2013 to get flung off the bridge.

Vendors surrounding the bridge will offer snacks, crafts and other ways to celebrate the jumpers in a much less strenuous, daredevil fashion. Speaking of fashion, you can rest assured that we did indeed get our souvenir Bridge Day t-shirts at the first vendor booth we saw.

And then we ventured further into the throngs of people towards the middle of the bridge where the jumping platform was located. Yeah. Maybe Mosh Pit is a better way to describe the human congestion. All in the name of good times and good pictures!

Battling waves of claustrophobia we ever-so-slowly inched our way forward to get a better view of the crazy daredevil BASE jumpers.

Ready...

Set...

Go!!!

That's crazy!!! Talk about an Adrenaline rush!

Another thrill seeker takes the plunge

All I can say is…

that is a looooong way down!

Sure hope that parachute is in working order...

…'cause I'm free…free fallin'!

Yesss! We have parachute deployment!

That's one WILD ride.

And they keep coming back for more.

The day after Bridge Day, we hiked Long Point Tail, a 3.2 mile round trip hike that traverses a relaxed level forest trail, followed by a short, steep descent heavily wooded with Rhododendron (the West Virginia state flower) and Mountain Laurel. At the end of the trail, you are greeted by an impressive panoramic view of the New River Gorge and the New River Gorge Bridge.

***AHHHHHH*** 

(cue the angel chorus)

Colorful array of fall foliage-looks like a family of Gnomes might reside here

Chili loved the hike

and as you can see, she was not hurting in the love and attention dept.!

Watch out for steep drop-offs!! 

All in all, Bridge Day weekend was a hit and 

we just may have found a new annual fall tradition!

Fall Is In The Air

Last weekend we had our first cool front of the season.

Yes, that's right…fall is here!

After a warm and humid summer, the second week 

of September ushered in some lovely crisp, cool weather. 

And even though I know that a wicked cold winter is coming right on the heels of Fall 

(we won't think about that just yet) I'm going to enjoy every moment of Autumn. 

Oh Fall...how do I love thee? 

Let me count the ways:

Cool, crisp sweater weather, apples, apple cider, apple pie, 

all things PUMPKIN, brilliant fall foliage, 

colorful leaves fluttering gracefully to the ground, 

the crunch of fallen leaves with every step outdoors, 

raking leaves into a huge pile, 

then taking a running jump on top them 

and raking the leaves into piles again,

cozy fires, great camping weather, fall festivals, etc, etc, etc

The first colorful signs of fall 

A White "Woolly Worm" inching it's way down a Jewel Weed Plant 

A babbling brook

Random Turkey Feather

A hikin' we will go

The bridge goes on forever

That's one FLORESCENT caterpillar!

This is Copperhead Rock.
Can you see the resemblance to it's namesake?

A content Chili Dog

Gorgeous Mums at fall market 

Locally grown pumpkins and gourds 

A bumpy 'lil punkin

It's Pumpkin Spice Latte time!

Hints of fall color here and there

Front porch adornments

These trees will be gorgeous in a few weeks

Happy Fall Y'all!


Whether it's feeling like fall where you live or it hasn't quite arrived just yet,
what are some of your favorite things about Autumn?

Feel free to chime in with a comment!

Awesome Eight

Today my baby turned eight years old.

He is happy.

He is healthy.

He is a blessing.

And he keeps us laughing with his many "Mason-isms".

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!