July 7,2010 Shenandoah National Park

We left Lynchburg and followed part of the Blue Ridge Parkway to Shenandoah National Park. It is a beautiful drive and there are lots of pullouts to take in the blue haze of the mountains. We decided to camp in the park and we're staying at Big Meadows Campground.No hookups but camping with our gap pass it's $10.00.This is a park that you do a lot of hiking in and since it is so hot we won't be doing any of that. They have a lot ranger hikes if your up to that in this weather.They also have a bus that takes you down to Rapidan,which is Pres. Hoover's White House retreat. At one of the overlooks I saw a couple of guys rock climbing on a steep rock. Not for me. We had a nice large pull-through site in the campground. It was only half full. We also saw a doe with her baby fawn which was nursing. this was quite a site.

Back to Hoover's camp.We were given a lot of information on Hoover and his background. He went to Stanford where got is degree in Geology and met is wife Lou Henry who also was a geology major. He loved to fish and in younger years would come up to the Shenandoahs. After he became Predident he and his wife built Rapidan camp. There were also other cabins for his doctor and secret service.It has a stream running through the property where he could do fishing and just relax.

The cabin was very rustic with a large living area and a second one for the women. We wern't allowed to take pics of the inside but here is the outside.

There is a large fireplace that is outside and was used as photo ops when there were dignataries visiting.

That's it for today,tomorrow Harper's Ferry.