On a cool afternoon with the earthy smell of fresh rain in the southern air, the Jagers awaited a pick up from Uncle Dale and Aunt Ginny at the Richmond airport. We were looking forward to sharing a few days together since our last visit one year ago.

Our first stop was the Birdhouse Farmers Market opening promptly at 3:00 in the afternoon. We were among the customers eagerly awaiting the signal to enter the market while lining up on both ends of the sidewalk. Dale and Ginny made a beeline for their favorite vendors for broccoli, tomatoes, onions, peaches, and more! We also sampled one of the best brats we’ve ever had from Mr. Mayor’s small batch sausage company.

Upon arrival at their home, we settled into the quiet company of cats, Molly and Ella, while sampling cheese and berries. It was good to spend some time in conversation catching up with each other but it didn’t take long before Derek found himself puzzling over the unusual jigsaw pieces of the Windmill Island puzzle with his uncle.

The pieces were unlike any we had seen before and seemed to connect in an irregular spiral path making it quite difficult to not only complete the border but also fill in large areas of similar colors.

The forecast showed rain for the majority of the few days that we were there but we had a small window to hike in the Shenandoah Mountains one morning before the weather turned. This would be one of the highlights of our trip.

The Shenandoah National Park is large enough that it might be raining on one end of the boundary but not on the other. As we entered the Swift Run Gap ranger entrance, it was a good half hour skirting on the mountain ridges of Skyline Drive before we were at the Harry F. Byrd Visitor Center in the Big Meadows. As the elevation increased, the views were more heavily clouded with a misty fog with 50-60 degree temperatures at the top. 

Thankful that we wore layers, we set off on one of Ginny’s favorite trails on Rose River Falls. We began the hike by turning left on the horse trail into the wooded forest that continually sloped down alongside the waterfalls.

It felt like early spring instead of summer with the cool air on our cheeks as we kept up pace using our hiking poles for support on the slippery rocks.

About an hour into our hike, we took a brief pit stop for some provisions while taking in the sights and sounds of Rose River’s waterfalls. 

As we pressed on, the hike kicked up a notch with a steep, rocky path on the edge of the river. With our hearts pumping in-between breaths, we kept our eyes low on the puzzle of roots and rocks, careful not to slip. We felt like we were truly on a journey with an adventurous trail in the mountains.

We took a break at the halfway point 2 miles in for a photo while mustering our energy for the uphill climb awaiting us back to Fisher’s Gap. 

With just a mile left to go, we felt like we had accomplished the most difficult sections of the loop. As we posed by the waterfalls, a thunderous crack reverberated in the air as a tree collapsed on the trail in front of us! 

We completed our 4 mile loop in about 2 hours with a gradual uphill for the last mile to the top just as the skies opened up and began to rain upon us. After a bathroom break, we ate our deli sandwiches in the car before setting off. 

While it rained the rest of our vacation, we were grateful for the time together, shared over excellent meals, card games, and reading good books in the rocking chairs. We even had a chance to visit the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts where Kehinde Wiley’s art was prominently featured among master works and an outstanding video immersive installation by Isaac Julien reenacted the meditations of Frederick Douglass. 

It was in the simple moments that we will cherish our vacation memories of happiness and contentment. 

Of course, the trip could not be complete without an attempt to finish the puzzle! All hands were on deck as we diligently put pieces together up until the last minute that we had to leave for the airport.

Within a few days of returning home, Dale and Ginny shared the completed puzzle with the rest of the Jager family! This puzzle was created from a West Michigan’s photographer’s image of the 251 year old windmill “De Zwaan,” that stands at Windmill Island in Holland, Michigan where Derek’s dad, Cal, helped to plant tulips last year. It is the only authentic, working Dutch windmill in the United States and the last working windmill to leave the Netherlands.

Finally, a haiku to conclude our family trip:

Warm conversations

Rainy Rose River, Oh Hell!

Foodie feasts, cats purr