August 27, 2025 -- The Elakala Trail is a 0.8 mile out-and-back trail in Blackwater Falls State Park. It's a walk through the woods that ends at a bridge above Elakala Falls. You can never really get a good view of the falls. There was a parking area not too far the falls. It offered great views of the park.
Ivanka (1711) died a few weeks ago. Today I took 1665 to the sale barn. A couple of months ago, 1736 went to the sale barn. It's always hard saying good bye to the old ewes.
Ivanka was 8 1/2 years old. She lost her first lamb, then went on to raise sixteen lambs, including triplet ewe lambs this year. Her death was heart-breaking. I blamed myself. Perhaps, she only needed a good deworming. I saved Ivanka's daughter last year. Her name is Hollywood. Like her mom, she lost her first lamb.
1665 was 9 1/2 years old. She'd raised twenty lambs, including twins this year. Unfortunately, she had gotten very thin and I couldn't put any weight back on her, despite preferential feeding. She was always recognizable due to the big black spot on her left front leg.
1736 lambed late this year, in May. She had triplets, but milk on only one side. I had to supplement the lambs: two rams and a ewe that I dubbed "Rock, Paper, and Scissors." Pretty lambs, out of a clean-up buck. Due to her age and udder issue, I couldn't keep her another year; so, I took her to the sale barn when she "weaned" her lambs. She was 8 1/2 years old and had raised 17 lambs for me.
Three good ewes. Now part of the past. Always hard. I have several ewes that will be 8, 9, and 10 next year. More hard decisions.
August 27, 2025 -- I had been wanting to visit Blackwater Falls. I visited years ago. Ty and I made the 2.5 hour trip to Davis, West Virginia. Blackwater Falls State Park is located in the Allegany Mountains in Tucker County. Blackwater Falls is the centerpiece of the park, the largest falls in West Virginia and one of the most photographed natural sites in the state.
August 27, 2025 -- Thomas is a former coal mining town in Tucker County, West Virginia. Elevation 3,035 feet. It is located on the North Fork of the Black River. After visiting nearby Blackwater Falls (in Davis), Ty and I ventured to Thomas to see some more waterfalls (and some other stuff).
The first thing of interest we saw was a two story red brick (office) building. It had served as the headquarters for the Davis Coal and Coke Company from 1900 to 1950. It was later used by the Western Maryland Railroad until it was closed in 1982. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. It didn't look like there was anything inside.
August 17, 2025 -- New River Gorge Bridge is iconic. It is to New River Gorge National Park what the Delicate Arch is to Arches National Park (in Utah). The bridge is the most recognizable symbol in the park's almost 73,000 acres. It is one of the most photographed places in West Virginia.
August 17, 2025 -- I love waterfalls. Ty loves the water. Sandstone Falls was our first stop in New River Gorge National Park (in West Virginia). It is the largest waterfall on the New River. It drops 10 to 25 feet and spans 1500 feet across the river. There was a boardwalk that offered excellent views of the falls from various vantage points. Ty and I walked down to the water at one place. He was able to go in the water, but didn't go too far because of large stones.
August 16, 2025 -- The "Breaks" is a state park shared by Virginia and Kentucky. It is dubbed the "Grand Canyon of the South." The official name is Breaks Interstate Park. Ty and I visited there after the Coalfield Sheep Association Sale in Clintwood, Virginia.
