I had three stops on my Virginia day plan; then it became four. This is what happens when you talk with people and are flexible enough to add additional stops. Yet then it filled the day!
I have been to Virginia numerous times so finding new places is always fun driving parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway, reminiscing about Luray Cavern tours, hiking part of the Appalachian Trail in the Front Royal area, visiting Annapolis, Maryland area nearby and eating blue crabs, just to mention a few memories!
I often zero in on nature centers when I travel; therefore, I found my way to Claytor Nature Center in Bedford, Virginia. After spending time talking with an employee, I bird watched and wandered the property. The nature preserve has hiking trails, an observatory, specific gardens and farmhouse. I could have spent the entire day here; however, I only had this day in Virginia. It was A. Boyd Claytor III who donated the 18th century Cloverleaf Farm and farmhouse. Today the property as a result of that donation and another is more than 490 acres and all donated to the University of Lynchburg. I cannot help but think of the following Greek Proverb when I am present in such preserves:
“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know shall never sit in.”
My conversation with a Claytor Nature Preserve employee prompted me to visit the National D-Day Memorial. Not on this day’s plan, but why not? As I drove to the memorial, I wondered why would a National Memorial be in Bedford, Virginia?
The D-Day National Memorial is beautifully landscaped. No photograph can capture all the statues, gardens and plazas that symbolize the channel crossing on June 6, 1944. Forty-four hundred members of the Allied Expeditionary Force were killed on this date. Off the shores of Normandy, on that date, were 44 soldiers, sailors, and airmen from the town and county of Bedford, VA. A landing craft struck an obstacle and sank, leaving dozens far from shore. Some were killed on Omaha Beach. Overall, Bedford’s D-Day fatalities were a total of 20. Bedford suffered the Nation’s highest known per capita D-Day loss. And now I know why the Memorial is here. It does not receive federal or state funding; all on donations. There is also a Bedford Boys Tribute Center that I did not get to visit.
Next stop on this day was Otter Lake waterfalls. Fortunately it was easy to see the falls and a hiking trail is there also. It was a beautiful day so I loved having this place on my itinerary.
Finally, before driving a few hours north to Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, I walked the James River Footbridge. It is 623 feet long, part of the Appalachian Trail and you walk over Virginia’s James River.
