King's Colour

"The flag of Great Britain, often referred to as the King's Colour, Union Flag, Union Jack, and British flag (retroactively prefixed as being the 'first' such flag, in order to distinguish it from the modern flag of the United Kingdom), was used at sea from 1606 then more generally from 1707 until 1801 as the flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain, and is the precursor to the modern Union Jack." -- Wikipedia

Scotland St

Lord Botetourt

"Lord Botetourt is the name of two statues on the campus of the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, depicting colonial Virginia governor Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt. The first of these statues was executed in 1772 by English sculptor Richard Hayward and became the first sculpture in the Colony of Virginia, with the second statue being a 1993 bronze replica by Gordon Kray. The original is the oldest surviving public statue in North America. A Baroque sculpture cut from marble, it was ordered by the Virginia General Assembly in 1771 and installed in 1773 in the loggia of the Capitol in Williamsburg. The statue's plinth was one of the earliest major neoclassical works in British America. After a period of vandalism and neglect following the removal of Virginia's capital to Richmond, the statue was purchased by the College of William & Mary in 1801 and transferred to the College Yard on its campus." -- Wikipedia

Crim Dell

"The Crim Dell bridge is a wooden bridge on the College of William & Mary’s campus in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States, and is considered one of the College's most visually appealing elements. Crim Dell is the pond that the bridge crosses, but the bridge is commonly referred to as Crim Dell." -- Wikipedia

High Knob Wildflowers

High Knob Tower Trail

George Washington National Forest

Observation Deck

Views from inside the High Knob Fire Tower's observation deck.

High Knob View

View from the High Knob Fire Tower

Inside

Inside the High Knob fire tower. 

Mind your step. Lots of bat guano.

Joining Skywatch Friday.

Fire Tower

Nearing the Summit

Decidedly rockier near the summit.

With various kinds of vegetation trying to hang on in what can be, I think, a pretty harsh environment.

High Knob Tower Trail

George Washington National Forest

Private Property

The High Knob Tower Trail in the George Washington National Forest borders private property in places.

1021

There often comes a moment when you're hiking summit trails when you begin to wonder how much farther you will have to hike to reach the top. This was one of those moments, especially as I began to ponder what possible meaning should be attached to the number "1021." Usually, distances on these signs are indicated in miles. Or, occasionally, I've seen references to feet. Sometimes, though, trail signs will indicate elevation above sea level. So what was I to make of "1021." I still don't have any idea, although I suppose that 1021 feet to the top can't be ruled out entirely. But if that was the case, then why not just say so?  In any case, I just pressed on, mystery in mind.

Trail Ornaments

High Knob Tower Trail

George Washington National Forest

Trail Signs

 High Knob Tower Trail

George Washington National Forest

High Knob Tower Trail

The High Knob Tower Trail, part of the Great Eastern Trail, lies west of Harrisonburg, Virginia, on the border with West Virginia and in the George Washington National Forest.

Joining Skywatch Friday.

Frat House

A once grand old house in Harrisonburg, now serving as-- ugh!--a frat house.

Hotel Madison

The Hotel Madison in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Going Down

I found going down the Hightop Mountain Trail as interesting as going up.

Summit

Hightop Mountain summit (3,587 ft/1,093m)

Shenandoah National Park

 

Peek

Nearing the summit of Hightop Mountain here, with just a peek at the view beyond.