#207 Nomad Diary. 5-11 October 2024. Our Changed Itinerary Takes Us to Bryce Resort in Basye, Virginia. Friday Drive to Williamsburg, Virginia Weekend.

Darrell Cooking Breakfast in Our Basye, Virgina Resort Townhome

Pork Loin that I Baked For Our Weeklong Stay

Saturday Morning at Belle Grove Plantation in Middletown, Virginia. Here to See Border Collie Sheep Dog National Semi-finals.

A Man From South Carolina with His Dog

Darrell on the Porch of the 1797 Restored Plantation House

Sheep Dog with Shepherd and Sheep in a Round.

Sheep Dog Doing His Job

Beautiful Drive Through Virginia Backroads

Virginia Backroads on a Sunny Day

4 Year Old Grandson Quinn in Brazil on Video Call. Explaining About Activities and School Friends.

Saturday. 5. Yesterday I saw and ad in a local paper for the Semi-finals for the Border Collie Sheep Herding National Competition. Neither of us have never been to one of these and we decided to take the scenic 40 minute drive to the competition. They were set up at a National Trust property: Belle Grove Plantation near Middletown, Virginia. There is a restored 1797 Plantation house, set in 1820’s style. There was a self-guided tour of the large home as well as a beautiful barn with some historical info and a gift shop. There was also a couple mile civil war trail that we didn’t do today. The sheep dog competition was set in a large fenced field. There was a tent with chairs set up for observing. There was a VIP tent for the competitors to have their needs and comforts supplied. Also within view was a food truck where we got a quick lunch and farther set apart was an RV park where many of the competitors were set up for their days of competition. It was fun watching each dog take off at his shepherd’s directions to herd the six sheep and run them closer to the infield where they had a series of challenges to accomplish. There was a clock running with 15 minutes to complete their course within. Each competitor had a new set of sheep and then those sheep were run and then taken off the field. There were volunteers at each station to keep it all running smoothly. The weather was cool and sunny. We enjoyed our country drives and our time at this plantation. 

At Basye, Virginia Resort

Deer on the Golf Course at Dusk in Bayse, Virginia

Sunday. 6. We drove 40 minutes to Harrisonburg for worship with a church we have visited a couple of times before. We were here in November 2021 when we had come to Bryce Resort with Glenn’s family. We met almost everyone in the congregation of about 30 members. People drove from up to an hour away to come together on Sunday for congregational encouragement, singing hymns, taking the Lord’s supper, prayers and Bible study together. After a couple of hours at church we ended and we went with 2 couples for lunch. We enjoyed getting to know each of them a little better. They are all still working, but getting closer to retirement ages that they are looking forward to. Each evening at dusk while at Bryce Resort, we go for a walk along the golf course then make a big circle back to our condo. There are very few people here this week. I like to count the deer that are grazing on the golf course each evening. The most I counted was 22 in one night.

Walking Around Lake Laura in Basye, Virginia

Lake Laura in Basye, Virginia

My Beginner Watercolor Card Front

Video Call with 1 year old Granddaughter Esther in Alabama

3 year old Grandson Owen on Video Call in Alabama

Pink Sky Northern Lights Viewing in Basye, Virginia

Northern Lights Viewing in Basye, Virginia

Two Lane Rural Driving through Virginia to Williamsburg

Williamsburg, Virginia 1750's Drum and Fife Presentation

Williamsburg, Virginia Maze Hedge Behind the Restored 1750's Governor's House

Williamsburg, Virginia Restored Courthouse circa 1750

Beautiful Garden in Williamsburg behind the Restored 1750's Governor's House

Tuesday. 8.-Thursday. 10

Friday. 11. Today we pack up and check out of our Basye Condo and drive to Williamsburg, Virginia. Williamsburg is known for having restored and rebuilt a huge 1 mile by ½ mile Colonial town that existed in 1750. Throughout this museum town are people dressed in the time of 1750. There is a daily schedule with stages of actors presenting 1750’s people. We enjoyed seeing Thomas Jefferson for a 30 minutes show and then later a man portraying a black slave who became a preacher and later in his life was freed. Over the weekend we went to the museum that is packed with quality furniture and other items from the 1700’s. There are stories of the donors to this project. John D. Rockefeller Jr. foundation is one of the greatest donors. We toured many of the buildings Friday-Sunday including the old Capital building, the Governor’s house, a tavern, Thomas Jefferson’s uncle’s house, and an archeological site for another house where Martha (later, Washington) lived. We ate good food at restaurants there. We attended a farmer’s market and a Second Sunday Fall Festival. The church met from 11-1 which is an odd time for us. While at the church we met other tourists and knew 2 of them! lol. It is also the location of William and Mary College.This project began in the 1930’s. I have heard of Williamsburg throughout my life as a historical tourist destination. Darrell has been a handful of times during work conferences held here. This is my first time to come. Our weather is beautiful! Clear blue skies with cool mornings and warmer afternoons. The number of people here is a much smaller crowd since we are after the beginning of school.    

Nomad Notes. Returning to Basye, Virginia for a week at Bryce All Seasons Resort was a turn around from what we expected. We visited here with Darrell’s brother Glenn’s family in November 2021. We knew the area and looked forward to our week stay. 

When we come to a quiet place like Basye we are comfortable. We spend time resting, working on our computers, cooking in our kitchen, planning our travel days and stays within the next days, weeks and months. We take a couple of walks daily. We have family and friend phone calls. I have a simple beginner watercolor kit that I take out and practice. This is our down time along with our daily routines of morning exercise, breakfast, second language lesson, Bible reading,study and prayer are always a constant with each of us separately and together. I mention it sometimes as it is always a focus for us and in who we are becoming as we grow together in Christ as eternal beings with an eternal dwelling.