Adventures in West Augusta {Gotta Get Away, Personal}

I literally can’t with the gorgeousness that exists in our state. They say Virginia is for Lovers – and I totally get it. Lovers of nature, lovers of apples, lovers of wine, lovers of stars. From the beaches to the mountains – even when you’ve been all over the state like I have, there’s all this amazing nature and awesomeness. This trip was originally supposed to be just me – and then me & Chris, but then, it ended up being a fun girls weekend adventuring all over with my awesome friends Loren & Staci.

We started at Carter Mountain Orchard on the way to the house in the trees (which you’ll see soon, and probably love just as much as we did).

virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day

And then we got there. And got stuck on the driveway, and met two awesome neighbors who helped us out. And then saw just how beautiful it is there…

Legitimately, though, we got stuck on this driveway. It was hilarious and insane and we had to walk like, .5 a mile to the nearest neighborhor’s house (shout out to Danny and Rochelle), who had to pull my van out of where it was stuck and back it down the driveway (never to be attempted to get back up the driveway again).

virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day

The stars. The sunset. The sunrise. We were like IN it with nature. There was no cell service, and that was amazing, especially for a social media manager. It made me really step outside and enjoy what was there. The epic fall leaves. The FREAKING MILKY WAY.

virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day

The next day we adventured to a pond nearby, road bikes, explored. We couldn’t have gotten better weather – bright blue skies, 60s temperatures, and of course – all those fall leaves.

virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day

We also drove through this one part of the George Washington National Forest like… 15 times. Stopped in the middle of the road to take pictures of this magical part of the forest with the perfect autumn trees. Used my regular camera, used a film camera that Mike let me borrow (those scans will come back soon… and we’ll see if they’re any good – it was my first time).

virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day

Then we went to Staunton to get gifts for the nice neighbors that saved us. This city is unreasonably beautiful. Cute little shops, pretty foliage.

virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day

And you know, one more trip in the middle of the road at the entrance to George Washington National Forest.

virginia is for lovers, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day

One of the most fun parts of the adventure was on the way home. We stopped in Afton and went horseback riding with Rebel’s Run and Afton Mountain Vineyard. I had never gone horseback riding – and they gave me Rebel, who was the sweetest, most stubborn horse that ever was. We rode to Afton Mountain Vineyard and stopped, got some treats and some wine, and then rode back, and headed home.

virginia is for lovers, afton mountain, afton mountain winery, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, afton mountain, afton mountain winery, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, afton mountain, afton mountain winery, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, afton mountain, afton mountain winery, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, afton mountain, afton mountain winery, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, afton mountain, afton mountain winery, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, afton mountain, afton mountain winery, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, afton mountain, afton mountain winery, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, afton mountain, afton mountain winery, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, afton mountain, afton mountain winery, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, afton mountain, afton mountain winery, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, afton mountain, afton mountain winery, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, afton mountain, afton mountain winery, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the day
virginia is for lovers, afton mountain, afton mountain winery, mountain trip, george washington national forest, misty saves the dayIt was a fun trip. Good times – and great to get off the phone and out in nature. The purpose of the trip was originally supposed to be just me – to get away, take pictures of stars and peak fall time – and I did that, and just happened to get to two it with two of my best friends.

Make time to do stuff for yourself. We were only gone 3 full days, 2 nights. All my clients were well taken care of – and I was able to take a couple of days and do things that make me really happy – like take pictures of our state in the most beautiful time of the year.

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