After attending the BlogPaws conference, Choppy and I headed to a wonderful place I have been wanting to go for years: Delaware.


“Hi…I’m in Delaware.”

I did have an actual reason for wanting to go to Delaware: it was the last of the lower 48 states I had left to visit (for those keeping track, Choppy has now been to 27 states). I am pretty sure I was as excited as one can be to visit Delaware. Once there, we spent the night at the beach, and I basked in my newly-minted status as a visitor of all of the Lower 48.

Delaware was going to be a hard act to follow. However, Shenandoah National Park was up to the task. I had no intention of visiting Shenandoah. I had gotten off of the Interstate once we left the suburbs of D.C., figuring on taking my time heading home from the conference. I kept seeing signs for Skyline Caverns and other locations featuring “Shenandoah” or “Skyline” in their names. And then, in Front Royal, Virginia, I came across the entrance for Shenandoah National Park, and the Skyline Drive. I looked at a map, and it wasn’t headed too far out of our way. And so, I hung a left, and Choppy and I found ourselves (unexpectedly) in Shenandoah National Park.

It was a most happy accident.

Shenandoah is a beautiful national park – it has billed itself as an Eastern Park in the Western tradition of National Parks, and I would say that is an apt description. From the incredible vistas, to the large lodge, to the scenic drives and large animals meandering about, it certainly didn’t feel like I was 75 miles from Washington. Choppy and I ended up camping for two nights, and while we had typical camping problems (to be illustrated in a post to come), it was a highly enjoyable trip.

Below are a few pictures from our trip to Delaware and Shenandoah. There are going to be a couple more posts from this trip (one on camping problems, and one on my decision to take Choppy hiking, our previous experiences with mountain hiking apparently forgotten).

I would like to thank the people surveying the road I drove into Delaware for giving me this handy way to tell exactly when I crossed from Maryland into my 48th state, Delaware. Note: it was well before the actual sign welcoming you into Delaware.
I would like to thank the road surveyors at the Delaware/Maryland border for providing me with this handy way to tell exactly when I crossed from Maryland into my 48th state, Delaware. Note: it was well before the actual sign welcoming you into Delaware.
The fountain of youth is in Delaware. I was not aware of this. And I was not about to test out any water I found in the bottom of this fountain. I guess I shall age in the normal manner.
It turns out, the fountain of youth is in Delaware. I was not aware of this. Sadly for me, I was not about to test out any water I found in the bottom of this fountain. I guess I shall age in the normal manner.
Taking in one of the many, many vistas along the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. There are so many you get kind of spoiled and stop paying attention to the views, which are all equally (if not more) spectacular.
Taking in one of the many, many vistas along the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. There are so many you get kind of spoiled and stop paying attention to the views, which are all equally (if not more) spectacular.
Choppy, ignoring the view behind her in favor of looking at another car that had pulled up nearby. We had this same problem at the Grand Canyon. Dogs can be ungrateful jerks (note: I also think this when Choppy turns her nose up at a treat I try to give her).
Choppy, ignoring the view behind her in favor of looking at another car that had pulled up nearby. We had this same problem at the Grand Canyon. Dogs can be ungrateful jerks (note: I also think this when Choppy turns her nose up at certain treats I try to give her).
Our campsite in the woods. Note pictured: the giant RV behind where I was taking the picture or the many other campers. Also, I had by far the largest tent at the campground, despite being one person and one dog. And yet I still regularly wish it was a larger tent.
Our campsite in the woods. Not pictured: the giant fifth wheel behind where I was taking the picture or the many other campers. Also, I had by far the largest tent at the campground, despite being one person and one dog. And yet I still regularly wish it was a larger tent. And yet I make fun of my dog for being an ungrateful jerk.
The morning after arriving, I took Choppy for a short walk into the woods. The view at the end of the walk was a far cry from our typical Indiana walk. Choppy: still not impressed.
The morning after arriving, I took Choppy for a short walk into the woods. This was the view at the end, with clouds covering the distant mountains. Absolutely stunning. Choppy: still not impressed. Still an ungrateful jerk. Quite likely wondering when I am going to give her something to eat. And not one of those crappy off-brand treats or one made with vegetables, either. A real, meat-based treat. Preferably with the word “bacon” in its name. Or really, just bacon.