I wrote a post a while back with the title A Glimpse Into The When. The photo in that post made me think of literal lingering memories, ghosts if you will. I don’t see dead people but I feel…. I don’t know how to explain what I feel. That’s a first for me. Let me explain it this way…

My last time living in Ohio, I was living right beside the abandoned Chippewa Lake Park (some good photos at the link - opens in a new window). Walking the midway after dark, the only thing I could think about were the people that had been there laughing, eating cotton candy just having a good time. I couldn’t help but feel good and at ease because there was nothing there but positive memories, and a lot of them. I was even fond of going into the ballroom late at night. The reason for that is because at night the feelings are a lot stronger. Not because of an increase in perception but more a decrease in perception. At night you couldn’t see the cobwebs or the two inches of dust on everything, broken chairs, busted windows…. The only thing you could see was the moon coming in from high bay windows all along the ballroom walls creating a dim path of light right down the center of the ballrooms dance floor. I would go there and sit on the edge of the stage. How could you not see the people dancing or hear the music playing?

This old deer camp in the head of Martin’s Creek makes me feel the same way. All that remains is the legs of an old table, a couple of chair frames, fire pit and a stack of very seasoned firewood that will most likely never see a match. I can picture a fire in the ring and if I listen I can hear old men laughing and telling tales, every one of them a lie. I can feel the anticipation of the next mornings hunt. There are just a lot of good memories here that were created at all hours of the day. I imagine young boys on their first trip hunting with their dad. The only thing everybody can think about is getting a shot at the biggest buck on the mountain. In some cases any buck on the mountain.

I was doing some more digging in the archives and found these two photos of Peachtree Falls and of the road leading to the falls. I think I have a picture of the falls from every conceivable angle except from behind. You can see in the last photo there is plenty of room behind the falls. I think I’ll have to get a camera that can withstand a little water and go on a mission.

The first photo below was captured on top of Peachtree Ridge. The way the light was filtering through the trees made me think of West Virginia’s old motto Almost Heaven. The second photo was captured in Breckenridge Hollow and is immediately adjacent to the winding paved road in the Country Roads post. I really don’t think I need to explain why I took that photo. The third one needs no explanation either. It is another photo from the Bolt Mountain overlook.

The first photo below was taken at Lake Stephens. In the second I was near the top of the mountain in a place called Spring Hollow. The reason I shot this one was not so much the view but that every flower here seemed to be turned towards and enjoying the view as much as I was. The last photo was taken from on top of Peachtree Falls. I thought it was kind of cool how the flower at the end of the log seemed to be defying life and determined to exist against overwhelming odds. I think we could all learn a lesson from this simple flower.

The first photo in this series was taken from Peachtree Ridge looking towards Ivy Knob on Bolt Mountain. It struck me immediately how similar the two ridge lines were so I named this photo Twins. The second photo is from Lake Stephens. The third was taken in early Autumn and is of Peachtree Creek.

I have captured a few photos like the first one below. I was standing in pretty dense foliage when I was offered this view from beyond the trees. The second photo is a branch off of Big Coal River. The only time you will find water here is when the river is at flood stage.

“Those things that mother nature denied to human sight,she revealed to the eyes of the soul. “

The photos in this post were taken in the hollows surrounding Bolt Mountain. The one directly above, beside the truck photo, was taken on the road that runs by Peachtree Falls. That photo was actually taken in the Winter. With all the varieties of evergreen it is hard to determine the season by looking at the photo.The photo with the truck I took when my dog Sam and I went for a Sunday drive.

The trucks in the last two photos are hauling from the Peachtree Ridge Mining Company. The other photos are from the strip roads on Bolt Mountain.

The first and last photos of these three were taken in the head of Drews Creek Hollow. The church is at the end of the paved road and the house is the very last house in the hollow about a half mile beyond the church. The center photo is from the head of Peachtree Hollow and I took it because of the Rhododendron. It is at the last house in Peachtree.

Have A Great Day!!!

These are a few more photos from the archives. Sometimes I just like to take photos of the trees…

Walking up to the stoop, I find myself surrounded by memories of a time long gone. Sitting here, I could hear the kids playing and the dogs barking. The smell of fried potatoes and corn on the cob wafting from the kitchen. A horse and plow on the hillside working diligently to keep Mother Nature at bay and at the same time working to feed a family in this mountain wilderness. The hardships still linger here, voices from the past loud and clear. Can you see what I hear?

I took this photo in Martins Creek, West Virginia. I had never been here before this visit. This photo is a favorite of mine and is currently displayed as my desktop background.

This post is entirely dedicated to Peachtree Falls. As I’ve said before, I love taking photos at the falls and here is the proof…

I just have to throw this one in here. This is another one of my favorites. The water is running right out of the side of the mountain and is a result of the earth being saturated by early Spring rains.

I couldn’t think of a better way to start than with a couple of my all time favorite photos. The first one is from the head of Martins Creek. Hidden in the v-shaped valley is Peachtree Road. I was hiking with my dog Sam when I took this photo. Gotta love West Virginia…

If you travel West on Rte 3 out of Glen Daniels towards Whitesville you will pass through a small town called Naoma. Naoma’s claim to fame… World Champion Marble Shooter Raymond Jarrell lives there. He runs the only service station left in the area. Anyway… just past his station there is a road that cuts off to the left called Peachtree Hollow Road. It runs with the Big Coal River upstream for about a mile before heading up into the hollows. After the road gets away from the river it follows Peachtree Creek to the head of the hollow. In the transition point where the road stops following the river and starts following the creek there is a very well hidden waterfalls. The falls is in the creek about a half mile upstream from Big Coal River. This is one of my favorite places to just go hang out for awhile taking photos and exploring the surrounding cliffs. I have never been to the falls and somebody else be there.