social distancing {father's day in the mountains ~ leaving town for the first time}

*father's day weekend 2020*

As Father's Day weekend approached we went back and forth several times about our tent camping reservations at South Mountains State Park.  First there was the issue of sharing a bathroom with strangers and wondering what levels of social distancing folks we didn't know were following.  Second, and perhaps slightly more importantly, the weather forecast was looking dreadful.  While we have weathered ~ literally ~  our share of rain while tent camping, the nearly 24 hours solid of forecast thunderstorms pushed us over the edge on our decision making and we cancelled our campsites.

But that left us with six squirrelly kids...and if I'm being honest, two equally squirrelly adults...who hadn't been more than ten miles (and not inside any building besides our own house with exception of me braving the grocery in the early mornings once a week) in over three months.  Desperate to get out of town, we checked around with a few friends we know with mountain houses to see if they had availability and would be willing to rent to us on a three day notice.

We have some amazing people in our lives and were blessed to hear, "yes, the house is open and we'd love for you to go have some relaxing family time there!"  Spirits were quite high to be going to see some different walls as we loaded the Transit early on Friday afternoon and headed west.  Our route to the house took us on the Blue Ridge Parkway and of course we simply had to stop at Grandview Overlook as we passed.

nearly 22 years ago my life changed at this spot when he dropped to one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him!

With exception of that quick stop at Grandview Overlook, we made the trip without stopping and quickly settled in to our beautiful 'home away from home' for the weekend.  (We had to laugh a little when kids exclaimed with a combination of incredulity and surprise that the bathrooms in the mountain house were the first they had used outside of our own since March 13 when they came home from school.)  With the views provided I could have stayed in the kitchen all weekend and been happy...

Right next to the kitchen was a large deck with a backdrop just begging for photos to be taken.  

note i said the backdrop was begging, not the teen...

Before dinner we decided to stretch our legs after being in the car for a few hours and explored the neighborhood.  At the bottom of the road we found a small creek and pond perfect for reflection and skipping rocks. 

Dinner was enjoyed al fresco on the deck.  

Tacos finished, the kids headed down to the game room to play pool and work on a puzzle we brought with us while Ian and I enjoyed sunset.

I'm pretty sure we could have gone home in the morning and been happy for the experience...new walls and scenery were refreshing for everyone's soul.  But the mountains mean hiking and so the weekend was to offer much more!