This morning we got up and went to Lydia Mountain to help clean up after the wedding. However, everything was already cleaned up when we got there, so we all just hung out and talked, and we decided we would all spend the day together.
We had lunch at one of cousin Janette’s favorite places, a Mexican restaurant called El Agave in Ruckersville, VA. The food was surprisingly good, with a full vegetarian menu, and it was probably as close to authentic as you’d get out here.
The cousins doing what they do before exploring caves
From there we headed across the Shenandoah Mountains to Grand Caverns in Grottoes, VA. Amazing! The kids were so happy to be underground, and the length of the tour was perfect for little ones. The spunky, young, beautiful, Disneyland-style cave guide with the perky, put-on voice helped hold their attention the entire tour.
This is some of the money gathered from the rainbow wishing well pool inside the caves. There was over $3000 in all at the time visitors were no longer allowed to throw money into it, but much was too decayed from the mineral water to turn in to the bank.
When the tour was over, we said goodbye to cousin Sheryl, and headed to Janette and Chris’s house for dinner.
This is what Virginia looks like once you get out of the city.
Jeanette and Chris had prepared a wonderful spread with all our particular preferences in mind. There was plenty of meat and man food as well as black bean veggie burgers and quinoa salad and piles of delicious, grilled veggies for the more health-conscious. It was all spectacular. Their back deck was ideal for hosting a BBQ with the added bonus of a baby gate at the stairs for little screamers.
Chris, Jeanette, and Daniel Thanks for such an amazing dinner!
It was another perfect night with perfect weather. There was a little thunder storm to entertain the West Coast folks, fireflies for the kids, great company and conversation for all the adults, and then homemade berries and cream ice cream to top it all off!
The California and the Oregon cousins
The little cousins played well into the night until we all realized that the wise thing to do would be to end the lovely weekend, say our goodbyes, and go to bed. It is possible that we will see the cousins one more time in the morning if they have time to have breakfast at our campsite, but for now, the expectation is that adventures with distant family are over until another time.
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