My intention was to post this last week on Monday, but since this was the 1st week back to school for our students, Anna and I have been beat all week.
After sleeping in their bunkhouse adjacent to the main house, we woke up and ventured out on an ATV excursion. We visited Muddy Creek Falls (Maryland's leargest), Swallow Falls, and the Yough River. All these are basically in Mom and Ed's back yard and are just a short ATV ride and hike to get there.
On the way to the falls, Mom and Ed stumble upon the largest rattle snake they've ever seen, resting on a rock in the middle of the trail. That says a lot considering Ed has killed about 50 in his lifetime. He tried making it "51" but the snake got away. Hiding angrily in a bush next to the rock, the sound of it's rattlers were crazy loud. It sounded like there were a hundred of them, but abruptly ended when it slithered away.
At the falls... 
Yough River...
Taking a break after hiking back to the ATV's from the falls... 
Another highlight was meeting an incredible lady named "ND", whom Mom has gotten to know over the past few years. This is one of the most amazing things Anna and I have ever seen. A number of years ago, ND (a tiny lady approximately 60 years old) decided to live a completely different existence. Fed up with the rat race, she gave up her government job in the DC area to live the simplest, most basic existence we've ever seen. She owns 3 lots in the Yough Mountain Resort, about a mile or so from Mom and Ed. She ended up there years ago when she told her realtor she wanted to buy land in a fairly secluded area away from everything. On her property, she built (with her bare hands) the most modest home we've ever seen. It's been an ongoing process that's lasted a few years. As she was constructing her home, she lived in a tent. Keep in mind this is one of the highest elevations in MD where they get crazy amounts of snow each year (over 24 feet last winter). "ND" has roughed it through quite a few winters there (nevermind all the wildlife). Plus, she just recently got electricity hooked up. The pics of the house are deceiving, as it's smaller in person than they make it look. The floor space of the whole house is approx. 8' by 8', and is divided into two parts. One, a foyer-type area that has a dorm-size refrigerator and a hand-made stone oven/stove. The other half of the house is just big enough for a wood slab for a desk, a chair, and a perch above the desk to sleep on (she has to step onto the desk to climb into bed). "ND" is a very private person, so Anna and I were surprised when she allowed us into the foyer area. After ducking through the entrance doorway, there was just enough room for ND, Anna, and myself to stand, and barely enough room to even turn around to exit. We didn't get to see inside the other area. From what we know, Mom is the only person who ND has invited in that area. ND is currently building another house by hand (this one round) about 30 yards from her current one.
After we left Mom and Ed's, we stopped to visit with Grandma Sines (95 years old). We were surprised to hear her favorite TV show is Sponge Bob Square Pants :)
After leaving Grandma's, we checked into the WISP Hotel, which was where my 20-year high school reunion was held that evening. It was great seeing and catching up with lots of old friends... 
What a great time we had together last weekend. We drove to Maryland on Friday and spent the evening and following morning with Mom and Ed at their new place in the Youghiogheny Mountain Resort (http://youghmountain.org/). If living in the mountains surrounded by bear, deer, ratttle snakes, mountain lions, etc. is your thing, this is the place for you. It's almost an everyday occurrence bear and deer pay them a visit. Mom sends us pics all the time of the wildlife.
After sleeping in their bunkhouse adjacent to the main house, we woke up and ventured out on an ATV excursion. We visited Muddy Creek Falls (Maryland's leargest), Swallow Falls, and the Yough River. All these are basically in Mom and Ed's back yard and are just a short ATV ride and hike to get there.
ATV's ready to go...
Anna ready to ride...
Anna in motion...
Me coming back from checking to see if the trail to the falls was open enough to get through...
On the way to the falls, Mom and Ed stumble upon the largest rattle snake they've ever seen, resting on a rock in the middle of the trail. That says a lot considering Ed has killed about 50 in his lifetime. He tried making it "51" but the snake got away. Hiding angrily in a bush next to the rock, the sound of it's rattlers were crazy loud. It sounded like there were a hundred of them, but abruptly ended when it slithered away.
At the falls...
Yough River...
Taking a break after hiking back to the ATV's from the falls...
Another highlight was meeting an incredible lady named "ND", whom Mom has gotten to know over the past few years. This is one of the most amazing things Anna and I have ever seen. A number of years ago, ND (a tiny lady approximately 60 years old) decided to live a completely different existence. Fed up with the rat race, she gave up her government job in the DC area to live the simplest, most basic existence we've ever seen. She owns 3 lots in the Yough Mountain Resort, about a mile or so from Mom and Ed. She ended up there years ago when she told her realtor she wanted to buy land in a fairly secluded area away from everything. On her property, she built (with her bare hands) the most modest home we've ever seen. It's been an ongoing process that's lasted a few years. As she was constructing her home, she lived in a tent. Keep in mind this is one of the highest elevations in MD where they get crazy amounts of snow each year (over 24 feet last winter). "ND" has roughed it through quite a few winters there (nevermind all the wildlife). Plus, she just recently got electricity hooked up. The pics of the house are deceiving, as it's smaller in person than they make it look. The floor space of the whole house is approx. 8' by 8', and is divided into two parts. One, a foyer-type area that has a dorm-size refrigerator and a hand-made stone oven/stove. The other half of the house is just big enough for a wood slab for a desk, a chair, and a perch above the desk to sleep on (she has to step onto the desk to climb into bed). "ND" is a very private person, so Anna and I were surprised when she allowed us into the foyer area. After ducking through the entrance doorway, there was just enough room for ND, Anna, and myself to stand, and barely enough room to even turn around to exit. We didn't get to see inside the other area. From what we know, Mom is the only person who ND has invited in that area. ND is currently building another house by hand (this one round) about 30 yards from her current one.
So, what is ND like? Well, if you judge a book by it's cover, you'd probably have a number of incorrect thoughts going through your head. In speaking with her for about a half-hour, she's quite possibly one of the most intelligent people we've ever met, whose also very deep into her religion. She has written 3 books on religion, but is not quite sure what she plans to do with them. She thinks she most likely will just put them out on the internet. She has very intelligent political views, as well (she keeps up with current affairs by riding her bike to the library in Oakland, MD almost daily). We wanted to take more pics (we took these from the ATV) but were afraid to ask so not to offend her privacy. We told her so many people could learn so much from her, and encouraged her to share her story with the world (it would make an awesome documentary), but she declined. Unfortunately, the homeowner's association has tried to run her out a number of times.
After we left Mom and Ed's, we stopped to visit with Grandma Sines (95 years old). We were surprised to hear her favorite TV show is Sponge Bob Square Pants :)
After leaving Grandma's, we checked into the WISP Hotel, which was where my 20-year high school reunion was held that evening. It was great seeing and catching up with lots of old friends...
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