Thursday September 30, 2010

September 30, 2010

We made our first trip to Natural Bridge, VA.  The site, a National Historic Landmark, is a natural limestone gorge formed by Cedar Creek.  The land including the bridge was once owned by Thomas Jefferson, and according to legend, George Washington surveyed the bridge.

After buying our tickets we were given the choice

of walking down into the gorge following steps and a path which ran along Cedar Creek or take a bus.  We decided to walk down.  It was a pleasant walk down with plenty of places to rest and take pictures.  A recent rain had added greatly to the creek and the small water falls along the path.


Once down the river gently flows

toward the bridge which is estimated to be 500,000,000 years old.  The bridge is 215 feet above Cedar Creek and is made up of 36,000 tones of limestone.

Further along the pathway under the bridge are 1000 year old arbor vitae trees, Lace Water Falls, The Lost River, and Saltpeter Mine.