Before the vicious June 29th Storm hit and the subsequent oppressive heat wave descended on the Mid-Atlantic, I was fortunate to enjoy the last mild weather with a trip to Virginia. The Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park provided wonderful landscape opportunities as well as some interesting wildlife, including a close encounter with two bears. It is amazing to realize that this wonderful and wild place is within day-trip range of over 60 million people. We should all be grateful to President Hoover for his foresight.

We stopped at Monticello on our way to Richmond for a business meeting. While the temperatures were beginning to soar, the skies were clear and provided some good shots of Mr. Jefferson's amazing home and gardens. Once we got to Richmond the temperatures reached 104 degrees and therefore the only photos I chose to take were interiors of the Jefferson Hotel, an amazing Richmond landmark.

As always enjoy the photos. You can find the complete Virginia trip in the Travel section or just the landscapes in the corresponding section.