Blog — PaddleVA Family

Disclaimer: There are no fish pics in this post. No paddling either. Side note: Cancer Sucks.

In 2010 I was training for my first ultra, logging training runs in the New River Gorge. I wanted to run a 50 miler. But I wrecked some ankle tendons during my training, and a subsequent marathon. My gait compensation caused me to develop plantar fasciitis. After that, I struggled to run long distances and gave up my dream of running an ultra.

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Nestled in a small town on the rim of the New River Gorge is an eclectic community of outdoor recreation enthusiast, artists, and native West Virginians. The town is Fayetteville, WV and it served as my, and my wife's, home base of operations for many years. I met my wife there and we had our first child in those mountains. The Appalachian hills of West Virginia have long held a special place in our hearts. Harriet was drawn to the river and me to the rock cliffs that lined the gorge. Lately we'd begun to miss the earth, the water and the tribe that recreates upon them both. It is an important place.

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This past Easter Sunday started off like most holiday's at my house, with a little cuddling and giggling. I love the look from my youngest in the background. Then we headed out to the lake for some Easter egg hunting and visiting with family. It's a beautiful spot in Central Virginia.

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Last week I headed to Negril, Jamaica with a pile of my family for vacation. I say "my" because my wife and I both prefer to refer to our in-law's as just family. Both of us feel very fortunate to truly love our in-laws and so we try not to assign labels of "yours" and "mine" to our respective parents and siblings. But if you've followed along with this blog, you know that I married into Appomattox River Company and that my wife is one of two daughters born to ARC owner, Bob Taylor, and his wife Martha.

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"One of the problems is we don't spend enough time with our children, quality time. It's hard to have a heart to heart with your kid, driving them to school, in 15 minutes. You've got to set a stage, create the environment. I think that's what fishing does." - Hank Parker

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