Daughter Of The Stars, Son Of The Valley

Out back of Woodstock, Va. flows a body of water that Native Americans believe had the power to gather the stars. With the Blue Ridge Mountains as its eastern guide and the Alleghenies as its western boundary, the North Fork of the Shenandoah River is one of just a few
in the world that flows generally northward. This stretch of the river is wellknown for its “Seven Bends.” Guarded by large sycamore trees on both sides, the river is fed by springs that emanate from the valley’s limestone formations. A lack of sediment causes the water to be crystal clear during the summer and fall seasons, providing the perfect habitat
for a smallmouth bass population that will rival any stream in the world.

Every summer my grandsons, with parents in tow, journey from their homes in the Cincinnati suburbs to spend time fishing with me. We discuss the fishing possibilities and strategies months in advance of
their annual visit. They know that after a day of fishing, rafting, tubing
or canoeing they can cool off by frolicking in the cool, clear, clean waters. As five of my seven grandsons have grown into their teenage years, this place has made each aware of what nature has to offer, including its fragility as well as its pleasures.

As we attempt to catch one of the more than 10 species of game fish, a sideshow of entertainment is sometimes provided by a pair of Baltimore orioles pillaging in the brush for seeds or berries or by a kingfisher, a year-round resident, chattering constantly as he makes a surveillance flyover looking for his next meal. If we are lucky a beaver will slap his tail on the water surface to warn of our intrusion. The otters and muskrats are stealthier, thus seldom seen.

Native Americans believed that the Great Spirit had made a beautiful
lake surrounded by blue mountains where the stars could meet. Once a large boulder dislodged, causing water to pour from the lake and rush toward the sea and creating a winding river. As time passed the stars agreed to meet in this valley and discovered that it was once the bed
of their beautiful lake. The stars were so pleased that they placed their
brightest jewels in the river where they still lie and sparkle. My grandsons and I know this place since my backyard is part of this natural splendor.


—David Halsey