Memorial Day at Walnut Creek Park

With every trail, creek, lake, river, nook, and cranny of the state swarming with people on an absolutely gorgeous Memorial Day, Allison and I headed to Walnut Creek Park in hopes of finding just a small hint of privacy.  Located about 10 miles south of Charlottesville, this park has long been one of our favorite go-to's for  picnics, leisurely strolls, and an occasional canoe outing.  The park is centered around a large lake, only half of which is pictured above, that can be used for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing.  There is even a small beach area, located around the bend to the right of the picture, and a designated swimming area.  It would have been nice to jump in the water on this very warm day, but, of course, the beach was overtaken with highly energetic, screaming children.  The park also offers miles of hiking/biking trails that circle the lake and a full disk golf course.  Although the park was more crowded than I had ever seen it, it is large enough that we were able to take to the woods and find a little peace and quiet.

After walking around the lake on one of the many trails, we were able to find a decent place to set up our hammocks that we had packed with us.  It was nice and relaxing to sit in our hammocks with a view of the lake while reading our books and enjoying a cold beverage.  It was a little warm but an occasional breeze kept us cool enough to be comfortable.  Unfortunately, we make the crucial mistake of forgetting bug spray and had a constant battle with flies, bees, ants, and a few chiggers.  Aside from the bugs, everything was great, and I don't think we will make that mistake again.  After a couple hours of tree swinging, we packed up and decided to move the party to Alli's deck.

Earlier in the day we made a run to Anderson's in preparation for a grilled feast and picked up a half pound of fresh NC shrimp, a pound of tilapia fillets, a watermelon, a few lemons, a bunch of fresh peaches, a squash, and a zucchini.  After warming the charcoal, we started with an appetizer of shrimp kabobs rubbed with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper.  We then had watermelon three way- sliced cold, grilled, and in a watermelon-mint salad that Alli created.  Our main course consisted of grilled tilapia marinated in a lemon vinaigrette with parsley and grilled vegetables, again, rubbed with olive oil, salt, and pepper.  I think we coat about 90 percent of the stuff we cook with those three simple things, and it turns out great every time.  Everything was tasty as usual, but the shrimp stood out hands down as the best thing we ate.  They were so sweet it was almost like eating candy.  To wash everything down we busted out some white sangria that we had prepared earlier in the day consisting of pinot grigio, Absolute peach, ginger ale, and chopped pieces of peach.  We made quite a large batch, so we invited over some of our good friends to grill with us and help us out with the sangria.  In the end, we spent most of the day enjoying the outdoors and got to do a lot of grilling with friends- what more could we ask for out of a Memorial Day?  Of course, we took special time on this day, as we do everyday, to think about all of the past and current members of our armed forces and to appreciate the sacrifices that they make so that we can enjoy these freedoms!

Humpback Rocks at Sunrise

Humpback Rocks is probably my favorite day hike close to Charlottesville.  It is located just 35 minutes west of C'ville on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Waynesboro.  I do this hike fairly often and have countless pictures from the pinnacle of the rocks.  I have always thought it would be really nice to make it to the top to watch the sun rise and made it my goal to do so before I shared this hike with everyone.  The hike itself is relatively short at three-quarters of a mile each way but fairly strenuous.  There is a relentless, steep incline from the parking lot to the rocks.  Allison and I always try to keep a decent pace without any stops, and it provides a moderately intense, rewarding workout.  The first half of the trail is well maintained and graveled.  The second half requires some scrambling over jagged rocks; however, is still well defined due to heavy travel.  Having checked the night before for good weather and seeing an estimated sun rise of 6:02 am, Allison and I set our alarms for 4 and prepared for an early morning excursion.

We pulled into the parking lot at the trail head right around 5 fueled up on coffee.  The first half of the hike was fairly uneventful.  There was the occasional comments of how we never remember it being as steep and how we should be in better shape.  I think we huffed and puffed a little harder than normal due to a lack of sleep and the caffeine restricting our blood flow.  I was also carrying about a 25lb pack, which I had never had on this hike before.  About three quarters of the way up, we realized that we were on trail that we didn't recognize.  We new we were close to the rocks, and we were still on a trail clearly marked by painted trees.  Everything looks a little different in the dark with the light of flashlights than it does in the day, but we were sure we had never been on this stretch of trail.  While skeptically trudging forward and deciding what to do we came across a sign for the rocks only 800 ft away.  It turns out there are two routes to the rocks.  We had traditionally always approached the east face of the rocks heading up the mountain.  You can also hike all the way around and above the rocks, and then descend down onto them.  There are trails for both, but we did the latter in the dark on this particular morning.  Even with the navigational hiccup, we hit the rocks a full 20 minutes before the light of the sun.

Alli and I got a good 30 seconds of solitude before a few other twosomes ascended the rocks and ruined a perfectly quiet morning.  In all, 4 groups of two people made it to the top to see the sunrise with us being the first.  Unfortunately two of the groups consisted of two girls who felt the constant need to chatter and had no volume control whatsoever.  We also observed the phenomenon that, although there were plenty of great spots to sit and watch the sunrise on these massive rocks, the two groups of talkers sat within a foot or two of us.  This phenomenon can also frequently be observed on seemingly uncrowded beaches when some clueless group inexplicably sets up camp right beside you.  As the fore-mentioned groups scampered the rocks like children looking for their perfect Facebook defaults, Alli and I found watching the fog roll over the hills to be the coolest part of the pre-sun show.  The fog seemed to circle us on the rocks, starting by whipping around the western side of the mountain to our south as pictured above.  The rolling cloud then took a turn east crossing in front of us as we faced north, as pictured below, before dissipating into a small valley.  After 20 minutes of watching the fog and enjoying the thermos of coffee we packed, it was time for the big show.

The sunrise, pictured at the top of the post, was beautiful as expected.  It was nice to see the Virginia country side slowly come to life, starting with the hilltops and slowly making its way into the valleys.  I have experienced many "sunrises" from a tree stand in the middle of the woods but never from a place with such a vantage point.  This hike is perfect for anyone that lives nearby looking for a sunrise hike due to its short length.  I'm sure sunset would also be nice here, but I can only imagine what the crowds would be like.  Most times, the rocks are crawling with people which slightly deters from the natural beauty.  With only 8 people atop, Humpback was as least crowded as I had ever seen it by far, and we took full advantage exploring many of the nooks and crannies of the rocks after the sunrise.

  

Aside from having the claim of being the first couple to the top, we were also the only group to have coffee and cook up a hot meal.  We packed our little burner that runs on white gas and our cooking kit that we used on our West Coast camping adventure last summer.  We brought along a few biscuits that we made the night before and cooked up some hearty, farm-raised scrambled eggs with grilled, marinated pork sirloin from the night before, fresh green onions, and goat cheese- all from the farmer's market.  Our little one pot meal turned out to be delicious, and it was cool to get to cook something so tasty from the top of the mountain.  After breakfast, we took a few more moments to enjoy the beauty of the early morning sun on the surrounding hills.  These were some of the prettiest views of the morning, and I leave you with those pictures below.

Apple Orchard Falls

After a rough week of battling- exams in Alli's case and a stomach virus in mine- we took to the hills for a little R&R.  We packed the car with plans of tent camping all weekend somewhere in the George Washington/Jefferson National Forests in Botetourt County, Virginia.  As it turned out, my uncle and one of his friends were staying Friday night in a little hunting cabin we have access to in the same general area.  The exact location of the cabin is highly secretive and is only distributed on a strict need-to-know basis.  Alli and I decided that Friday night would be a perfect opportunity for her to see what goes on at the cabin and expose her to a little redneck living.  Alli's favorite experience was getting to ride the four wheeler as she had never ridden one before.  I've got a little work ahead of me if I want her to become an avid shooter.  I think she border-line enjoyed shooting a little .22 pistol we had and was fairly accurate with it (it did have a holographic scope).  She was not so crazy about the 9mm, claiming that it scared her, and she didn't even think about picking up the .357sig.  After an afternoon of riding and shooting, we grilled up a little surf 'n' turf of New York strip and fresh Carolina shrimp both coming from Anderson Carriage Food House in Charlottesville.  Although the cabin was available, we were steadfast with our commitment to tent camp and set up right on the little creek that runs beside the cabin.

The next day we packed up and moved and unspecified distance to North Creek Campground.  North Creek is a beautiful little campground that, as the name might suggest, sits right on a trout stream.  After much deliberation, we found what we believed to be the best site being the most secluded and posited right above the creek.  After a quick bite to eat, we headed up the creek to the trail head for the Apple Orchard Falls hike.  I believe there are a number of different ways to approach this hike of varying lengths.  For the particular route we chose, you just keep driving past the campground for a mile or two, until the road ends, where you will find a kiosk with a map and information about the hike.  From this position, it is a 2 mile hike up to the falls and then you turn around and hike back.

The hike itself is very easy and relaxing following close to the creek the entire time.  The beginning of the trail is pretty much flat.  After a half mile or so, the trail begins to climb to the falls although the incline is very slight.  Wooden walkways are provided along the way for creek crossings as pictured above.  The last quarter mile climbing up the falls is a little more uphill, but your work is rewarded with the best views of the hike.  There is no single drop to focus on once you reach the pinnacle.  Instead a series of small, 4-5 foot falls highlight the trip.  I have heard from a friend that this hike is particularly pretty in the winter when half of the falls are flowing and half are frozen over.  At a total of four miles, the distance of this hike is just right so that it does not take up a large portion of your day, but you still feel like you have accomplished something after it is over.  Apple Orchard Falls is perfect for anyone looking for a lazy stroll along a picturesque mountain stream.  It always seems that when we do these hikes, the pictures we take don't do justice to the sights.  The only way to see how beautiful these places truly are is to get out and see them yourself!

Although you can't really tell from the photos, we got rained on the entire hike.  What started out as a light drizzle turned into a downpour at times.  Being a mile or so from the car with no raincoat when it really started coming down, I had no choice but to suck it up and get soaked to the bone.  Allison was a little smarter than I was and had a rain jacket so she fared much better.  Unfortunately, it looked to be a soaking rain that was going to continue well into the evening.  Not wanting to be confined to the tent all day, we decided to pack up camp and head back to Charlottesville after the hike.  It pretty much rained the entire trip back and well into the night so I think we made the right call.  We are still itching to sit around a camp fire under clear skies, so I would imagine we'll have another camping trip in the near future.

Ragged Mountain Natural Area

Well a very busy week has put me slightly behind on a post.  This Virginia boy made his first trip to the storied state of Texas last weekend for the wedding of two good friends from undergraduate studies.  The wedding couldn't have been better, and it was great catching up with old friends.  However, there were no mountains (or much of anything for that matter) surrounding Dallas, and the Blue Ridge was a very welcome site heading back into Virginia.  Last Saturday (4/14) Alli and I wanted to find a moderately long hike somewhere close to Charlottesville.  We had long heard of the Ragged Mountain Natural Area hike, located only 2 miles from the University of Virginia, but never paid it a visit.  As it turns out, the hike was exactly what we were looking for on this particular day.

Ragged Mountain Natural Area provides close to 6.5 miles of hiking trails that are maintained by the Ivy Creek Foundation.  The trails are centered around two lakes which serve as reservoirs for the city of Charlottesville.  The trail head starts at a graveled parking lot located at 1730 Reservoir Rd.  A kiosk is also located in the parking lot providing information, rules, maps, etc. for the area.  Alli and I chose to do the "main trail hike" and the "peninsula loop."  The main trail is a 3.5 mile hike that winds its way around the lower lake, pictured above.  The peninsula loop, as one might expect, breaks from the main trail and is a half mile circle around the shore of a prominent peninsula that juts into the lake.

Heading north out of the parking lot, we started our adventure on the main trail.  The first quarter mile or so of the hike is pretty steep climbing over both log steps and jagged rock formations.  Keeping a pretty good pace, we were able to get our heart rate up over this stretch.  Along the way, we passed the "round top trail" on our right.  From the map, the round top trail is a quarter mile deviation from the main trail that eventually rejoins the main.  The name suggests that this loop may provide a little more up hill action although it was not confirmed.  Shortly after passing the sign for the round top trail, the main trail flattens out considerably.  At this time, the trail begins to approach the shoreline and you can just start to see the lower lake through the trees.  After only a few hundred feet of flat trail, we took a left at the sign for the peninsula loop.  The highlights of this short detour are at the end of the peninsula.  There you find an old stone chimney and corner of an old house foundation of residents long past.  Just past the chimney you can walk out on the shores of the reservoir and get a pretty good look at most of the lower lake.  As you will see from the pictures, the water when we visited was well below the high water mark.  At the time, Charlottesville had not had any rain in weeks and was in desperate need.  Thankfully, it has been raining steadily for over two days now.  It would be interesting to make a quick return trip to the reservoir to see to what extent the rain has helped the water level.  After soaking up a little sun and enjoying the watery view, we continued on the loop eventually rejoining the main trail.

The next couple miles of the main trail twist and turn around the shore line of the lower lake.  The trail is gently rolling with only minor elevation changes allowing you to move as quickly as you would like.  A few stretches of our hike produced views of dried lake bed as the trail snaked around the shallow coves of the lake which had dried up (another indication that we desperately needed some rain).  There is a land bridge at the end of the lake furthest from the parking lot that functions as a dam between the upper and lower lakes.  This large, grassy area would be a perfect place to stop and have a snack or lunch if you had one packed.  There is also a really cool wooden shed located on a large stone pillar that stands about 20 feet over the surface of the upper lake.  We could not figure out what the original function of this building could've been or why it's up on the pillar.  Any guesses?  At the land bridge you have the option to hop on the 2.2 mile "upper lake trail."  We were happy with our original 4 mile plan and continued working our way around the lower lake.

The second part of the hike takes you away from the lake for a while and into the woods.  There is a much steeper elevation change that provides a bit of a hike; however, once you reach the pinnacle, it is all downhill for the last mile or so heading back to the parking lot.  At some point in the waning steps of the main trail Alli and I made a wrong turn and ended up crossing over the concrete dam.  The dam, right, is on the opposite end of the lake than the land bridge and can be viewed for much of the beginning of the hike.  Looking at the map, it does not look like we should've crossed the dam.  We ended up back on the peninsula loop and had to back-track the beginning part of our hike.  I think we ended up adding about a mile to our hike giving us a total of 5- oh well.

I would recommend Ragged Mountain is you are looking for a long, easy, relaxing hike.  The 3.5 mile main loop ensures that you get a lengthy hike in and can be supplemented with the shorter trails as we did.  As I mentioned, there are only a very few steep parts and most of the hike is on a slightly undulating, lakeside trail.  The views are not as great as if you were to get to the mountains, but it is always nice to be on the water.  I am providing the trail map below in case you might want to check it out.  Enjoy!

Perfect BBQ Chicken Recipe

Although grilling activities normally crank up with the warmer days of spring, I have been cooking this chicken all winter long.  It is extremely cheap and easy, and I don't think I have ever had a piece of juicier, more delicious chicken.  I must admit- this recipe does not come to me from the state of Virginia.  I was taught this magical way of preparing chicken from a softball teammate who spent his college years at Ole Miss where he claims this chicken was a tailgate special.  I know what you are thinking, and I too was reluctant to trust in any words of wisdom passed to me from the state of Mississippi.  However, after trying this chicken for the first time, I quickly realized that a good ol' boy from the deep south could teach me a few things about a chicken and a grill.  I now pass on to you the secret of perfect BBQ chicken.

The list of ingredients is short and sweet: chicken, extra virgin olive oil, Cajun seasoning, and BBQ sauce.  I personally think that dark meat is a lot more moist than white meat and tends to grill better.  I started grilling legs (as they were the original form prepared for me), then moved to thighs, and then finally to the quarter chicken combo of the two.  I know some of you females (at least one in particular) are squeamish when it comes to picking meat off of a bone.  I have not tried this recipe with chicken breasts, but I'm sure it would turn out just fine.  Breasts just need a little extra care when it comes to not overcooking and drying them out!  For first timers, I would suggest thighs.  It also really doesn't matter what Cajun seasoning or BBQ sauce you use.  I have been using Louisiana brand Cajun Seasoning, although Slap Ya Mama sounds a little more fun and will probably be next when I run out of what I have.  This time I used simple, cheap, Kraft Thick N' Spicy Honey BBQ sauce but any of your favorites will work.  So any kind of chicken, seasoning, and sauce- easy enough right?  The tricks to making this chicken unbeatable are in the preparation details.


While your grill is warming to medium-high heat, lay out enough aluminum foil to set your chicken on with enough extra to curl up around the edges to make a bowl-like shape.  I also recommend doubling up with two sheets.  Set the chicken in the foil coating both sides of the chicken and the foil with olive oil.  Next, sprinkle both sides of the chicken liberally with the Cajun seasoning.  The foil and chicken are now ready to place on the grill.  The chicken should be positioned skin side down when it is first placed on the grill!  This simple tip is going to be one of your major keys to success.  Placing the skin down to start ensures that the olive oil is sufficient enough so that the skin does not stick to the foil.  Enjoy your favorite cold beverage as your chicken cooks in a bath of olive oil, seasoning, and, most importantly, its own juices.  Expect to hear wonderful crackling noises and the glorious smell of cooking meat as the fat from the skin begins to form a nice, crispy layer on the bottom of the chicken.  Once the skin reaches a nice golden-brown color, flip the chicken and allow it to cook for an equal amount of time on the other side* (see note on time below).  You want to try to only flip the chicken once in the foil.  I usually use tongs to peak under the  pieces to make sure my timing is just right.  It is absolutely imperative that you do not poke any holes in the foil during the flip!  Doing so will send all of those delicious juices straight to the bottom of the grill.  Not only does losing your juices drastically decrease the delicious flavors that you are trying to infuse in your chicken, but it can also cause nasty flair ups that cause your chicken to cook too quickly.  Having successfully flipped your chicken and allowing it to cook on both sides in the foil, it is now time for phase two.

While in the foil, throw the BBQ sauce to the top side of the chicken.  Feel free to be extremely generous with the sauce.  Using tongs, remove the chicken from the foil and place it directly on the grill- sauce side down of course.  At this point, the chicken should be almost completely cooked and you just want to leave it on the grill long enough to produce a nice char of BBQ sauce.  While this char is forming on the grate side of the chicken, slather sauce on the other side.  Again, you want to try to flip the chicken only once during this step.  That's it!  After both sides have been grilled with sauce you are ready to enjoy the best chicken you will ever eat.  As shown above, I try to grill some type of vegetable with my meat; in this case, asparagus.  Any kind of starch will create a nice complete dish, and I suggest mashed potatoes or rice.  This chicken could not have been more tender and juicy and the asparagus was extremely fresh- both coming from farms in the surrounding area.  I hope you enjoy this beautifully simple, yet flawless, way of barbecuing chicken!

*I never time anything when grilling.  I feel that having a schedule goes against the entire mindset one should have while grilling.  When asked how long something should be grilled I will usually answer "until it's done."  You should learn how to judge how well meat is cooked both by sight and by feeling the firmness of the cut.  This skill will also eliminate the heinous act of butchery a beautiful piece of meat with a knife or spatula side while it is on the grill!  Also, please do yourself a favor and DON'T OVERCOOK YOUR MEAT!!!  Almost nothing, besides chicken, should be cooked done or well done.  If you are eating your beef, pork, or venison well-done, you are missing out on some of the better things the world has to offer!

Charlottesville Farmer's Market

Welcome to Virginia Calling!  Although this blog will not have a specific theme, it will be centered around outdoor activities in the greatest state in the nation- Virginia.  I will do my best to stay outside every weekend and post as many bikes, hikes, floats, camps, hunts, etc. as I can with lots of pictures and helpful suggestions.  The activities will focus on the Central Virginia area although I will occasionally explore other parts of the state and possibly even other states.  You can also expect to find plenty of grill recipes, local restaurant reviews, music reviews, and directions to the area's most satisfying watering holes.  I hope you enjoy this state as much as I do and find my experiences useful!

There is no better way to kick off this blog than taking a visit to the much anticipated return of the Charlottesville farmer's market.  After a brief, three month, winter hiatus, the market, which runs weekly from April through December, "opened its doors" to the public on an absolutely gorgeous Spring morning.  The spotless skies of this particular morning were a perfect example of the kind of weather that makes springtime in Virginia so special.  Crisp, morning air chilled faces while a bright, rising sun warmed backs.  The farmer's market consists primarily of farmers, food vendors, and artists from the greater Central Virginia area that come to share their various products with the people of Charlottesville.  Most all of the vendors take pride in cultivating and sustaining a localized economy and are quick to meet you with a smiling face.  I believe any trip to the farmer's market should consist of four key components- basic morning necessities, free samples, substantial sustenance, and weekly food.

The most basic of basic morning necessities, especially early on a Saturday morning, is coffee.  Shenandoah Joe, a local Charlottesville company, can help you out with this need as they offer a variety of freshly ground brews at the market.  This booth can easily be found by following the delicious, wafting smell of roasted coffee beans or simply looking for one of the longer lines (don't be deterred- it moves very quickly and is well worth a short wait).  After fueling up on caffeine, the second most basic morning necessity is to remove the searing hunger pain in your stomach.  This need makes the next logical step at the market to hit up the neighboring tent where the doughnut man serves up his freshly baked tasty treats.  These doughnuts are absolutely delicious.  They are light as air, melt in your mouth, and best of all, served a little warm.  Although plain and glazed are both options, I strongly recommend going with the cinnamon and sugar coating.  A fresh cup of coffee and homemade doughnut are the perfect start to a day.

Having satisfied the most essential daily needs, it is now time to take full advantage of the vendor's many free samples.  In my opinion, the creme of the crop as far as free sample booths go, is the Everona Dairy cheese people.  Everona Dairy produces a variety of unique cheeses and spreads and normally offers four or five varieties for tasting.  I believe most, if not all, of the cheeses are made from sheep's milk.  They all have distinct, powerful tastes and are very good.  The dairy proudly boasts an impressive display of hardware from various cheese tasting competitions of which I know nothing specifically about.  There is another dairy that offers cheese tastings, but I don't recall their name (although you should certainly try to find them).  There is also the weekly cheese ball lady who makes delicious cheddar cheese balls that make great gifts or party favors.  Another popular tasting booth is Jams by Daniel, offering an array of homemade jams made from fresh fruits.  Many more unnamed booths offer tastings of various products.  I have never had anything that I didn't enjoy from the market.

Having done a little walking now and arousing an appetite, it is now time to get some substantial food.  There are plenty of booths at the market offering up hot food for breakfast, second breakfast, brunch, or lunch.  I happened to be craving a crepe from The Flat.  The Flat is a small, crepe-serving establishment set up in a building right across the street from the farmer's market.  Although they are not technically part of the market, they use many ingredients from the market's vendors in a number of their crepes.  Unfortunately, The Flat was closed.  I don't know if they are closed permanently, but I certainly hope not.  Plan B was not hard to formulate and I headed straight to the Babes in the Woods booth to get a grilled, local bratwurst on fresh bread with grilled peppers and onions.  Babes in the Woods is my go-to booth for all things pork, and the food was outstanding as usual.  Other hot cooked meals include the most popular taco booth, a cooked to order gourmet omelet booth, and a few grilled sandwiches and pita places among many others.

It is now finally time to make the last passes through the aisles of booths to purchase any fresh vegetables or locally raised meats that you may need for the week's upcoming meals.  There are plenty of options when it comes to meat and produce.  Certain vendors will specialize in chicken, pork, beef, etc.  For me, it's pretty much a toss up as to who I choose for vegetables, chicken, and beef.  As I said previously, my only true allegiance lies with Babes in the Woods when it comes to buying pork.  They offer pork just about anyway you can think of (ground, sausage, loin, chops, bacon, brats, etc.).  Today I opted for two, inch-cut pork chops that will grill up nicely later this week.  The overall bounty that I collected consisted of the pork chops, two quarter chickens (leg & thigh combos), some enormous, great looking green onions, spinach, asparagus, and some cheese from Everona Dairy.  You will most certainly be seeing some of these items in future posts in a much more delicious form.

Farmer's markets are a great way to spend a Saturday morning.  You might have to spend a few more dollars for food, but it is definitely worth the money to help support your local farmers.  Almost all of these farmers pride themselves on responsible farming practices and many offer organic products.  All animals live a wonderful life roaming the hills of the surrounding area and enjoying the beautiful Virginia weather.  The fruits and vegetables are untouched by pesticides and greener then anything found in the grocery store.  Aside from promoting local economy, farmer's markets are also environmentally friendly.  Local production and distribution drastically reduces the fossil fuels needed to disperse products nationwide.  Farmer's markets can be found in cities all over Virginia and the US.  Please see what your community has to offer next weekend!

I have only highlighted my favorite booths at the Charlottesville market, and there are countless others that are great.  Please comment on your favorites!  Below are pictures of a little girl that was getting down sawing on a fiddle and a pooch that was left to chill in the sun given the no pet restriction.