Here's your evening hug. 
((((((( fuzzy )))))))
: )
Posted on 07/21/2004 12:52:54 AM PDT by Mama_Bear
Here's your evening hug. ((((((( fuzzy )))))))
: )
WHAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!???????
Weinie
I rode only about 20 miles after crossing into Virginia on April 19, settling in for the night at the first hotel to offer itself up. I had hoped to get further, but decided it would be a good idea to build a little more strength before putting in hard miles. Also I figured I'd have all of flat Kansas to make up for early short days. (Over the following couple of weeks I came to rely a lot on Kansas.) I was in Virginia for 9 more days. I rode back roads southwest to Charlottesville, where I joined the Transamerica Trail. From Charlottesville I continued south-southwest down Virginia's mountainous spine, in and out of the Blue Ridge and Shenandoahs, down to a point near the southwestern tip of the state. On April 28th I arrived at Breaks Interstate Park on the Virginia/Kentucky border, and after a rest day there (my last off day until Jackson, Wyoming), I rode into Kentucky.
Virginia was lovely, with many scenic, lightly traveled roads, varied terrain, and plenty of historical sites. It's the only state on the Transamerica Trail still to maintain the Trail's route signs, so despite the winding roads and frequent route changes, navigation was pretty easy. But. Virginia had its bleak side too -- I rode through towns that hadn't prospered since the 1960s, and parts of southwestern Virginia foreshadowed the poverty that I would encounter a few days later in Appalachian Kentucky.
I didn't camp at all in Virginia; the weather was dreary and I hadn't quite achieved the Spartan mindset of the unsupported long-distance cyclist. Indeed I wound up in a couple of pretty plush bed & breakfasts, so that after only week I was way over budget. I guess I figured I'd make up for that in Kansas too, by sleeping in a thresher or something.
You can't settle into a bike tour until you have shed the automotive mentality -- until you've recalibrated your brain to bicycle scale. For instance, 65 or 85 miles is a good day for a cyclist but it isn't very far if you're used to driving. Similarly, rural residents travel 30 or 40 miles between towns without a second thought, but the cyclist prefers to believe that such distances separate two very different places.
These sorts of adjustments are elusive when you haven't got very far from home and are spending nights in places to which you routinely drive for dinner, and my route down to the southwest corner of Virginia -- as far west as Detroit! -- compounded the problem.
I was in the state for a long time, and even though after a few days I had started to make good distance, phone calls home took on a familiar and vaguely discouraging pattern: "I rode 65 miles today and passed Roanoke, but, um, I'm still in Virginia."
You can see Virginia from Washington, D.C.; though I'd been riding away from home for a week I wasn't sure I was getting anywhere!
The ride out of Charlottesville featured a segment on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a winding picturesque two lane road that runs 469 miles from Virginia to southern North Carolina, along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
During summer and fall this popular park is thick with cars, meaning that despite the (enforced) 45 mph speed limit, biking it requires attentiveness and care. But I was early and I saw perhaps 25 cars in 25 miles. I rode virtually alone, in dead delightful silence.
I've driven the entire Blue Ridge Parkway, going there many times when I lived in North Carolina, and up into Pennsylvania from there on my way to Rochester.
It is glorious in the summer and autumn --- loved to take neighborhood groups on picnics, cooking hamburgers and hot dogs and chilling watermelons in little streams beside the park's campsites - - assorted children (and adults!) wading in the stream, catching tiny minnows - - brief naps on blankets in the shade - frisbee contests on the grassy fields - etc.
Wonderful memories of another life - -
One of the "Ghost Tours" of Charleston is someting I've wanted to do for YEARS!!!!!!!!
You are spoiling me. LOL, but I know you just can't resist this face. ;-)
We took almost every turnout along Skyline Drive and stopped to look at the view. Took us all day to go just down Skyline Drive, would have taken us days at that rate to have continued on down the entire mountain range. The top speed limit is 35 miles an hour. We kept an eye out for the bear that we had been told roamed the mountains, but didn't see any. Many deer grazing along side of the road though. I am so glad that AAA recommended the side trip to Shenandoah National Park while we were on our way from DC to NC.
I have heard that autumn is the best time of year to Drive through Shenandoah Park. I found this on Google...
Virginia - Shenandoah National Park, Hawksbill Mountain dressed for autumn
Almost 150 years ago, President Lincoln found it necessary to hire a private investigator, Alan Pinkerton, for protection. That was the beginning of the Secret Service .
Since that time, federal police authority has grown to a large number of multi-letter agencies - FBI , CIA , INS , IRS , DEA , ATF , etc.
Now comes the Federal Air Transportation Airport Security Service . Can't you see them now? These highly trained men and women in their black outfits with initials in large white letters across their backs?
F. A. T. A. S. S. - - - - - - - I feel safer already.
We didn't encounter much traffic when we were there, but I think we were north of where he was cycling. We were heading south and got off the mountain range at Charlottesville. It sounds as though that's where he got on the range for his trip south.
As always, thank you for your contributions. Love you, Maggie!
Doesn't it sound interesting? They do the same thing at Colonial Williamsburg, but we missed that too. Just too tired at the end of the day. I just could not walk one more block for love nor money. LOL. I don't hold up like I used to. :-(
God Bless and Keep them all..........
One of these days we will get to do the Blue Ridge.........
You haven't heard? This is a touching true life story about some very special people and a very lucky dog. Mr. and Mrs. D are taking an abandoned dog into their heart and home. He is being flown to them from California next Monday!
Here is the "Rusty" thread. There are photos at the beginning of the thread. Dutchess is asking for prayers that he arrives safely and isn't too stressed from the trip.
Maybe some of your friends at rainbow bridge can oversee his safe arrival to his new family? :-)
((((((((Weinie)))))))))
Williamsburg is a beautiful town.......but I have had an aversion to it for many years....it was where I went on my honeymoon......of my first marriage. My aversion is over and I do want to go back - the wallet just doesn't permit it at the moment.
Awwwwwww.....that's so cute. Bless you, Sis, for your loving heart. :-)
I'll keep my fingers crossed that you have no more problems with your computer. I know how frustrating and stressful it is when you have thread you need to post. I'm here for you if you need me to post it tomorrow.
HUGS!
LOL!!
Hello, Dubya. Nice to see you here today. :-)
Yes, and you have such a gift for taking us to another place and time. You have no idea how often I just sit at my computer and smile over something you have written.
Take care, Finest Maggie. :-)
It's been fun visiting Virginia and, Gabz, you may not have intended it, but you served as a wonderful "co-hostess" for our thread today. Thank you so much. You will be hearing from me when it comes time to profile Delaware. :-)
In truth, I have been abundantly and richly blessed by God in having Him send me hither and yon, appreciating His creations all the way ---
Never hesitated to leave a place, or 'fear' the next one, knowing He was unfolding His Plan for my life and preparing me for "something else."
Thank you for what you said, and for letting me share those sights and experiences with you again and again, never complaining because you've heard most of them before..:))
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