Blogs from Virginia, United States, North America - page 9

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North America » United States » Virginia » Marion June 10th 2018

I’m writing this just 12 miles from crossing into Illinois over the Cave In Rock Ferry. I announced in yesterday’s blog that my destination was Morganfield.....until it wasn’t. Morganfield is about 15 miles north of the Trans America route. I chose it as my destination because there was no place to stay between my start at the Carpers home and Marion where I am now, about a 75 mile bicycle ride. About the time I reached the spot where I was to leave the Trans Am trail for Morganfield, I felt so good I decided to gut it out and ride to Marion. What the heck! I arrived in Clay, just 22 miles from Marion feeling great! What I never considered was the heat,( 98 degrees “real feel”), the headwinds,(7-9mph), and the mostly uphill ride to ... read more
Barbara Carper
My 2 star accommodations tonight
My road today.

North America » United States » Virginia » Hayes May 27th 2018

Forgive me non bicyclists but I’m going to get into some bike talk today. I woke up this morning dreading the feared Hays Gap Hill. I have read about it and heard about it since I started planning this! To my surprise it didn’t seem so awful! Fortunately after reading about some of the tough climbs on this route, I added a larger sprocket,( 34) to my cassette. It has provided me the ability to spin the pedals even when I am going uphill. It is much easier on the legs rather than mashing the pedals at a slower cadence. I’m not going very fast, but it’s all about saving the legs. The geography is really changing. Now I am going up and down the hills nonstop. I saw very little flat terrain today and don’t ... read more
Honaker Welcome
Hill Country just north of Meadowview
Emory and Henry College


Although today was a scheduled day off, I decided to move up the road a bit. I did a thirteen mile easy spin, in pouring rain, up to Glade Springs and checked into a Comfort Suite. Coincidentally there was s Historic Mansion sitting next to my Hotel called the Nickerson Snead House Museum. The original home was a log cabin built in the 1700’s and later turned into a Mansion about 1835. It was used as a makeshift Civil War Hospital and Morgue. I entered it and felt immediately unwelcome by the staring group near the entrance. There were Paranormal research books, burning incense,electronic instruments and video cameras in view. I’m guessing they were ghostbusters!. Apparently they were readying themselves for a Seance or something like that and I wasn’t invited. I exited and looked up ... read more
Thirteen miles in the rain.
Haunted Mansion
Beards are in fashion here.

North America » United States » Virginia » Damascus May 25th 2018

I’m sitting here on a rocking chair,( They really like rocking chairs here in Virginia), on the deck of our cabin waiting for the rain to at least slow down a bit! Bruce is already out in it making his way to Abington,( 12 miles), where he will pick up a rental car and drive back to his brother ‘s house. Although this was a scheduled day off, I am eventually going to ride about 10 miles up to Glade Springs where I will finish the day resting the legs for tomorrow’s brutal climb up to Rosedale, Va. It is reported to be one of the toughest climbs on the Trans America Bicycle Route. Yesterday was a fabulous day on the bicycles. We rode 62 miles through some of the most beautiful country we have ever ... read more
Sugar Grove Bake and Rummage Sale
Perfect pavement
Typical sight along the way

North America » United States » Virginia » Wytheville May 24th 2018

The ability of the human body to replenish and restore stressed muscle tissue is an amazing thing. I must confess that after yesterday’s bike ride I was totally exhausted. The ride started out immediately with very steep ups and downs and continued for at least the first 20 miles. By that time my legs were burning and it was just a matter of survival to finish the day. Naturally there was a steep three mile climb near the end. It was a very tough day. I woke up this morning feeling sore and apprehensive about today’s ride. Thankfully and unexpectedly the legs seemed fine and the 56 miles and 3500 feet of climbing weren’t nearly as bad as feared. Bruce and I had a splendid day! We were on the “Wilderness Road” for most of the ... read more
Wilderness Road Today
Inside the Loghouse
Bruce enjoying a perfect afternoon


Guest blog by Bruce Tipton: Another beautiful weather day in central VA today as Bob & Bruce rode nearly 50 miles with around 4K of climbing once again. Lots of steep up/downs, (12%+ for you cyclists), with minimal time to recover. Low humidity and comfortable temps were helpful. Overall it was a challenging yet rewarding day in the saddle. We did meet an interesting lady poolside, post ride in Christiansburg who studies astrology & reads Taro cards. She is convinced that Bob’s vibes suggest that he will most likely abandon the ride midway through Kentucky. This preposterous notion was immediately rejected as hogwash, since Bob is strong as a mule-both in temperament & condition-and neither Bob nor Bruce place any credence in the mystical powers of these carnival sideshow acts. No disrespect to those who do, ... read more
Our accommodations for the night
Country back roads today
Up and Down all day

North America » United States » Virginia » Lexington May 22nd 2018

Another wonderful day! I was joined by bicycle friends from San Diego, Bruce Tipton and Jim Robinson. Bruce’s brother Bernie, ( who drove Bruce up from his home at Smith Mountain Lake), joined us as well. We rode the first 28 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway which is closed to all commercial vehicles. We saw a few cars and motorcycles along the way but it was mostly us on our bicycles riding smooth pavement with panoramic views of the valleys far below us. To the north is the Virginia Piedmont region and to the south the Shenandoah Valley. Both sides of the Parkway are lined by thick forest! It must have been daunting for those early settlers who contemplated moving west. It must have taken incredibly hearty souls to climb up over those mountains. After ... read more
View of the Virginia Piedmont from the Parkway
A view to the South at the Shenandoah Valley
One of the hundreds of stunning sights we saw today

North America » United States » Virginia » Troutville May 22nd 2018

Having studied the anticipated weather for today, Bruce and I realized we had better finish by about 2 PM or we would most likely get very wet with afternoon thunderstorms expected. Today was another splendid ride down the Shenandoah Valley on very quiet roads. The pictures today say it all as we passed so many idyllic areas of rolling hills, tall deciduous forests and running streams. I really am impressed with the route Adventure Cycling picked because Bruce and I knew the interstate was always fairly close but the areas we passed haven’t changed in hundreds of years. Bruce looked up a brewery in Troutville and agreed to meet his brother Bernie there to whisk us away to his home an hour away. As we neared Troutville we eagerly anticipated that first well earned sip of ... read more
We spent much of the day alongside Mill Crerk
Bruce setting the example of Cool!
Could have been the 18th Century


Today was a scheduled and welcome day off. The forecast was rain most of the day, so I wasn’t anxious to get back on my bike anyway. My host family JoAnn and David Dalley were a delightful couple. My downstairs arrangement was perfect and I very much enjoyed their company. JoAnn is a Master Gardner and avid bird watcher. David is a bicycle nut like me. Thank you both for such a wonderful stay! Montpellier was where I had planned to go but between my legs asking for rest and the rain I decided on plan B. Thanks to their sweet and helpful daughter Rachel’s guidance, I set out exploring the city. I must say that Charlottesville is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited. Homes were built here between the trees and ... read more
Azaleas are everywhere.
I saw hundreds of homes just like this.
Yellow Azaleas

North America » United States » Virginia » Afton May 20th 2018

After a day of R &R, David, ( my host in Charlottesville) took me on his route to the bottom of the big climb up to Afton; the spot where the Blue Ridge Parkway begins. We parted as good friends and I sincerely hope we have an opportunity to enjoy each other’s company again. It was just a lovely day! My senses were filled with blue sky highlighted by white puffy clouds, the sound of birds rapturous over the smells and delights of a warm summer day and the lush green countryside passing slowly by. This is what it’s all about! There was more climbing today and the last five miles up to Afton very much reminded me of Mount Palomar. I don’t remember anything on the Pacific Route quite so challenging! Of course one seems ... read more
Colony Motel
Batesville Market
Last stop before the climb to Afton




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