Bike Day Forty-Six: Suffolk, VA to Virginia Beach!!

Would you believe that after all these weeks of biking and so much rain lately that Taylor's bike shoes smelled kind of bad? It was true...in fact last night he wanted and needed them to dry out but he didn't want them in the camper, or smelling up the van...and he thought some wild animal or campground dog would sniff them out and carry them off if he left them to dry outside...so he put them in the storage area under the front of the camper.

This morning I drove him back the 45 minutes to Suffolk where we left off yesterday (remember, we had to flex the plan a bit after my bike accident) so he could finish up the TransAmerica bike ride -- Pacific all the way to the Atlantic!! 

Let's do this thing! Right as he was about to leave for the final stretch we realized...

...his bike shoes were still in the camper storage! Uh oh! I offered to drive back to Virginia Beach, get them and follow the route to get them to him before he completed the entire ride, but he said, "No, this will be fine."  If nothing else it made the last portion of the ride memorable! (His bike shoes clip in to the pedals - they are only a couple inches large)

...and he made it!!

Whoot! Whoot! 

Bike Day Forty-Five: Richmond, VA to Suffolk, VA

We made a wonderful plan to bike together for about 14 miles toward Jamestown on the Capital Trail, then I would bike back to the restaurant/campsite at Fork on Five in Richmond and then head toward Williamsburg with the camper and van while Taylor stayed on the Capital trail.

The sun was shining through the rain clouds, it was just a little wet...and there was a great rainbow. What could be better than that on a nice safe paved trail?

Shortly after this scene...as we were chatting and biking, a car came up on the right at one of the very few intersections on this paved trail. It startled me, I grabbed my brakes too hard and went over my handle bars. I hit my chin, left shoulder, wrist, ribs and hip. That was the end of my bike day...today and for a few days. I was able to bike back most of the way to the van, but eventually gave in and had Taylor go back to the van and drive to me. We picked out an urgent care in Suffolk for me to get checked and Taylor would meet me there. But first, our trip from Jamestown across the Chesapeake on the ferry...

Did you note my scuffed chin? It wasn't bad at all...it was the wrist and ribs that hurt the most...

No dislocated fractures, but a wrist brace for protection and rest/healing helped a lot. Taylor drove us all the way to our campground in Virginia Beach so that the next day I wouldn't have to do anything with the camper but drive him back to Suffolk then chill.

The huge and very busy Holday Trav-L Park, Virginia Beach -- 4 pools and lots of campsites

Bike Day Forty-Four: Palmyra, VA to Richmond, VA

Today we had scattered thunderstorms...pretty sunny mid-day but flooding in the area as they day went on...

I joined Taylor for some riding today...after being at Corhaven and the slave cemetery there I was more curious to take note of small grave sites along our route.

"Through trucks prohibited" -- I took a deep breath and said "I'm no truck; it will be fine today"

All was fine...there were some very tight winding spots...but we were ok...then on to Ashland where we met for lunch.

Time to get back at it before it starts raining again...

By the time we got to Richmond there were some very wet roads (photo below was at the spot we camped but the next day when it was dry). It was raining so hard we stopped in this restaurant's parking lot then called the owner to see if it was ok if we parked overnight...he was in Key West...and said "yes" (There were several campers/mobile homes in the back lot...and in fact there were two teens sitting on the "porch" of the restaurant, smoking when we pulled up. They talked to us and one said, "Yeah...its probably fine if you stay...I live in a trailer out back and this is my friend visiting me from NYC."

The soggy scene outside...

Bike Day Forty-Three: Lexington, VA to Palmyra, VA

Not far out of Lexington we headed onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. Taylor remembered this beautiful road from his childhood. The vistas were awesome on this foggy morning...

I encountered a fair amount more fog than Taylor did...I was in front of him that day...

Always time for a little snack stop...peach and vanilla twist...at a peach orchard.

We ended the day in Palmyra where we camped in a Methodist church parking lot. The pastor came by and was very welcoming, They have hosted many bikers as part of their outreach ministry. They even let us run an extension cord from the camper to the church so we could have electricity (read: air conditioning!) overnight.  Before heading to bed we took a walk down the road, overlooking the muddy river flowing below. It was really humid and thunderstorms were expected overnight and the next day.

Bike Day Forty-Two: Troutville to Lexington, VA (and Corhaven Retreat Center)

Since Taylor had biked past Roanoke to Troutville yesterday, today we drove back to that spot for the start of the day. This would be a shorter day, with plan to meet up later in Lexington and drive from Lexington to Corhaven Retreat Center, near New Market/Mt Jackson, VA.

Bill and Tara's kids showed us around the property

At the Jesus statue...sorry I couldn't rotate this one for some reason today...

A peaceful re, treat from biking...sleep in a historic building, hearty meals, farm animals...and we got to ponder our country's history as we quietly visited the slave grave on the property, learning the names and stories of some souls who are most likely buried there.

Before leaving we had a lovely meal at Gail Scherer's lovely historic house, filled with hospitality, love and family time. We loved our time with this part of the Haley clan ;)

Bike Day Forty-One: Wytheville, VA to Troutville, VA

Traveling so near Roanoke, one of Taylor's boyhood homes, we wanted to stop and say hi to a family friend who still lived there and who had been a dear, close friend to Taylor's mom (and dad). To make a full biking day of it Taylor biked past Roanoke to Troutville, then back to our hotel for the night, as we could not locate a campground anywhere near there.

I drove a highway today...thus my photos represent what I saw from the roads as I took a run in Troutville while I waited for Taylor to arrive before we stopped to visit Ruthann.

What do you think this is? I guessed a soapbox derby race track. I listened to Hidden Figures while I drove and know that soapbox derby racing was popular at least at one time in VA...and one of the women engineers in the book helped her son win!

When I ran past here, I thought I got a new insight into Latin...even without knowing it I figured this must mean something close to "Lift up your Eyes!" yes!

These were for sale. Maybe Hudson can make us one with his welding skills.

It was a stormy night, but before the downpour we got to have dinner at Ruthann's house. A special time for them to reminisce. 

As the evening came to a close the clouds over the mountains were awesome...

Bike Day Forty: Damascus, VA to Wytheville, VA

Setting up GPS for the day...

If you went straight instead of following the left curve of the road here, you would ride over a small bridge and head to our campground last night...with the steep gravel road...

Just because it was only about 2 miles from Damascus, VA Taylor took a short detour into Tennessee.

His bike route followed this creek for many miles. Interestingly, back in Virginia, one could almost hear the hunting hounds as we passed several "fox pens"

When we arrived in Wytheville we took some time to walk around town. There was a big festival going on for kids to be able to get a free back to school backpack filled with supplies. 

We noted that Wytheville's claim to fame is being the hometown of First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson. Interestingly I had been reading Dead Wake, the story of the Lusitania (thanks, Louise!) and the chapters included quite a lot of history of President Wilson and his distraction with losing his wife then later courting Edith (who originally turned down his marriage proposal). I don't remember now if I learned it from Dead Wake or from info in Wytheville, but Edith basically served as the first female president for a couple years after President Wilson had a severe stroke and was no longer in the public eye. Rather than turning the government over to the VP, Edith consulted with Wilson and led the country in that way.

Checking out the rooftop of the Bolling Wilson Hotel...reminded us of the Charmant in many ways.

Bike Day Thirty-Nine: Breaks, VA to Damascus, VA

Leaving Breaks Interstate Park...

At the park entrance was our reminder that Virginia is for Lovers!

Finally got a good sign of one of the Old Regular Baptist Churches...Taylor wondered when there would be Simpson's episode with this title...:)

Logging operation...must have been flooded but not sure how recently...

Below is a duplicate photo but one that shows more clearly the cemetary, with gathering area nearby

We met up in Honaker for breakfast.

It was a long wait but it was a fine buttery breakfast :)-- plenty of carbs to power Taylor on for the rest of the day.

I continued on to Damascus, where I took a run on the Appalachian Trail. Going one direction I tried and tried to find the trail, used my cell phone GPS and signs but no luck. It looked like I would have to go through someone's back yard and there were no tresspassing signs...so I turned around and went on the trail the other direction.

In Damascus the Virginia Creeper Trail and the Appalachian Trail merge for a stretch.

I think I expected the trail to be wider and more prominent for some reason...

After my run I drove to the campground to set up before Taylor got to town. Below is the hill from hell down to the riverside campground. It doesn't look like much here, but the gravel and the steep slope about put me over the edge. Thanks to a kind fellow camper I survived but not without some tears. I took two days off backroad driving after this day. Ask me about it sometime and I'll tell you the story.

It was a nice campsite when all was said and done and that evening we were able to walk to town and meet up with...Lance and James once again. Lance had been checking in every town for a Karaoke opportunity...and finally he found one and we were able to be there to cheer him on and be amazed at how good he was! It was a fun night with many exceptional karaoke-ers. We decided that maybe we would plan a karaoke bike tour reunion in the future.

Bike Day Thirty-Eight: Hindman, KY to Breaks Interstate Park - Breaks, VA

Today the travels are through the last stretch of eastern Kentucky before entering Virginia. Still lots and lots of dogs chasing Taylor.

I believe this is called Virginia Creeper, but it made us think of Jurassic Park. Many combinations of vines and trees look like bears or giants.

I wanted to get a picture of something that showed "Old Regular Baptist Church." Much better than one of those new fangled unique ones :)

We met up in the town of Elkhorn City to determine if we would stop there or go a bit further to make it all the way to Breaks...to Virginia. While I awaited Taylor I walked around town near the "riverwalk." The town made an effort an making this a destination and worthy stop for visitors, but alas the visitor center itself, in a 

There were 4 concrete blocks like below with quotes from elders in the community...

Can you read this one? It says, "When the Old Regular Baptists came down to baptize, we stayed in the river 'cause we didn't have on swim trunks."

"They threw me in the river and said sink or swim. That's how most around here learned."

On the way out of town in Elkhorn City...

Made it to the state line!

We took a little hike together before dinner in the resort restaurant and then settling in to our campsite.

Bike Day Thirty-Seven: Buckhorn, KY to Hindman, KY

It was a beautiful, foggy morning...

Taylor's bike today took him on narrow, winding roads, often next to a creek or stream

Now in the Appalachians the poverty was even more apparent than in some of the areas of Missouri/Ozarks. 

When Taylor slowed to look at this home overloaded with "stuff" the family sitting on the porch across the street said "Go ahead, take a picture." Many lived in RV's as their full-time home, torn curtains or blankets in windows that were often broken. Lots of trash...old cars...and by this day there were more dogs than Taylor could count that chased him.

He had to get off his bike 3 times and outran the rest. It makes for stressful and tiring biking to be tensed not only from narrow winding roads with no shoulders and often only one lane, but also wondering when the next silent dog will jump out of the bushes.

Stark contrast between the difficult living situations and the beauty of the area.

A still functioning coal mining facility - the major industry in the area.

Taylor and I met in Hindman and consulted our maps...to go on or to stay in the area??

We learned that there was a campground about 7 miles down the road, so we decided to walk around town for a bit then drive there.

Hindman has a community college for the arts...and we didn't know what a luthiery was...so we checked out the dulcimer museum across the street.

After a mexican meal in Hindman we drove to the campground...through this rock cut, which we figured would have been very expensive to do...

Near the entrance water was dripping down the rock face, creating multiple colors from the different ores and minerals contained there.

Another fine campground that appeared to be very under-utilized.