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Multi-tasking in The Virginia Mountains |
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Mid morning on Sunday, 7/03, we started out for Virginia. Our route would take us through Ashville, NC, Johnson City, TN, and on past Bristol. Shortly after crossing the Tennessee state line we arrive at our destination, Abingdon. Like most of our trips our bikes were riding in the back of the truck, but unlike some of our trips, our helmets and biking gear made it in the truck as well this time. We are here to bike, hike and bike with the folks of the Carolina Tailwinds.
It has been a while since we have taken a supported and pampered bike trip and we were about ready for one. Anne and Greg Fleming run Carolina Tailwinds and they had promised us a great time. They had not made any promises on the weather, but since we are topical storm magnets, we came prepared. This vacation would include one day of hiking in the Mount Rodgers national Recreation Area sandwiched between two days of riding rails-to-trails and one day of road riding . That�s a lot of outdoor chances for some wet weather, and with topical storm �Cindy� lurking somewhere out there, we figured we would get wet. We just didn�t know when. But right now the sun was shining as we pulled into the Holiday Inn in Abingdon. |
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We had arrived one day early to spend some time walking the streets and visiting the area. What we didn�t count on was how quick we could see the �street� in a town the size of Abingdon, plus on Sundays, everything was closed. Abingdon is famous for two things though; the Virginia Creeper Rail Trail, and the Barter Theater. Our plans included riding the Creeper and going to the theater, but that was still days away. So with thoughts of hitting the shops and antique stores tomorrow firmly stuck in Susan�s head, we headed off to eat and return to our room.
The next day we checked out at mid-morning and headed back downtown. Today is July 4th, and as luck would have it the shops are all closed for the holiday. Like I always say, �Some days you are the statue, and some days you are the pigeon.� Today I had my wings on. After rattling almost every door on main street Susan finally gives up and we head to the Summerfield House, our first B&B of the trip, to meet our tour guides and fellow riders. |
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Taking a break along Main Street Abingdon |
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(double click pictures to enlarge) |
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(double click pictures to enlarge) |
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The terminus of the Virginia Creeper Trail |
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The Barter Theater |
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After shaking hands and meeting most of the other guest (some had not yet arrived) we prepared for our first ride. We are in the Virginia Mountains so the ride is called �moderately hilly terrain�. After riding it I can assure you that it is a fair description of 85% of the ride. Unfortunately for us we had to ride 100% of it. In all fairness though, we did elect to take a short cut, and as luck would have it, the short cut was the 15% that fell out of the moderate part and into the hell part. See, it was like this. |
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The ride was supposed to be 27 miles. The route took us along the base of a ridge that was moderately rolling. In what turned out to be a shallow saddle we crossed over the ridge and headed back. At about 12 miles Susan and I decided to cut the ride short. According to the map and our guides we could take a connecting road and cut off about ten miles. The only problem was the connecting road cut across the ridge we had been riding around. There was one other thing too; no one had actually ridden the route. Now, as the crow flies it probably did cut off ten miles, but with the vertical parts thrown in we only saved three miles. It was also very steep. But fortunately only the first half was steep; the second half was simply unreasonable. Like all hills though, we rode, walked and pushed and cursed our way to the top. The pay off was a screaming downhill through blind curves and over narrow bridges along shoulder less Virginia back roads. Yeah, that was fun. There is just something about little bitty bike parts spinning at the speed of car parts that just rubs the engineering part of my brain the wrong way. I can�t quite put my finger on it but going faster than the posted speed limit on my bike just seems wrong. But in the spirit of Lance Armstrong I let it rip and only screamed softly to myself.
With our inaugural bike ride behind us, a shower and fresh clothes on, we headed out for our catered evening meal. Like all of our previous biking tours this meal was excellent. I don�t know what it is about touring companies, but they think if you lose weight on a biking trip somehow they have failed, and these folks where not going to fail. After our meal some of us headed to a local fireworks show and some decided to call it a night. The next day would start at 7:00, so Susan and I decide to call it a night. |
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(double click pictures to enlarge) |
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Susan crossing the trestle over the New River |
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one of the many trestles we crossed |
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Today is our first trail ride, the New River Trial. It is Virginia�s longest park, 50 something miles long. After a short shuttle to the start of the trail we are off. Yesterday we had some sprinkles but today the chances of rain are high. Throw in the possibly of trail mud and it�s almost more than Mother Nature can stand. I decide to pack raingear on the off chance this might tip fate back in our direction. No such luck; but like Dolly Parton once said, �if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain". I never saw a rainbow but there were a lot of grand sights to see along that trail. We crossed the river many times on tall, towering trestles with magnificent views up and down the river. We rode past little farming communities and over canopy covered trails and even through tunnels. It was a great ride and when the rain came it was easily tolerated. The rain actually cooled things down and only lasted a short time, and the best part was it started about when we stopped for lunch. By the time we finished eating the rain had stopped. Okay, it started back shortly after we begin riding again, and with a vengeance, but hey, it�s us. We don�t expect better. Besides we were still looking for that rainbow. |
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(double click pictures to enlarge) |
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Some sights along the way. The old shot tower and an abandoned house. |
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Two of the tunnels. The first was fun. The second one was scary. It was completely dark in the middle! |
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After a short time the sun came back out. It was then I started to think about the great southern state of Virginia and another old saying, �the South is steeped in history, hospitality, heat, and humidity.� Yeah, it ain�t the heat it�s the humidity, but sometimes it is both. Today they were both going on, but again the trail, the canopy and the New River kept our enjoyment level high. Before long the 44 miles had all slipped under our tires and we loaded up the van for a short shuttle to the River House, our next B&B of the trip. |
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Almost to the end of the trail. |
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page two |
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back to biking page |
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