Virginia Creeper Trail

Wednesday, August 15

On the way to Sally's we did a little side trip that Bill and Carol had arranged. They had called to reserve bikes and coordinate the shuttle that would take us to the top of the hill so we could ride *down* the Virginia Creeper Trail for 17 miles. Sally had driven there from her home and was there to meet us, and we had niece Jessica in tow.

It was a little drizzly, but we ended up not needing the ponchos we bought at the last minute. The shuttle driver talked with us the entire drive and was very helpful and thoughtful of us.

We did the finishing touches on our assigned ride and lined up for a group photo.

At about the 20 yard mark we hit soft sand and both Carol and I ended up swashling off the trail and onto the grass, then Carol took a tumble as she was unwinding herself from the bike. Everyone else turned around and returned to see what had happened and to ensure we were OK.

And finally we were cruising down the unpaved Creeper Trail.

We had been told by Sally to be cautious and alert on the bridges because snakes often sun themselves on the warm wooden surface. We didn't have too much to worry about on this wet and cool day, but we were cautious just the same.

The volunteers (who are from Gig Harbor, a neighboring town of Seattle) at Green Grove Station Visitor Center told us to look down from bridge number 33 where sightings of snakes had been reported. Jessica and I wondered why everyone wanted to stop and look, but we obliged. We all searched over the railing, but alas, saw no snake. YES!

What a fantastic ride we had ---- all down hill! The driver told us that 98% (how does he know?) of those who ride the Creeper do it the way we were doing it. The whole trail is longer, but this is apparently the nicest part. The forested trail meanders along a river (didn't get the name) that can be seen for much of the distance, and who can pass up down hill?

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We leave Lynchburg

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

We leave our morning breakfast nook, our reading time, and and all the little things we had while here with Bill and Carol: the Saturday market & breakfast at the bakery, the local bike trail, Carol's water aerobics (Splash Class), and Bill's wealth of knowledge. Did you know that Virginia is the only state where you live in either a *city* or a *county* but not both? A town that has a certain number (we think 5000) of residents in a county can apply to be a city. If they become a city, they are no longer a part of the county. I don't know, but I think it has something to do with tax advantages??

Our time in and around Lynchburg was exceptionally special because of Carol and Bill, and that they could be with us for so much of the local adventure made it that much better. The history, the sights and countryside, the hard cider stop, baseball from the skybox, the biking and the market breakfast are but a few of the things that filled our days, and they, the special two, filled our hearts. At least as we leave their town, we take them with us -- or rather they take us -- to their daughter's home on the lake for their family reunion. So ---- we're not done yet!

 

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Appomatox and a baseball game

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

More Civil War history for us at Appomatox where General Lee surrendered his troops to General Grant in April, 1865.

We joined Miss Emma Hix, who lived here in 1865, to hear the story of her quiet, sleepy town of Appomatox.

As we gathered on the front porch of her father's store, she told us of life in the town and how no one could think of a reason that it could be attacked. But attacked it was, just before the surrender. She related the hardships of war, how food staples were hard to get, and how many of the young boys she knew, and had gone to school with, had been killed or injured in battle.

Q

 

Miss Emma was kind enough to allow me to capture her image with the little black box I carry with me, even though she was familiar with neither the process nor the concept of a *camera*.

After the Civil War surrender at Appomatox we had to get home and prepare for our night at the ball game. Bill and Carol attend the annual fund raiser game and we got skybox tickets to watch the Lynchburg Hillcats beat the Myrtle Beach (SC) Pelicans by 8-5. This was a new adventure for us. We had never attended a baseball game together, and each think we have attended two other games in our lifetime! It was fun to enjoy the local teams, watch the entertainment between innings and when the teams changed fields, and partake in the hot dogs and hamburgers provided for us.

 

 

Internet and wifi coverage where we now are is so slow and unpredictable, it has taken me all morning to upload photos and finish this post. I don't know when I will get the next one posted --- but I will sometime!

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Monticello - The Big House

Almost every morning we begin the day with breakfast at the dining room table enjoying casual conversation while we are entertained by the nuthatches, flinches, blue jays, bright red cardinal and other birds at the backyard feeders. The deer appear cute to us, but around here they are pests that many refer to as "rats on stilts" (except cuter) as they eat all the flowers and vegetation in everyone's yard. The babies with their white spotted rumps are hard to think of as "rats" or even pests for that matter. But so they are.

Susan and I were on our own for this day's adventure. Bill and Carol gave us their car for the day, we punched our destination into our GPS, took the map Bill had outlined for us, and braved the strange world.

Poplar Forest in Bedford was Thomas Jefferson's country retreat. His real home was Monticello. He taught himself to be an architect, and designed every aspect of Monticello, modifying it's buildings and landscape over a period of 40 years. The thing I remembered from my visits here oh so many years ago was the clock. It is seen from the outside of the house as well as inside, and inside it also indicates the day of the week. Quite a trick back in the day of Jefferson. No photos allowed inside the house, so this one is of the outside side of the clock.

 

 

We learned a lot about Thomas from our tour guide of the house. We walked around the property and under the house where all the "guts" are -- food storage, kitchen, cook's quarters -- and tried to imagine life at that time. Even though Jefferson believed "all men are created equal" and felt everyone had the right of liberty, he owned somewhere around 600 slaves and freed only about 6 of them in his lifetime. A product of his time.

 

 

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Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway and Poplar Forest

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Another beautiful day. Susan wanted to at least get on the AT for a short walk (I have hiked portions of it in my past), so Carol and Bill drove us to a trailhead for about a two and a half mile round trip hike.

 

The bridge that crosses James River is named Foot Bridge not simply because it is a foot bridge, but as a memorial of William Foot. He and his wife Laurie were known as "The Happy Feet".

 

 

 

Although short, our hike was delightful, and gave Susan the experience of "hiking" on the AT.

 

 

It had to be short because we had places to go and things to see! We were now swept off for a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway and our picnic lunch. Beautiful drive with several stops for views at overlooks, as well as a stop to see the James River and Kanawha Canal. Pre-Civil War days, this was the primary commercial route in Virginia?

Next stop was the Hard Cider makers for some tasting and purchase to bring to the family gathering this weekend (well, and for some to drink of it beforehand).

Then on Poplar Forest -- Thomas Jefferson's country retreat. We would see his home at Monticello on another day. Jefferson chose the building site in the heart of his Poplar Forest property, and in 1805 workers began creating his pleasure grounds in the midst of agricultural fields, meadows and pastures.

Jefferson believed in octagons -- even in the privy...

 

Jefferson made big changes to is 4,000 acre plantation during his retirement, using slave labor to clear land and create fields.

Home for rest and to watch the closing ceremonies of the Olympics!

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Virginia and North Carolina - August 2012

Friday, August 10. Buses, trains, planes and automobiles...

Susan and I figured out the bus schedule that, with one transfer, would get us to downtown. From there we found our way to the bus tunnel to get the Link train to SeaTac Airport. It all went without a hitch and we were quite proud of ourselves. I was actually more proud of Susan because she packed lighter than I!! That in itself is quite a feat for her!

Plane to Charlotte, NC was on time and the flight was ok until the BUMPS that tossed us about up and down and side to side! We were very near to Charlotte and happy to be getting off. Once in Charlotte we learned that due to stormy weather conditions, our (one hour) flight to Lynchburg (on a very tiny plane) was delayed by more than an hour. That gave us more than two hours in the airport and meant and Aunt Carol and Uncle Bill would be having a very late night picking us up at midnight!

Saturday, August 11. In Lynchburg

Right off the bat we had a full and interesting day with Carol and Bill. They had a bike ride planned for us after a breakfast at the Saturday Market. But first we would go to pick up bikes their friend was lending to them. Jane is away for a few weeks, and also said we could use her car to transport the bikes and ourselves. Plus she said to please use her "other home" in the mountains if we would like! There are absolutely no words that describe her exquisite home, and I could not take photos good enough to show it. But it is the most beautiful, large, exquisite house I have ever been in.

This sculpture is in the front yard.

 

This is the main entryway.

 

After a tour of the house we "stole off" with the car and bikes and headed for breakfast. And a bike ride on the James River Trail. We connected with the Blackwater Creek Trail.

 

 

 

Bill does a lot of cycling with his siblings and extended family and every year they take a cycling vacation. One of his brothers, Jim, died recently and his ashes are spread along the Blackwater Trail that he loved so much. In addition there are a couple of memorial plaques dedicated to him.

 

We rode through a tunnel on the trail, which unlike some at home, was well lighted for our passage through it.

What a great day -- so far!

Home to shower and think about dinner! We didn't have to think for long -- got Thai take-out from a delightful little Thai place that Carol and Bill frequent, and headed for Jane's little cabin in the woods...

 

 

We sat on the deck overlooking the golf course and wondered what all the working people were doing, and feeling so decadent -- as well as grateful for the generosity of Carol and Bill's friend Jane. Thank you Jane.

 

That ended our first full day and we loved it all.

 

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