The bicycle ride went very well meaning I survived. Most people, including my wife and I, take a shuttle from Damascus VA to the top of White Top MTN and ride the old rail road line back down, mostly down hill all the way. It's about 17 miles back to Damascus, but it gets very crowded and you have to be aware of people passing. The entire Virginia Creeper Trail runs 33 miles. From the top of White top MTN to Abingdon VA.
We skipped the shuttle service, and got on the trail between Damascus and Abingdon. Little more level, so thought. It was up hill both ways. No joke the first 9 miles to Abingdon was a slight up hill climb. There was no coasting. It didn't look up hill, but I had to stay into the peddling. The trail was well maintained, and not crowded at all.
we started where the pointer said" You are here". We followed the South fork holston river untill it joins the middle fork. The Holston River runs south and is a large contributor to the Tennessee river, just a side note.
south Holston River.
where the south and middle fork join at the upper end of South Holston lake.
I always imagine what it must've looked like when the steam locomotive would come around bends and thru hills chugging out black smoke and steam.
we passed thru lots of farm land
there were a few self closing gates that would help keep rogue farm animals off the trail
then it was back to civilization.
We rode by the Barter Theater and the Martha Washington Inn, and then to Arby's for a chicken salad sandwich. We sat in the shade of a large oak tree at a war memorial site while eating our sandwiches, and watching the hustle and bustle of the interstate that runs north to Ontario. We ride back thru town and and cruise thru the front entrance of the Martha Washington Inn. I wonder what it would be like to stay here a few nights and see what antiques they may have, but I couldn't afford that, so we smile and wave at the people working there and head back to the Creeper trail. We pass under the noisy interstate, and I wonder how many people passing over us know anything of this beautiful trail that goes East into the North Carolina mtns. It was a good 20 mile round trip mostly up hill both ways.