Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Almost Done! Penultimate Report

Thursday (Yancey Mills -> Charlottesville, 22 miles)
Friday (Charlottesville -> Culpeper 35)
Saturday (Purcellville -> Reston, 32)

A quick summary, since it is Sunday morning and we're ready to hit Washington.

THURSDAY ... Misty Mountain Campground to Charlottesville was an easy twenty-somethng ride, though US 250 became busier by town. We stoppped on University Blvd, hit a coffee shop, discovered some used books stores and deli (Take it Away!, PK) and then heaed to the Rotondo. We did the tour, and loved it, a tour led by UVa third-year Melissa Buck, of Breckendridge, Colorado and Lawrenceville School! She was great. The kids took an afternoon off, reading and napping on the lawn, PJC on an exodus to the Blue Wheel Bike shop for end of tour repairs (nice new rear wheel, Mike Stewart: Will wore out the original). We pedalled out of town on US 29 to a motel, our campground north of town no longer accepting tenters. We feasted at the Golden Corral, an all-you-can eat place that didn't make money on us that
night.

FRIDAY ... We ferried ourselves up to Barbourville, north of Charlottesville a but and away from the US 29 madness that we feared might overwhelm us. This part of Virginia, though lovely, does not combine safe cycling routes with our destinations, so we excised this part, and a later section, that would expedite the trip. From Barbourville we headed north on Route 20 toward Orange, a terrific ride in the morning, full of farmers and Presidents, including Madison's Montpelier. We stopped for coffee and second breakfast in Orange, then headed up US 15. In land full of larger properties and estate, we saw a small sign that read "Woodbury Forest School - 3" and I knew an interesting detour lay ahead, though not how interesting. We turned into the Woodbury road, and the prep school opened up before us, woods, then fields, then playing fields, then this version of "Old Main". We thought we might sneak a look in the main building, like
heading up to the bell in Annenberg. We ended up meeting Joseph Coleman, Director of Admission, who chatted with us, took us on a tour of the whole school, and led us to lunch in the dining hall. The school is lovely, Mr. Coleman was delightful, the entire experience was a treat, and the kids knew it. From Woodbury Forest we headed north, napped a bit on the swayback porch of a derelict crossroads store / post office, aand then headed off the main road to some backroads that took us up to the Cedar Mountain Campground outside Culpeper, a cash only operation whose best days are long past.

SATURDAY... On Saturday morning we packed all ourselves into Dave's truck and headed north to Purcellville, skipping some miles that would include too much highway choked traffic. The ride, however, slid through some astonishing land, including The Plains, home of the Quinns!, and Middleburg, north of which were a relentless stream of stunning horse farms, one after another, stone fences perfect, some even being built new! Lonely outbuildings covered with new raised seam roofs and plenty of money. "Mr. Mellon and Mr. Hunt, you know, some rich folks," said Grace later in the laundromat. We arrived in Purcellville, the trailhead for the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, a railroad to multi-user trail which would take us all the way into DC. We did some laundry, and then hit the W&OD trail. We cruised along the old rail bed amongst serious Saturday bike riders, hunkered down over aero bars, beside parents and little ones on training wheels, among the lean and the "I'd best get some exercise", and we eased east
to Reston, where we left the Trail and headed to the Fairfax County Campground, ready to rest and prepare for our last day. Phone calls home suggested "We'll be in Washington in the morning, and home in the afternoon."

To put the trip into context, I laid out my worn, marked state maps, and fit Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia together into one map, a journey that covered the entire picnic table. We then traced our way across the weeks, naming each day's journey, the roads, the town, the events, the campgrounds, the weather. A half hour later, full of stories made fresh again by the talek of the narrative, we headed out to dinner, a team dinner in a diner, a special ending to the entire effort. We laughed and told each story yet again, adding details, clarifying the truth, feeling strong and proud and almost done. The kids' fresh energy had Davie and me laughing the entire evening. Hitting the tents was easy, for in the morning we'd finish our ride, stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and then head home.

-- PJClements

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