On the Road

October 21, 2014 by LB

Each year, my friend Ruth and I take an annual “Road Trip to Watch the Hokies … and Explore a Cool Town”, and what started as attendance at an away football game has turned into an opportunity for adventure in a new place. (If Virginia Tech Coach Frank Beamer knew our Road Trip / Loss to Win ratio, he would ask us to stop planning our trips around a game!) Thankfully, the game has become less of a focal point. Once the destination is chosen, we research places of interest to visit along the way and no matter the outcome of the game, we always have a great time!!

This year’s trip was to Pittsburgh and in order to get there, we drove from southwest Virginia, and into western Maryland. Low lying mountains, curvy rural routes, fall foliage, and historic small towns made for a great ride. We left for Hancock, Maryland on Weds after work, and were up and on the road for Pennsylvania early the next morning.

We’d not gone far when we saw this farmhouse and just had to pull over.

The view of Cumberland Narrows, a water gap in western Maryland, had me calling out “I need a picture!”. The sunrise and the misty hills were a site to see, but finding a spot to pull over was a bit of a challenge. These next two photos were taken through the front windshield of the car, and even though the quality suffers, they offer an idea about how pretty this part of Maryland is.

For those interested in history, we were traveling on Rt 40 also known as the National Pike, a section of road that passes through the Cumberland Narrows and lots of rural farmland. Sections of this road are also called the National Road. This road was the first major improved highway in the United States to be built by the federal government and was a gateway to the west for thousands of settlers. It was also the first US road to be surfaced with macadam. The National Road now has a multi-state tourism / historical partership that collarborates various towns, cities, and counties.

Even when pulled over, photography remained a bit of a challenge.

Between the traffic, the road signs, and the lightposts it was hard to capture an unobstructed view of the early morning mist.

I had the same problem catching this rainbow.

The photos may not do justice to the morning, but I’ll not forget it anytime soon. It was a wonderful start to the trip!

Next Stop: Falling Waters – One of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most widely acclaimed works

Kentucky and the “Niagara Falls of the South”

August 29, 2014 by LB

As I wiped the mud and water from my bike, I thought about how grateful I was for the warm welcome that I’d received when I checked into the hotel the night before. Hotels typically treat bikers well, and this time was no exception. I was allowed to park the bike under the covered entrance, was given rags to clean the bike, given recommendations for local eateries, and received a gift of water and trail mix. Betty surely made me feel welcome and a note was sent to her manager to praise her efforts.

The continued calls for rain had me considering heading home a day early, but as I cleaned up the bike I made the decision to take my chances. Kentucky still had alot to show me after all!

After packing up the bike and filling the tank, I set out for Cumberland Falls State Park. 25 E was a beautiful ride, and I passed by wooded lands and farms situated on nicely curving roads. Once inside the Daniel Boone National Forest, where the park is located, I had to keep myself from pulling over every few miles to take photos. The woods were lush and green and I was captivated.

One of the first things I saw upon entering the park was the Dupont Lodge.

The Civilian Conservation Corps, under Roosevelt’s New Deal, put jobless men and boys throughout the United States to work. Built by the CCC in 1933, the historic lodge was destroyed by fire in 1940. It was re-built soon after the fire, and all rooms were completely renovated again in 2006.

The staff offered much information including directions to a half mile trail, with a 200 ft descent, that led to the falls. Since my boots were still a bit wet, I was glad I’d only be hiking a short way, but I was definitely ready to get off the bike and into the woods. I grabbed my water bottle and headed off on foot.

I have to admit to being a bit skeptical about the whole “Niagara of the South” label, but oh, I was pleasantly surprised!

Since the early 1900s, Cumberland Falls has been known as the “Niagara of the South”. “Falling 7 stories, it is one of the largest waterfalls in the southeastern U.S.”.

Even though I was just one of many people there to enjoy the falls, I never felt that it was crowded.

I spent over an hour wandering about, taking pictures from a variety of angles and places, and learning about the history of the river and the falls.

The hike back up aggravated the new blister on my heel (thanks to the darn damp boots). But what fun it was to sit outside the lodge, applying first aide to my heel and talking with all the folks who stopped by to admire my bike. I’d been missing the human connection this trip as the rain kept me from alot of stopping and chatting.

While I’d been lucky this day, I knew that as I turned for home the weather would change, and I’d eventually run into rain again, so I made the decision to head on back towards Virginia. I rode through more beautiful country on curvy roads and found myself singing out loud with the joy of the wind in my face and even the occasional glimpse of sun.

As the day waned, I turned onto Rt 58 and my happiness continued.

My friend Tim helped me to find a hotel in Johnson City, Tennessee and one of the first things I did was ask the hotel clerk where I might find a cold beer 🙂

Once back at the hotel, the clerk told me to be sure to park right in front. It’s good to be a biker!

Next Post: The Ride Home

Breaks Interstate Park – Virginia and Kentucky

August 25, 2014 by LB

Despite the fact that every weather report called for extensive rain, I was ready to ride! My goal for this ride, my first trip on the bike since the wreck 10 months ago, was to take my time, enjoy the adventure, and have a completely different outcome from the last one. To say the least, I was excited!

The destination for this, the first day, was Breaks Interstate Park, a park shared by the states of Virginia and Kentucky.

I took a chance and kept my rain gear packed in the saddle bags and hit the road. The day was overcast and just a little cool … in essence, a perfect day to ride. As I got closer to the park the roads became curvier and the traffic became more sparse. About four hours later and just a few miles before entering the park, I stopped at Mill Rock Point Overlook. A short 65 yard hike, and I was taking my first photos of the trip!

Shortly after that, I entered what is known as the “Grand Canyon of the South”. 200 million years ago the area was covered by a vast inland sea. Once the sea receded, the river that is now known as Russell Fork began the work of carving out an immense gorge, renowned as the largest east of the Mississippi.

I rode straight to the Visitors Center, and was immediately distracted by this historic log cabin.

It was while chatting with the woman at the Visitors Center, and hoping to quench my thirst, that I realized my first error in planning. There would be no traditional end of the day beer as there areNO ALCOHOL sales in the park! Ah well, at least I was able to enjoy a cold ice cream cone!

The park has several trails and I set off to hike a few of them. Most were less than a mile and all of them led to various views of the 5 mile gorge.

These images look similar but the clouds kept changing and I could not stop shooting!

It was 6 oclock in the evening and I met no one else on the trails and saw no one at the overlooks. Perfect!

From this vantage point, I was standing in Virginia and looking at both Kentucky and Virginia.

All I could hear was the sound of the river, the train, and hawks flying around overhead.

I had to chuckle as I came upon this sign and of course, ventured beyond.

After several hours of riding and a few hours of hiking, it was time to head to the lodge for supper. While I had to settle for unsweet iced tea, I thoroughly enjoyed the restaurant’s specialty of brown beans and cornbread. Time on the deck was the only dessert that I needed.

With the bike parked right outside my room, I settled in for the night. I managed to escape the rain this day, but I knew that there was a good chance I’d be riding in the rain soon.

Next Post: Onward into Kentucky

Virginia’s Eastern Shore

August 21, 2014 by LB

The day dawned and brought with it a hint of sun, a welcome change from the previous 3 days.

My plan was to travel over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Tucked between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, the Eastern shore is “defined by two elements: the fertile land and the water”.

I looked forward to going over the 17.6 mile Bay Bridge Tunnel and was happy to find that it had a visitors center and pier midway across the bay. Well you know me … I just had to stop and walk all the way out to the end of the pier before heading on my way.

It fascinates me that cars travelthrough a tunnel under the water in the break between the two rock edges.

Once back on the road, and knowing that I’d have much more time to explore the Eastern Shore the next day, I pushed on up to Bethany Beach, Delaware. After a short but wonderful visit with dear friends, I set out to explore a bit. On a borrowed bike, I hit a pretty bikeway which ultimately led me to the Indian River Inlet Bridge.

The view of the ocean and the Delaware Seashore State Park was beautiful.

Every bike ride should end with a cold beer, at least in my opinion, and I found that, and fish tacos, at Hammerheads Dockside. It was just the fuel I needed for the ride back over the bridge. After that, it was a quick visit to the beach and time to settle in for the evening.

The next morning, I was up early for the drive back down the Eastern Shore. I stopped in Cape Charles, a town founded in 1884 as the southern terminus of the New York, Philidelphia, and Norfolk Railroad. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this train town also boasts a water tower that looks like a lighthouse.

I found my way down to the bay and within minutes, I was out of my shoes, had rolled up my pants, and was enjoying the feel of the sand and the water.

The next stop was the Eastern Shore Wildlife Refuge. “Located at the tip of the Delmarva Peninsula, this area is one of the most important avian migration funnels in North America. Each fall, like colorful clockwork, the refuge is the scene of a spectacular drama as millions of songbirds and monarch butterflies and thousands of raptors converge on their voyage south”.

In addition to photography, the refuge offers the visitor opportunities for fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, and education.

I wish I’d had a kayak with me this day!

All to0 soon, it was time to start the trip back home to the mountains. While disappointed to leave the water and marine life, it was time to get home to prepare for my first post-wreck bike trip.

Next Up: Kentucky

Home!

August 11, 2014 by LB

Hello from the very rainy Commonwealth of Virginia!

I’m back from vacation, during which I saw very little sun, but had a wonderful time! Luckily, I only rode in about 6 hours of rain, 2 of which were the final hours before arriving home. If you were to visit me right now, you would see drying bike gear everywhere!

I’m anxious to catch up with your blogs and plan to visit within the next 24 hours! And of course, soon I’ll be sharing photos and notes from my travels. I’ll hope that some of our rain pushes west in order to provide relief to the draught stricken!

Purple Rain

August 8, 2014 by LB

Despite the rain on the Middle Peninsula last week, each morning I woke to the sounds of the Chesapeake Bay and the beauty of nature. As you read this post, which I wrote and scheduled before I hit the road, I’ll be riding through southeastern Kentucky.

Cross your fingers and hope that it’s not raining where I am, and I’ll hope the same for you (unless you are in draught conditions, of course!)

Fresh from the Bay

August 6, 2014 by LB

The first half of my vacation is over but the memories of the Middle Peninsula on the Chesapeake Bay, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and the beaches of Delaware keep me smiling. There is much I want to share with you but since I leave for Kentucky in the morning, I thought I would share just a few photos from our fresh crab and tuna steak shopping trip.

Aren’t the colors of those crabs vibrant? These photos are unedited; the color is true.

The fisherman working that day, saw my camera and offered to let me walk out onto this fairly rickety dock. From that vantage point I was able to photograph some of the surrounding docks.

The weather those first three days was what some might consider less than “beachy”, but for me and my friends, it did not matter.

We were happy just to be together and to explore the culture, marine life, and food that the Middle Peninsula of Virginia offers.

What an incredible place!

More photos from the coastline of Virginia and Delaware after I get back from my time on the bike! Next stop … Kentucky!

The Last Ride … For Now. The Great Smoky Mountains!

November 13, 2013 by LB

October 18th dawned clear and cloudy with temperatures in the 40s. Not one to typically wear leathers, I’d borrowed my friend Martha’s chaps in anticipation of a cold ride. I pulled out of my driveway at 8am, excited about my 4 day ride on the bike. The plan was to spend alot of time with my camera and also with friends along the way.

Little did I know when I posted to my blog that morning, that the trip would end the way it did.

The ride from my home to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) typically takes about 4 to 5 hours. I rode the interstate for the first three hours and had to pull over 3 times just to warm my hands and feet. By 10am though, the fog was gone, the sun was shining, and I was much more comfortable.

My first glimpse of the Smoky Mountains was so exciting and of course, I just had to pull over. The tops of the mountains were hidden by the clouds and I couldn’t wait to get there!

Before entering the park, the main drag through the City of Galtinburg has to be conquered. I wish I had a photo to share, but I was not about to try to find a place to park just to photograph the crowds of people walking and driving up and down the street.

Clearly, I had not done my homework. I would be entering the most visited National Park in the United States during the most visited weekend of the year – “peak weekend” for fall leaf color.

Oh my …

I successfully navigated Gatlinburg and entered the GSMNP. It was a beautiful day, and I prepared myself for a fairly crowded, bumper to bumper ride.

My first stop was the Sugarlands Visitors Center for the purchase of a helmet sticker.

I love to sticker up my helmet. It serves as a fun record of many of the places that I’ve visited on the bike.

Then, it was off to enjoy the ride.

I overheard someone complaining that the colors weren’t as pretty as in the past. Really? I was just so happy to be riding through these gorgeous mountains.

I kept stopping along the road and would laugh out loud with the pure happiness of being there. You’ve seen my photos of the park in B&W, but the landscape was stunning in color, too.

Despite the crowds, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

For those who are planning a visit, know that most of the crowd action is between Gatlinburg and Newfound Gap. It seems that most people drive up from the city, and then turn around and go back down. Once over the Gap, I kept on going, and I felt as if I had the road to myself. The sweeping curves made for wonderful riding and I was oh, so happy. Of course, I still continued to stop.

The ride over the mountain from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC is only 35 miles, but it took me a few hours because of the many stops that I made. One day allows you to see just a tiny fraction of the park. My friends, Sheila and John, have been hiking the trails in the park, over many visits and several years. This visit, for me, was just a small introduction.

An hour and a half later, I was in Weaverville, NC with my friends Delores and Gary, enjoying a delicious dinner after watching a lovely sunset. It was an amazing 350 mile day!

The next morning I hit the road to visit with more friends, this time in Flat Rock, NC. Gary took the last picture of me on my beloved 2013 Softail Slim. 6500 miles, no drops, no pipe burns … just one big wreck.

Donna, Joanne, Janet, and I enjoyed a wonderful lunch in Hendersonville, NC and after several laughter filled minutes of getting me back into my borrowed chaps, we posed for a photo … the last photo of my original smile. I rode along some beautiful roads, intending to meet up with my friend Christine and her family in Boone, NC.

Who knew that just 3 hours later, I would be in a bike wreck, hit while riding through an intersection. Thank goodness for DOT approved helmets, good fortune, amazing family, and wonderful friends! The bike is totaled, but I am not. I am healing from my injuries and hope to return to work in a week. I have much to process emotionally, and the wreck has caused pain, tears, time away from my patients and several life changes, but for now …

I am grateful to be alive.

And I will ride again.

Atlanta!

September 5, 2013 by LB

My friend Ruth and I traveled to Atlanta, Georgia this past weekend, the latest installment in our annual road trip to watch the Hokies. As avid Virginia Tech Football fans (and basketball fans, too, for that matter), we choose one away game to attend each year. We’ve traveled to Chapel Hill, NC; Huntington, WVa; Morgantown, WVa; and to Washington, DC and Atlanta twice. We try to find a town or place to explore along the way, and search out the historic downtown of any community we visit. This was our 5th year in a row, and our 7th road trip overall.

We posed for the traditional start of the trip photo and then hit the road!

The normal 6 1/2 hour trip turned into 9 due to a combination of Friday afternoon rush hour, labor day weekend, and football traffic. A stop in Kings Mountain, NC and dinner at the Cherokee Grill was just what we needed.

We finally saw the lights of Atlanta a little after 10pm. I was so excited about finally arriving that I attempted to take a picture … with my cell phone … while Ruth navigated the interstate at 65mph! This picture doesn’t reflect it, but the night skyline of Atlanta is beautiful!

The next day dawned hot and muggy, but we had plenty of time to explore a few of the neighborhoods of Atlanta while waiting for game time. Theresa, our host for the weekend, was an excellent tour guide.

Photography on a trip with friends is a bit of a challenge. How do you find time to shoot quality images while spending time with friends? I definitely want to document the trip but I don’t want to spend all my time behind the lens.

We explored the neighborhood near Emory University and had a delicious breakfast at the Rise-n-Dine.

Theresa drove us through the Krog Street Tunnel, which is known for it’s street art. I jumped out of the car and had less than a minute to shoot what the locals call their “living bulletin board and urban art gallery”.

The CNN Center and Olympic Park were both crawling with Tide and Hokie fans, although Virginia Tech fans were far outnumbered.

Virginia Tech met Alabama in the Georgia Dome, and while we did not beat the #1 team in College Football, our defense was outstanding. We held them to fewer yards and our offense gained more yards than most teams did in 2012.

Sunday morning came quickly and it was time to head back home. We briefly stopped in Spartanburg, SC and I wish we’d had more time to visit. The downtown area, while quiet for a Sunday, showed evidence of historic renovation and revitalization.

Loved this Urban Art installation called Artcycle.

The sun was bright at midday and the photos aren’t the best, but the artcycles were great!

Locally owned businesses have the most creative signage and curb appeal.

We were back in Radford in the late afternoon and had a short visit with friends who had gathered for labor day. A lovely way to end the weekend … even if we did miss the music.

Life on the Bike and other Fab Things

Whether it's one simple yet somehow perfect day or a dreamed about journey finally realized, I never want to forget the joy of the moment or how fortunate I am!

Category Archives: Road Trip!

On the Road

Kentucky and the “Niagara Falls of the South”

Breaks Interstate Park – Virginia and Kentucky

Virginia’s Eastern Shore

Home!

Purple Rain

Fresh from the Bay

The Last Ride … For Now. The Great Smoky Mountains!

Atlanta!

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