… I can still enjoy the beauty of Southwest Virginia from the truck! It took me an hour longer than usual to get home from the 80th Birthday Celebration (see below) because I was traveling under this amazing sky and through these lovely mountains.
Aren’t I lucky to have such healthy, happy, and FUN parents?
This past Sunday found me needing some time on the bike, in a long, solo ride. Too many thoughts were jumbled around in my head and I needed to sort some things out. So I plotted my route and headed out for Burkes Garden.
Bowl-shaped Burke’s Garden is the highest valley in Virginia, and is named after James Burke who “discovered” the area during the 1740s (of course the Native Americans discovered it first). The historical marker notes that “the threat of Indian attack and the remoteness of the area discouraged permanent white settlement until the early 19th century”. It is still a very small community and the only store is closed on Sunday.
The ride to Burke’s Garden and back is one photo opportunity after another.
Old churches
Farms and the product of farming
Images that harken back to another time and warnings about eternity
I loved her little face peeking back at me.
While these 4 photos all have an organized religion theme, they represent 3 different churches.
And of course some fun, twisty roads.
By the time I arrived home, 5 hours and 150 miles later, I was in a much more peaceful frame of mind
I am so lucky to have this view right outside my office door!
I love the variations in color – the greens, tans, blues, whites – and then there’s that trailer!
I just LOVE the first long rides of the summer!
Those who truly love riding motorcycles, will ride all year long. Even on cold winter days, as long as the sun is shining. Winter rides are incredibly satisfying but they’re often shorter in duration, with far fewer miles covered. So when the warm weather arrives, the long riding begins, and there is nothing like it!
This past Saturday, during the middle of an early morning hair appointment, I got the call to ride. My two favorite bikers, Dave and Michael (My Guys) are great friends, awesome mentors, and have taught me so much about riding these past 5 years. They told me I had 10 minutes to be ready (I made it in 15) and off we went!
We rode 350 miles, through 8 counties, and on too many country roads to count.
This bridge was built in 1896 and was just closed to traffic this past year.
I’m told that this tower was used to measure river water levels.
It was a glorious day for riding!
Lunch at Devils Backbone Brewery offered much needed fuel for our bodies, and then we turned and headed for home.
We hit the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) and pulled back into Radford around 8pm that evening.
Sunday morning found us back on the bikes, this time joined by our good (and fun!) friends Cherie, Tim, Diana, and Jeff. Dave always leads the way and while I may not always know where we are headed, I am always confident that the ride will be a blast!
Total mileage today was 145 miles.
After a brief stop at Tuggles Gap, a restaurant and motel serving BRP customers for over 70 years, we took off in earnest.
Wide sweeping curves on the BRP and much tighter curves on Rt 8 in Floyd and Patrick Counties, eventually took us to Squirrel Spur.
Our final stop was the Kanawha Valley Arena. The arena “was formed in the interest of Equestrian Enthusiasts” and in addition to the professional arena, barn, and corrals, Kanawha has a Carriage House Museum and a Carriage House Saloon.
And a covered bridge!
This scene just made me chuckle and I had to take a picture!
What a weekend on the bike! I simply can’t wait for the next one!
After traveling toward home from Raleigh NC in 3 hours of driving rain, I was glad to see the clouds finally part. In the distance, visible from the interstate was Shot Tower Historical State Park, located in Wythe County, Virginia. Even though I’d driven by it many times, I’d never visited and decided it was time.
Overlooking the New River, The Shot Tower was built more than 150 years ago to make ammunition for the firearms of the early settlers. http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/shottowr.shtml
Doesn’t it figure that the park was closed for roof repairs!
Disappointment was brief however because right there at the intersection of Shot Tower Rd and Pauley-Flatwood Road, were several old farm buildings that begged attention from my camera.
Though the rain had stopped, the mists over the mountains created a beautiful backdrop.
I’m not much of a gardener. The colors in my yard are there by luck and happenstance (okay maybe a teeny bit of work by me). Thankfully others, including Mother Nature, have placed color in my yard, along my drive to work, outside my office and in the farms nearby.
Well … wine is colorful too, right?
The New River
Not the best photo, but those cows were watching every move I made
Too bad about those power lines in these next two
Guess I should learn more about photo editing
It’s almost time for the first bike trip!!
This is the final post of three that features photographs from one beautiful afternoon session on a farm (and actually, the photos in this post were taken at two different farms that are down the road from one another).
Meet Clyde …
and Sadie
Hickory lives on a farm down the road (I am reposting his picture because I like him so much!)
There’s a spring on the farm where Hickory lives …
and a rock wall nearby.
About a month ago, I posted a photo of a red barn that I had been eyeing from the road for over a year. I took that picture while leaning way over the fence. The owner gave me permission to access the land and so this past Saturday I spent some time walking around taking pictures of the barn and miniature horses. It was a bright, beautiful day, so much so that the red on the barn was a bit washed out in the sun.
How strange that just two days ago, I was walking around on a sunny 50+ degree day and ever since, we have had low temps and a Christmas type snowfall.
Fall leaves … in a snowshower … at the beginning of spring
Close Ups of the Barn
Coming Soon!! More Shots from the Farm but from a distance!
The Roanoke Valley is as rich in history as it is in natural beauty and has played a vital role in the growth of Virginia. The Wilderness Road migration route, traveled by pioneers in covered wagons on their way to settle the frontier, passed right through the region.
Roanoke is the 10th largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the largest municipality in Southwest Virginia. Formerly known as Big Lick, because of it’s numerous salt marshes (or licks), the city was renamed Roanoke in 1881.
Roanoke became a crossroads for the railroad, which eventually became the Norfolk and Western Railway. Its historic market, which also began in these early years, remains vibrant as one of the oldest in the country and still is an anchor of downtown commerce (http://www.visitroanokeva.com/visitors/history/roanoke-history/).
It was a lovely morning in Roanoke … perfect for a quick stroll around the downtown market area.
The variety of windows caught my eye
Historic Signs and Newer Signs
Old Buildings
And New
Inside the renovated market building
Outside on the market square
Downtown Roanoke has much more to see … restaurants and pubs, museums and historic hotels, renovated buildings and shops. Festivals too! You should come check it out!
While traveling to visit the GOAs in Richmond (see Feb 15th post), I had the chance to stop in Roanoke to meet my friend Ralph for lunch. It was a bright, sunny day and since I had some extra time, I was able to take some really fun shots of the downtown area.
I’ll be sharing more pictures later … this one is just to introduce you to this Southwest Virginia city, population just under 100,000 people.
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 