The Virginia Creeper Trail is one of the
crown jewels of our nation's growing
Rails-to-Trails network. Judy and I have
been eager to bike it ever since we completed
the New River Trail in mid-state Virginia.
Below is the Virginia Creeper vine which
lends its name to the trail.
Here's a little background on the trail's
creation. What a great use of resources.
Note the bear warning adjacent to the trail map.
A forecast for off-and-on rain deterred me
and Judy from renting bikes for a 15 mile
cruise. Instead, armed with a trail map showing
all back roads, we set out to various trail access
points and went on several hikes of varying
length. Although we carried our umbrellas on
some, the rain never interfered with our fun.
Note the small brown marker "4" on the bridge.
All the trestles and bridges on the trail are
numbered from Abingdon (where we stayed)
to Whitetop (where we picked apples a few
years ago. We saw some beautiful sights
along the way. This was at a former train
stop called Watauga.
Mulberry trees were plentiful with their
interesting varying-shaped leaves.
Trestle # 18 was really cool.
# 22
There were pulloffs all along Highway 58
where you could walk just a few steps and
be on the trail.
This is one of the old mile markers that
follow the trail.
We encountered a sprinkling (pun intended)
of hardy bikers with ponchos or jackets who
didn't let the weather alter their plans.
The Appalachian Trail crosses the Virginia
Creeper Trail at various points. At this spot
there was an AT "detour." We learned that a
bridge had been totally washed away on the AT.
Judy took this one of me beside the beautiful
mountain stream that wound its way down
from the highlands toward Damascus, the
lowest point on the trail.
It was exciting every time we could glimpse
another bridge through the filter of the leaves.
On a hot day these waters would have
been oh-so refreshing.
Apparently this rocky sandbar has been
established for a long time, judging from
the size of those saplings.
Rattlesnake Plantain, one of my
favorite wild flowers. None present
on my SFL Nature Trail, but I know
of some near Farm Life School.
Here I noted that invasive kudzu has
even encroached on these seemingly
isolated spots. Brought by man, of course.
Another scenic trestle
Another of my favorite wildflowers, Chicory.
At a small park in Damascus, midway between
Abingdon and Whitetop, this restored caboose
welcomes trail visitors and recalls a time when
the Virginia Creeper train made the long pull up
the mountain and the steep descent down the
mountain on a daily basis.
This small-scale locomotive was also at the
park but with no explanation of its story.
Bridge # 16 was also at the park. I snapped
pictures while Judy gathered some apples.
I love to envision the old locomotives
thundering across the trestles in days gone by.
Before day's end, we were back in Abingdon
where the trail begins. Standing on the trail
you can actually see our Bed & Breakfast,
Black's Fort Inn (see previous blog).
And since it is the beginning of the trail,
here is trestle # 1.
I loved seeing old and unusual trees along
our route.
At the Abingdon trailhead you can see a
locomotive that really did make the steep and
sometimes treacherous climbs in the old days.
On a future trip we'll still plan to bike the
trail. But it worked out very well, getting
to know the trail a little more intimately on
foot first. In the same way a biker has time
to observe much more than a motorist, a
hiker has even more time to stop and admire,
ponder, and meditate on the wonder of his
surroundings.
One more blog post coming up.
The terror of Backbone Rock!
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