Into Virginia

Friday I drove down to Job and Still Hollow distillery makers of some fine moonshine. Legal operation. Driving WVA roads is more challenging than SE Ohio and PA. Country Roads take me home. Google navigated me right to the distillery.

Still Hollow

Site chosen for spring flowing over limestone

source of water, spring
the workings

Quite a story about sustainable converting heritage locally grown corn converted to sipping, spent grain fed to local cows whose eliminations are put back onto the corn fields. Wood was locally felled and sawed and used for building.

result of their effort, mighty fine sipping whiskey

Next was ride with Susan from her house.

Looking east from Sue’s

Said it would be mellow to ride out to a peak for views. She wore knee protection. Hmm. Started on social trail that is almost non existent wending its way over moss covered ground over rocks and roots. I rode what she rode, she was kind to my level of expertise.

Local ski hill
Sue Haywood

I left Davis heading to Virginia on new divided highway. Noticed a ridge line which was heavily packed by wind turbines. The blads make a whooshing sound.

wind turbines

My plan was to drive up to Shenandoah NP and camp. I made the park entrance gaining free admittance using my senior pass. I learned that all of the campgrounds are full. Plan B. Drove ridge road for 30 miles to Luary exit then down into said town seeking a sleep spot. Chain motel parking lots struck out. Park and ride was private, airport gate was secured, headed towards hospital looking for DR office parking lot. Spied a side street with an empty building on one side and small houses on the other. Spot was sloped sideways but some of the bubble was in the smallest circle. Nervous sleep at best. dashed from there without fixing breakfast heading to Harrisonburg, VA, home of Shenandoah Bicycle Company and owner Tim. This was the first shop where I broke into hanging at a shop and being part of the mountain biking community. This is where I met Sue. Short visit

I drove out to Narrowback ride out near Stokesville. A mountain biker bought land there and made a mountain bike hang out. Torturous lane in and out to the filled XG. Plan B spot. Drove out to rd that leads to Narrowback TH. Drove more than a mile in only to be stopped by a locked gate. I planned on camping off that rd. Shit. Wheels are starting to wobble. Decided to drive down to Douthat SP but instead of turning left to leave I turned right heading for a FS XG leading past the closed road. Right around the corner was the TH parking lot I remembered but forgot where it was. Score. Pulled in.

I saw small patches of blue sky as I pedaled 3.5 miles of gravel rd to Dog Graves and the start of the climb up onto the narrowback. Rock here is different than PA’s as it seems drier and free of moss. Smaller chunks many which are loose.

Narrowback trail
rocks

A hump at 17.7 miles climbing 1932′

Forecast called for rain. I put the cover over the bike before bed. In the morning a rig pulled in with 2 bikers who geared up and pedaled away. rain started shortly after they left. I was getting ready to leave when they returned looking like drenched , well, riders.

I drove out to pick up rt 42, a scenic road, to Clifton Forge and Douthat SP. Back country drive, hilly with bottom land, appears what can be tilled is so, steeper is still covered w’ hardwood forests. Overcast, o colors.

Arrived at Douthat SP. Paid $5 entry fee. Drove to parking lot where the MTB Project IMBA Epic ride started from. I fused the info till I found the trail. I carried my rain coat and wore my windshirt.

viewshed

 

Steep hike a bike climb to top of mtn. Once on top the trail ran the ridge line before dropping down to valley floor. Tread is obstructed by fallen leaves which hide gotchas. Drop down was enjoyable. Trail crosses Little Creek at the bottom on a suspension bridge. Shit: Steep ladder going up to get on the bridge and prolly the same on the other side.

almost the crux of my ride

I managed to push my bike up the steep ladder then bounced across. At the far side a couple arrived, the guy stood at the bottom of the ladder. I asked and he agreed to help me lower my bike. Crux solved. Pedaled back to van. I bailed on completing the entire epic riding just 9.21 miles but climbing 2047′ needing 1 hr 29 mins of effort. Hard ride from the steep climbs.

Park wants $31 per night with no internet service. I stayed at a place past the park in the USFS but decided not to check it out because of possible probable soft ground and again no internet. I drove out of the park landing at a spot almost on an interstate ramp, I had stayed here previously. Has 3 bar service to write this. One semi was backed in leaving room. Later a second rig backed in reducing the free space. I can juke to get out. If another truck backs in I will be parked in.

Tomorrow is continuing to Brevard. Weather forecast again is for wet.

Temp is down into 50s during the day and low 40s at night. Sweet furnace keeps me snug.

Just saying that riding here in the Appalachians is very challenging. You riders from the west that don’t visit here lack the experience of these rides to say nothing of the scenery.

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