Back in Town

Last week was a vacation week.  This post won’t have a lot of cycling in it, just some trivia, and one new project idea.  If the trivia bores you, please skip on down to the project.

I spent most of last week in my old hometown.  Staunton, Virginia is a quaint and friendly town.  It hasn’t changed a lot since my time there.  The local folks have made a serious pact to “Preserve, Renovate, and Restore,” the old buildings, as opposed to demolishing them.  Most of the buildings in the town are post Civil War.  There are good reasons for that.  A lot of the architecture is very special.  Some of the old homes look like they would make great sets for the Adams Family.  For some of them, you can just see Lurch, Morticia, and Wednesday up on the ramparts, cauldron of boiling oil at the ready.

This one is under restoration.  Is that Lurch in the turret window?

This is the old "Smith Castle."  Quite imposing, yes?

The old "Commandant's Residence.  The students at Mary Baldwin College have, very appropriately set up a Halloween Haunted House in this one.

Picture this one with a darker motif, and you can definitely see the theme.

Yes, I did a lot of riding while I was up there.  It was good to visit the old places, and great to climb the plentiful hills.  And yes there are hills.  Lots of hills.  Great big, long, and steep hills.

The above is a picture of my bike, propped against the sign at Staunton’s Reservoir Hill Park.  That is the highest point in town.  There is no way to approach it that does not involve pain and suffering.

It was a great trip, and I’m glad to be back home.

New Project:

Necessary Background:  On the return trip from Virginia, we stopped in Waynesville, North Carolina.  We got re-acquainted with our friends Janey and Jeff at the Mountain Creek Retreat Center B&B.  While there, I was telling Janey about one of my favorite little rituals.  I like to get up there in the late Winter, or very early Spring, and do some good mountain riding.  I have several superb routes in the area, some with incredible climbs and descents, all with spectacular views.

Janey was talking about upcoming themed weekends.

The two ideas just clicked.  So here it is…

Bike Weekend In the Smokies

Along about late February, or early March.

We stay in a comfortable B&B, http://www.mountaincreekbb.com/  with a bit fireplace, wonderful food, and a peaceful surrounding.  Breakfast is part of the price of lodging.  It’s located just outside of Waynesville, NC, and about 40 minutes from Asheville.  There are excellent restaurants and good shopping in both cities.  Waynesville is about a four hour drive from southern metro Atlanta.  The weather there, in Late Winter, is usually pretty favorable.

Let’s make it a long weekend, with great riding on each day.  Think about a moonrise night ride in the southern Smokies.  Think about epic climbs and spectacular descents, on lightly traveled rural roads.  Think about it.

This is the first time I’ve mentioned this one.  I’m interested in seeing what kind of interest there is.  If it intrigues you, please let me know.  You can do that by leaving a comment on this blog, or by contacting me at The.Road.Dragon@Gmail.com

This is just a preliminary offer.  You aren’t committing to anything yet.  But please do let me know if you are interested in joining the group.