Virginia Creeper Trail

Wednesday we went camping with our friends Jerry and Jan.  They took us to Damascus, Virginia to bike the Virginia Creeper Trail.  The trail stretches 34 miles from Abingdon, Virginia down thru the lovely town of Damascus, (know as the Heart of the Va Creeper) along the Whitetop Laurel river and up to its highest point Whitetop Station near the NC State Line at Whitetop, Virginia.  We are only going to do a portion of it, but we didn't miss much!

We were in a great little campground the Creekside RV Park.

It's a great spot, right in the center of town (such as it is) and just off the bike trail.  That's us on the right and Jan and Jerry's rig on the left.

As the name suggests, it's right on the creek.

And just down the street, The Bike Station, where we rented my bike and caught the shuttle to the top of the mountain.

One of our neighbors in the campground.

We took a ride to the Backbone Rock Tunnel, said to be the "World's Shortest Tunnel". 

 It was constructed in 1901 for hauling timber from Tennessee to a nearby saw mill outside of Damascus.  There is a small hiking trail that goes across the top of the tunnel, that's where we're headed.

Up we go...

Yup, that's the trail...

 

Have I mentioned that I'm afraid of heights?

Right on the top of the tunnel.

On our way down on the other side.

Yup, just a scary as the other side!

The picnic area below.

Really?

With all the rain we've gotten all the rivers are really high!

Next, a ride around the cute little town of Damascus, the Appalachian Trail runs right through the center of town.

The Creeper Trail is a former rail bed as you can see from the old bridge work.

And we will, tomorrow...

The weather was so nice, we slept with the windows open, Thursday morning this is what we woke up to...Eeeek!

We caught the shuttle from the Bike Station around 10 Thursday morning, it took about half an hour or so to get up to the top.  It was pretty cool, maybe even cold at the top, especially in the shade of the trees and whipping downhill on the bikes!

One of our stops was at one of the many Christmas tree farms dotted around the mountain sides.

The view was great, but the sun felt even better!

Jan and Jerry (creeping behind the trees).

There we are... Jerry, Jan, me and Stu.

The Green Cove Station is the only original remaining depot building along the Virginia Creeper Trail.

What a cutie!  For a treat, the owner "shoots" him and he falls and rolls on the ground, too funny!

Privately owned, the depot served as post office, general store, and freight office.

Happy trails!

The locals referred to the train that climbed eastward into the Iron Mountains as the "Virginia Creeper", a name taken from the native plant that grows along the route.  A steam engine laboring up the mountain grades with heavy loads of lumber, iron ore, supplies, and passengers was also a "Virginia Creeper" in every sense of the word.

Yes, it was that cold!

These two black racer snakes were about half way out on one of the bridges catching some rays.

A nice little stop along the way for a picnic and/or swimming.

Beautiful scenery along the way.

Lunch at the Creeper Trail Cafe, a little over halfway down, and no we didn't get any cake.

In 1956 the last steam engine was retired from the line and replaced with diesel powered engines. By 1974, the Norfolk and Western Railroad Company petitioned the Interstate Commerce Commission to abandon the line.  In 1977 hard rains flooded and damaged most of the track and it was left in disrepair.  The trail was opened in 1980. 

Almost done!

The Appalachian Trail crosses the Creeper Trail in a few places...  From this point, the beginning of the trail at Springer Mountain in Georgia is 466.9 miles away and Mt Katahdin in Maine is 1,717.3 miles away!

Friday morning we decided to continue on the trail and go to the next whistle stop in Alvarado, which is 7 miles (one way) from the campground.  It was a good ride, not mostly downhill like yesterday, but good!

Nice little snack shop, unfortunately closed.

We've got to get one of these!

Friday night we went back to the Creeper Trail Cafe for a fish fry and a little Bluegrass...

Wow, that's all I can say!

Here is a little taste of the music, this young man is about 11 years old and did a great job!

                                  

We had a great time, they started playing at 7, by the time we left around 9:30 they were still going strong.  I think I counted, at one time, 6 guitars and about 13 people playing.  There were so many people standing by to play, there were not breaks, it was pretty amazing.

                              

We had a great time, so much so we are planning another trip up next month!  We may even get some "leaf peeping" in, we'll see!