Our Bike Ride from Whitetop to Damascus - Virginia Creeper Trail

On July 25, we went to Damascus, Virginia... Taking our two hybrid bikes along for biking the Virginia Creeper Trail; down hill that is!

VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL...
The trail runs on a rail right-of-way dating to the 1880s -- first belonging to the Abingdon Coal and Iron Railroad.

In the fall: Virginia Creeper Trail just click through to go to their website.

We had arrived in Damascus, Virginia after driving up from Georgia, 377 miles or 607 km.
To the right, behind the trees is the Laurel Creek that the trail keeps following.

Our stay was at the lovely Mountain Laurel Inn, Damascus Virginia.

We booked the Rambo Suite and this is the bedroom where we slept for 2 nights.

So we got all rested and well fed with a delicious and per request, healthy breakfast.

Early in the spring on April 11, I'd secured us two tickets on the Sundog Outfitter shuttle up to Whitetop area at 10:00 AM from where we started our descent around 11:00 AM.
Laurel Creek is seen here.

Mount Rogers

National Recreation Area

Whitetop Station from where we rolled down...

It is all inside the Jefferson National Forest, Virginia

We were very lucky with the weather as you can see!

Ample parking space right at the Sundog Outfitter, we left our car there.
Our two hybrid Trek bikes got unloaded off the trailer at Whitetop Station...

Yep, we had to carry lots of water with us for this longer ride!

My Dachshund Mauzie's bike basket comes in handy all the time for having things on hand.

Pieter also added a tiny basket on his bike.

As seen in the above Fall Leaves photo from the Sundog Outfitter website, we constantly kept crossing Laurel Creek and it was only on these wooden bridges where we could warm up in the sunshine!

Constantly under a canopy of trees in the shade made it rather chilly, with the wind we produced by going down...

It is rather difficult for riding the bike through the coarse gravel and watching out for the natural rocks sticking out in the trail! At times it was slippery wet as the sun never reaches the trail with the leaves on canopy of trees above us.
So we took in the view of the wild streaming Laurel Creek when on the bridge!
That's when we fully could enjoy our surroundings.

Yep, on the shuttle ride up they warned us that every year they have to send in helicopters for rescuing people that have severe accidents!
We really watched out as there also were some nasty pot holes and with both hands on the steer and fingers on the brakes we did it.
Laurel Creek again.

Grade of 5.5% at 1,092 m elevation or 3582 feet.
The first 3 miles were the steepest and it got scary to go full speed...
Then we got used to it and stayed alert but enjoyed it more.

To the left of Pieter you can see the wild Laurel Creek with all its rocks.

Bet in winter time after the snow melts that it can be very high and roaring!
There even is a cable attached to the bridge (seen to the left) from keeping it in place I guess when the force of water wants to move it away...

Both of us were amazed at the little kids that paddled along with their parents and it sure is a perfect family outing and a healthy one.

There are also places down the trail for grabbing a bite and a drink for those that want to do so.
We did enjoy our snacks and fruits while on the wooden bridges in full sunshine.

One TIP for others. bring a light jacket for the top part as it gets rather chilly, even on a hot summer day in July but due to being in the shade and creating your own wind...
Warming up on the bridges under the sun was heavenly!

These wooden bridges were quite high above the roaring water!

Nearing the end of our trail, well we only did the 17 mile stretch but you can do 17 more to the next place!

This was easy rolling and for making good speed.

Right back to the parking lot at Sundog Outfitter where also our car was parked...

But before getting off his bike, Pieter fell in the gravel and hurt his knee... Sure, his blood thinners make it look a lot worse.
I did have lots of bandaid in my little back pack so I patched him up at Sundog Outfitter after cleaning it up with some peroxide they handed me.
We had us a Cappuccino (Pieter) and a Tea at Mojo's Trailside Café, right next door as you can see in the previous photo.

Pieter enjoyed his Jerk Chicken that got served in an elegant way!

Mojo's Trailside Café had delicious Sea Bass for me. Loved the mango and asparagus served with it.
Really great restaurant!

Yes, we did capture this Adventure on Relive.cc and it was worth it!

A total of 28.4 km or 17.6 miles.

Hope you enjoyed it and thanks for your visit and comment.

Our New Caribbean Light Comforter & Biking at Sea Pines Resort Bike Trail

July 14 was French Bastille Day and due to that Yves Delorme Outlet was offering a 20% off...

That was the perfect time for investing in our new Carribbean Light Comforter, the lightest down duvet they offer! We had already the Mediterranean but that was still too heavy for our summers here in the South.

Happy with the purchase and even if they did not have it at their store, they offered free shipping as part of the Bastille Day Offer.

So we went to our Hyatt Place Hotel and had a lovely dinner at 201 Seafood Restaurant which is within walking distance.

 Happily eating my Tuna Steak with Carrot-ginger purée, seasoned red rice, cucumbers and carrots!
A rather oriental flavor.

Forgot to take a photo so I'd already eaten a bite...

Pieter enjoying his Seafood Risotto

Fresh scallops, shrimp, mussels, tossed with vegetables and risotto dancing in a hot wok with a saffron sauce, a pepper aroma and a touch of parmesan cheese...
You sure don't mind walking a little after such a meal!

French Bastille Sale was a good one for us!

Our New Queen: Caribbean Light Down Comforter from Yves Delorme and probably the down came from Eastern Europe...

They shipped it out FREE and it arrived with nice card enclosed.

You bet, we slept like roses under them already!

The weather forecast was excellent!

On the 15th of July, it was just one centigrade cooler than in Dublin... where it was 37ºC or 98.6ºF

We went biking on Sea Pines Resort Bike Trail...

Here we have our break with some chocolate dessert and mandarins; nice combination!

 There are benches and you almost constantly bike in the shade under a canopy of trees.

I did walk to the beach...

This is along the bike trail a Great blue heron fishing for his noon snack!

It feels so lovely to be in nature!

A very lovely route we biked!

It was exactly 15 km so not too much... or 9.3 miles.

Back to our Hyatt Place and you can see our bikes on the bike rack, parked opposite the hotel's shuttle bus.

Lazy afternoons at the pool and swimming. Then a shower and our walk to 201 Seafood Restaurant again and next day we drove home after a lazy morning at the pool...

It is great for having this within 1 hour and 45 minutes driving distance and that is also where we depart for our flights, from Hilton Head/Savannah Airport - so convenient!

Thank you for your visit and comment.

Related links:

Sea Pines Hilton Head Island, South Carolina BIKING | previous post by me

Sea Pines Resort Bike Trail, South Carolina | previous post by me

Walking Through Knoxville, Tennessee

While staying at the Hyatt Place in downtown Knoxville, we were conveniently close to several parks.

So we walked from the Hyatt to the nearby Market Square.

For husband Pieter, being a longtime Rotarian since May 11, 1976 and having been President of the Dutch club in Venray over the year 1978, this was a must photograph!
Rotary's Global Polio Eradication Campaign is near to our heart.
October 24, is again World Polio Day and we know a special Rotary Friend from Jakarta, his touching story can be read below blog...

Interesting Aluminum part in large scale!

Back side..

Nature was so lovely on April 4!

We walked past the Hilton Hotel, where Pieter stayed in 1986. To the right you can also see the Knoxville Sunsphere.

Close to the World's Fair Park also...

Closeup of the blooming Redbud right on its trunk; seen in the above photo on the left.

A very special Rachmaninoff Statue

Rachmaninoff: The Last Concert By Victor Bokarov, Sculptor
In honor of Sergei Rachmaninoff's last concert's performed in Alumni Gymnasium on the campus of the University of Tennessee
February 17, 1943
Donated by
Victor Bokarov of Russia to the City of Knoxville
Erected, July 2003

Smelling the perfume of Daphne odora!
We tried this shrub once in our garden but it is too hot for it to survive...

 Closeup of these beauties!

This is Knoxville's Federal Courthouse
Beautiful architecture!

Back to our Hyatt Place and now we ride the elevator to the Rooftop!

If you wish, you can enjoy here cocktails with a spectacular view!
Seen to the right is the Federal Courthouse.

Great view and you can even see the nearby mountains...

Yes, we were also conveniently close to the Interstate, where I did continue my journey next day for visiting sweet blog-related friends Patricia & Roland, in Ohio, near Lake Erie, who had suddenly lost their eldest daughter due to surgery complications.

That day I too walked in Pieter's Footsteps from 1986 when he studied at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

We did have a very warm visit with our sweet friends, they are Catholic just like we are and we left from our Hyatt Place in Canton, OH after 2 nights and drove to the Hyatt Place in Asheville, NC.
Again a visit to dear friends in East Tennessee and next after 2 nights I started the journey back to Georgia.

Yep, I'd done 1987 miles or (of is Dutch) 3198 km...

Related posts:
Taking Husband Pieter back to Knoxville, TN in Mom & Dad's Footsteps | previous post
SO Proud of my NONAGENARIAN | previous post
{World Polio Day - Nobody's child everybody's man - Jakarta Post} | previous post
{October 24, 2012 is World Polio Day} | previous post