Adventure for another day

The Guest River Gorge, home of the old Interstate RR's branch line from Coeburn, Va. to Miller Yard, Va., is highlighted by high cliffs, water falls and a high forest canopy covering knee high undergrowth of mostly ferns.  One tunnel and several bridges lead down 400 feet over the 5.9 mile ride.  You can practically coast the whole way down.  Once there, there is nothing but the (very) active CSX railroad (ex-Clinchfield RR between Elkhorn City, Ky. and Spartanburg, SC).  Nowhere to go, but back up.

An adventurous soul could ride along the CSX track (a rough ride on bike) for another mile and see the abandoned yard at Miller Yard.  All traces of the Interstate, except the hulk of the old coaling tower, are gone.  No yard tracks, no station, no hotel, no section houses, etc.  In fact, the forest has just about reclaimed the land.  CSX still maintains a couple of yard tracks there for MoW equipment storage.

The way back is obviously up hill, but it's an easy and gentle 2% grade (2 feet rise in 100 feet run).  It was only after the 11.8 mile ride that I noticed these strange looking objects in the parking lot at the trailhead.  These turned out to be bear-proof trash cans.   Mmmmm.

Well, it makes a good story.  I've been to both the trailhead and Miller Yard (by car on a gravel road), but I haven't ridden the trail yet.  Maybe I'll wait until the bears are hibernating to make that trip.  Or until I can get someone (slower than me) to go with me.  I don't have to outrun the bear, just the guy with me.  An adventure for another day.

The tunnel near the trailhead, looking back "uphill" toward the trailhead.

What's left of the Interstate RR at Miller Yard - one track (formerly the IRR main line) and the coaling tower.  The abandoned rail equipment belongs to CSX.  CSX's main line and passing track are about 75 yards to the left of here.  

The yard tracks in between (CSX/Clinchfield and Interstate) have been torn out and trees and brush have taken over.  All of the buildings (section houses, hotel, depot, boiler house and water tank) have all rotted and/or been torn down.  I could find no traces except for the foundation of the depot. 

My apologies to the Virginia Creeper Trail

Dear Virginia Creeper Trail,
Please accept my sincere apology. Although I've ridden your upper section (Damascus to White Top), in both directions, dozens and dozens of times I have avoided the lower section (Abingdon to Damascus) primarily due to negative comments made by (presumedly elitist) reviewers. Today, for the first time I rode that section and I must say it was spectacular. I intend to do it more in the future.
Sincerely,
Me

The most common "complaint" is regarding the gates.  The gates are annoying, but I understand the needs of the farmers whose land the trail cuts across.  For the most part, you don't have to dismount to negotiate them.  I think a couple are in the process of being removed and the more difficult ones to open are being replaced.  Still worth the "hassle" for the beauty of the ride. On this day, I arrived at Smith's Farm very early in the morning and the rising sun and clouds to the east were beautiful.

Looking back (north west) toward Abingdon at trestle #12 around 8:30 this morning.

My Bicycle

I'm just testing the waters here to see if I can figure this sh!t out.  Let's see....

Here's a photo:

This is my (old school,  late 1970's) ROSS all terrain bike (ATB).  It seemed like a small fortune I paid when I bought it, but it's nothing compared to what a comparable bike (if there is such a thing) costs today.  Now they have shock absorbers, hydraulic disc brakes, carbon fiber frames, blah, blah, blah, and a price tag in the thousands.

I just put new (fatty) tires on it and had the rims trued by the pros at Reedy Creek Bike shop.  I've gone over it with a fine toothed comb and everything is ship-shape, ready to roll.

I've probably put 12000 miles on this bike.  I used to ride 10-15 miles every weekday (weather permitting), then between 15 and 50 on a weekend day (usually Sunday).  Admittedly, the majority of these miles were on paved or dirt roads.  But a significant amount was trail riding.  I used to ride the Virginia Creeper before it got so wildly popular.  Even before the trestles were planked over.  Man that was a rough ride across those open ties.  My buddy and I would park outside of Damascus, and ride up hill to White Top and back.  Not many people ride up the mountain these days.  They take a shuttle to the top. It can be a little dangerous as groups of riders (10-20) come flying down the trail, not expecting anyone going the other way.

When my niece got married, we had a family group ride on the creeper.  Amanda and Mark, Mark's parents (David and Sue) from New Zealand,  Kenneth (Amanda's dad),  BJ (my wife), me, and our son Casey.

Miles of Smiles.   There wasn't a picture taken that day, that didn't have smiling faces in it. That was a fun day.