55 miles - Total mileage 182 - Daily average 60 miles
Average speed 16.3mph
Just east of Richmond the TransAmerica Bike Trail heads north toward Ashland then continues west into Charlottesville and up Afton Mountain. The trail continues south on the Blue Ridge Parkway for 30 miles. We are taking a slight detour from the published route and riding through Richmond and due west toward Scottville, up Route 156 pass Crabtree Falls to the Blue Ridge Parkway. We will rejoin the TransAmerican Trail at the intersection of Route 156 and the Blue Ridge Parkway. From this point we will descent into Vesuvius.
By making this detour we will be missing several key historial points of interest. In Virginia the trail passes the residences of three pass US Presidents. John Tyler's home on Rt 5 in Charles City Co, James Madison's home in Montpelier and Thomas Jefferson's home at Monticello. Unfortenuately we will miss Jefferson's and Madison's home. Equally we will miss the home of the world known "Cookie Lady" June Curry. Since 1976 when the original Bicentinnel Bike Trail began June Curry has been giving fresh baked cookies to cross country cyclist from her home on Afton Mountain. Over the years she has purshased the home adjacent to hers and made it available for showers and overnight stays for any cyclist. She is a true legend and her generosity is know throughtout the world.
To begin the day I left Richmond at 9:15am. The weather was 60 degrees, humid, cloudy with some drizzle. I headed west on Patterson Ave from Route 288. There was a very interesting sight as I arrived at the Dept of Correction James River Farm in Goochland. A dozen inmates were crowded around a horse who was laying on its side being cared for by a vet. It was a strange sight watching the inmates in their orange prison garb with intent looks of concern on their faces as they watched the vet tend to the stricken horse. I would have liked to have taken a picture, but assumed it would not have been appreciated.
Later in the morning the weather cleared and it was great riding. The road was flat with some rolling hills. Terrific last mile and a half downhill toward the James River and into the Town of Scottsville.
Arrived in Scottsville at 12:30 where Joey was waiting to bring me back to Richmond. Before returning to Richmond we stopped in Charlottesville for Gyros at the Tip Top Restaurant on Afton Mountain.
Stopped at this closed store near Columbia for a break
Joey Downtown Scottsville
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