Traveling E ...

 Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail "6.5 mile gravel trail in Amherst County, VA that's open year-round for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Follows the path of the former VA Blue Ridge Railway, which was a short-line railway that ran from Tye River Depot to Massies Mill. The trail was completed in sections between 2003 and 2010. " Not to far from our home ... hour or more ... is this nice slow or quick bike trail ... depending on how you are riding (driving, walking or horse riding??!!!) Bryan wished for a certain lunch spot but by the time we did the return trip it was packed with folks ... I joked that you should have taken it when you first went down but he said he didn't know if there was a better spot??!! Beggars can not be choosers ... is that not the saying??! Gorgeous farm land throughout the trails ... beautiful day ...not to warm or cool ... just right. We saw 2 snakes ... (1 black, Beth is cool with him but wishes him to move on ...the other one was try...

  This house in Dugspur, VA (we stayed for a week in end of August early Sept 2024) ... Carroll County, Route 221 ... such a beauty ... I think it was Air BNB or another such situation ... I forget all the names, the hubby is in charge there ...this was a location so quiet, off the beaten path (gorgeous gardens, enjoyed the decorative fencing, so well taken care of, the decor inside the home was so cute) ... surrounded by cows ... birds, all other critters. It such a nice time to just chill. Look at those views, those clouds ...the hosts were so kind, so friendly ... we have been so lucky to have found some of the best hosts ...really perfect ... she brought us homemade cake and tomatoes from her garden. We looked around her property ...so lucky are they ... glad they did share the views with us and what a blast!! A real welcome time to get there and just disconnect from the world and go to this heaven for the evening. After our biking trips and exercise it was nice to get out and ...

  A.J. Owens ... wondering who that is? I am guessing that it once was a store ... on a trip in late August early Sept of this year 2024. ... we saw these "store fronts" so fun ... just had to share. We were in southwest VA.  Puckett's General Store,  2903 Julia Simpkins Road, Hiwassee, VA 24347 (540) 315-2166 not sure you can zoom in ...but the "open sign" does say OPEN ...but when I tried to google this store it says CLOSED temporarily? I wonder??!! They sell Guns and Ammo from a sign lower there on the left side of the building ...in case you might be in need of that service?  Didn't get a head on shot of this beauty ... I enjoy the RED roof ... so eye appealing ... wondering? Didn't see any shoppers stopping in. This one when you zoom for me the writing gets really pixelized??! Oh well, Curious what the sell in there ... usually drinks and snacks. What do you find in local similar shops in your neck of the woods? On the side of the road, just a famil...

  New River Trail State Park, Virginia "New River Trail State Park is a 57.7 mile rail trail and state park located entirely in southwest VA, extending from the trail's northeastern terminus in Pulaski to its southern terminus in Galax, with a 5.5 mile spur from Fries Junction on the mail trail to Fries" Hey there, we took this trip early Sept 2024 end of August. Look at those gorgeous clouds, such fun days, several of them I could have taken a flannel but didn't and really was chilly at multiple spots on the trails, and when you arrived at the sunny parts I really had a chance to soak in the sun. So warm at those moments. Meet some great folks along the way, chatting about this or that. Meeting biking folks is always fun. There are several restroom stops along the way, no clue how or where they decide to put them but they are there for the important bathroom moments. So it wasn't too long ago. ... gorgeous temperatures. 3 total days, didn't take the whole tra...

Keeney Creek Railroad Bridge - Keeney's Creek Road Going towards  "Nuttallburg" , West VA, you go through (on) this really dirty gravel road and going back out we noticed this gorgeous "moss covered" bridge, so picturesque, can you see it there? it is almost hidden? I just caught it out of my side of the vehicle and the hubs said let's turn around and grab the view through our cell camera, it was a well traveled road (you are at times having to give right of way to allow passing because it is pretty tiny of a road, maybe that is just a West Virginia thing, I know some of the back road in VA or similar to that, but it is not the norm.) but we were able to get it before some else came down the road again ... would have really enjoyed getting a great view for like a calendar or such for Christmas photos and such. So picturesque. What a great state West VA is ... amazing!! Thanks, for stopping bye. Hope you are well. Beth ( ;

  2nd day - Brooklyn - Southside Junction Trail, West VA (6 miles long, below the Rend Trail) Not this was a super easy ride, unlike the rails to trails rides here in Virginia ...now I guess it truly depends on what you are hoping for ...I don't mind some bumps ...but these trails in West VA are nuts. So bumpy and rough. I ached for days. Look at that switch for the train ... it could be moved ... said "Bethlehem" which was a nickname I had as a kid, I didn't make it so ... others for some reason called me that? No clue why? lol!! We had never been down trails that we can recall that actually have the rails left. Now some of the railroad ties but not the melt parts and so on. SO DIFFERENT. Have you had a chance to see this in person, the railroad trails before? Thank you for stopping by. Hope you are well. Take Care. Beth ( ; 

  Rend Trail, West VA ( "Thurmond" view - 2 miles) first day of biking W.P. "Paddy" Rend, a determined coal operator, financed the construction of this to his mines at Rend (renamed Minden after 1905). Started in 1901, 4.83 miles, 5 trestles, and $350,000 later this line was completed in 1904. Soon after completion Paddy Rend sold the rail line to the C & O Railway and his coal rights to another mine operator for $1,250,000.  Construction of this line was anything but easy, Blasting rock necessary to widen the roadbase for the railroad line. Look drill marks as you cross some of the trestles. Last train in 1968 - a few years before the rocks separated from the hillside. today this trail serves in transportation corridor for determined hikers, bikers, and wildlife. Plants narrow the trail and gravity will always be in... (Please realize the sign was kind of curved so some of the words are not there, hope this make sense to you, if not maybe add a word or 2 to ma...