mikebike: Happy Birthday Jen --- & Grayson Highlands

Happy Birthday to a good friend and fellow cyclist Jen from Delaware. Her birthday is tomorrow. She did the ride across America with us last year. She is the smiley one in the front (click for a bigger view)

We just got back from camping in the mountains of Virginia

We left Ocala on Thursday am about 4:30 and arrived here about 3:30 pm . We got a great site (number 23). The site is on the right side with a nice view down into pretty woods – we are at 4300’ elevation.

After setting up Derek and I headed out on a bicycle ride. We rode down the mountain to the rangers station and then back up to the top about a 4 mile climb with some 9% grades.

Later that evening our friends from Pennsylvania got there and set up.

The next morning we climbed up Massey gap and went up the bluffs to the right --- nice free climbing. In the afternoon we headed down Wilson creek and climbed up the rapids and swam in the mountain stream water. Like my friend Jeff says once you are numb you hardly notice it is cold water.

Today Saturday we hiked up two of the peaks on Wilburn ridge. Great hikes and scenery
All the flowers were in bloom and the wild horses were friendly.

Sunday AM it rained so we hung around camp and read a bit. We then went up to the visitor center which has a nice store with lots of mountain made things- Bern likes to buy their pot holders as the price is right, they look good and they last a long time.

In the afternoon Josiah came in on a bicycle. He is on a trip to Colorado via the bicycle. We helped him out with some ground cover, food and tips. He was a vet (26 years old) had been to Iraq and just graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. We did a hike to Cabin Creek and climbed up the rapids in the water. We also hiked twice that day to Little Pinnacle from the visitor center (very short hike with a GREAT view.

Monday AM we hiked with the Aikens on a trail from the picnic area Rock Ridge trail. Nice trail but not spectacular. Then we bid farewell to the Aikens as they had to head back to Pennsylvania. Shortly after they left we saddled up the bicycles and rode about 13 miles west with Josiah before wishing him Godspeed on the rest of his journey. The trouble was it was 13 miles down hill which meant 13 miles back up to the campground.

The neat thing is after riding across the country nothing seems too difficult – it is funny how much that trip affected all of us regarding our perspective on life.

Tuesday, we hiked a trail called Listening rock – nice trail along the edge of a mountain and it had several scenic overlooks and some Huge boulders to climb on. When we got back we had lunch and then Derek and I both went on a bicycle ride separately. It was kind of funny cause all there is to do here riding wise is up or down which translates into 45 + mph or 6-7 mph. --- seems kinds of funny to ride and only average 11- 12 mph.

Wednesday we hiked up the AT (Appalachian Trail) then split off onto Wilburn Ridge we climbed 3 peaks in succession heading up the trail. There is a fair amount of scrambling on the peaks. This basically involves some hands and feet but no need for ropes. Derek had an interesting time with one of the wild horses. He fed it an apple then it would not leave him alone – to the point of chasing him and cutting him off from his intended path. It was fun to watch although Derek may tell it differently.

The weather here has been chilly the last two nights it was in the 40’s but then it gets up to near 70 in the afternoons. The last two evenings I sat in a circle of bluegrass pickers and played the harmonica whenever they played in the key of C or G – I should have brought my other ones.

after a 11.5 hour drive we are home again.
here are some pics :