𝆔🎜Almost heaven, West Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River𝆔🎜
Here is the Link
The soundtrack to our ride today as we crossed this self same terrain for the very first time. OMG, it was absolutely beautiful. We were both so sad when the ride ended and we found ourselves back at the hotel. We could have gone on forever on those beautiful country roads.
Map of the Day 229 Miles
I wish I could show you all the amazing pictures we took, but we just couldn't bring ourselves to stop the bikes to take photos, so there is only one. Rudy's got a wee video, but I'm afraid that's all you are going to get. Sorry kids.
Tomorrow we begin our ride to the Carolina's in earnest. Hopefully we'll have something to share with you tomorrow. Stay tuned.
Yesterday it was 80 something with more humidity than either one of us like. This morning, it was 42. The drama of hurricane Michael seems to have passed through and in it's wake we have this beautiful, crisp fall like weather. It's not entirely clear if we are out of the woods yet, but no weather to speak of today, so we remain hopeful.
Today's ride took us to one of Frank Lloyd Wright's Masterworks: Fallingwater. It was constructed in the middle of nowhere, in the woods surrounding Mill Run, for the Kaufman's, a prominent Baltimore retailer. I know you've all seen pictures of this home. It's one of the most well know of Wright's many projects. In person, it's really something to behold.
To begin with, the setting is absolutely stunning. I can't imagine a more idyllic spot to spend a summer day. And then there is the architecture. A technological marvel for it's day and 83 years later it still feels incredibly modern. In a word: Spectacular.
After our time with Mr. Wright we made our way back to Front Royal, VA. This is the point from which we will enter the Blue Ridge Parkway, but we aren't quite ready to go. We've got a beautiful route through the Shenandoah valley planned for tomorrow.
Yikes, there's a hurricane coming! Let's get outta here.
Our plan is to head North, which seems like an excellent idea, because everything South of us is being battered by Michael. We are zigging and zagging and working our way North trying to stay clear of the nasty weather our radar shows. We did okay, for the most part. Really only about 30 minutes in really bad weather. Wet, but not drowned. Can't ask for much more. Seems like the worst of it is behind us now and the next couple of days look really good. It's too soon to say how the storm will affect our plans as we move South.
It's the last day in Washington today and we still have so many things we want to do and see. Alas, it's clear that we won't be able to see them all.
We began our touring this morning at Arlington National Cemetery. This beautiful, touching, powerful memorial to all the men and women who have served our country seemed a fitting capstone to our time in Washington. It was indeed magnificent.
Our last stop on the mall was to the Hirshhorn Museum of contemporary art and sculpture. We saw a wonderful installation by an LA Artist: Mark Bradford. The piece is called Pickett's charge and it was amazing. The concept revolves around the idea that history, in all it's layers, is in the eye of the teller and always open to revision and reinterpretation. Mr. Bradshaw worked with images taken from the Cyclorama in Gettysburg that depict Pickett's charge, enlarged them and then layered other images from current historical events like the LA riots. The result was stunning and seemed especially resonate to the times we are living in today. It was wonderful.
Hurrican Michael has just turned into a thing and we are watching it carefully. Our hope is to get out of it's way tomorrow and head back up North to see Falling Water. We were on our way there when the bikes needed attention but we hate to be this close and miss it
Today we left New York and made our way back to Virginia to pick up our bikes from the shop. We'll spend one more day in Virginia before we get back on the road for real. It's been a wonderful stop in these two amazing, but very different, cities but we are both ready to ride. The next leg of our travels takes us deeper into the South and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Today’s Columbus Day and that means it’s time for a parade. New York really knows how to throw a parade and we started the day by watching the festivities on 5th Ave. After lunch we strolled the avenues of Mid-town and stopped to take a good look at St. John’s Cathedral. It’s a beautiful Cathedral, inside and out, but it feels a bit lost next to all the new tall and modern buildings surrounding it.
We took in a variety show at a venue that now occupies the space Studio 54 once did and then made our way home through the bright lights of 42nd street. We head back to Virginia in the morning. I’m a little sad to go, but the Blue Ridge Mountains await.
An old and unsightly abandoned elevated railway line gets a
face lift and becomes an amazing promenade – The Highline! What an achievement.
This promenade originates in the Village and travels through several neighborhoods
arriving finally at Penn Station. It runs about 1.5 miles in total. The whole thing
is amazing. Beautiful design. Amazing vistas. Simply brilliant.
We spent the afternoon in the amazing carnival that is
Central Park on a Sunday afternoon. So fun.
Today's adventure began at the Brooklyn Bridge. We walked about half way over this amazing structure. It's truly an engineering wonder and spectacularly beautiful to boot. Since we were already in lower Manhattan we paid a visit to the 911 memorial too. Powerful. And then we walked. Through Tribeca, SOHO, Little Italy, China Town, Greenwich Village and back to the Staten Island Ferry for a nighttime view of the city. New York never disappoints. She was as delightful as ever. We returned home with tired dogs and full hearts all ready to do it again tomorrow.
