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BEVPRESLEY's Recent Blog Entries
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Saturday, October 16, 2010
We finished up our ride Thursday about lunch, had a picnic lunch at the trail head before heading off to Camp Cheerio. It is about an hour drive and thanks to Constance (our GPS) we took the scenic route. We arrived about 3 and I could just feel the stress leave my body as we passed through the gate at the end of the drive.
There have been some changes to the camp. They have added an open air chapel since last year. And the view at sunset is just stunning.
The view from the dinning hall is still fabulous.
The Y-guides were there with us Saturday, but we rarely saw them except at meals. This was father/child camp and we enjoyed watching some of their activities. They all had their tribe names on their tables, so we chose some for ours. We were the "Dances with Wools", the "Runs with Scissors", and "So Sew Me" tribes
We had the entire upper floor of the Sloan Center again this year. Lots of space, all the tables we needed, large covered porch all the way around, big screen tv with leather couches for the hubbies, wireless internet, use of all the camp facilities (canoes, basket ball, Frisbee golf, fishing, horses, ropes challenge course, climbing wall, tennis courts, soccer field, archery, and hiking trails) if we wanted them. Of course the hubbies made use of some of them, we ladies just wanted to sew.
We did have lots of show and tell going on. This was a row robin one of the ladies brought and was one of my favorites.
And of course we had to play some games. This is Left, Right, Center (a dice game) played for HSTs we had made before hand.
Saturday was our version of Sisters. We hung up our show and tell quilts and projects we had completed at camp. One of the dads with the Y-guides tried to talk Jennifer into selling 2 of her quilts.
And this year we made a bookshelf wall hanging and donated it to the camp for the director's office.
DH went for some trail runs while I was busy sewing away. I did get the camp quilt put together and assembled blocks I brought into 4 tops (for ME) which are in line to be quilted. Sunday morning we put the final touches on our pieces, then packed up and left after lunch. That is always a sad time. We had 5 that had never been to one of our retreats and 6 returning quilters. Two of us have made it to all 4. It is almost like a family reunion now, we miss the ones who couldn't make it and keep them updated with daily posts and pictures of our events. The hubbies all managed to occupy themselves and seemed to have enough things in common for some lively discussions. There is talk of making it Wed - Sun next year. I'll be there!
Tomorrow, the drive home.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Thursday morning would have to be a short ride. We were due at the quilt retreat between 3 and 4, and it was about an hour drive. So we decided to just ride from Galax since the hotel was about 1/2 mile from the trail head. We had ridden this part last time, but it is absolutely beautiful, so who cares. We got in 23 miles, and met some wonderful people from Mt Airy, NC at the junction.
While this is still called the New River Trail, it is actually along Chestnut Creek.
Most of the trail is open to horses, although we didn't see any. There is a camping area at Cliffview that has stalls for horse camping.
We startled some deer along the way.
The rail road used to end at Chestnut Yard, short of Galax, but was extended. You can still see the rim of the turntable.
There is a beautiful waterfall along the trail. There are also other hiking trails that come out in the same area.
There is a short tunnel close to the junction.
There are more bridges, some of them are quite long.
We made it back to the trail head, and the truck was still there. For us, that means a successful trip.
Tomorrow, the quilt retreat.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
We finished up the VA Creeper trail Tuesday and left for our next B&B in Fries, but it was closed and locked up. So we went to Galax and got a room. That caused us to re-arrange our rides a bit, so Wed we decided to go to Foster Falls and ride to Dora Junction (almost to Pulaski). The weather was much nicer, cool and windy, but no rain. The New River is actually one of the oldest rivers in the world, and runs north. We saw only 4 cyclists, no hikers or horses on the ride. How nice of VA to provide such a lovely trail just for us!
There is a nice state park at the trail head at Foster Falls with a shop in the station, but since we were off season, it was closed when we were there.
We found a fixer upper for our retirement, and it is for sale!
There were a lot of interesting rock formations. Note the bike on the left for scale.
And more lovely bridges along the way.
And a lot of amazing views.
We made it to Dora Junction!
One of the old signals is still standing.
More of the trail.
There is a stable at the park, and the New River runs right past it.
Today's ride was 43 miles. We spent the night in Galax again and rode another section of the New River Trail on Thursday before going to the quilt retreat. More later.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
In 2007 the members of the Quilt Forum on Garden Web Home Site decided we wanted to get together and actually meet one another. So, one of them set up a retreat at Camp Cheerio in Roaring Gap, NC. We arrive on Thursday afternoon and stay till Sunday lunch. What a wonderful thing she did for us, but more on that later.
The first year DH had just gotten us a tandem mountain bike. I said he was crazy, but we took it and went up early for the quilt retreat. We rode part of the VA Creeper, a Rails to Trails trail. It was mid October, leaves were beautiful, weather was damp and cool, but not bad. What a wonderful time we had. Then the retreat was on his week to work for 2 years and he didn't get to make it back. This year they made sure to schedule it on his week off, so we went up on Monday and did some rides. Monday we finished the section of the Creeper we had started (11 miles total), then Tuesday we rode from Damascas to Whitetop (19 miles, all up hill) and back (19 miles, all down hill). Monday was great, Tuesday we froze our tushies off. But it was a great ride, and I would love to do it again.
Monday we started in Damascus and headed toward Abingdon. Didn't have long to ride, but still got in about 11 miles.
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We stayed at the Apple Tree Inn Inn in Damascus. Thanks Deb for a wonderful time.
Then Tuesday we set off from Damascus to Whitetop. The day started great, then it started to rain and get colder. But we finished and had a great time.
We finished up and headed for our next stop, Fries, VA. However, due to a glitch with our B&B reservations (it was locked up) we had to change our plans and went to Galax, VA for the evening. Tomorrow, our ride on the New River Trail.
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