Photo link:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/xtmbZnmSo14T9nDq7
Friday September 6th –
Thursday September 19th
Laurel Creek RV Park, Damascus,
Virginia
We headed north into Virginia to visit Damascus, where we have vacationed several times. The main activity here is bike riding the Virginia Creeper Trail. This is a 32 mile rail trail that has a slight downhill grade. Damascus is about 17 miles into the trail, with the north end in the town of Whitetop and the south end in Abingdon. We rode the trail twice from Whitetop to Damascus. A shuttle service takes riders to the top and then we rode right back to the campground. Kurt did his usual ride uphill and met me at the top and we rode down together. We also rode the trail on our last day in town. It’s such a beautiful ride through the forest and valleys of the area. Part of the trail follows Laurel Creek. There are so many beautiful views from the trail. I rode south on the trail one day, just an 8 mile out and back. This part was not as pretty as the northern end.
We headed north into Virginia to visit Damascus, where we have vacationed several times. The main activity here is bike riding the Virginia Creeper Trail. This is a 32 mile rail trail that has a slight downhill grade. Damascus is about 17 miles into the trail, with the north end in the town of Whitetop and the south end in Abingdon. We rode the trail twice from Whitetop to Damascus. A shuttle service takes riders to the top and then we rode right back to the campground. Kurt did his usual ride uphill and met me at the top and we rode down together. We also rode the trail on our last day in town. It’s such a beautiful ride through the forest and valleys of the area. Part of the trail follows Laurel Creek. There are so many beautiful views from the trail. I rode south on the trail one day, just an 8 mile out and back. This part was not as pretty as the northern end.
Kurt
did find a mountain bike trail that he rode a few times. Iron Mountain Trail began
as a hiking trail and locals began biking the trail also. Kurt met a local guy
that he was able to ride with and the two guys became instant friends. Kurt
hopes that he comes to Florida sometime. They would both have a great time.
We
hiked a few forest trails with the dogs. First, we drove south into Tennessee 4
miles and hiked from the Backbone Rock trailhead. It’s a huge rock outcropping,
almost like a wall, where the trail leads up to the top and over a tunnel
created decades ago. It was challenging and fun. That day there were some Army
reserve soldiers that were climbing and repelling the rock wall. This is a
recreation area along Beaverdam Creek with a nice picnic area. Another day we also
hiked the Laurel Creek Trail from the trailhead south into Tennessee. This
trail followed the creek for several miles, where we turned around and headed
back. It was very pretty and the dogs loved running off leash. The last trail
we hiked was in the Jefferson National Forest on the Beartree Gap Trail which
heads uphill for 2.5 miles where it connects with other trails. The dogs also
enjoyed this hike and it was fun exercise for us all.
The
first weekend there, we attended the Washington County Fair in Abingdon. This
was a fun local fair with the typical farm animals, carnival rides and various
vendors. We went primarily to see the country rock bank, Confederate Railroad.
They were awesome with great music. It was worth the evening we spent there.
We did
a day trip eastward to Grayson Highlands State Park. The dogs went with us and
hiked also. This beautiful park is packed with trails, some easy and some
challenging. The Appalachian Trail also passes through the park. Within the
park, there are wild ponies that were introduced there years ago.
We really enjoyed our two weeks in Damascus. We will probably to back there one day. This area of Virginia is very beautiful and full of very nice people.
