Roanoke trip, '07

In April of '07, the group took a trip that we had planned for several months. Some of our group had wanted to ride the BRP in Virginia, while others had wanted to visit Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello. We decided to combine those ideas and the trip was on.

We chose Roanoke as our jumping off point and sort of anchor for the three days. The first night was spent there. The next day we rode the parkway and some byways to get to Monticello. It is a fascinating place that is a definite reflection of our third President. Thomas Jefferson was a statesman, farmer, businessman, surveyor, scientist, and inventor. His life is forever imprinted on America and his contributions are herculean. I don't need to describe Monticello to you here. Jefferson spent forty years building, adding on, and remodeling the house. If you wish to know about it, there are volumes of information available. Use Google.

We left Monticello, paid a visit to Michie Tavern and filled our stomachs. Servers are dressed in period outfits and the service is personable.

With our stomachs full, we needed to replenish our gas tanks, so we took a quick trip into Charlottesville. We could have gotten gas on the interstate, but wanted to do a little sight seeing. The University of Virginia is a beautiful campus as well as the downtown area.

Then we headed west again for Staunton, VA, where we spent the night.  

Staunton had about a thousand residents in 1800. It was largely untouched by the civil war, so it has a rich architectural heritage of 19th century models.

Leaving Staunton

The next day we rode through the beautiful horse country on hwy 250. When we got to US 220 we turned south through Hot Springs, Homestead to Warm Springs. Then we headed back to Roanoke for the night.

The next day we headed home. I had hoped to go into West Virginia, but a weather front with possible snow was headed our way, so we cut our trip short, vowing to return to West Virginia another day.