So Pops decided we needed to go and do the Virginia Creeper so after an actual soccer victory, we drove up to Damascus to get on the trail tomorrow.
We arrived in the late afternoon and checked into the quaint and lovely Dancing Bear Inn. We had enough daylight to complete a lap of town and stop for post travel / soccer ice cream at The Wicked Chicken. Dinner was a leisurely meal at Damascus Old Mill and then an early night before we meet Pops and do the Creeper tomorrow.
L& B Post Travel Ice Creams - Wicked Chicken, Damascus, VA
The Tourists of Damascus
Pops drove up Sunday morning and met us at Damascus Diner for breakfast. Fully loaded we headed around to Sun Dog Outfitter, who fitted us with bikes and drove us the 17 miles up to White Tops. When we get to the starting point, the joint is packed, but as soon as we roll onto the trail it's like there is nobody around and we have the place to ourselves. The boys handle the ride like champs. They are on bigger bikes than they're used to - and to think they only learned to ride 4 months ago - they have done amazing.
The wind is cold as it hits your face, but it's a cruisy ride. It is literally downhill all the way - pedaling is at a minimum.
About halfway down we head into a cafe just off the trail for a lunch break. Hot Dogs, hamburgers and chocolate cake are the essential ingredients to get us down the rest of the hill.
I would say it took us 4 hours all up to get back to Damascus (a minor stop after B stacked it less than 500 years from the end of the ride). While the weather was a little cool, the fall colors the whole way down made the trip absolutely beautiful. We'll have to do this again.
Mom, B, Pops, L & Dad - Virginia Creeper
B, Pops & L - Virginia Creeper
