Lynchburg, VA

After this morning's hearty breakfast at The White Hart Café we went to Bikes Unlimited to rent some bikes and ride along the river in Lynchburg.

The morning was spent cruising alongside the James River on the Riverwalk Trail.  A relaxing 2 hour ride, before the heat was turned up, made for a fun morning.  

B&L, Lynchburg, Virginia

Dad, L, B & Mom - Riverwalk Trail, Lynchburg, Virginia

On the way back to the hotel we stopped at Crisp for a somewhat healthy lunch.  By the time we were back it was hot (again) and we spent a while just relaxing, trying to decide what to do in the afternoon.

After reading the hotel literature we opted to drive to the half hour east out to Appomattox - the sight of the end of the Civil War.  The boys weren't enthusiastic at first (no learning during Spring Break) but that was all to change.  We virtually had the place to ourselves upon arrival.  It seemed weird that such a significant historical event happened in this rural area near absolutely nothing.  Again, my knowledge of the area and event are minimal, plenty of volunteers and readings make sure that's not the case when you leave.  After a month or so of retreating west and a lack of supplies, both ammunition and food, General Lee surrendered at Appomattox when surrounded and outnumbered by General Grant's army.  Here, in the McLean House, the first treaty to end the Civil War was signed marking victory for the Union.  This well kept area has an eerie feel to it, but it is amazing feeling to add another landmark I've been to that I could never imagined 21 years ago when I left home.

McLean House, Appomattox, Virginia

Our last Lynchburg meal was at the much lauded Hot & Cold Café.  This Indian / Mediterranean restaurant had been spoken highly of by a lot of locals and hotel staff, and was a great meal to finish our Spring Break adventure before we head home in the morining.

Mom, Dad, L & B at Hot & Cold Café, Lynchburg, Virginia

Lynchburg, VA

Today we headed north an hour to Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.  American history was not taught in Australia, so what I knew of Jefferson and this place was minimal.  Obviously Amy knew a lot, and the boys had started to learn a little about this period of time during the school year, but still this was going to be educational for all of us.

I learnt that Jefferson inherited the land and knew immediately where he wanted to build his home - on the favored hill of his childhood.  He started building in 1768, but changed design after 1794, after his time living in Europe.  The property was used to grow tobacco and wheat, but sadly under the labor of 600 slaves.  Jefferson continually worked on the house until his death in 1826.

Monticello

When you arrive, you are greeted by an actor portraying Jefferson, who tells a cheery story of Jefferson's life and legacy.  When you get up to the house, it is somewhat a different story.  While Jefferson's achievements are celebrated i.e., the Declaration of Independence, his presidency, founding of University of Virginia, etc., it is overshadowed when you are informed his use of slaves to achieve his greatness.  His slaves' stories are not shied away from, especially that of Sally Hemings - a sister-in-law, and slave he inherited from his father-in-law, who gave birth to 6 of Jefferson's children.  It was a real eye opening experience, even for Amy.  While the beauty of the house and its surrounds are magnificent, the foundation on which it was built is quite ugly.

After our tour we headed into Charlottesville to find lunch.  I think we left it too late, as the heat and hunger took hold of B and he started to feel unwell.  We hung out in the shade, in a park near UVA until he felt well enough to get back in the car.  

We sort air-conditioned comfort in the hotel for the afternoon, before walking to Bootleggers for dinner.  This bar and grill allowed for us to sit outside looking over the James River.  An after dinner walk saw us finish the evening eating giant ice creams at MayLynn's Creamery.

Lynchburg, VA

After a great night's sleep we did a quick walk around Lynchburg, before heading to My Dog Duke's Diner for breakfast.  I am pretty sure we've had our fill for the day after this smashing meal.

After breakfast we drove west for an hour to get to Natural Bridge State Park.  This park, as the name states, has a 215-foot natural arch, under which a mile and a half trail runs beside Cedar Creek up to Lace Falls.  The arch is pretty spectacular (bigger than anything I'd remembered at Arches National Park).  And the trail was an easy one in the beautiful weather.  The small Lace Falls makes for a good halfway point/photo opportunity/quick rest stop before heading back to the entrance.

L, M & B at Natural Bridge State Park, Virginia

Afterwards we drove up to Lexington to have a look around town, including lunch at The Palm.  A quick walk up and down main street before we were in the car headed back to Lynchburg along the scenic James River drive.

Took it easy in the afternoon, and while I thought we'd eaten enough for a lifetime today, we are travelling with two 10-year-olds, who can definitely put away some food.  We found a restaurant, La Caretta, within a 5 minute drive for dinner.  With Covid still ravishing the country, this is the first time we've eaten dinner in a restaurant since March of last year.  Got to admit, it felt kind of weird.  I hope this is the start of us working our way back to normality.

Charlotte, NC to Lynchburg, VA

So this year for Spring Break we took the boys on a Virginia Adventure.  Basing ourselves in Lynchburg, we have some plans to explore the area.

The trip started with a 3-hour drive to Salem to see Dixie Caverns.  We just missed a tour, so lunch at Which Wich to fill in the 1/2 hour wait before we headed in.  As soon as you're inside, the temperature becomes comfortable, as the claustrophobia kicks in, as you head down into the cavern.  Some great rock formations all throughout as we spent an hour inside.  The tour ended with the obligatory lights-off-for-complete-darkness, though the guide left the lights off a little too long for most people's liking.

LM&B @ Dixie Caverns, Salem, Virginia

While the plan was to go into Roanoke in the afternoon, we, instead, went onto Bedford to the National D-Day Memorial.  This Memorial is dedicated to those who fought during World War II (obviously, especially D-Day).  Not just America but all of her allies as well.  The out of the way site was chosen because Bedford had many of it's sons in regiments and lost 23 people during the attack.  While the physical number feels small, Bedford's population in 1944 was only 3200, a proportionally high number for a small community.  We spent an hour here, wandering the grounds and paying our respects.  A great (unexpected) stop.

National D-Day Memorial, Bedford, Virginia

A short drive after and we were at the Virginian Hotel - our home for the next 4 nights.  Mom and the boys went looking for dinner as I stayed in trying to control a migraine.  A good first day!  Looking forward to seeing some new places in the next couple of days.

Virginia Creeper Trail, VA

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 yards 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

Fairfax, VA

I woke up this morning with a disgusting migraine, so spent most of the day in bed.  John & Chase are off to a friend’s wedding and have kindly let us stay at their place – and use their car.  The first time we left the house was to go to dinner at Chevy’s.  This is in the same area as the restaurants from the previous 2 nights.  The Mexican food was good, but I’m pissed that I have wasted a whole day in DC because of a migraine. 

Fairfax, VA

Chase, Amy and I caught the Metro into downtown DC this morning.  We started off our day at the mall, which is a long grass lawn between Capitol Hill and the Lincoln Monument.  We made our first stop at the National Art Gallery, where the main exhibition was of scale models of famous European buildings, including many Russian ones I’d seen 2 years ago.  The main reason we’re here is to see Salvador Dali’s “The Last Supper”.  This is another amazing Dali masterwork and different take on the standard view of Christ and his disciples the night before He died.  

Chase & Amy @ Capitol Hill, Washington, DC

Lunch was at Union Station before we headed over to Capitol Hill.  We walked around the building, but did not make an attempt to go inside. 

Back down the Mall we walked to the phallic Washington Monument.  On the next half mile walk to the White House, we saw the presidential helicopter fly overhead.  

The White House, Washington, DC

Me @ Washington Monument, Washington, DC

Some pictures outside the White House before we get back on the metro back to Chase’s.  John joined the 3 of us for dinner at Greavy’s, one of John’s favorite sports bars.  We spent the evening in there watching some college football.

Charlotte, NC to Fairfax, VA

Chase picked us up this morning as we are going to spend a couple of nights with her and her husband, John, in Fairfax, Virginia, just outside DC.  Our only stop on the trip was for gas and a quick bite at Wendy’s.  We arrived at the Chase & John's not long after the afternoon traffic at 5pm.  The four of us went to dinner at a nearby restaurant, Sweetwater.  Once again the food is superb as we enjoy a few beers before eating out on a patio.