Day 50: Country Roads

On my second day back from recovery I decided it was time to head back to the mountains. With my backpack loaded with the appropriate gear, my worn trail map sitting in the passenger seat, and an eclectic playlist ranging from opera to bag pipes, I hit one of my favourite routes back up to the mountains.

The drive lasts about 45 minutes and takes me through many scenic back roads that I have come to know by heart after many years of traversing them. However, these roads are the typical rural roads that one would expect in Virginia. They wind their way back through mountains, orchards, farms, rolling hills, scenic villages, and old plantations and homesteads. The road is barely wide enough for two cars and you can say goodbye to the center line as soon as you turn off of the highway.

There is one road in particular that holds some the best views and oldest homes. It's always a treat when I have an excuse to drive down the winding road. However, this is one of those roads where God help you if you get stuck in front of a local. With its twisting path, preference for blind curves, and commercial traffic heading to and from a firewood business, navigating it is quite the challenge. Add that to locals who know what they’re doing and aren’t satisfied unless they’re going at least 5 miles over the speed limit and you have a recipe for disaster. I always pity the new people who stumbled upon the road looking for a scenic drive or a back way into town and end up terrified of the speed demon local behind them. It was with pleasant surprised that I found myself alone on the road and took the advantage to enjoy the rest of my drive up to the trails.

For the hobbits, they have it a rough time of it. At this point they are fleeing Weathertop and the Black Riders with an injured Frodo. They still have roughly a fortnight before they are in Rivendell and Aragorn is pushing them harder now that they must contend with an injury from a Morgul blade and deadly riders on their tail. There is much distance to cover and little time with which to do so. Since the hobbits will be fleeing the Black Riders for another 200 miles (321.7 km) and not much is mentioned about them during that time, I probably won’t have as much to contribute on their journey for a while.

My hike went well; it was a beautiful summer day with a cool breeze in the air and a clear sky above. The mountain trail led me on a 11.12 miles (17.9 km) trek. When I was done I drove back down the mountain and walked the Main Street of a quaint town to bring my mileage up to 11.94 miles (19.2 km). The day ended in a local tavern with a good helping of Shepherd’s pie, a traditional Celtic band playing in a corner, and a discussion with the bartender about Tolkien (you’d be surprised where you run into fans).

The Road Goes Ever On and On
~ Daisy Buttons