We drove north to the Harpers Ferry KOA avoiding the interstate highways. It was a beautiful day and pleasant drive.
Monday
Sally came to the campground so she could see our new camper. We went to the Stoneybrook Farm Market in Hillsboro for lunch. It is a unique place and lunch was great.
Somehow we talked about the Snickerville Pike which was one of the first turnpikes in horse and buggy days. It was totally lined with stone walls so only fee payers could use it! We set out to find it since Sally had never seen it. We found some stone walls in the northern section just south of Purcellville but nothing like Gretchen and I remembered. Gretchen and I thought we were in Purcellville when we drove the “Pike”, but we recognized not one thing! We now think we were remembering Middleburg near the southern end of the “Pike!”
We retuned to the campground just in time to cover our bikes before a bad thunderstorm hit! We chatted with Sally for awhile before she had to leave for home. But we decided to grill out on Saturday! Hopefully, Gwen will come too!
Tuesday
It was a rainy day so we could not bike. We went to Thurmond to get a new surge protector since ours was acting weird. Then we headed to Purcellville to find the parking lot for tomorrow’s ride. The lot near the trail head had a two hour limit so more research was needed!
On the way home, we found the Walsh Winery. I had a taste of their Rose at Early Mountain last week and it was great, so we had to stop! Their Chardonnay and Tannat/Petit Verdot are both superb.
Wednesday
Beautiful cool weather day to ride a bike! We found the WOD parking lot on N. Hatcher Street and rode the trail from Purcellville to Ashburn and back! Total 34.3 miles.
We stopped at Breaux Winery on the way home, a beautiful setting. Their Rose and Marquis de Lafayette were both quite good.
Thursday
We rode the trail from Ashburn where we stopped yesterday. There is a parking by the North Carolina Barbecue Restaurant. We rode to Vienna today. Definitely a tougher section with more hills! I think some railroad bridges or trestles were eliminated!! Total 32.3 miles.
We stopped at Hillsborough Winery this afternoon; another beautiful setting! But their wine was horrible!
Friday
Today we finished riding the trail, starting in Vienna and ending in Shilington….oh, we did ride back too! The weather was great for riding this week and we enjoyed the 90 miles we rode on the W&OD!
Monk’s Barbecue in Purcellville was highly rated in Tripadvisor so we decided to stop and get takeout to go to Walsh Winery again fo some Chardonnay. We enjoyed the wine but the barbecue was horrid!
Saturday
We picked up food for our dinner with Sally and Gwen in the morning. Then we decided to go and check out a winery that had what looked like gay pride flags all along the fences…so we had to support them! We had an interesting tasting experience with their award winning Chardonnay. When I sipped it, I got a soapy after taste. When Gretchen tasted it, she did not! It was like the people who taste soap when they eat cilantro.
Sally called us to say they had car trouble and could not make dinner. So, we decided to stop at the last winery on the road back to the campground…Maggie Malick Wine Caves.
Gretchen got a red wine flight and I got the white and rose. We sat on their deck, listening to a band, taking in the view and enjoying their wines. We head home tomorrow. It has been a great week; seeing Sally, biking and camping! Northern Virginia is a great place to ride bikes; if you need an analgesic after a ride, there are many wineries to visit!!
