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Day 62 - August 8 - Lexington, VA to Charlottesville, VA - 71 miles

Click on the thumbnails to view larger pictures.

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A view of the landscape as we climbed to the Blue Ridge Parkway at Vesuvius. Carol reaches the top of Vesuvius mountain. You can see the Shenandoah Valley far below from Raven Roost.
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The Parkway visitor center near Rock Fish Gap. June Curry of Afton, the "Cookie Lady". Carol looks at some of the memorabilia in the "Bike House".
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This tandem is great for the back seat driver.  It can be steered from the front or the back. Art Bass joined us for a picture. We couldn't leave before having our picture taken with our hostess.
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Our new friends, the Dunlops, enjoyed their visit also.

 
When we woke up this morning there was a feeling of anticipation in the air.  First of all as we packed things up there was discussion of the impending climb up the mountain at Vesuvius and onto the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We had ridden the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway 6 years ago and were anxious to relive a part of that incredible trip.  There was also a feeling of excitement that the mountains would finally be behind us with nothing left to do but ride to the coast.  And this was the day we'd get to meet June Curry, the infamous Cookie Lady.

Every cyclist who's ridden the Transamerica Trail knows about The Cookie Lady.  From her home in tiny Afton, near the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway, she has been feeding and providing lodging to cross-country cyclists since 1976.  The Cookie Lady lives in a modest, brick house on Afton's only road.  Two doors down she keeps another house, a remarkable building which she calls the "Bike House".  There, the kitchen is fully stocked with food, drink, basic first aid material and other provisions for hungry, thirsty or tired cyclists. Four large rooms are filled with books, photos, journals, scrapbooks, maps, post cards, and memorabilia left or sent back by the 11,000+ cyclists who have enjoyed June Curry's generosity. The walls are literally papered with the postcards.  

It was a real treat to visit with Mrs. Curry and listen to her stories.  She had a sparkle in her eyes as she related one story after another of cyclists she has met over the years and of those who still keep in touch.  This 81 year young lady still has a keen mind and the memories flowed as though they had just happened yesterday.  By far and away this has been the highlight of our cross country trip.  Her kindness, generosity, humility, and bright smile will never be forgotten.

Art Bass and John and Rosemarie Dunlop were visiting with Mrs. Curry when we got there so it was an added treat to spend some time with them.  Time flew by and we had to get back on the road again.  We said our goodbyes and headed down the mountain to Charlottesville, each one of us quietly riding and thinking of the experience we just had.

When we got to Charlottesville we topped off this incredible day with a room at the Budget Host Inn, a spaghetti dinner across the street at Expresso Italian Villa, and half a gallon of ice cream from Harris Teeter grocery.  Life is good! 

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