The pungent smells of an early fall punctuate my ride,
A leaf falls right before my speeding heart
Rivers swell again with storm
A glimpse that summer is almost over
And soon the fall skies will be raining the leaves of summer
Another transition
Another season
Feeling ever more home.
Oh you Blue Ridge Mountains, you...

Blue Ridge Socks!?  Fuck YEAH!!

Hungover as SHIT! I fumbled around in the half light to silence that HORRIBLE vibrating beeping sound of an alarm. Ugh! why... another 2 hours of sleepily lulling about, and a decent cup of coffee and Im loading my bike in the car, headed out for another 50 Mile Radius Adventure. (cause not all adventures happen INside...wink wink, nudge nudge...) Shakey hands, and even shakier skies follow me up over the Jefferson National Forest into Damascus, a town I never even heard of before moving out this way, but the home of the Virginia Creeper Trail.  The Creeper is essentially an old railroad bed that goes from Damascus to its lonely and underpopulated terminus in White Top, as well as in the opposide direction into the bustling town of Abingdon.  I have only ridden to Abingdon once and was thinking a ride to a town (with food and a kick ass little brewery) might be better, but when I got here I opted for the White Top direction for the solice, the trees, the river, and the climb!

14 miles of gentle but constant grade gave me exactly what I was looking for today; Views, sweat, a chance to empty a new hydration pack, time in my own head, and time to reminisce about how this summer has panned out, where it might be headed, and the folks who have become close.

Smiles...
Smiles...
SMILES!!!!

I could not have guessed in February where this short rainy summer would take me and I could not be more pleased, more happy, and more excited to see whats next.

Scotito DuNord