Loose Leaf Notes

The New River Trail follows along an old railroad track path. It’s 57 flat scenic miles long that runs along the New River, some private property and the carved-out side of a mountain. It’s the longest and narrowest Virginia State Park.

Joe could have done the whole thing easy. He’s done longer bike rides. But, I’m not a long-distance biker.

I enjoyed the October scenery.

And the rest stops.

When I was in my 20s and I lived in Weymouth, Mass, my bike was my only form of transportation for a couple of years. I rode to-and-from work on a 3-speed, hills and all.

I had a black raincoat that flapped as I rode. One day when I got to my job at a nearby pre-school, one of the kids told me she saw me riding and thought I was The Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz.

There was a rumor that went around among Hull kids growing up in the 50’s – or maybe it was just in my family – that if you put your finger in one of the horses mouths on the Paragon Park Carousel, snakes would come out and bite you. I was about four years old the first time I rode it and I thought the horses were real, in the same way I thought the newscasters on our black and white TV could see me in my living room.

Joe managed to get a selfie of us while riding.

Maybe if my bike was electric I would have done more than 8 miles. __________Our World Tuesday