In just a couple of weeks Tom and I will celebrate our 31st wedding anniversary. So....
Last week we planned an early getaway and spent a few days in the southwestern part of our state and attended the Virginia Highlands Festival in Abingdon--very interesting area to visit and one we'd never traveled to before now.
Our agenda included stops at quilt shops (three of them), country stores (I lost count), antique shops (a couple), a yarn shop, eating at little out-of-the-way places, and attending a play at Barter Theater (below):
Tom went fishing one morning at Holston Lake...I watched him fish while working on one of my UFOs. Very relaxing.
This area is well known for hiking and biking the Virginia Creeper Trail. I had never heard of this trail and actually had no intention of getting on a bike...much less biking the 17-mile-downhill trail. Famous last words...
Tom rented us both bikes. Uh-oh.
We were shuttled to the top of Mount Rogers, and from Mile Marker 33 down to Mile Marker 16...we biked 17 miles...with many rest stops and many aches and pains between here and there.
Fortunately for all of us, there won't be pictures posted of me riding on the adult trike...thank you for asking though. :) Here's my favorite scene along the route:
On our last evening there we went on a guided historical walking tour of the city, and here's my favorite house below...the boyhood home (1820) of Rev. Robert Sheffey, "the Saint of the Wilderness."
Sheffey was a legendary, circuit-riding frontier preacher who gave up wealth and social position to spread the Word of God. We've seen the Sheffey film many times so this was very interesting to us.
We had a wonderful time! It's good to be back home though and settling into the routine again. Both my Bernina and my computer need dusting off so I can get back in the quilting and blogging business!
~Deb
Congrats on 31 years!
The trip looks great. I'm so with you about a 17 mile bike ride (which probably makes no sense since I'm gladly do a 17 mile).
You mentioned being shuttled to the top... Does this at least mean most of the ride was downhill?
Posted by: Nic | Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 08:35 AM
Congratulations on your anniversary! Abingdon is such a wonderful place. We need to make it to the fiddler convention for one of the days!
Posted by: Cindi | Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 09:45 AM
Happy Anniversary!!!
What a wonderful trip, sounds like a very special time. It also sounds as though you packed a lot into your trip. We know some families who ride the Virginia Creeper each fall. Way to go on riding it, 17 miles makes me tired and sore thinking about it. I'm sure great memories were made:)
Laura
Posted by: Laura | Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 10:15 AM
Loved this post Deb! Couldn't wait to see pictures and hear some about the trip. How fun that you guys rented bikes! I didn't know you could actually visit Sheffey's place...that would be a very fun trip. Maybe next year we can go there and NOT do all the Civil War stuff :) (Just kidding Fred, if you read this! LOL) Now you need to tell us ALL about the quilt shops and the antique places and the neato out-of-the-way eating places!!
Posted by: Chris | Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 11:42 AM
Happy Anniversary!
But.....um, I so wanted to see that picture of you on the trike!!! :)
I am so thrilled your knee was able to do the biking! That is wonderful!
Posted by: Leslie from Virginia | Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 02:05 PM
Looks like it was a fun relaxing time.
31 years sounds so much like a life time ago.
Posted by: Tammy | Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 03:50 PM
What a lovely sounding trip and happy anniversary to you and Tom. What an excellent solution a trike is, who'd have thought ..
Posted by: Rose | Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 10:03 PM
So glad you got away for a bit.
It's a good thing, yes?
Posted by: Dawn | Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 10:16 PM
Hi Deb,
I enjoyed reading this post very much. You all were in the Scherer's backyard; they just moved out to the country between Bristol and Abingdon, right on the Holston River. Happy Anniversary, and we look forward to our next meeting with you family.
Posted by: Jenny Ho | Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 02:45 PM
To all inquiring: I think I can get access to the picture of Mom on the trike. Please send me cookies and I will email you the picture.
Posted by: Jonathan Girotti | Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 06:58 PM
Jonathan, you may get cookies by mail but the question is whether you will ever get them at home again? :)
Happy Anniversary Tom & Deb. What a fun get-away.
Victoria
Posted by: victoria | Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 09:38 PM
It looks like you had a great time! What lovely scenery!!
Happy Anniversary!
Love, Heather
Posted by: Heather | Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 10:09 PM
Jonathan! You would stoop that low for a few sweet morsals! LOL...I Know you could get lots of yummy cookies at home if you promised never to show the picture..and keep peace in the family as well! LOL :)
Posted by: Chris | Friday, August 12, 2011 at 03:31 PM
yay, anniversary! i rode the Creeper trail once with my youth group (years ago). it was fun, and thankfully ALL downhill!
Posted by: erica | Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 07:38 PM
Hey there Deb! I'm glad you two had such a good anniversary together. I missed seeing you at M's shower but enjoyed talking with the girls. It is always good to see them and you. Hope to see you soon...my new address is 422 Ridge Creek Dr. Taylorsville, NC 28681
Don't want to miss your Christmas card :) Blessings~Julie
Posted by: Julie | Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 07:02 AM
Hi Deb- what a wonderful post. Happy 31 years- what an achievement!! I have always wanted to go to Abingdon- want to go to the theater there- your trip looks so fabulous. I would have loved the hiking and biking- ( adult trike- haha- now that's a picture worth a million words!!)
I've really enjoyed this precious story- you are both so blessed--
Vicki
Posted by: Vicki boster | Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 06:36 PM