Western Virginia to the Cumberland Gap

We left Dad's house and headed West on US 58. This highway is called the Crooked Road and that is for good reason. It is up down up down left right left right the entire way. Its probably more beautiful scenery than the Blue Ridge Parkway but I think it might even be slower traveling. We went about 20 mph up the mountain to Grayson Highlands and then about 20 mph back down in first gear to save our brakes. But the views were breathtaking. Pictured above is a Natural Tunnel at "Natural Tunnel State Park" where we spent a night. We had to hike two miles to get this view.

The coolest town on the "Crooked Road" and probably the coolest town in Appalachia is Damascus, Virginia. As you can see from the photo above, people around there kind of march to a different drum and don't necessarily conform. The SailingMariah crowd fit in pretty good there. We wanted to spend more time there but decided to move on since the town is just a day trip from PawPaw's cabin and we can go back anytime. the town is on the Appalachain Trail and the Virginia Creeper Bike and Horse Trail. So the little town has an abundance of healthy people and an absence of motor vehicles. We know we'll be back to this town and we'll bring our bikes and fishing rods.

Virgina: Where the Buffalo Roam? We knew we'd see some Buffalo but didn't expect to see then so soon. Anyway, were now in the Cumberland Gap at the corner of Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Keeping up with our historical/educational theme of Westward Expansion, the Cumberland Gap is where Daniel Boone took the pioneers across the Appalachain Mountains to settle the west side into Kentucky. Lewis and Clark also both passed through the Cumberland Gap on their return trip from their trip to the Pacific.

Total miles: 840

Total Fuel Cost: $217