2015 September

Our outing
The Virginia Creeper Trail

   

September 2015 Outing

For some returning Troop 30 veterans, the weather on this visit to the Virginia Creeper Trail proved milder than the last time around. The new crew found the atmospheric conditions on this weekend to be “perfect” for our attempt to complete the final Cycling Merit Badge ride of 50 miles. (check out our last visit)

T30 arrived at the Beartree Campground a wee bit after the all quiet hours began on a Friday night and unintentionally made sure all our neighbors knew we were on site. Something about a backup beeper alarm disturbing the backwoods nighttime tranquility was brought to our attention the following day.

Morning broke early with a quick breakfast in an effort to be on trail to allow sufficient time to complete the ride in the time required by the Eagle-required Merit Badge.

In order to complete the ride with as little effort as we could possibly devise (I’m not saying we are wimps but you may not have to go far to draw that conclusion), we dissected the route a bit differently than in past, confirmed this plan didn’t violate any BSA Merit Badge requirement and started the ride in the middle of the route.

Beginning in the Damascus, VA, Town Park we pedaled the “flat part” out to Abingdon, VA, with only one bloodied knee and hand on the way out and one tire tube replacement. After a quick snack and some pictures at the locomotive we turned around and pedaled back to the Damascus Town Park for lunch with about 2/3 of the ride finished.

After lunch we loaded up the bicycles and headed up the hill to Whitetop to complete the final segment of the route. We finally found "3rd and 4th gears" and flew down the hill -- which allowed some of the boys to challenge Mr. H to a sprint while a few others paused to watch a boy change a flat.

After an official time of 7 hours 7 minutes and 17.7 seconds we completed the ride.

A couple of geezers went to the top of the hill one more time to retrieve vehicles that were left there while the bulk of the crew enjoyed ice cream on the town.

The final trip back to camp was late and our camp neighbors were lying in wait to explain the policies and practices relating to campground etiquette. Oh well! Dinners were prepared at camp and getting boys to turn in required very little effort.

Sunday we were up a little later than the day before, and a good breakfast got the bicyclers back on the road towards home. One stop for a belly-warsh and the traditional "thorns and roses" put the wrap on a great outing.