The day started with my usual routines after a cup of hot green tea laced with the herb or spice turmeric. I posted this ramble for posterity and then had my quiet moments to honor my Creator and lift up those I know in thought and prayer. Afterwards we had our breakfast of boring oatmeal for me with cinnamon and honey while Nancy dined on cereal. We then proceeded to get ready for a short visit at Cornerstone Church before heading out to meet up with friends In Damascus, Va. I loaded both of our bikes and a change of clothes as well as soft drinks and cookies for the party later in Sparta with the CCF(Cornerstone Christian Fellowship) event. We worshiped in song for the first hour before leaving out around 11'ish after dropping our goodies at the church.
Well the trip over to Damascus takes roughly and hour and half. The drive takes you through some twisty winding roads especially the last 10 miles or so which has you seeing your tail lights on some curves. It's not a drive for the frequent car sick crowd but the vistas are awesome. There are several small towns or villages along the way and through some national forest preserves or parks. Lots of horse parks and trails as well. We met up with the Tracy's, their daughter Lauren and her beau Otis as well as Jill a friend of theirs and of our new daughter in law, Katie. Seems these gals grew up together in Florida and Jill now lives in Charlotte. The seven of us boarded a van with our bikes on a trailer behind for the 30-40 minute ride to the top of the White Top Mountain where they let us off for the 17 mile ride back down. The weather was perfect with just enough chill in the air to make for a sweat less ride. At times the gals donned lite jackets and sweaters.
We made several stops for refreshments and pictures on the rocks in the river along the way down. The trail was abuzz with holiday riders and we made great time down the mountain while coasting most of the way except for the last mile or so when it flattened out. Jill is an experienced mountain biker and she left us in the rear for the last mile or so. We all got back within a few minutes of each other. This ride was such a joy after the last time we were here in the rain and mud, yuck what an experience and character building event that turned out to be. We said our good-byes as their gang of five were heading to the Boone/Blowing Rock area for supper and then Jill was heading back to Charlotte and then Lauren and Otis were heading back to Florida on Monday. We will see Patrick and Kathryn on Monday at our place in the afternoon for a yard party and cook out with about 10 other folks.
We got back to Sparta and met up with our church family in the middle of Sparta at Crouse park. This is such a beautiful park for the community. We helped with serving at the food tent a couple hundred folks from the community hot dogs, chips, homemade cookies and desserts as well as soft drinks. Our youth performed several skits as well as there was some line dancing with the crowd. As darkness approached a movie was set up for the crowd and then pop corn was handed out. We stayed until the dew began to settled on our heads and the bike ride began to wear on us so we took off around 9'ish for the ride back to the cabin. We had been gone nearly 12 hours and was looking forward to the hot showers. It wasn't
Here are a few pictures of the day by Nancy!!!
