Day 5

Today was a great day of riding, perfect weather and a nice early start. Heading north through Big Walker Tunnel and on to Burke’s Garden. Burkes Garden is located east of Tazewell and you get there/leave by a single road that goes up and over the mountains before descending into this small cove, another amazing ride. It is occupied by many expansive farms with grazing llamas, horses, goats, mules and cattle. There is a small general store, a really small Telephone company which caters to the residents of Burke’s Garden and you only need to dial 4 numbers to contact your neighbor; there is also an old post office with the old gas pumps still in place. At one time the Vanderbilt family tried to buy this secluded property in the late 1800s but were turned down and eventually moved farther south to Asheville North Carolina to build their estate. Beautiful area! Continuing on I eventually run into a father and son who rode down from New Brunswick, having done a lot of riding in Canada we had a lot to talk about. Amazingly neither has ridden Newfoundland, shame, shame. Hopefully they have at least ridden Cabot Trail. Somehow, the ole Garmin started me south, didn’t really notice cuz I was enjoying the ride, but I missed Big Walker Lookout?!?!? Oh well, tomorrow is another day and I have a 200 mile trio planned for my last day in Virginia.