Day 38: Lexington VA to Front Royal VA. 238miles/380km

It is time to say goodbye to Pete and Danielle...
...and to mother killdeer hen still sitting on her four eggs.
 
Through the valleys...
...and back onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. Heading north.
There is light at the end of the tunnel.

The forest is dotted with flowering laurel trees, which...
... together with honeysuckle fills the air with a sweet perfume.
Seeing the flag man brings back memories from our trans America trip in 2012 when roadworks works were common.
We have rarely come across road works on this trip.
... I am reminded of a particular incident In Patagonia when Team Kiwi and Radioman encountered a grader and loose gravel.
Today is a clear sunny day. We can see for miles across the forested hillsides.

... And down into the Shenandoah Valley.
Wait for a while and someone will pop out from the Appalachian Trail.
What's he doing here? Planning a side trip?
The markers are plain concrete posts with grey metal strips with tiny print showing the direction.
Happy hikers on the Appalachian Trail. The trail criss-crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Sometimes hikers walk along the roadside.
 


This hiker set off from The start of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia on 3 April.

We walk for a few minutes in the Appalachian Trail.
I can sense a plan evolving in Dick's mind.
The forests are populated with many varieties of oak trees.
..and with many other plants which have quirky homes.
We arrive at Front Royal and decide to stay the night.

We have ridden 378 km of winding road and 2 km on the freeway today.

 

Our evening meal is at the 'Stonewall' Jackson Restaurant.

The restuarant and the surrounding area were the site of a Civil war battle 23 May 1862 when Union 1st Marylanders fought Confederate 1st Marylanders led by Stonewall Jackson : brother against brother. Confederates won this battle.

This is the first of our visits to Civil War sites.

 

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