A Bit More on VA’s Lesser-traveled Regions

A few days ago, I described my most-recent jaunt onto Virginia’s Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck. I shared pics of the LOVE works I captured, too, which was the whole reason for my journey.

Here’s the map again…

I’d fully intended to follow up later that day, or at least the next day, with the rest of the pictures. Alas, three days have already passed since that post. And tomorrow’s Friday. Who knows what new adventure awaits?

I thoroughly enjoyed my ride last Saturday. Even if the terrain was kinda flat and the roads were all relatively straight, it was pretty. And different. Would I rather ride in the mountains? Absolutely. But I still had a grand time.

It was different. And I saw lots of interesting stuff.

One thing I’ve come to realize about the LOVE quest of mine is that it’s taken and will continue to take me to parts of this grand state I probably wouldn’t have seen otherwise.

Temps were in the mid 60s (around 18 C) when I left the house. It got a bit cool in the thick fog I encountered, especially since I was wearing my mesh jacket, but I knew it would warm up eventually. A few hours later, temps topped out in the mid-80s (around 29 C), which was pleasant and even a tad too warm when moving at a slower pace, or not moving at all.

Because the terrain is pretty flat, and there’re a lot of open fields (farmland), it wasn’t always easy to find shade. I didn’t mind too much that day, but I wouldn’t want to be riding out there when it’s hotter.

Anyway, I was pretty sure I’d be hitting fog again around Tappahannock, since it’s on the water. You can even see the fog bank behind the hay turkey. It was quite foggy in Tappahannock, but cleared up soon after I got through town.

After that, I saw lots of blue sky and big, puffy, white clouds. My favorite.

I stopped at Horne’s — at the intersection of US-301 and US-17 — for a rest break. For years, that place had served as a meeting spot/halfway point between Baltimore, where I used to live, and Chesapeake, VA, where my brother lives.

From there, it was on to Urbanna. Since I was going to be in the neighborhood anyway, I figured I’d stop to see the Muffler Man (a new Mark Cline model) and Cowtopia Mini-golf  place I’d been meaning to visit.

 

 

 

I actually like the old, retro Muffler Men better than the newer version, but still think that guy was cool.

One thing I noticed on both peninsulas was the sheer number of old barns, outbuildings, houses, and even commercial properties that were abandoned and/or had fallen into a state of disrepair. Some were pretty, some not.

I saw this farm with it’s field of yellowing soybeans shortly after leaving Urbanna.

 

My guess is that there’s just not much commercial enterprise in the area any more, besides farming and fishing/crabbing, so a lot of people have fallen on hard times.

 

From there, I headed west and north to reach the Northern Neck.

The town of Kilmarnock was quaint and touristy, which meant it was full of people, so I didn’t stop. Not far past that town I HAD to stop at this winery which had a pair of giant corkscrews flanking its driveway.

It’s always fun when I stumble across big stuff/roadside oddities completely by chance.

After that brief pause, I motored on to capture the LOVE in Reedville and Heathville. The Northern Neck Farm Museum was definitely looking like Fall. That’s the location of the corn-on-the-cob LOVE sign.

I passed through the town of Montross as I continued west, and was delighted to see some eye-catching wall murals. Apparently the murals are part of an effort to revitalize the downtown/village.

 

 

 

Doesn’t it look like that bird is landing on the tree?

 

 

 

I had to hang an abrupt U-turn after passing that last piece, which had some locals staring. Really. LOL.

From there, it was off through more fields of beans, corn, and whatnot. I’d promised Hubby I’d be home in time for dinner, and was starting to get a bit anxious. As result, I didn’t linger as long in Colonial Beach as I would’ve liked to.

 

The Potomac River is actually part of Maryland. So, technically, once you step into the water, you’re in a different state.

I can’t believe this picturesque little place is only about an hour’s drive from my house and that was my first visit!

As Arnold Schwarzenegger would say, “I’ll be back.”