Category: LOVEworks

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.”

Back in mid-February, when I came up with what seemed like a good idea for my own little LOVE scavenger hunt — seeing all of the LOVEworks in Virginia — it seemed like an achievable goal. There were only 42 sculptures AND I’d already seen three.

That was seven months ago. And you know what? Virginia is a big-ass state!!!

It feels like I’ve seen quite a few since then. As of Friday night, I’d seen 22. I’d actually visited 24 sites, but two of the works were missing. I figured that was decent. I’d seen more than half.

Except I hadn’t. (Two were missing when I got there… Gate City and Abingdon.)

A quick check of the LOVEworks web site revealed that there are now 45 sculptures/displays around the state. (One has been removed from the list [Gate City], three new ones have been added, and the one in Abingdon has been replaced.)

The end of the year is getting closer every day. So, when Hubby told me he had chores again, I decided to do a LOVE ride.

About a month ago, I’d plotted a route south and east to the tips of Virginia’s Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. I’m not sure if anyone actually refers to the Middle Peninsula as “MidPen” and/or the Northern Neck as “NoNeck.” But I figured since Northern Virginia is typically referred to as NoVA, the same logic should apply. Plus, it’s just fun to say I went out to find some NoNeck LOVE.

If you’re a map person like me and want to understand why those regions are named as they are, CLICK HERE.

It’s a good thing I decided to check LOVEworks site on Friday. I would have gone right past one of the new displays!

Speaking of checking things… I should’ve checked the weather. Then this wouldn’t have surprised me nearly as much just 15-20 minutes or so from my house!

The fog was so thick, there was moisture running down my faceshield! Um, what?

I shouldn’t have been surprised. The ground and surface waters are still warm, but our nights have been getting cooler and cooler. So this happens.

The good news is, it burns off. The bad news, it’s usually worse near the water. And I was heading onto two peninsulas!

Have no fear, I forged on. I did have a serious mission, after all.

And 20 minutes later, it looked like this.

I did check the weather while stopped at the Welcome Center. I’d planned on doing the loop part in a clockwise direction, with Colonial Beach as my next stop. But since Colonial Beach is on the water, as most beaches are, I wisely decided to travel counter-clockwise instead.

I still encountered some fog in and around Tappahannock, which is also on the water, but it was spotty, and I managed to avoid it for the rest of the day.

Better yet all five of the other LOVEworks I visited were still in place, just as I’d hoped they would be. As was the bonus location, which was supposed to have been last, but actually got visited first.

Here are the LOVEworks, in order of capture.

 

 

 

 

The one in Colonial Beach is my new favorite.

That little trip was 304 miles, and took me about nine hours (I stopped for pics a lot).

Look at that route in relation to the rest of the state.

I have now visited about two-thirds of the 45 LOVEworks locations. Only 15 more to go. But they’re scattered. I have my work cut out for me.

If you want to see the actual Spotwalla route, CLICK HERE.

Oh, and I almost forgot the bonus location…

It was a fun ride. More show and tell in my next post.