Day 3 - Ashland, Virginia to Palmyra, Virginia

Saturday April 23, 2016, 68.5 miles(110 km) 

After a night of off and on rain (I stayed dry in my tent) the morning started off very foggy.  I had to put my front flasher on so I would be seen. But it did clear up after an hour or so of riding.  Navigation on the Virginia portion of the route is quite easy as there are signs pointing the way.  I follow the route 76 signs. (I also have a gps loaded with the route so it is easy to follow.)  Route 1 running north and south along the east coast follows the same route as Route 76 for a few miles near Ashland.

Direction Sign In The Fog

I visited historic churches and homes today including the home of Patrick Henry called Scotchtown.  The first historic home I visited was a two-room log house constructed circa 1843 and is called Church Quarter.  During the Civil War General "Stonewall" Jackson and his staff stopped at the house and asked for water and the woman residing there gave them water to drink.  The house has been purchased by the Scotchtown Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and they have restored the home.

Church Quarter

The first historic church I visited was an Episcopal church called the Fork Church founded in 1722 and the current building was constructed circa 1736.  The church is has a churchyard with many interesting gravestones and has the grave of a Revolutionary War veteran.

Fork Church

I next came to Patrick Henry's house Scotchtown which was constructed circa 1725.  It was from this house that Patrick Henry rode to Richmond in 1775  and gave his "Liberty or Die" speech.  The Henry's only lived in the house from about 1771 until 1776.  Patrick Henry moved to Williamsburg in 1776 when he became Governor.

Patrick Henry's House - Scotchtown

I next came to Trinity Episcopal Church which was built in 1830.  The well maintained brick church is also surrounded by a churchyard with many interesting gravestones.

Trinity Church

Most of the day the route was through either wooded areas or horse/cattle farms.  Many of the farms had been in families for a hundred or a couple hundred years.

Horse Farm

Cattle Farm

I passed many different colorful wildflowers most of which I did not know what they were.  I also saw two piliated woodpeckers but they were camera shy and flew away.  The flowers didn't really want to stand still due to the wind but was able to get them anyway.

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

I passed through the "town" of Bumpass and it is customary for cyclists to take their picture in front of the Bumpass Post Office sign.  I would not want to break custom so I have the obligatory photo below. (no hair gel in that hair, that is sweat :-) )

Me At Bumpass PO

Tonight I am staying at the in the Palmyra United Methodist Church.   It is nice and dry.  Another cyclist is here also, Tyler, from Washington, D.C. originally from Oklahoma.  He is a photographer for National Geographic.  

Today was very hilly but tomorrow will be hillier.