Thanks to all who are reminding me that it's been over a month since the last post. I just don't know how that happened, sometimes time just gets away in the blink of an eye and at other times each day seems to drag on and on. I kept thinking about what I should post but just never felt like doing it.

Thanks to my neighbor, friend and CG host Jay, I have become addicted to a card game called Skip-Bo. Luckily or unluckily, whatever, I have a very similar game on my computer by Hoyle called Spite and Malice. Therefore I can play anytime I want, with or without human players for as long as I want which means until early in the mornings when I don't have to work. On rainy days I even take the computer to work and play. Bad girl!!

We've had a very mild summer, only two really warm days inside Green Cove Station and most nights still I'm under a blanket, in fact just a couple mornings ago, Magic woke me up as she was cold too and wanted her blanket. Those are the mornings I don't want to get up. One day in the middle of July, I came home from work to find piles of hail stones in the CG. See below.

Just this past week in what started out to be a beautiful morning the clouds began to build up and as a result several families biking down the trail got drenched. This is bad for them but very good for business when they all buy dry shirts, sweatshirts and jackets. One Sunday alone we sold 19 ponchos. Couldn't believe it when we even sold winter gloves too. The elevation is over 3500 feet when they start the descent at White top MT. and with all the shade and mountain breeze, by the time they reach us, some are very cold as they didn't come prepared. We sure sell a lot of long sleeved T's.

You can see some drenched Florida families in the next two photos. They were from Miami and were not expecting to get drenched and cold. We set up a heater for them and they were very grateful.





As you can see, a little rain didn't get them down.

Most of the "regulars" are men that love to ride the trail. This group of jollys are either members of the Friends of Mount Rogers Club or Virginia Creeper Trail Club and they were a happy bunch.

This is Tim, he is a former Forest Service Firefighter and now volunteers on the VCT (Virginia Creeper Trail) to help visitors who have injuries or bike malfunctions. He plays the guitar, writes and sings beautiful Bluegrass Mountain music. He's very knowledgeable about the area
and is very kind to give us directions to places we want to go.

This is Ryan, our weekend EMT on bike patrol, at least he was over the summer. He's now in the process of moving back to college where he will be graduating in December. He has already hiked the entire Appalachian Trail and plans to bike all the way to Oregon after graduation. Ryan always wears a smile and we will miss him.

Ryan and Tim taking a break at GCS. (Green Cove Station)


On the way to work we came across several calves that had sneaked out of their pasture. When we met them they were trying to get back in but couldn't find the hole, on our way home from work they had been joined by several adult members of their herd and were still roaming the neighborhood.



This is Lawrence, 77, who has logged 143,300 miles on the VCT since 1995. He is well known as "The Legend" around here. Lawrence rides uphill for 33 miles then back downhill for another 33 miles at least 5 times a week, stopping at GCS on the way downhill to eat his lunch which is always a peanut butter and apple butter on whole wheat bread along with a bottle of water and a Snickers candy bar. A very amiable fellow who enjoys having his picture taken with visitors.

This "hunky" man is Kerry and this is the third time I've seen him. The first time, I was astonished at the resemblance to the pictures of my father-in-law in his earlier years. I mentioned it to Kerry and told him I would like to photograph him but when he returned I didn't have the camera. Fortunately this day I had brought it and he very graciously posed for me. What a man!! After meeting men like this does anyone wonder why I've extended my stay here?

Today August 13, I drove over to Wytheville to meet Bob and Janet, my bro and sis-in-law at Ruby Tuesdays. As usual we had a great time and again I hated to say goodbye.

On the way home I took some pictures of the countryside. I only traveled the back roads since I didn't have to speed. It kept me smiling all the way back to the RV, it was so beautiful.

Isn't this a beautiful horse?

How would you like to stay at this beautiful historic B & B in Wytheville?

Scenery along my way back from Wytheville.