2 May 2020
As I have been taking photos, marking the map, and scribbling notes about wondering here and there I started bumping up against a problem. What to do wit those rides that are not exactly ‘around the house’ but not proper road trips either…. hummm, chin scratch. Ah, got it, make up another category! Extended Local Roads.
So, after being cooped up for yet another week and seeing sunshine spread all over the weather app a mental heath session was definitely called for. Never wanting to waste a perfectly good stone on one bird, we also worked in a visit to deal with water issues, lumber problems, and roof inspection at the land. Always something!
Being a ‘business trip’ and given current sensitivities we didn’t lolly-gag too much, just a quick out and back to deal with the issues and get some much needed R&R in route, so there isn’t really much to put down here. We did stop at a park along the way to stretch a bit and admire the remnants of this old homestead.
Oh this is fun; I was rather annoyed to read a description of the house that once stood here. It was a timber frame and the person who wrote about the building style was pretty clueless… Reminds me of some of the stuff on-line these days, cranked out by ‘professional’ writers that have no earthly idea what they are writing about. I also notice that the chimney is beginning to deteriorate and that previous preservation work wasn’t done all that well. Modern Portland cement was used to point the stone.
The University of Virginia has done some very nice work researching and documenting this construction style and offering period methods that can be used for these kinds of projects, I hope their advice is followed soon to keep this standing for years to come. It’s fascinating to learn that transportation of lime mortar to this region was rather limited, the infrastructure just wouldn’t support moving heavy, bulky material like that. As a result building methods were adjusted to use clay as the primary mortar and point with lime cement for durability on weather exposed faces. I had always wondered about that and sure enough, where the pointing has fallen away there is red clay mortar visible here.
Well, I think that’s plenty of words… Please enjoy the video and maps below. The video is specific to this ride, the map is a compilation of rides over the past two years and I’ll continue to add as more routes are covered. As always it is my hope that seeing some of these places will encourage you to get out there and experience first hand the richness this area has to offer.
Loved coming along. Are you and my brother Fritzy friends on Instagram? You’d really like his photography. He’s a trucker and takes pictures as he drives along, a lot of Americana days gone by. You might already know this, but if not, look him up.
I am not friends with Fritzy, but I will be shortly! Thank you for the introduction :-). I’m so glad you enjoyed coming along and seeing, it’s such a pleasure to share. There really is so much I might write here about this little journey… I’m just a regular person living in a normal place, not some celeb or superstar, just like you. My hope for you Shyla (and also for anyone who reads this) is that you chose to do the same. Taking in as much around you that you are able to soak up, interacting with folks in the time and space you have been allotted. There is so much – right near where you are! You just have to slow down a bit and open your eyes and make the most of it… May your journey be blessed on the road less traveled.
P.S. I got the latest ride on the map and a few pictures on insta…