This May Be Heaven, But Don't Tell the Devil I'm Dead

0ctober 5^th, 2005

muse@bikerenews.com

"B" to the third power (B3), Bikes, Blues, and Bar-B-Q, can only be described as a gift from the Gods (well maybe gifts from second cousins to the Gods). It is not often that the forces of nature come together to arrange for a perfect weekend. A couple of weekends ago, I was allowed to enter the Atlantis of a southern biker.

I wanted to catch an acoustic Blues show in Charlottesville and thought it would be a perfect excuse for a bike ride. Now, this trip was not without its self-imposed objectives. A cage driver would look at the map and decide that Charlottesville is a straight shot up I-64. I decided it would be better to ride the length of US-60 from the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel to Lexington. I figured it was an opportunity to get another "road notch" on my handlebars.

After getting all of my Group Behavior out of the way (packing that morning, having a McDonald's breakfast, and filling up the gas tank), I headed for the HRBT. Immediately passing through the tunnel, I took the US-60 exit that led me through Hampton and Newport News. This isn't the most scenic of routes, but it was a part of Hampton Roads that I hadn't been through before. It is always a kick to see a road that you've heard of on the radio or TV, but didn't have an idea where it was.

After leaving Newport News, I knew I was on a collision course with Williamsburg. I told myself to stay focused on my trip. After all, I could open my eyes and breathe on the west side of Williamsburg. Well, it worked. I made it through without a "directional mishap." Little did I know that the Portal to Highway Hell had been moved.

I gave some thought to bypassing Richmond, but with my positive experience in Williamsburg, I decided to go through downtown Richmond. It wasn't until I started to see the road dip downward and metal train bridges going overhead that I realized I was passing the first rest area in Highway Hell (who knew there was a backdoor). After several turns and a few miles of not seeing a US-60 road sign, I figured I needed to regroup and plan my counter attack.

Stopping at a shopping center, I was able to figure out that I was on US-360. If I was quiet, and didn't wake the Portal Gatekeeper, I could turn north on VA-150 and intersect US-60. Thank goodness for quiet pipes. I made a right and then left turn and I was back on track.

The next 20 or 30 miles were full of the typical fast food joints and strip malls that can be found in any suburban area. Once I got past Powhatan, the scenery improved and remained a very pleasant cruise past Cumberland, Buckingham, and Amherst. In fact, about 30 miles from Lexington the road turned into a very nice twisty stretch (low level of difficulty).

Lexington arrived way too early and I was back into to city riding. I stayed on US-60 until it connected with I-64 (out by the Virginia Horse Center). The next part of the ride was pretty much a repeat of my previous articles about Interstate riding. I took I-64 back to I-81 north and then East on I-64 to Charlottesville.

On my trips out and back I-64, I had passed the only "Scenic Overlook" I've seen on an interstate. I took advantage of my leisurely pace to pull over and be amazed by the vista of our Blue Ridge. Looking out of those mountains and valleys is a lot like looking into a fireplace. Somehow, it never seems like you're looking at the same place. The valleys, pastures, homes, fog, and mountains create a sense of timelessness that makes you feel the ageless beauty deep inside.

A little bit further down I-64, VDOT had erected a memorial to those VDOT workers who had died while working on our roads. It's easy to forget how many of our human achievements come at a cost, especially when the setting is as beautiful and majestic as the Blue Ridge Mountains.

I got into Charlottesville about 6 hours after starting my trip (about 3 hours longer than a cage ride up I-64). I checked into my motel and caught a quick nap before show time. I must take this opportunity to comment on the fact that "Old Men" can learn from their mistakes. As you may remember, my idea of camping is to head out and find a motel once I get tired. Well, this time I knew I was going to be spending the night in Charlottesville and decided to make a reservation. It wasn't until I arrived in Charlottesville that I realized that UVA's Homecoming Game against Duke was the same weekend. It's better to be lucky than smart, but smart doesn't hurt.

I will not bore you with too many details about the show, but the artists were Cephas and Wiggins (www.cephasandwiggins.net). These gentlemen are from D.C. and are nationally known for their talents. They treated the audience to a great selection of Delta and Piedmont Blues. The venue was called "The Prism". This is an old house that has been converted into a coffee house and a place to enjoy acoustical performances (all types) without the hassle of a local bar (no alcohol, no smoke, and no loud noise). If you're interested you can check out their web site, www.theprism.org. I was sitting about ten feet from the best harmonica playing I've ever heard in person, and was able to hear the words to some great Blues. At the end of the night, the only thing to do was head back to the motel and dream in 4/4 time.

The next morning, I knew I wanted to ride VA-6 (Scenic By-Way) back to Richmond. Once again, I could have headed south on US-29, which intersects VA-6, but I would have missed 12 miles of VA-6. NEVER I SAY!!

Well to make it short, I headed west on I-64 until I got to Afton and dropped down onto VA-6. When VDOT tells you that a road is a "Scenic By-Way", believe them. A two lane road covered by trees that meanders through the Piedmont is by any definition scenic. I won't go on and on about this portion of the trip. Not because I don't want to, but you need to go ride it. JUST DO IT!

There is one part of the trip that I do have to share. South of Charlottesville on VA-6 there was a little roadside stop with a creek running along beside it. I decided to stop and take a picture (after all this was a recreational ride). After taking my picture, I noticed a Historical Marker beside the road. As you can see from the picture, this rest area was dedicated to the 114 souls that lost their lives in that part of Virginia from the effects of Hurricane Camille. I had never heard about that tragedy and was a little surprised. I thought of how ironic it was that I found this site on the morning that Hurricane Rita was making landfall in Texas. Please help our current hurricane victims in any way you can. According to Earl, Karma works.

With all of the positive energy of a two-day trip behind me, I decide it is time to fight the Portal Demon once again. I decide I was going to following VA-6 into Richmond, sort of, kind of, maybe figure my way through the city and end up on VA-5 (Scenic By-Way).

Another long story short, I saw more of Richmond than I wanted too. I'm starting to appreciate the scenic overlooks in hell. I even rode past Virginia Commonwealth University and down Monument Blvd. I can't tell you how to get there, but these places do exist. After a brief McDonald's map-reading stop, I found myself back in the area I got lost the day before. Having become comfortable at being lost, I was amazed to find US-60 (under the train bridges) and even more amazed to find the VA-5 turnoff. I was homeward bound.

It is at this point that I knew there was only one thing missing from a perfect bike ride. You guessed it, Bar-B-Q. And, I was headed in the right direction. Less than 40 miles down the road was Pierce's. Having been battered by the Portal Gatekeeper twice in Richmond, I decided it was not worth risking my biker high by traveling through Williamsburg (I'll kick the Demon's butt another day). I turned north on VA-150 and cruised along I-64 east.

I pulled into Pierce's got a sandwich and then ordered a Family Special to go (this is the real reason I have saddlebags). The rest of the trip was an easy journey down I-64 to Virginia Beach. Although the bike trip was over, the weekend wasn't. On Sunday, the family and I went to see the incredible Mr. B.B. King at Christopher Newport University. It was his 80th birthday and he has slowed down in the 20 years since I've saw him last, but when he sang, "The only woman that loves me is my mother, but she could be jiving too", my soul knew it was in heaven and I didn't care if the devil knew it too.

Bikes, Blues and Bar-B-Q: I get misty-eyed just saying it.

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