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July 16^th, 2008
I’ve Got the Keys to the Highway
& It’s Day Two

muse@bikerenews.com

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So there I was in Luray, it was 7:00 AM, and ready to start a new day of riding. First stop was the Grove Gospel Chapel in Ida, VA. The best part of this part of the ride is that it put me back on US-340. This road was a good start to the day. Curves, shade, and very little traffic, this road lived up to what the Virginia Grand Tour (VGT) promises for anyone who buys a ticket.

I road 340 down to Waynesboro, and then I headed east on US-250. After motoring east of Staunton, I was reminded that of how nice any road west of US-29 can be, especially west of the Blue Ridge. I took 250 out to a little town called Bluegrass to find out the name of the local library. Bluegrass is located north of the intersection of US-250 and US-220.

Sam Snead

After documenting the name in my guidebook and getting a photo, it was time to head south on Sam Snead Highway (US-220). If you haven’t ridden this part of 220, you have missed a very nice ride. I followed the road down to Covington, and found VA-18 which was even better than Sammy’s Highway.

VA-18 intersects with VA-311 at a place called Paint Bank. I needed to id the type of gas at a local general store. With Texaco implanted in my guidebook (and another photo of my bike), it was time to head south / east on VA-311. This took me to I-81 in Salem (next to Roanoke).

After riding on 340, 220, 18, and 311, being back on I-81 was like a forced march in full pack. Of course, the traffic flow was averaging 80, but I missed the slower curves. Unfortunately, my flat tire had put me behind schedule, so I needed to pick up the pace.

I took I-81 down to Wytheville, and picked up I-77. It was a little more open than I-81, but still left me "unsatisfied." About half way up I-77, I saw several emergency vehicles blocking traffic on the south bound side. Behind the police, fire and EMS trucks, I could see a section of the metal guard rail had been flattened by something for about 50 yards. The emergency personnel were moving up and down a slope on the other side of the guard rail. I hoped everyone made it home safe that day, and I started double checking my mirrors a little more often.

Bluegrass

As soon as US-52 allowed me to connect with US-460 at Bluefield, I was in search of a little town called Jewell Ridge. Out of Cedar Bluff, I turn onto VA-67 for the short ride to my destination. It was on this short strip of road that I saw the longest coal train I have ever seen. What drove this point home is that VA-67 crosses the same railroad track FOUR times. As soon as the train cleared the crossing, traffic would take off only to be stopped at the next crossing. After the fourth time, I’d just pull up, turn the bike off, and wait for "Mr. Peabody’s coal train" to go by (a reference to an old John Prine song). I’m sure the civil engineer, who laid out the route for VDOT, was drunk at the time and still laughs about it when he sobers up.

I was looking for a Baptist Church. I found the Post Office, the local Volunteer Fire Station, and the Presbyterian Church, but NO BAPTIST CHURCH. Normally this wouldn’t bother me. However, as I made my third attempt through Jewell Ridge a thunderstorm broke. I stopped at the Church I found and put on my rain gear on their front porch. A smart rider would have waited out the storm, but I needed to make one more stop before nightfall, so that the Sunday ride back to Virginia Beach would be reasonable.

I poked along VA-67 back to Cedar Bluff at about 15 mph. As I approached the first gas station I could find, the sun found its way back through the clouds. I filled up headed back north on US-460 until I was back on I-77 heading south. One of the ironic aspects of our Virginia roadways is that you can be on I-81 North and I-77 South at the same time. I guess the same engineer laid out this route as VA-67.

Jewell Ridge, VA

The last stop for the night was at Austinville Post Office located west of I-77 at Poplar Camp. I made the stop and it was time call a halt to the ride. It was getting late, so I rode I-77 to US-58 and stopped at Hillsville for a late supper (breakfast had been 3 donuts at 6:45) and a night of rest at the Comfort Inn. The days ride ended at 8:00 PM.

I had traveled the length of Virginia from Luray to Jewell Ridge (northeast of Bristol), had turned the corner and traveled to Hillsville. With more time (darn flat tire), I would have been able to stay off of the interstate and able to take a few more secondary roads. However, 340, 250, 220, and 18 made the trip worth the price of admission.

I went to bed with full stomach, a smile on my face, and humming Big Bill Broonzy’s "Key to the Highway" . . . .

I got the key to the highway,
And I’m billed out and bound to go.
I’m gonna leave here runnin’,
‘Cause walkin’ is much too slow.

Ride safe ‘chillum’.

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