advice on touring NOVA
mfa...@vdoe386.vak12ed.edu
Background:
In September '95, I hope to be welcoming a contingent of
French cyclists from the Federation Francaise de Cyclotourisme
(FFCT), a group with whom I've toured in France and Portugal.
When I suggested they try Virginia sometime, they took me up on
the idea enthusiastically, provided I do all of the planning.
No problem, really...but I was supposed to have it put together
for THIS fall, only I have to have all itineraries, prices,
etc. by the preceding August. They acted pretty disappointed
when I had nothing for them to publish last year. So, I don't
want to let them down again. I've come up with a sketchy plan,
but I don't know too much about cycling north of here, and am
looking for advice. I will ride all the routes before
recommending them.
Style of touring:
All day riding and visiting points of interest, 12-15 mph,
50-120KM per day, some climbing okay and in fact, welcomed.
Total 3 week visit, a couple of days off in more interesting
spots, a couple of light days. May be necessary to have route
short cuts for spouses who are not as fit, but with a common
reassembling point for lunch.
Bare bones budget, modest hotel/motels, perhaps one or two
splurges, breakfast at or near hotel, lunch on the road with
items purchased at grocery store by group organizer, dinner at
or near hotel/motel (so there won't be a need for motorized or
bike transport to eat after showering). Bags carried in a sag
van.
Group size: 15-20 people (min 14, max 26)
My proposed itinerary (rough)...I have DOT county maps at home,
but I probably should get topos, too. I need advice about
stuff like, how much climbing is involved to/from Harper's
Ferry, do you know of places to stay on a given
lightly-travelled route, etc.
Itinerary:
Day 1: arrive Dulles late afternoon, transport to motel near
Leesburg, hopefully one on the WO&D.
Day 2: to Purcellville, then north to Harper's Ferry, then
loop around and back down to Middleburg or Warrenton. Stay the
night near one of these towns.
Day 3: to Syria and Graves Mtn Lodge
Day 4: snake up to the Skyline Drive and Big Meadows Lodge
Day 5: down the Skyline Drive and on to Charlottesville
(might need an extra day in here...a night at Afton
mt. before heading on to C'ville?)
Day 7: free day in Charlottesville and environs: Monticello,
UVA, Ash Lawn, Simeon or other winery, lunch at Michie Tavern
Day 8: to some half-way point towards Richmnd (like
Trevillians, Louisa, ?...wherever there is a motel/inn large
enough or two right together) via Barboursville
Day 9: to Ashland/Richmond
Day 10: free day in Richmond, if a sat. or Sun, perhaps a
short morning ride with teh local club
Day 11: across the Harrison bridge and on south to Surry
Day 12: (light day) Across the ferry to Jamestown and on to Williamsburg
Day 13: Free day in Williamsburg, perhaps a short jaunt to
Yorktown battlefields where the French helped us win the
Revolution
Day 14: Mathews Co. and Gwynns Island, staying somewhere near
the Rappahannock, perhaps Irvington
Day 15: to Reedville and across on Ferry to Tangier Island,
pedalling on to Montross after
Day 16: to Fredericksburg via Stratford Hall
Day 17; to Alexandria
Day 18: Mt. Vernon and the Mt. Vernon Trail (cycle around
monuments if a weekend)
Days 19/20: Tour Washington on foot and by bus/metro
Day 21: Au revoir, les E-U
I'm pretty comfortable with maps, routes, etc. from about
Louisa south to Surry and on up to Montross, but I need
suggestions and advice up north. I may have the days fairly
unbalanced, will need to look at all those little routes on the
county maps and add the KMs up.
I may be advertising for folks to accompany me as I scope out
the routes this summer.
Thanks for any suggestions/advice you can give me. This is a
non-profit organization, BTW, and my time is uncompensated.
Just didn't want you to think I was getting you to do the work
so I could get the dough.
Michele
mfa...@vdoe386.vak12ed.edu