Day: October 21, 2021

21 October 2021

I slept in till 6 am this morning! Thankfully, Stephen still had coffee going for me. Jimmie and Stephen treat me too well. After breakfast, Jimmie and I walked for 1 1/2 miles. The weather was perfect. A little after 10:30 we said our goodbyes and I headed out for Lynchburg, Liberty University, and Jerry Falwell.

My GPS, true to form, took me in a very round about way to US 29. I started noticing I was being routed away from the highway and through back roads. Finally, well past Greensboro, it decided to put me on US 29. It got me to thinking. My hotel room wouldn’t be ready until 3 pm. When I was 45 miles away from Lynchburg, I decided to scope out Peaks of Otter, my intended destination tomorrow.

The best I can understand, there are three peaks that make up the Peaks of Otter: Sharp Top, Flat Top, and Harkening Hill. True to form, the GPS routed me in the most round about way, down dirt roads, and on occasions, trying to get me to turn down people’s drives. Eventually, I made it to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Peaks of Otter Lodge. The place was booming with the restaurant the busiest part of the lodge.

I took a few moments in the parking lot of the lodge to check out some of the potential hikes in the area. After getting my bearings, I then programmed the GPS to the Hamilton Inn & Suites in Lynchburg. I made it to the hotel around 3:30 pm. Dinner was take out from Chili’s, 86 feet (according to TripAdvisor) from the hotel.

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There’s only a 6% chance of precipitation tomorrow and a low of 47F tonight and a high of 72F while I’m on one of three possible trails. I’ll pull into the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, talk with a ranger, and make my decision then, but I’m thinking Flat Top.

Flat Top is a 5.3 mile out-and-back hike with an elevation gain of 1, 761 feet. It’s rated as moderate by AllTrails but some hikers commented it’s easy at first and difficult at the end with severe elevation gain at the last with hand over hand climbing at the top. However, the views are said the be spectacular from the top with an elevation of 3,793 feet. I may get halfway up and have to come back down.

It’ll take me approximately one hour and 30 minutes to go from Lynchburg to Peaks of Otter tomorrow. If I leave early enough, it should give me plenty of time to make one of the hikes and get back down sometime in the early afternoon.

Stay tuned to find out what trail I hit and whether or not I survive the hike!

20 October 2021

Happy Birthday to my cousin Jimmie! This is one of the few times I’ve been with her on her birthday other than in our childhood together. It was a thrill to be able to celebrate her birthday with her!

I was up and around at 5:30 am after a very restful night’s sleep. Stephen had the coffee ready when I came down around 7. After birthday wishes Jimmie and I headed out to the Greensboro Science Center. Jimmie is a member and she suggested we go.

This is a very large complex that includes an aquarium, a zoo, and a tree top adventure park. Jimmie and I opted out of the tree top adventure but we did visit the aquarium and zoo.

Although small, the aquarium was well maintained and had most of the things kids really wanted to see – sharks, rays, and a wide array of other fish species. One of the more popular exhibits was the penguins.

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The zoo was also well maintained and there seemed to be staff everywhere, all volunteering information or at the least, a smile. A lot of the animals were not out – I suspect it was too cold for most like the Komodo dragon but the meerkats were out in force.

I got to see an okapi for the first time. I know it mainly from crosswords. It comes up frequently as an answer so it’s kind of nice putting a “face” to the creature of my crossword answers.

Perhaps the best part of the science center was walking outside under beautiful blue skies with the leaves just beginning to change colors. We were back home a little after 11 am. After lunch, I begged off for a nap and a little reading on my iPad.

Dinner tonight was takeout at Elizabeth’s Pizza. This is the second time eating their food over the years and it’s as good tonight as I remembered from the last time. I had the vegetarian pizza, Jimmie had the vegetarian Stromboli and Stephen had the vegetarian sub. I think I must be an evil influence. Truthfully, they often eat vegetarian. Not that I’m not an evil influence.

I did receive some news from my friend I was meeting for lunch in two days time. He had to cancel. His partner was ill and he didn’t want to leave him. Completely understandable. That’s one of the things I always try to anticipate on my trips – the unforeseen circumstances that arise. That sounds oxymoronic but there is always something that arises for which you can’t anticipate. You learn to go with the flow. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for Tom. As it happens, I’ll see Michael in Fort Lauderdale later in November.

Tomorrow, I plan a leisurely start to Lynchburg, home to Liberty University. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get in one or more day hikes in the Peaks of Otter area. After two nights in the Lynchburg/Bedford area, I’ll head to Harpers Ferry.

So far, with my tent camping, I have avoided rain. My luck may be running out. I don’t mind hiking in the rain, pitching a tent in the rain but I do dislike breaking camp in the rain – not so much for me but putting gear away wet. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Stay tuned!