"Down to Gehenna, or up to the Throne, he travels the fastest who travels alone." -- Rudyard Kipling
-- That being the case, on Labor Day morning, I hopped in my car alone and drove two hours north to Lynchburg, Virginia, one of my favorite little towns. The drive from Greensboro is along Highway 29 which is quickly becoming one of my preferred thoroughfares. It provides pleasant views, little traffic, and a satisfying pace.
Labor Day was a pleasant day, not too hot, plenty of sun, and hours free from the stress and strain of socially-distanced, mask-wearing, hand-washing school. I began my journey anticipating a day of planned solitude, time alone with the Lord, a walk along a gorgeous trail, and unexpected surprises.
I always like to stop about 10 miles outside of Lynchburg at an antique mall in Rustburg, Virginia. It sits at an intersection right on Highway 29 and is convenient entering and exiting. The name of the establishment is Circle A Antiques, and it is filled with the wares of many antique owners. The walkways inside meander through various rooms, between stacked shelves and display cases, and up a rickety staircase to additional hidden treasures on the second floor. The owner allowed me to take pictures to share here, which I have done below. I was thrilled on this visit to find an old hymnal, something I have been searching Amazon for and was happier to purchase from this store. If you love to spend time wandering among old books, toys, games, lunchboxes, dishware, and jewelry, Circle A Antiques is the place for you!
After an enjoyable 45 minutes at Circle A, I continued on my way to Lynchburg. My destination this time was the trail that goes along beside the James River and across to Percival Island. It is a lovely walk through the woods, along the river, and across bridges. I find it relaxing and rejuvenating at the the same time. Getting to the area is a very simple process involving an exit off of 29 and a couple of turns. Parking is safe and plentiful.
There are several restaurants very near the trail area, but I chose to bring my own lunch this time. I ate and read my book on a bench before beginning my walk. There were people going and coming, many on bikes which got me curious. I saw a shop across the street called Bikes Unlimited and looked it up online. Sure enough, they rent bicycles! That is already on my list for my next visit. It always takes me too long too walk the entire trail and back; on a bike I will be able to go to the end before turning around!
After my reading - lunch, I started my walk. The trail is paved and wide, which is a good thing with so many bikers taking advantage of the pretty day. It is flat and easy to walk. There are some smaller dirt paths which jut off to the side and end up closer to the river if that is something that interests you. I usually choose to walk the dirt paths on my way back for a change of scenery. Below are my views of and from the trail.
I had such a lovely day. I am already planning to return, possibly for the weekend. There are a couple of hotels overlooking the river quite close by. I can't wait to rent a bike and ride the entire trail. I have been to one of the nearby restaurants in the past and would love to revisit that one and try one of the others which are sprinkled around the old-town area beside the river.
