October 13, 2010 - Catawba to Natural Bridge, VA

What initially looked like it was going to be our first day of having to ride in the rain turned out to be a great riding day.  Fran drove us to Catawba, VA (north of Roanoke) in pouring rain.  As soon as we got to Catawba the rain stopped and it didn't rain at all for our ride.  We were mostly on rolling rural roads though at times we were on freeway frontage roads.  As usual there were lots of ascents and descents, though nothing terribly long or hard, and, for a change we descended more than we ascended.  We rode about 47 miles. 

As we were close to it we decided to drive to Natural Bridge when we finished riding.  This appears to be a real tourist trap, complete with a wax museum.  We decided not to pay the $18 to be able to see the "Natural Bridge".  It does have an interesting history having at one time been purchased by Thomas Jefferson.  It used to be considered one of the "seven natural wonders of the world".

We then drove to Lexington, VA and were planning to do a horse and carriage tour of the town, but, due to thunder, we couldn't do it.  Unfortunately, we got there too late to really see anything but hope to return tomorrow after going to Appomattox (we are taking a "rest day" tomorrow since there is 100% chance of rain).  Lexington is a small town with two major universities (Washington and Lee University and Virginia Military Institute).  It was the home of both Robert E Lee and Stonewall Jackson.