{"id":861,"date":"1988-08-29T04:21:00","date_gmt":"1988-08-29T04:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/?p=861"},"modified":"2026-08-23T05:31:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-23T05:31:12","slug":"damascus-va","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/damascus-va\/","title":{"rendered":"Damascus, VA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>Overnight, a thick fog had crept into the valley. Strangely, everything, including my tent, was completely dry. I had breakfast at the Rhododendron Lodge, and then headed out into the fog. There was light rain on and off all morning.<\/p>\n<cite>Although I did have trouble falling asleep, i remember being quite comfortable on the ground.  my body had fully adjusted.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"695\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_004-3-1024x695.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-867\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_004-3-1024x695.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_004-3-300x204.jpg 300w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_004-3-768x522.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_004-3-1536x1043.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_004-3-2048x1391.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"703\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_005-3-1024x703.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-868\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_005-3-1024x703.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_005-3-300x206.jpg 300w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_005-3-768x527.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_005-3-1536x1054.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_005-3-2048x1405.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"691\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_006-3-1024x691.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-869\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_006-3-1024x691.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_006-3-300x202.jpg 300w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_006-3-768x518.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_006-3-1536x1037.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_006-3-2048x1382.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>I rode all over Honaker, Virginia, looking for the sole bathroom in town (at the Shamrock restaurant).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"702\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_007-3-1024x702.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-870\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_007-3-1024x702.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_007-3-300x206.jpg 300w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_007-3-768x527.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_007-3-1536x1053.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_007-3-2048x1405.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Shamrock Restaurant was on a hill, so I presume this was the view as I ate lunch.  It&#8217;s about 1:30 in the afternoon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>I began to notice some local characteristics which would later hold true for Virginia in general:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li> Cigarettes were cheap. Less than $7 a carton. Lots of people smoked or chewed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>People smoked in the supermarkets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Women called me &#8220;honey,&#8221; even the young and cute women. Could it be that I had suddenly turned Buff during the ride?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Custard meant soft-serve ice cream.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>After lunch, it continued to rain on and off. The passes that I rode through were like South American rain forest. Trees, cliffs, vines growing all over everything, fog and mist &#8212; I expected to see monkeys chattering in the trees.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_008-3-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-871\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_008-3-1024x681.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_008-3-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_008-3-768x511.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_008-3-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_008-3-2048x1363.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">One lane due to construction.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"707\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_009-3-1024x707.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-872\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_009-3-1024x707.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_009-3-300x207.jpg 300w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_009-3-768x530.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_009-3-1536x1060.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_009-3-2048x1413.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">I wasn&#8217;t used to white ducks in the wild.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"701\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_011-3-1024x701.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-873\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_011-3-1024x701.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_011-3-300x205.jpg 300w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_011-3-768x526.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_011-3-1536x1052.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_011-3-2048x1402.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This might be the Dairy King in Damascus where I had dinner.  It&#8217;s hard to tell the time of day, due to the overcast weather.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>Damascus was the stop for the night, where the women also called me &#8220;honey.&#8221; I quickly found a hostel known as &#8220;The Place,&#8221; a rest stop for Appalachian Trail hikers and TransAmerica Riders. Unfortunately, there was nobody else there. Not even house parents. But that was normal; there were no house parents. The local church ran the place, and they just trusted people to respect the property. There was no charge, but I left a donation in the slotted box.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"691\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_012-3-1024x691.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-874\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_012-3-1024x691.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_012-3-300x202.jpg 300w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_012-3-768x518.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_012-3-1536x1036.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_012-3-2048x1382.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This was The Place.  So lonely without any other travelers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"700\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_013-3-1024x700.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-875\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_013-3-1024x700.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_013-3-300x205.jpg 300w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_013-3-768x525.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_013-3-1536x1050.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_013-3-2048x1400.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">It looked like there were some leftover Halloween decorations?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>The Place had a hot shower, which I appreciated. Most of the rooms were empty, except for some pieces of foam to sleep on. I had fun reading the register that had been signed by previous visitors.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"685\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_014-3-1024x685.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-876\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_014-3-1024x685.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_014-3-300x201.jpg 300w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_014-3-768x513.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_014-3-1536x1027.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-30-2014_014-3-2048x1369.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Overnight, a thick fog had crept into the valley. Strangely, everything, including my tent, was completely dry. I had breakfast at the Rhododendron Lodge, and then headed out into the fog. There was light rain on and off all morning. Although I did have trouble falling asleep, i remember being quite comfortable on the ground. &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/damascus-va\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Damascus, VA<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[22,10],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/861"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=861"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/861\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":877,"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/861\/revisions\/877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}