Best Trip EVER

*Warning: You are entering picture overload here.  Why?  Because I've been planning this trip for nearly a year, it was beautiful and perfect in every way, and because I wanted to remember every second of it.  Because it was perfect and beautiful and I'm sad it's over.

When we put our house on the market in the Spring of 2014, Greg and I each picked a boobie prize we would get when the house finally sold.  Greg got a gun.  Surprise, surprise.  I picked a biking trip on the Virginia Creeper Trail in the fall with the beautiful fall colors at the suggestion of my friend Taya, who rode the trail a few years ago.  Our neighbors rode it last weekend and said it was cold and not that pretty.  Not so this weekend.  It was in the 70s and beautiful.  It was worth the wait.  Mountains v. beach: I'd pick mountains 7 out of 10 times, because sometimes in the middle of the summer sitting on the beach sounds nice but mostly because I don't like crowds or sand and I love the solitude and lack of Wifi and decent reception offered by the mountains.

We sold our house in March of this year and I started planning.  I looked at Rex's school calendar and cross-referenced with the Virginia Forestry Peak Colors map and picked October 22- 24 as the big weekend.  In June, I reserved a cozy cabin and bike rentals and then we waited.

I sent Rex to school Thursday morning so we wouldn't have to take an absense and picked him up just before lunch.  We came home and ate, Greg finished packing his stuff and we were off to the mountains of Virginia.  About 20 minutes from our cabin, the winding roads over took Rex and we made a quick Ginger Ale stop before we had a real mess on our hand.

Henry insisted on bringing his backpack.

We got to the cabin around 3:30, unpacked the cooler, let the kids jump on the beds a bit and then headed out to do some fishing.  The cabin website made it sound like there was fishing on the property so we headed off for a nice walk, but were disappointed.  So we drove around looking for a mysterious creek to fish in.  Eventually we found a playground so the kids and I played for a while while Greg went in search of a more reliable fishing source or a map--we had no interent or phone connection.  I did miss Google a bit, but only a bit.

Henry started a new game where he pretends to fall so that I have to pick him up.  He likes to dragged a bit as he's put back on his feet.  Apparently this is hilarious.

Then we came home and the kids figured out how to work the TV while I made dinner.  After dinner, the kids ran around the fire and in the leaves and stayed up way past their bedtime until we all passed out around 10.

Friday morning was the big day.  We woke up leisurely, had a lovely breakfast, and set off on our bike ride.  First we had to pick up our bikes, which took like an hour and Greg still ended up with a bike too small for him and I got one with a poorly adjusted seat.  We all had sore bums at the end of the day.

Here we are getting ready to go.  Rex is doing a sad face because we all had bikes, but the attendant couldn't find one his size that worked.  We eventaully got things sorted out and headed for the trail.  

 Alice rode on a half bike connected to Greg's bike.  She didn't pedal a foot.

Henry was not a fan of the baby seat.  He kicked me most of the way down.  Notice here, however, that he has a helmet on.

We made it about 4 miles before our first stop.  We had to ride 2 miles to get to the trail, which we actually had to pedal on.  Rex and I even got off and walked our bikes up a few hills while Greg rode on ahead.  Once we got to the Virginia Creeper Trail (an old railroad line turned bike/hiking/horse back riding trail), I didn't pedal again, except to catch up with Greg and Rex who thought we were racing.

Henry happy to not be in the bike seat anymore.

I bribed him with some apple juice.

Rex, not complaing at all and having a great time.  

 Towards the end of the trail, we stopped to let Henry stretch his legs.  We found a little side trail so we walked a few hundred feet down that to find this beautiful eddy.

After Henry successfully removed his helmet twice, I gave up on making him wear one.  He fell asleep shortly thereafter--his crazy night of leaf jumping followed by several hours of fussing in the early morning finally caught up with him.

Beginning of nap.

End of nap.

 Alice rode most of the way down like this: She didn't even pretend to pedal.  The last mile or so she finally put her feet on the pedals but only so she could stand.  I guess her bum was getting a little sore too.

About half way down I decided that I needed some pictures of the beautiful ride so I got out my phone and attempted to take some pictures while riding a bike and being kicked by a toddler.  First a happy selfie of me.  I couldn't look at the camera.  I was keeping my eyes on the road.

At the bottom of the trail, after riding 19 miles, we stopped for lunch and ice cream.  The kids didn't whine or complain a single time.  It took us probably 3 hours to finish.  

Then we caught a shuttle back up to the bike shop and headed back to the cabin for another fire, running in leaves, cards, and baths.

The next morning, we checked out of the cabin but first I made Greg get this family photo since he refused to ask someone or let me ask someone to take our picture on the trail.  This is the view from our cabin.  Doesn't get more perfect than this?  Who needs a beach when there are mountains?  I mean, you all love the beach.  Go to the beach.  Let's not crowd up my moutains too much.

Henry loved the kid loft even though he only got to sleep there one night.  After his first night of shinanigans, we put him in the bedroom and Greg and I slept on the phooton in the living room--much better night's rest.

 Then we went fishing.  Greg's searching of a few days before paid off.

First thing's first, Henry dropped his pacificer in the lake.

 First successful catch of the day: Henry's pacificer, which he promptly stuck back in his mouth.  I took it away and covered it in hand-santizer.  Then Henry, Alice and I hiked around the lake while Rex and Greg fished.  When we got back, Alice stayed and fished while Rex, Henry and I hiked around the lake again (it was a small lake).  Greg also successfully caught Rex and Alice's fishing poles.  But no fish.

Greg and Alice (the pink blob) fishing--this is the view from the other side of the lake as we hike around)

 

Despite my dislike for beaches and absolute hatred of sand, the kids found the swimming section of the lake and spent about an hour building sand castles/dumping sand in their hair (mostly Henry on the second one).

 We had a picnic lunch, packed up and came home.  Henry slept the entire 3 1/2 hour drive; Rex slept for 2 hours; Alice lasted the longest but she still slept for about an hour and a half.   It was a nice drive home.

Alice cried when we left the cabin, begging to stay another night.  I guess we'll have to go back.  Dang.