Shenandoah Fall Festival—Back from a long weekend in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. It's an annual tradition to ride the Shenandoah Fall Foliage Bike Festival, formerly sponsored by Bike Virginia and now run by the City of Staunton (pronounced stan-ton not stawn-ton). It seems to be a very livable city, although there is very little evidence of the Mary Baldwin College student community. Perhaps because it's a Christian women's college explains the lack of those things I like about a college community; funky coffee shops and bookstores and the presence of laid-back college kids.

It was a fine weekend. There was a little rain during Saturday's ride and a strong wind Sunday, but the air was crystal clear and the views fanstastic. We had a good meal at the The Pullman Restaurant, situated in the old train station. At one point the lights of an oncoming freight train filled the dining hall as the train roared past. We returned via US Route 11 through the valley up to Virginia Route 55 back to Northern Virginia to avoid the bumper to bumper traffic on I-66 that occurs at the end of these colorful Fall weekends.

Discovered what looks like a very good restaurant, The Dining Room, in Staunton. There was a 45 minute wait on Friday, so we'll have to wait until our next trip south to check it out. Too bad it doesn't yet have a Web site.
posted by Bruce Wright at 10:28 AM #