These trips are full of fun facts, lies and wisdom – today, Terry taught me the proper way to open a banana – who knew?! Our last day was all about the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail, a single-track trail with a 24-mile section open to motorcycles between October 1 and April 1.

We’ve ridden the Horse trail a couple times before, each time with a differing degree of difficulty. I had several spills in this section last spring; eventually, Terry had to ride my bike a couple hundred yards down a creek bed. Third time’s the charm for this trail – finally, I didn’t drop my bike! I was aided by the erosion control efforts of the Back Country Horsemen of the Virginia Highlands and the Appalachian Conservation Corps, who addressed the gnarly washouts on the eastern end of the trail caused by late winter flooding.

We completed the MABDR in Damascus, VA via Chestnut Mountain Rd, stopping for the requisite selfie at the waterfall that serves as the start/finish point. You’ll have to squint to see the waterfall in the picture below – lack of precipitation has reduced the waterfall to a trickle.

For a last bit of gravel, we headed down Government Rd from Damascus to US 421, then split up to sprint for home before the rain started. Brian and I logged 130 miles for the day; the drizzle began as we loaded his bike on his trailer.

Terry, Nyana, Matt, and Janet joined Stephanie, Brian, and me at the Vulture Perch for a smoked steak dinner to celebrate the completion of our journey and to hear all of the lies stories at the same time!

Thanks are in order:

• Terry, for leading the majority of the trip and taking all of the video.
• Brian, for leading and coaching me through Dunkle Hollow.
• Matt, for taking all of the selfies and schlepping the tire-changing & first aid kits.
• Janet, for trailering bikes to Penmerryl.
• Stephanie, for finding lodging and food, and trailering bikes to Penmerryl.
• Nyana, Jennifer, Janet, & Stephanie, for letting us act like kids riding dirt bikes!