NEW RIVER STATE PARK - IVANHOE TO FOSTER FALLS

   BIKING WITH THE FAT BALD WHITE GUY!

Every September, the Fat Bald White Guy and his Faithful Hiking Companion put their hiking boots in the closet and bring out their bicycles....you see September is when the Great Cycle Challenge occurs...what is that?  

It is a nationwide effort to raise awarness for pediatric cancer.  We ride in memory of Beau Stanley, our great nephew who died before the age of 3 from neuroblastoma...Our team is named "Beau's Buddies".  Our team is going to ride 1000 miles and raise $5,000 for cancer research and along the way we hope to raise awareness of how underfunded pediatric cancer research is.  Check out our page: Beau's Buddies

Today we took off for the New River State Park in Virginia.  It is a linear state park encompassing an abandoned railroad right of way from Pulaski to Galax.  There are 57 miles of well maintained trails for hikers, horseback riders and bikers. For 37 miles the trail follows the banks of the New River.  We chose a 16.5 mile out and back from Ivanhoe to Foster Falls.  It was a pleasant 85 degrees with no breeze and except for the occasional biker blowing past us and the occasional horseback riders spreading poop along the trail, we had the trail to ourself.

Our trail started in the hamlet of Ivanhoe located in Carroll County Virginia...it was a challenge for Onstar to find it but the folks at Waze got us there without incident.  The park furnishes a nice parking area with a small charge.  The trail began at a trestle which crosses over the parking area.  It was the first of three wooden trestles we would cross.

Because the trail constructed on top of an old railroad grade is really is not very steep.  The first part of our trek was a 2 mile jaunt to the the New River Trestle.  Along a shaded path with a gentle incline, we hardly broke a sweat.  Stopping to admire the view from the New River Trestle, we dismounted and the FBWG began to take pictures. 

High above the ancient New River as it meanders northward to West Virginia, we could see for miles.  The clouds were great contrast to the green forests and the muddy river.  Still amid the stillness of the river, there was a wonderful reflection of the cloudy sky.

The old bridge was full of character too.  The knarly wooden structure was still as solid as the day it was built. Looking upstream, we got another stunning view.

Leaving the Trestle, the next stop was Austinville.  Named after the man known as "The Father of Texas", this Virginia hamlet is nothing to compare to the state capitol of the Lone Star State, but they do have something to brag about.  You see Stephen F. Austin was born there on November 3, 1793!  At the rest stop is a memorial to a man who made a bigger impact on the community. Deputy Cliff Dicker was killed in the line of duty protecting the community.   Just about a half mile north of Austinville, is one of the neatest features of the trail, a railroad tunnel blasted from the solid granite rock of the mountain.

   

 The tunnel marks the apex of the incline, the gentle decesent from there to Foster Falls took us underneath I-77 and brought us to Shot Tower State Park. I profiled this unique engineering marvel in another blog and if you bike this way, it is a great place to visit!  Next to the Shot Tower park entrance is an interestingly curved trestle that my Faithful Hiking Companion negotiated with ease.

A nice couple encouraged us as we stopped on the other side of the bridge contemplating how far Foster Falls was from this bridge and more importantly how steep the grade was.  Turns out Foster Falls is a bit more than one mile from this bridge and the gentle descent was a bit more steep but not enough to dissuade us from our destination.  I profiled Foster Falls in another blog as well.  Suffice it to say, it is a greatly overlooked scenic wonder not far from I-77.  Shame on you if you have not been there.  We made it straight away to the banks of the New where we dismounted and took a needed break, some 8 miles from Ivanhoe trailhead.  And we were immediately greeted with the best view of the day!

The New River is the second oldest river in the World and one of a very few that flows north.  At Foster Falls, the river crosses some rocky shoals that stirs the water into some small rapids.  The place we took our break was serene and shady and offered views both upstream and downstream.

There are a number of other very nice views but we were not there to sightsee again.  If you visit take time to meander on the river banks, the old river is alive and eager to please the kayaker, the tuber and sightseer.  Make a picnic and relax!

Have you fogotten why we are biking so hard?  Remember we are riding in the Great Cycle Challenge 2021, we ride to raise awareness of how pediatric cancer research has been ignored.  But thanks to the hard work of cancer researchers there have been great progress in the treatment of this disease.  Check out G$Money Gavin Hill
Gavin Hill has been successfully treated for neuroblastoma in part because of the money raised by the Great Cycle Challenge.  In just six years, folks have ridden over 25 million miles and raised almost $40 million dollars!  I hope you will check it out and do your part.  It's not too late to join Beau's Buddies and ride with us, nor is it to early to donate!  Follow this link to get involved:Great Cycle Challenge

The ride out to Ivanhoe was a bit more challenging.  There is a steady incline as you leave Foster Falls but it is very subtle.  After about four miles you realize you have pedaled the whole way.  I used my climbing gears and took it easy and we stopped a couple of times to take a quick drink but overall it was a lot easier than our normal trek around Salem Lake in Winston-Salem.  We stopped two miles from Ivanhoe to again take in the New River Trestle and took a couple of interesting phots facing south.

The Old Bridge served a mountain railway for decades and now serves as a scenic refuge for hikers, horseriders and bikers.  If you come this way spend some time here, the Old Bridge may speak to you.  The scenes sure spoke to me!

Rating this trail is very easy.  There are multiple access points to the New River Trail.  You can ride as much or as little as you like.  We chose the Ivanhoe to Foster Falls ride as it contained so many interesting photographic opportunities.  Access is definately a 10...scenary is a 9..I imagine in the fall it will be a 10+...the trail is well maintained and but for the occasional horse poop makes a smooth bike ride.  This trail is a 9+ biking trail...make it a bucket list ride!