Sep 10. Two Signed US Bicycle Routes and a Lot of History

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/102596876

   On this trip even when we have not set an alarm we usually wake up by 6:15 to 6:30, but  this morning, we didn't wake up until about 7:40 even though got to bed on time.  The more strenuous days in the mountains have finally caught up with us.  

   Leaving Ashland, there were a lot of people out riding bicycles this morning. It was a pleasant morning to ride, but not to take pictures as two participants in this journey got into a squabble about taking more than one picture of a site, which took some smile out of our day.  

   The TransAmerican route has been designated as US Bicycle Highway 76, and is well-signed in Virginia.  Yesterday before we got to Ashland, we were joined by the Atlantic Coast Route, which is designated US Bicycle Highway 1. 

 We had 2 choices just south of Ashland, to go around Richmond to the north and east or take the alternative route which goes into Richmond, then joins the Capital Trail along the James River.  This is the one that we decided to do, and as we would be going near the museum district, decided to stop at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. It was interesting how Virginia has been a spot with conflict over many centuries, first between different Indian nations, then between Indian nations and Europeans. Then during the Civil War, half of all lives lost were lost in Virginia. There was also an exhibition on "Lost Cause"  that did a very good job of explaining it, and information on  modern civil rights issues. Another section illustrated the character and culture of the different geologic areas in Virginia.  So all in all, a well thought-out museum.  We went though some streets with historic row houses downtown,  then along the Capital Trail.  We then left the route and took some roads to get to our hotel near the Richmond Airport.