A biker agrees with Afton's sad decline....

Received the following comment today on a post I had written on March 6, 2008, about the sad decline of Afton Mountain:

Mark R has left a new comment on your post "The sad decline of Afton Mountain....":

I biked up to Afton today- it is awful, I would have paid for a coffee and cookie- alas- no stores were open.

This is one example of what Afton Mountain misses from passers-by who would stop for lunch, dinner, or an overnight stay. Such a beautiful area is spoiled by burned-out and abandoned buildings. See photos here.

Too bad Mark R. didn't have somewhere for a bicyclist to rest, grab a bite to eat, and relax while taking in the scenery of the Rockfish and Shenandoah Valleys.

Update: Mark R. came back on and left the following comment logging his bike route at "The sad decline of Afton Mountain":

Mark R has left a new comment on your post "The sad decline of Afton Mountain....":

Bike May 25 2008

I biked out Garth Rd to White Hall.
http://www.whitehallva.org/

South to Crozet then Jarman’s Gap Road (by sniper house)

People were picking strawberries at Chiles,
http://www.chilespeachorchard.com/

Into Nelson county

Ascent Afton Mtn- past Veritas Vineyards,
http://veritaswines.com/

Past June Curry, the cookie lady- she was talking with some bike campers- I waved.
http://milepostzero.homestead.com/cookielady.html

The climb is grueling- 1000 ft elevation in just over 2 miles

Parkway- went up farther.

Sadly- all the shops at top of Afton are burned out or closed
http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2008/03/sad-decline-of-afton-mountain.html

Turned around and headed home.

Thanks, Mark. Sounded like a great day for a great ride.