Short Hike on a Long Trail - New River Trail State Park, Virginia

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(Note: Portions of this were also posted on my blog, The View from Buzby Beach, along with additional photos) The New River Trail State Park is a linear park some 57 miles long, running the course of an abandoned railroad right of way. The photo at the top of this post was taken with my phone camera using the panorama setting. On the right is the beginning of the trail. Wednesday, K and and I hiked 2.6 miles north up the trail, starting at the southernmost point. The New River is considered the second oldest river in the world and has spent eons eroding its path through these mountains. Geologists estimate the river "may have been in its present course for at least 65 million years." - On the far side of the river, we saw cliffs and steep hills. The terrain on the near side of the river is relatively flat and, while tempting to build or farm on, is subject to flooding. The New River Trail is open to hikers, bicyclers, and horseback riders. eBikes are also allowed, and we saw many folks utilizing them on the trail. While we did see some hoof prints on the trail, the missus and I encountered no horses. Near the point we planned to turn around and head back to camp, the missus and I discovered the ruins of an old farm. Exploring it more closely would have been interesting, but Private Property signs made it clear such investigation would not be tolerated. After a hydration break and a light snack, we headed back south on the trail toward our campground. Our total distance hiked was 5.2 miles according to my Fitbit GPS. Not too bad for a short hike on a long trail between breakfast and lunch, eh?