Taking A Walk

by Dwayne Phillips

Today we walked through Lexington, Fancy Hill, and Natural Bridge, Virginia. The weather returned to normal conditions: 65 in the morning and 80 in the afternoon with clear skies. We walked another 15 miles.

Lexington was founded in 1778. This is a great small city to visit. It has two historical universities sitting on Route 11 one block apart: Virginia Military Institute (1839) and Washington and Lee University (1749 – 1749? That makes it older than…well you know). I have never seen such a wide range in university culture in one block. VMI is painted a pale green and everyone is wearing creased uniforms. Washington and Lee is red brick with white columns and everyone is wearing t-shirts, baggy shorts, and flip flops. Each has its own charm.

I sense money in Lexington. Everything in the 12 to 16 square block downtown is either in good shape or being put into good shape. Businesses, coffee shops, theaters, art, crafts, antiques, church buildings, and history. “Just another house” in Lexington would be the most impressive house in most of the towns we have transited so far. Same with “just another church building” in Lexington. This place has more sights per step than anything else I have seen.

If you have one day or weekend to spend in the Shenandoah Valley, spend it in Lexington.

My highlight of Lexington was near the south edge of town as we walked past a home for retirees. There was a man sitting out front who looked to be 90 smoking a cigarette. If you live to his age, why not smoke?

Fancy Hill is barely a wide spot in the road, but it is impressive. Massive rolling pastures. At the top of Fancy Hill was this farm home. Impressive.

Then you move on to Natural Bridge. The natural bridge is a rock formation of an arch or a bridge that is about 200 feet high. This was the most impressive natural feature known to the European settlers in the New World for many decades. Thomas Jefferson obtained a land grant to preserve it in 1774. Now as I reckon, 1774 was several years before America, so I guess some King or Queen granted that land. I guess those guys weren’t all bad.

Natural Bridge is a class act. The Hotel there by the same name is an impressive site and well maintained. The rooms are good and the restaurant is excellent.

In the area are some excellent examples of 20th century roadside Americana. Five miles north near I-81 is the Pink Cadillac Diner. Note to color of the diner. King Kong is in his natural black fur.

Nearer to Natural Bridge is “FoamHenge” patterned after that really old place in Britain.  I guess the monoliths on the hillside are made of foam. This is all good fare.

A note about the terrain. Route 11 curved often and went up and down steep hills lined by large rock formations. Hence, the name of the county – Rockbridge – and the location of the natural bridge. See this image and note all the contour lines the road winds through and climbs.