Ride C2C #4 - Day 14: REST DAY in Christiansburg, Virginia

Date: 7/6/23
Day: 14
Route: REST DAY!
Miles: 0

If you are ever in the Christansberg, Virginia area, you must stay at The Oaks, Victorian Inn. We give them a 5+ star rating and more! The owners, Shannon and Jason, clearly care about the building and its rich history, and are passionate about sharing that so that you we could enjoy your surroundings even more.  

They are attentive to every detail from a slice of homemade chocolate cake on our nightstand along with homemade butter mints, and are ready to serve us freshly brewed coffee or delicious lemonade. The landscaping on their grounds is absolutely beautiful and they've taken great care in the restoration of the home and grounds. I wish we had more time to absorb the history of the family, and to take in all of the details around the house. They are gracious hosts who make you feel like family.

We went to bed a bit after 10 PM last night in our beautiful four poster bed and slept solid until 7:50 AM. Why did we tell them breakfast so early at 8:00am? Quick shower and out to the backyard for an amazing breakfast among their lovely gardens. 

Then we retire to the front porch and spent from 9 AM to 12 PM planning out our trip through Richmon, finding that there’s little to no camping available.  We just need our sleeping bag (which zips apart if we each need cover) for one more indoor overnight at the “cookie lady’s house” at Afton in a few days.

Shannon saw Doug relaxing on the porch with his feet up and brought out this picture of the original family doing the same thing :-)

I make reservations for the next four towns and we make the decision that we can mail home our tent, mattress, most of our cooking utensils, and some other stuff we don’t need. We shed 20 pounds!

Shannon (the B&B proprietor) it’s so nice to give Doug a ride to FedEx so he could ship everything.

Doug and I walk into the old the downtown and have a lunch big salads, go to a sleepy little museum, wander around A huge antique store that has a warren of rooms,

and make our way back up to the B&B.

We spend some time writing in our room and I book more lodging reservations for our travels.

Doug went out to the front lawn and played his French horn for about 40 minutes – he said it was just peaceful playing under a huge 400 year old oak tree.

Shannon had invited her sister and brother-in-law to come over because her brother-in-law, known as Papa John, is a big bike rider and jazz trumpet player.

He brought over his trumpet and a bit of music so he and Doug could provide backyard entertainment for all. 

Shannon and Justin prepared some delicious fresh sangria with chips and salsa, along with a bowl of cherries for snacking.

Doug and Papa John played duets - it was so fun!  Jason, Shannon, her sister Leslie, Lu and Betty and I all really enjoyed the backyard music and company. 

Doug played a Strauss Concerto, and Papa John played summertime while Shannon sang (what a treat!), And then Papa John played a great rendition of “ over the rainbow”.

John is a retired oral/maxillary surgeon and Leslie is a portrait artist who created all of the portraits in the Appalachian book "Keepers of the Traditions". It was a wonderful time.

Doug and I walk into town to Macado’s for sandwiches for dinner a little stroll about town and back. We sat on the porch with Betty and move for about 45 minutes and just great conversation as we watched the fireflies come out. It’s a little after 9 PM and off to bed we go.