Washington and Old Dominion Trail - Day 1

Monday, April 25, 2011

A month or so ago, a friend from Gastonia, Jon Childs, invited me to walk the Washington and Old Dominion Trail with him. Asking the walkingman to go for a walk is like asking a kid if they want ice cream.......of course we do. The trail is 45 miles long, and our goal was to walk it in 2 days. It starts near the Village of Shirlington in Arlington County, VA, and terminates in Purcerville, VA. Jon has family in nearby Leesburg, VA, and was going there this weekend to return 2 granddaughters to their parents, so we decided to do the walk this week. His drive from Gastonia to Leesburg brings him within a couple of miles from our house in Daleville, so he picked me up on the way and we arrived in Leesburg late Sunday evening.

We were up and ready to go by 715 this morning, and Jon's son, Jon Jr., drove us to Purcerville Station. (We started at the end of the trail because it is closer to Leesburg.) It was a little foggy, but already 60+ degrees, heading toward the 80s. The trail is a paved path about the width of one automobile lane, divided by a broken line......looks exactly like a 2 lane highway. The first 8 or so miles were probably the nicest we walked........tree lined, and wandering through the countryside. Most of the people we encountered were on bicycles, although a few were walking or jogging. There was a heavy, sweet smell in the air from the hundreds or thousands of shrubs that lined the path. I know their name, just can't think of it right now.

We passed through (or near) small communities named Hamilton, Paeonia Springs, Clark's Gap, and Leesburg. There are numerous side trails, leading off somewhere. It seemed a creek or stream followed the trail almost the entire day. There are occasional benches to rest along the way, a even a port-a-jon or 2. Lots of beautiful homes in the area, many of them on large plots of land, and some ranches and farms. We stopped for rest after about 8+ miles, and I converted my long pants to shorts.....it was getting warm. So far there's not any places to eat along the trail, but our info shows there is a Partlow's General Store at mile 28, about 9 miles away. So that's where we headed.

We passed houses near the trail, one had a large jar of "sun" tea sitting on the back deck......I thought that was a Texas thing. Along the way we passed a group of women pushing strollers and leading dogs, and a group of bicycle policemen (maybe 20 or so) on the trail. Maybe they were training or something. We crossed Goose Creek, and stopped for a few minutes to look at a huge hole in the ground......the Luck Stone Quarry. We passed a sigh for Ashburn, VA, which I understand is where the Redskins practice. And finally we reached mile 28, expecting to see Partlow's General Store. When it wasn't where it should have been I thought we were going to have a meltdown. But, from my other walk, I knew this is not all that unusual, so we pushed on.

After another mile we came to an intersection, and there was no Partlow's. Instead the building is now occupied by Carolina Bros Pit Bar-B-Que, and it was open. Before long we were enjoying a plate of 'que, and a Cheerwine.....worth the long walk. After eating and resting an hour or so, we decided to walk 6 more miles to a 7/11 convenience store at mile 21.5, and stop there for the day. We passed by Sterling, VA, and finally Herndon, and then came to mile 21.5......no 7/11. Finally at mile 20 we came to an intersection and there was the 7/11. We'd walked a total of 24.5 miles, and both of us were ready to call it a day.

Jon Jr came to pick us up, and soon we were back in Leesburg, refreshed after a shower, and sitting down to a nice dinner prepared by Laura and Anya. Jon had never walked over 12 miles before today, and he held up well. Tomorrow we'll walk the final 20 or so miles, the last 4 being a side trail that ends at the Washington monument.

About the pictures:
Leaving Purcellville;
Rest area and one of the side trails;
Carolina Bros. Bar-B-Que, and a satisfied customer;
The 7/11 is supposed to be right here;
Sitting down to dinner with: Laura, Jon, Jon II, and Anya, surrounded by the daughters Yatia and Megan.