Great Atlantic Seaboard Bicycyle Tour: Lexington, VA-Marlinton, WV 10/6 90 driving miles; 10.3 walking miles

What a difference a day can make. Blue sky, fall colors, back roads, and a large dose of salt from the Earth. We spent the morning walking the two college campuses: Washington and Lee and Virginia Military Institute (VMI). They are stunning, both in their approach and in their magnificent settings. Washington and Lee, a strong academic college of about 2,300 students is about academics and honor. VMI, a bit smaller at 1,900 students is about honor as well, but also about a reverence to tradition. Both are steeped in history. Washington and Lee was founded in 1739. VMI, just a bit younger, boasts a graduate (General George C. Marshall) whose storied life renewed my faith (I never really lose it) in the goodness of able leadership. Marshall, a career soldier, became known for what is known as the Marshall Plan-the effort to rebuild war torn Europe after WWII. I guess I wasn't paying too much attention (Either that or I had lousy History teachers-probably the former), but besides the name I knew nothing before today about the Marshall Plan, which was wildly successful at restoring both the economic and social stability to most if Europe and responsible for starting the European Union. Maybe I know so little about him because he never sought the lime light. Like he said, "My service is not for sale; it's honor enough to serve my country." He also said (While trying to convince a reticent Republican congress), "Our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine but against hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos." If we could father leaders like George Marshall once, we can do so again. After leaving Lexington, we wandered the back roads, curving and winding through idyllic farmlands, seeing homes both simple and grand. We followed the Maury river quite a ways, the fall color winking at us we cruised by. We talked with three "best" humans, each one a heart warming spirit. The first, a black man named Thomas, who was on duty at the Warm Springs hot pool (Actually it was a small step above Ritter Hot Springs so we didn't swim). The pool claims that Thomas Jefferson swam here. I asked Thomas if he believed that and he said something to the effect that he believes whatever they tell him. We chatted awhile and I could tell that Thomas has chosen conformity as his means of survival. I would love more than anything to have a human to human conversation with a man like Thomas. The second and third "best" humans were nice women we met in Marlinton, WV. The first, a young lady named Sarah Irvine (Mother of one year okd Declan) who works at the visitor center was very helpful. She was born and raised in Marlinton, a town of about 900. She left for college and to travel the world, but came home to meet and marry her husband, Adam. She says home is where her heart is. The other lady, another life long resident who left for awhile only to return. We met Janice while we walked the Greenbriar River Trail. We walked two miles with her, chatting all the way. These four humans warmed me like my great grandma's down filled feather bed used to, and I felt just as safe and snuggly listening to them as I ever have. It was a great day, and I'm ready to shout that life is good, especially today.

This morning's thin gruel.