The hotel smells like glue because they’re renovating the second and third floors (I’m on the fourth) wondering why the place was so much cheaper… now I know. Did something a little different this time headed down 29 to Lynchburg, stopped to get a legendary Milton milkshake at Givens bookstore, which was conveniently close to route 501 that took you back to the James River and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Cool road except I got stuck behind a tractor trailer carrying chipped wood doing about 15 miles an hour on all the swervy bits. I am also kind of wondering if he had brakes the way they squeeled going downhill. yikes! Eventually, he pulled over and let a few of us pass. I waved cheerfully even though minutes before I was flipping the bird in a staccato fashion at him under the dashboard. Plan A was to head northbound on the Blue Ridge Parkway to get to the Punchbowl and hike south but north of the James River was closed. OK Plan B: head down to Peaks of Otter and hike Sharp Top but instead ended up doing plan C which was to stop at the parking lot for Thunder Ridge. I started hiking from there. Not my best day, only got about 3 miles in, got my excuses lined up plus it was a lot more up and down than I’m used to but otherwise a good day: lots of spring ephemeral bloodroots (deadly poisonous!!!) scattered on the ridge along with seeing some Mourning Cloak and Spring Violet butterflies. Got to try out some new hiking poles which I’ve resisted doing for 30 years now. OK I get it … sort of. Even got a little thunder on Thunder Ridge and rain from the early stages of the incoming front. I always carry a rain jacket even on the sunniest of days and even enjoy a little rain. Headed south, eventually getting to Peaks of Otter (love those names, Peaks of Otter, Meadows of Dan…) where the Blue Ridge Parkway was yet again blocked going southbound this time and forcing me to take 43 E to Bedford and then catch 460 W to get to Blacksburg. Grrrrrr. I should probably side with the Department of Interior on this, but wondering if this is one of those close the Washington Monument type things. (That is when you cut their funding they close the things that affect the most visitors.) Slept well last night. PS the Milton milkshake was pretty good, sort of a coffee, cinnamon flavor which honestly to me sounds pretty awful before you try it, but that was nice. I mean, i’ve checked it off the list, but if I’m ever in Lynchburg… 1). A man can dream cain’t he? 2) View from Thunder Ridge, between earth and sky 3) I just wanted a chance to use “ephemeral” in a sentence ** Edited by `lag at 4/3/2026, 10:25:47 AM