The weather is warming, the worst winter in decades is over and it is springtime in the Virginia mountains. It's time to get outside, shake off the cold, get ready to experience the Spring blooms and get on a bike. It's going to be a beautiful Spring and we are ready for you and your group. Give us a call to reserve space for your group or drop on in and we'll get you to the top.

Spring 2010

Twelve Year Anniversary! - That's right, Twelve YEARS! Since the first year of the Laughing Dog we have seen many faces come and go, seen many of your kids grow up, and shared many special times. We hope you have had as much fun as we have and we would love to see you again. Come back and share your memories with us. We will be having special events and sales at both stores throughout the year.

New Faces at Adventure Damascus and SunDog Outfitter - Getting ready for an exciting new year we have added several new faces to our Laughing Dog team. Stop by A.D. and say hello to Paul and Greg and over at SunDog stop in to see Pepper and Serial. Michael and Wild Bill are still around we just thought you would appreciate seeing some younger and prettier faces.

New Gear - We have many new brands and products in both of our stores to meet your biking and hiking needs. Come see the new Big Agnes tents; Rab and Mammut gear, Keen, Scarpa and Five Fingers footwear, Ferrino sleeping bags, Deuter packs, the North Face, and Granite Gear backpacks; as well as new bicycle helmets and bicycle clothing.

Mojoes Trailside Coffeeshop - located beside SunDog Outfitter is now serving bagles, omlettes, and cereal for breakfast and soup with light fare for lunch as well as there great selection of local and regionally roasted coffees.

2010: From the www.VaCreeperTrail.us website

Green Cove and Whitetop Stations are scheduled to open for the season on Saturday, April 10th 2010.
Weekends only until Memorial Day weekend.
Green Cove - 10am to 4pm
Whitetop - 9am to 3pm

Hit the Trail for Hunger
April 17 - begins in Abingdon. Raising awareness of hunger in Washington County, Virginia,
the Abingdon Area Ministerial Association is hosting this bike ride to raise money for the cause.

Please join us for the inaugural Creeper Trail Ride for a Cure on Saturday, July 31, 2010, to raise much needed funds and awareness for Sarcoma and other Rare Cancers Research.

Sign up your team or donate to Creeper Trail Ride for a Cure on Saturday, July 31, 2010 in Damascus, Virginia. Events are planned all month with a kickoff at the fourth of July celebration.

Old and Past News:

2008: From the Creeper Trail Club website

Memorial to Dr. Brillhart - Memorial gifts for Dr. David Brillhart, one of the trail founders, were used to construct a picnic shelter at the "Y" Park, near the Abingdon trailhead. The Town of Abingdon joined the club in this initiative and we are grateful to the many who gave in memory of Dr. B.

Interpretative signs were placed throughout the 34-mile trail length, focusing on history, wildlife, the forests surrounding the trail, ecology, and geology. The text was written by Ed Davis and Ed Morgan, authors of the Virginia Creeper Trail Companion (1997, The Overmountain Press) with help from David Winship.The grant also provided upgrades to two existing trailhead kiosks/bulletin boards and four new trailhead kiosks/bulletin boards that are now in place.

Conducting annual Spring trail cleanup, as well as periodic trash pickups as needed along the trail.

Working with the U. S. Forest Service and the towns of Abingdon and Damascus developing a Trail Management Handbook. Creating standards for development for parking lots, benches, bathrooms, buildings, bulletin boards, signage, trail surface, and picnic areas along the Trail. Note: We are looking for volunteers to help with the completion of this project.

Becoming active members of the Southeastern Foot Trails Coalition organized by the American Hiking Society and the National Park Service. This coalition seeks to promote and protect the long distance foot trails of the Southeast and connecting trails and their natural corridors by building a regional trail system and an active network of hiking organizations. Learn more at: http://www.americanhiking.org/alliance/sai.html

06/29/2005: A Special Message from Governor Mark Warner:

I guess the word has spread pretty far and wide.  I took a header onto the asphalt in the Bike Virginia Byways Tour this week in Goshen.

Just wanted to post a quick message to let everyone who joined me on that beautiful ride know that I'm doing fine -- plates and screws in my hand notwithstanding -- and I hope to be back on the bike as soon as possible.  I also want to let Virginia cyclists who are e-mailing me links to Camelbaks know that I get it!  I know I shouldn't have tried to brake with a water bottle in my hand.  But I did have the most important piece of equipment:  a helmet with a pretty good road rash now.

And for the sake of Bike Virginia, I should confess that I had left their planned course, which would not have included crossing railroad tracks.  As most of you know first hand,  that ride from Wade's Mill in Raphine through Rockbridge Baths up to Goshen Pass is just beautiful. We had perfect weather on Monday and I had a great ride.  So I didn't want to stop.

Thanks to everyone for having me on the tour, I enjoyed all of it before the last three seconds.

Keep riding.  We've worked hard in my administration to identify, construct, and promote new trails.  Virginia's a great state for cycling and I hope the picture of me wearing a neck brace doesn't dissuade any potential rides.

Yours in spirit until I heal,

Mark Warner
Governor of Virginia   

Come ride the Virginia Creeper Trail again. Summer is upon us and the season is right for a nice cool ride down from Whitetop Station alongside the mountain streams. It’s naturally air conditioned! The Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel are blooming along with numerous varieties of wildflowers. Come see for yourself! Call Adventure Damascus or SunDog Outfitter and make reservations today for a shuttle and bike rental. Toll free 888-595-2453. 

The Virginia Creeper Trail has undergone extensive renovations to it’s trestles in the past three years and the work is finally complete! The Abingdon section of the trail (Lower Creeper) trestle renovation was completed in February and boy oh boy are the trestles nice! You’ll see new decking and handrails on top, but what you may not see is the new support systems repairs underneath. This work was a long time in coming and now that it’s done, they should remain in fine shape for many years to come. Try the lower Creeper Trail if you never have for something different. 

Speaking of the lower trail, have you checked out the new Alvarado Station for food? (It’s at the half-way point between Abingdon and Damascus) Stan and Deb Taylor have done a fantastic job stocking the store with drinks, energy bars, bike stuff and fishing supplies. Deb’s baked goods have been legendary in these parts for years and I recently stopped by for coffee one morning and ended up partaking of one of Deb’s homemade fresh-out-of-the-oven Cinnamon Rolls that was about as big as my head. Man was it ever good! Later I came back for chicken salad on wheat bread and watched Stan produce a cheeseburger for a customer that would have made Ronald McDonald cry from shame. These folks are doing it right and the Alvarado Station is now a destination from either the Abingdon or Damascus trailheads. Check them out at this link. http://vacreepertrail.us/alvarado/

 Adventure Damascus Tours has a few bike tours coming up for those of you who would like to do a supported ride in some interesting places. The New River Trail /Creeper Trail Bike Weekend is taking place July 16-17. We’ll ride part of the New River Trail and all of the Creeper Trail that weekend. Then in August it’s off to Burkes Garden to bike the quiet country roads of God’s thumbprint. Give us a call to sign up. Read all about these tours at this link. http://www.adventuredamascus.com/adventure/adventurefolder/calendar04.htm 

Damascus will be celebrating Independence Day on July 2 this year. This celebration in the park has turned into a classic piece of Americana that you can’t find in the larger cities (or most small towns) anymore. Food and music in the town park topped off by fireworks late in the evening. Independence Day has become a favorite local celebration and we want all of our out of town guests to feel welcome too. So plan to spend the evening on Saturday July 2, bring your lawn chair, get a big ‘ol plate of nachos and a funnel cake and enjoy the music!  

Waldies, Crocs and Holey Soles Shoes Are a Big Hit!

Have you checked out the rubber shoes phenomenon yet? If you haven’t you need to. If you have, I know you want more shoes. Now Adventure Damascus makes it easy to order shoes on’-line through www.LiteShoes.com . We have a huge selection of Holey Soles, Waldies and Crocs. These shoes have revolutionized the way we treat our feet. Shoes that support, protect and enhance the way we stand up to everyday life. LiteShoes.com is the internets best resource for the best shoes in this world. Shoes so lite and comfy, you hardly know they're on your feet. That's why we say they're "the best shoes you never felt". Check it out at www.LiteShoes.com

Waldies, Holey Soles and Crocs shoes are taking the nation by storm. Usually Damascus is years behind the current trend, however in this instance we are well ahead of the “rubber shoe” craze. In fact, Washington County is most probably the “rubber shoe” capital of the universe based on number of units owned per capita. This is one “trend” that is going to last and last due to the comfort and affordability of these phenomenal and revolutionary shoes. 

We’ve set up an internet store for people around the US to come and shop and find out for themselves what the excitement is all about in shoe wear. Check it out at www.LiteShoes.com and order yourself up a pair today. Of course you can always call us toll free and order that way too. Believe me; your feet will thank you!

So What Else Is New?

What else in new you ask? Well how about all the 2005 bikes! New models that promise to be big sellers include the Cannondale Prophet, (check out the funky web site for this one!) the new full-suspension design that everybody is talking about. We've sold a few of these and the response so far is overwhelmingly positive. Also, look at the new Giant Suede which the Giant web site describes "The new Suede is designed to be easy, comfortable (and) instill cycling confidence in new or old riders. Relaxed frame geometry and unique frame design allows you to put your "feet on the ground" anytime the need arises". Adventure Damascus has acquired several of these for our rental fleet so come on in and test one. I'd describe it as "standard comfort bike breeds with Giant Revive to create mutant offspring". Based on the response we've had on the Revive, the Suede will be a big hit too!

That's all except that we at Adventure Damascus would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for an outstanding year. Without our customers we'd be out of business and would all have to find real jobs, so THANKS! We promise to do our best to continue to serve you in an attentive, professional and courteous manner. But still have fun doing it!

Governor Mark Warner Rides the Virginia Creeper Trail 
(OK, it's old news but still a good story)

Governor hammers from Abingdon to Damascus!

On Saturday, August 28, 2004 Virginia Governor Mark Warner cycled the Virginia Creeper Trail from Abingdon to Damascus. He was met by his official guide service from Adventure Damascus, fitted on his new Cannondale C400 bike, complete with a  "Ride Free or Die" jersey, before the ride to the trailhead. The ride began with a photo-op and interview session, then presentations by local leaders. Finally at 2pm he left the Abingdon trailhead, staring out on the 15.5 mile ride to the town of Damascus. The Governor was joined by members of the Virginia Creeper Trail Club and other riders who thought they were out for a leisurely pedal.

The Governor was instructed to "set the pace" and off he took. The Governor averaged 15.2 mph and completed the ride in 66 minutes! The lone 4 who kept up with him arrived in Damascus well ahead of the rest of the group, some of whom opted out at Alvarado and hopped the SAG wagon provided by Adventure Damascus.  

The Governor enjoyed ribs hot off the grill at the Damascus Old Mill, then was taken on a tour of Damascus (by bike of course) including stops at Adventure Damascus Bicycles, SunDog Outfitter and Creeper Trail Cottages. He was very complimentary of the Creeper Trail and Damascus. It was his first visit to both places. He expressed a desire to come back and cycle the entire trail from Abingdon to Whitetop and back to Abingdon. After riding with him, it's not unreasonable to expect that he will have no problem in completing that task! Feel the burn...

Governor Warner has been enjoying various activities around the state to promote outdoor recreation tourism. On Friday prior to riding the Creeper Trail, Governor Warner and his family were joined by the Lieutenant Governor’s family for a whitewater raft trip down the James River in Richmond. 

Now In Our Eigth Season!

We’re entering our eight season of providing high-quality services like bike rentals, shuttle service, new bike sales, bicycle repairs and guided cycling, canoeing, birding and Eco-tours. Along with our sister store, SunDog Outfitter, we’re the largest outfitter in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. At Adventure Damascus we won’t compromise our standards of quality by using cheap bikes or running sub-standard transportation. We’re committed to giving you the very best.  

Our Laughing Dog Shuttle and Rental Service has several brand new Giant Boulder SE bicycles entering our fleet along with the super comfortable Giant Revive and Diamondback Wildwood comfort tandems. We’ve even ordered 100 cushy, oversized, gel filled cruiser saddles to put on many of our rentals bikes! Read all about the new bikes on the Rental Bike Page and see for yourself how our commitment to providing quality bikes in our fleet will enable your experience to be more enjoyable.  

Whether you’ve heard about Damascus from a friend or in a recent magazine article, or you’ve been to our area several times, you know what a great time there is to be had here. Let Adventure Damascus take the hassle out of planning your get-away. We have resources on this web site for Virginia Creeper Trail information, lodging, after-ride things to see and do as well as a host of interesting tours (and not just cycling either!). We love to have fun outdoors and want to share our knowledge with you.

Some of the local lodging establishments that we recommend are the  Creeper Trail Cottages and the Damascus Old Mill and Creeper Trail Hostel for groups like scouts and churches. Good lodging bargains when combined with great deals at our store, make for a very affordable mini-vacation in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Check out the other lodging possibilities at this link.

As a bonus, here's a link to check the temperature at Whitetop School near the top of the Virginia Creeper Trail.
 

Giant Revive - The Ultimate Comfort Bike

Adventure Damascus is pleased to introduce the Revive. We realize that not everybody feels comfortable on a standard mountain bike or comfort bike. And for those people the Revive will be the answer to those concerns.  

Giant introduced the Revive, a bicycle that features an adjustable wheelbase and a back support, and is a kindred spirit to the increasingly popular recumbent bicycles that the industry has been making in growing numbers in recent years. "A lot of baby boomers want the ultimate in comfort if they're going to get back on a bicycle," said Dean Bradley, a Giant product manager. "People tell us, `My back hurts, my neck hurts, I'm too tall, or I don't like swinging my leg over the bar,' " he said. "We're trying to take away all the excuses."

Revive's neutral riding position takes pressure off the buttocks, hands, and arms, and relieves pain associated with traditional bicycles. The position also allows the rider to easily and safely place the feet on the ground for sure stops and starts. Revive has an adjustable seat and handlebar that accommodates riders from 5-feet to 6-foot 6-inches, and the low-profile height of the aluminum frame makes it easy to mount and dismount.

Adventure Damascus has several Revives in stock and ready for you to test ride. We have three Revives in our rental fleet too! And…if you rent a Revive and then decide to purchase one from us, we’ll apply the rental fee toward the purchase. Come see for yourself why this bike is making such a big impact on the cycling community. Click the Revive image to see the video.