No convenience stores on this ride, so pack your own goodies. Catawba General Store, which is on Virginia 311 after you come down Catawba Mountain, is a good place to load up. It's a short distance before you get to Virginia 785. After the ride, the Homeplace Restaurant on Virginia 311 is a good place to eat. It's open 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
Meals are family style and no alcohol is served.
Virginia 785 is part of the original Bikecentennial course, a popular cross-country cycling route that hardy touring cyclists have followed for more than 20 years. There are a couple of good spots to stop and rest along the way. One is a grassy plot on the right at the intersection of Virginia 785 and Nature's Waye. It's a short distance past McPherson Road. Another spot, a bit farther up on the left, is McDonalds Mill.