Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-07-07
"A Wheel FriD Across The AllGghanles.
Beautiful Scenery-Good and Bad Roads
Familiar Faces-Pers0nal, Etc.

al July 1st, 1898
We have just completed a very pleasant
trip on wheels from Staunton to this beauti-
full spot on the Greenbrier river in W. Va.
Having few days at our disposed my BROTH
er and started on wheel trip through the
' Alleghanies to this place. In search Of the
best roads. We left Staunton going by
Churchville and through Jennings Gap. We
found roads fine till Deer6eld was reached
and then came miles Of heavy sand, and
when the sand gave out there was plenty Of
, rocks and rough dried mud. There is little
travel over this road after crossing the Bath
county line and so it remains rough for
, weeks after a rain-for several miles we
observed that only one vehicle had passed
In the four previous days. The morning we
left, the news Of Judge Quarles nomination
had just been telegraphed to Staunton. so
we were the first to herald the tidings
through Pastures District. We shouted 1t
to all passers by and to hands In the fields
along the road. As original Quarles men
we were much gratifed as the expressions
of approval and regard.them at fair index
to the popularity OF our candidate. We did
not hear one single expression of dissatis-
faction. On the contrary there were many
hurrahs for Old Augusta. One old fellow
who was bossing large force Of laborers,
gratefully shouted back to US thank the
Lord for that" and so on throughout the
days. That afternoon we rested over and
dined with Mr.. David B. Taylor near Deer
field. Mr.. Taylor few years ago retired
from active mercantile business in Balti-
more and buying large tract Of mountain
land. has built it up till it is the finest es-
tate in this beautiful Deerfield Valley. His
handsome residence ON an eminenee COM
mands a view Of the prettiest fields and per-
| haps the finest wheat in all this section. |
Proceeding towards Warm Springs that af- |
ternoon, we soon reached Green Valley, and |
| while stopping for water were agreeably |
| surprised and warmly welcomed by Miss |
Sallie Grattan, who was spending few days |
of her vacation there. This place is appro-
priately named, for never have seen green
or foliage, or prettier grass fields. The
road from there to the Cowpasture River is
a wheelman's paradise, black slate and
smooth as floor. We coasted almost the
whole four miles, but arrived at the river
We AodhN ~ uAAukO ouu III AOA ohu buO Wo-
ter was deep and wide. There was no al
tentative. After two trips across we sue
ceeded In landing our wheels and other eff
fects At the foot Of Warm Springs noun
tain we stopped again for water at y neat
farm house; there is one delight the cyclist
has in travelling this route, he can drink as
much of the mineral and free-stone water as
his thirst Graves and feel the better for it. l
never found better water anywhere. Our
thirst Stacked we proceeded up the noun
tain little way. but the aroma Of hot COT
fee and fried ham from the farm house din
ing room we had just left was too much for
half starved appetites. so we returned and
suggested to the good people that If one good
turned deserved another, we would like to
have our supper; and we did too good one.
Our hostess turned out to be Mrs. E. M.
Larew. whose husband is near relative of
our friend and county man Mr. j. j. Larew
Of Greenville. From here to the top of the
mountain is three miles of good road. but
too steep for wheel riding. At the top there
are some fine views and the riding is good
down to the Warm Springs, which is right
at the base Of the mountain and at the head
Of the beautiful valley which extends toward
CoVington. A half mile below the Springs
buildings, nestles the pretty little village Of
Germantown, and there we spent the night,
and met our townsman, e. q. Thompson, who
was there on business. Next morning we
started for Covington, down this beautiful |
valley and over the celebrated Boulevard,
between the Warm and the bot. 1t bridges
the streams. it cuts through the hills and is
as pretty piece Of engineering as railroad |
work. We coasted over mile to the Hot
and drew up on the prettiest lawn have
ever seen. Everything goes for style here
and there is great display Of wealth. This |
is now recognized as the Saratoga of the |
South. Improvements including the build |
ing of a fine new church are still going on.
Here whole column could be written, but |
this much must suffice. We repudiated |
the hot water and asked for cool. so we're
directed around the hotel for soda water. |
OF course we expected to find a soda foun- !
tain at 5 cents glass, but 1t was soda |
water spring. That was one on US. Next |
came the Healing with its pretty grounds; a |
feature of this springs dotted valley is the |
number of smaller resorts to fame unknown. |
With the healing some miles behind as we |
| coasted down a two mile grade to the bot |
tom Of Falling Springs Valley-narrow and |
dotted with numerous springs which unite |
and form deep creek, along the banks of |
which are steep cliffs and boulders. A |
bridge,spans the stream and just beyond, |
the road makes horseshoe bend that brings |
one in view of the prettiest scene magma |
Cba 11oyc 70 oil n of " l
away at this point, leaving rock precipice |
80 feet over which the stream dashes. filling |
the chasm with spray. A part of the stream |
divides before making its plunge, and this
branch of it leaps from ledge to ledge like
diminutive Yosemite. This Is the most
! Economically pretty spot on the whole |
route and Is we'll worth the trip to see. An |
other steep. smooth climb Of mile and we
are at the top Of another mountain. 1t is
now just five miles down and over the pref
tiest red slate road imaginable. The bends |
doubling back are so abrupt that stone |
can be tossed to the road half mile below.
From this road we had glimpses of scenery |
which eclipse that from Elliott's Knob.
Covington is now in sight nd we are soon |
there and at the Intermont. This is Mr.. E. |
G. Peyton'a Hotel and we soon have the |
pleasure of his familiar greeting, also his |
son, Briscoe and daughter. Miss Alice Pey-
ton. 1t was my first visit to the Intermont. |
| and wish to say right here, that consider |
ing the beautiful lawn. the large airy rooms, |
the broad piazas, the arrangement of hotel
Office, and the table service, it is the gem Of
the Alleghanies. For those who love out |
door sport there Is the tennis court and the |
golf links, for indoor amusements there are
the tables and chairs over the balcony and |
for dancing fine ballroom. This hall had |
| just two nights before housed the stormiest |
Democratic convention held in this district
for many years, the convention that nomi-
i Tod Ind On FL he