Date: 2019-06-15
From: Tom Floyd Shelter

To: The Cabbin at Mountain Home Nero
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: clear sky

Day 75 Mountain Home NeroA few days back I spotted a B&B located just off the AT near Front Royal.Reviews talked about the enthusiasm that the owners Scott and Lisa Jenkins had for their historic home. I decided I just had to stay there. I¢m so glad I did. Appropriately, perhaps, I was accommodated in ¢The Cabbin¢ which originally were the quarters for the slaves that looked after the expansive grounds and paddocks of the main mansion now called ¢Mountain Home¢. It (the original mansion) was built in 1847, and is a three-story, three bay, brick Greek Revival style home.  There are lots of additions and outbuildings dating mainly to the 1860¢s including of course the ¢Treetrunk ¢ (slave) quarters, a meat house, a chicken coop, a shed, and two automobile garages (well ...obviously they are not 1860¢s!!!) It was a dilapidated ruin occupied by bikie/alternative lifestyle squatters when the current owners took over. But the walls are 3 layer brick with 7 course cross bonding ... it takes a hell of alot to make that fall over!!! Even Japanese 2 stroke motor mountain bike tracks through the front rooms were not enough to put a dent in its pride. Scott and Lisa set to work ( ie emptied their bank account) and wow wow wow I was in awe of what they have done. As a bonus I got to meet with a carpenter who has done some of the work and he lovingly showed me the original circular saw marks on a hidden door panel. Now that is the sign of a craftsman who loves his trade!! The Jenkins are super AT friendly and they have done a remarkable job of restoring the property. It¢s now listed on the National Register Historic Places, testament to their unwavering love for restoration. My abode ... slave quarters ... ¢The Cabbin¢ is a small brick building that looks like a cottage now, but originally (and still) has logs in the walls.  It is set up with 4 twin beds upstairs ( where I stayed because it¢s close to the bathroom!!!) and 2 full-sized futons downstairs, a shared bathroom at the head of the stairs, and a small kitchen on the first floor.  It is generally used by hikers ... well hey we had a lot of fun there !!! And Hiker Magic ... somehow my room was mostly paid for by a guest who took pity on the slaves (hikers) and ... and ... on top of that supper arrived in the form of two family sized pizzas. (Also paid for) Goodness me ¢Virginia is for Lovers¢ (that¢s the Car Number Plate Logo) and I love Virginia!!I could wax lyrical about my time there. All I could think about as I went to sleep was a picture of the chicken coop I needed to draw. (maybe originally a corn barn??) I hope I did it justice.PS Did I mention that on my way to do my resupply in Front Royal I ran into ¢The Beast¢ and ¢Sweeeeet¢ (Caroline) again?(They are a lovely couple) at ... surprise surprise ... the Front Royal Brewery. Goodness me .. The brewers heard my accent and thereon provided me with extremely oversized sampler (ie free) cups of their wares... of course they needed the ¢Downunder¢ perspective. I was obligated to do so! After that, to top it off a thru Hiker from 2017 passed by. And dropped a very thick wad of cash on the table ¢Are you thru hikers... ?? ... Well buy yourselves some beer¢ Too much fun!PPS There is also a diary at Mountain House dating from the 1860¢s written by a teenage lass describing how rude the yankeee soldiers were. Fabulously entertaining reading.