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Huckleberry Trail LbNA #62633 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:beestrail
Plant date:Jul 26, 2012
Location: Huckleberry Trail
City:Christiansburg
County:Montgomery
State:Virginia
Boxes:1
Found by: Not yet found!
Last found:N/A
Status:r
Last edited:Jul 26, 2012
The Huckleberry Trail is a 5.762 miles (9.27 km) rail trail in Montgomery County, Virginia, connecting Blacksburg and Christiansburg. The trail features a 12 feet (3.7 m) wide trail with an asphalt surface at the middle, and unpaved shoulders.
The trail takes its name from the former route of the Virginia Anthracite & Coal Railroad, nicknamed "the Huckleberry", upon which the trail was constructed. The huckleberry moniker was developed by the railroad's passengers, who would pick huckleberries alongside the tracks during the railroad's frequent service interruptions and break downs.
With passenger service ending in 1958, and the subsequent abandonment of the line in 1967, the former railroad right-of-way remained unused until the idea of its conversion to a pedestrian trail arose in the 1980s. In February 1990, Montgomery County approved what was deemed the Huckleberry Trail as the county's first bikeway. By 2000, the success of the trail was recognized by the federal governments as the Huckleberry Trail was named as one of the nation's 2,000 Community Millennium Trails on June 1, 2000.
(Taken from Wikipedia.)

Starting at the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg, "Ron", the Railroad fan, traveled down the Huckleberry trail by walking down a hill and over a bubbling creek. Ron noticed a bench which "made a difference" to him. To Ron's left he saw some yummy berries and made a mental note that he should bring a bag or bucket to collect more berries when he returned next time.
Ron noticed a colleague, "Supy", while waiting for a train to pass by. Waving to the railroad man, Ron was filled with new energy and hope for a pleasant walk. As Ron continued on his walk, Ron noticed that "Debbie was very kind to Bobbie". The trail began to go up, down, and then up again before spying some "Corning" Glassware. Evidence of a "walker" and a "70th birthday" present offered rest stops to Ron as he moved onward.
With the train trestle in sight, Ron rested under a shelter before turning back towards the mall. Seeing a turkey beside a stone that marks the miles, Ron ran to catch the turkey. By the time Ron reached the mile marker, the turkey had run quickly away. Ron then walked 16 steps before he "left" and saw a trio of stones which revealed the "Huckleberry" trail.