As noted in in Part 1 of this Quarantine Motorcycle Ride series on the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway, had to occur over three seasons. Part 2 Leesburg to Montpelier occurred last summer.
This leg of the ride started on a cool summer morning. Blue skies, white puffy clouds, and the local weatherman, promised a comfortable day to ride the motorcycle.
Our eyes and the weatherman were right! Our ride on the Harley Davidson Ultra Limited motorcycle was smooth and sweet. Great tunes and light traffic made this leg of the Hallowed Ground Byway nothing short of great.
This part of the Byway is packed full of sites that just beg to be stopped and explored as this part of Virginia is packed with history and historical sites.
Getting to Montpelier took us past the following historical sites, and these are the major sites. There are many, many smaller sites in each of the towns you pass through. This leg of the Hallowed Ground Byway can, by itself, could take a week to work your way though.
Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park | Nova Parks
Bull Run Battlefield (1st and 2nd Battle for Manassas)
This section also passes though the Northern Virginia wine and brewery corridor. For example, there are over a dozen breweries and 30 vineyards in Loudon county alone! Just do not drink and ride, of course!
Of course, the destination of this motorcycle ride was the home of President James Madison’s home Montpelier. Montpelier was the plantation home of the Madison family, including the fourth President of the United States James Madison and his wife Dolly.
Montpelier is both a National Historic Landmark and part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Completed in 2008 a major restoration (by the National Trust), in part to return the mansion to its original size of 22 rooms.
Archeological investigations provided information on African-American life at the plantation. Philanthropist David Rubenstein funded and enabled the National Trust to restore the slave quarters in the South Yard and open a slavery exhibition, The Mere Distinction of Colour, in 2017.
Getting to Montpelier is a wonderful ride through historic lands. If you are in the area, on the Journey Thorough Hallowed Ground Byway or not, take the time to stop.
I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!! 