I shit you not, the
Dick & Willie has gotten longer. Yes, about two decades ago, the old
Danville & Western rail line — commonly known as the "Dick & Willie Line" — closed down, and the tracks through a fair portion of Martinsville were
converted to the Dick & Willie Rail Trail. For several years,
we had a continuous 4.5-mile section of trail completed, but three or four
years ago, a new, 2.5-mile section opened up at the eastern end of town,
terminating at the Smith River Sports Center on Spruce
Street. That has left approximately four miles of trail to be completed,
thus connecting the two ends. As of just a few weeks ago, a new, 2-mile leg
along Mulberry Creek opened up, which Ms. B. and I hiked out today, and
it is by far the most scenic, relatively isolated part of the trail.
Eventually, it is slated to extend even farther from the current northwestern
terminus at Commonwealth Boulevard & Virginia Avenue and connect with the
Fieldale-Smith River Trail, a few miles to the northeast.
It goes without saying that I have already populated with local trails with
numerous geocaches, but the new D & W extension certainly begs for several
more. I plan to oblige, more likely sooner than later. As it is, I discovered
today that I need to perform maintenance on a couple of my older caches out
there, so that will be my next geocaching priority.
We encountered several folks today riding e-bikes on the trail, and the lure
to avail ourselves to such devices is strong. Perhaps once Ms. B. is again
gainfully employed, we'll set us ourselves up with a couple.
For now, hike on!
