GET READY TO RAMBLE!

Pigg River Ramble May 13-15th, 2011 in Franklin County Virginia, Come out and Celebrate the 10th Annual Ramble!

Don't miss out on the fun Blue Ridge Style!

The Ramble is a three day river recreational event for canoe/kayak enthusiasts. It is the county’s premier outdoor recreational event. The 10th ANNUAL RAMBLE is scheduled for May 13-15, 2011 and consists of:

Blackwater Blackout

Organized and managed by Antioch Community Park, approximately 250 people participate in a non-competitive night float on the Blackwater River. Multiple sponsors include McAirlaids, SleepSafe Beds, Longwood Signs, and Davis, Davis, Davis, and Davis Law Firm.

Pigg River Ramble

Organized and managed by The Community Partnership for Revitalization and Franklin County Parks & Rec, a canoe/kayak competitive race and fun float is held on the Pigg River.

Approximately 300 individuals participate in this event which is the highlight of the weekend. Winners of the various categories of the competitive 8 mile race are presented with trophies and medals at an awards ceremony. The title sponsor for both Saturday and Sunday events is Rocky Top Building Products. Thanks to this sponsorship, the entry fee for children up to 10 yrs. of age

is FREE; entry fees for young adults 11-18 are reduced. The additional sponsors are Duncan Ford whose sponsorship enables each Ramble participant to receive the Pigg River Ramble T-shirt. Following the Ramble, Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital is sponsoring an awards ceremony, held at Waid Park, includes a BBQ dinner and live band. And, they are sponsoring the drawing for the KAYAK!!!

Breakfast on The Blackwater

Organized and managed by The Community Partnership for Revitalization and Franklin County Parks & Rec, the final event of The Ramble includes a hot breakfast of pancakes/eggs/bacon, etc. served on the banks of the Blackwater River at the "put-in", a leisurely 3 mile float, and a post-awards ceremony. Participants in both day race/float events enter into a drawing for a new kayak given away at the breakfast. The HUB Restaurant is sponsoring the Breakfast event.

• Blackwater Blackout—May 13, 2011 THIS IS A NIGHT FLOAT!
• Pigg River Ramble– May 14, 2011
• Breakfast on The Blackwater– May 15, 2011
• Description of Events - click here
• Registration Form - click here
• Event Fees - click here

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 5 miles from the start of The Ramble on the Pigg River and also 1 mile from the finish line (take out.)


VIRGINIA IS FOR PIGG LOVERS
Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

*This innformation is brought to you to assist in travel planning, please contact the events directly for hours of operations/fees.

Pic-a-nic Package in Virginia

“Every once in a while you are reminded why Franklin County is such a special place.”

PICNIC ON THE PARKWAY ROMANTIC GETAWAY PACKAGE

Howz this for gorgeous? We can put this together for you!

Just 15 miles to the "America's Favorite Road" The Blue Ridge Parkway with gorgeous vistas and serene places to picnic. Romance Package includes:

• Two night stay (any room of your choice) 
• Sparkling Cider for in your room upon arrival
• Fresh Fragrant Flowers in your room upon arrival
• Inn-credible Breakfast in the Morning
• Stealing a Kiss by the Pond - FREE
• A Fabulous Picnic Lunch for Two 
• A personalized list of the best picnic spots and leisurely hikes within an hour of The Claiborne House B&B

GIVE US A CALL TO BOOK THIS PACKAGE - we will need to get your menu choices 540-483-4616, which will be of course, delightful!

(Package is only available for two-night stays. Limited availability on package offer. Cost is $80 addtl charge + room rate for whichever room your choose) 

Hunk not included in picnic package, BYO

Update - Shellie your Innkeeper has added a new favorite pic-a-nic spot to the personalized list she will include with your picnic hamper.  This is a locally-known river, just 5 miles from The Claiborne House that has a gorgeous waterfall.  If I could only translate into this article the sounds of this beautiful spot you would order this picnic package!  

"THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE THE BLUE RIDGE OF VIRGINIA!" 

VIRGINIA IS FOR ROMANCE LOVERS

Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

*Quotes above by Shellie Leete your Innkeeper at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast

Down by The River in Roanoke May 13-14, 2011 Check out the Lineup!

Kirk Avenue Music Hall  May 13 & 14, 2011 210 Reserve Ave, Roanoke

Kirk Ave is busting out of the music hall and heading DOWN BY THE RIVER!

Join us on May 13 + 14 for the second annual Down By The River festival. The lineup is OUTSTANDING! · Court Yard Hounds · Amos Lee · Neko Case · Jay Farrar  · Chris Thile & Michael Daves · The Black Lillies · The Mosier Brothers · Momentary Prophets · The Pace Brothers It's a 2-day family fiesta with a Kids World full of activities, a stage devoted to the Music Lab, yummy food vendors, artists and crafters. This year, there is camping so you can dig in, spread out and enjoy every moment. Everything is under tents so there are no weather worries.

Go to the website for lots more more info and details, and be sure to friend us on Facebook!

Chris Thile Mandolin Bouzouki Newgrass Progressive Bluegrass Extraordinaire!

Listen to Chris Thile here
The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is just 19 miles to Roanoke VA. 
VIRGINIA IS FOR ROOTS MUSIC LOVERS

Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

*This innformation is brought to you to assist in travel planning, please contact the events directly for hours of operations/fees.

Roanoke museums on board for National Train Day

Rail Museums celebrate Virginia’s Rail Heritage with exciting special events on May 14, 2011

photo © 2006 Emmett Tullos | more info (via: Wylio)

Roanoke’s rail museums are teaming up for Roanoke Rail Day on May 14, 2011 and offering a supersized day of fun for train fans of all ages. Visit the O. Winston Link Museum and the Virginia Museum of Transportation to enjoy special Norfolk Southern rail equipment and historic engines, model trains, rides, photography, kids’ activities and more. A discounted joint ticket is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $8 for children. Visitors can also purchase admission to each museum separately. The Archives of the Norfolk & Western Historical Society will be open free of charge.

Read the entire article by Mike Allen in the Roanoke Times here.

VIRGINIA IS FOR TRAIN LOVERS

Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

*This innformation is brought to you to assist in travel planning, please contact the museums directly for hours of operations.

Sunday Drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia

Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia, a set by sundaydriveapp on Flickr.

Some photos to tease you to get outside and innjoy this beautiful place we call the Blue Ridge! Come and see us at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast, just 15 miles from MP 121.

Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

Get your fill of hot biscuits and hot bluegrass at our Rocky Mount Dairy Queen!

Dairy Queen and Bluegrass go hand in hand in Rocky Mount, VA where you get your fill of hot biscuits and hot bluegrass! Rocky Mount Dairy Queen hosts the DQ Band every Thursday morning (Sept thru May) from 9-10AM. They make a fine biscuits and gravy! 

UPCOMING EVENTS TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON...

RECREATION AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS TAKE NOTE!  Here is your list from RoanokeOutside.com of Upcoming Events

photo © 2008 Tony Harrison | more info (via: Wylio)

Visit The RoanokeOutside.com Calendar of Events for details on these upcoming events!

• Weekly bike rides throughout Roanoke & NRV Valley
• Monday Bike Polo
• Tuesday Tune Ups  
• Thursday Happy Hour Floats    
• Tree Top Canopy Tour - 4/30
• Intro. to Backpacking & Orienteering - 4/30 
• Backpacker Magazine's GET OUT MORE TOUR - 5/7 
• BrewRidge Music Festival - 5/7
• Camping at Blue Ridge Winery - 5/7 
• Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon - 5/7
• Moving Water & Small Craft Safety - 5/7 
• Trail Nut 10K & Half Marathon Trail Run - 5/7   
• Beginner Frisbee Golf - 5/11 
• Gallop 4 The Greenways - 5/14  
• Amazing County Treasure Hunt - 5/14
• Mad Dash at Green Hill 5K - 5/14
• Intro. to Rock Climbing - 5/14
• MANNathon 5 & 8K - 5/14
• Scenic Canoe Tour of the New River - 5/14
• Spring Wildflower Plant Sale - 5/14
• Chestnut Ridge/Mill Mountain Hike - 5/15
• 5K Run for Your Floyd Young Life - 5/21
• Tour de Floyd - 5/21
• Vertical Motion - 5/21
• Intro. to Kayaking - 5/22
• Adventure Tourism Entrepreneurs Workshop - 5/26 
• AEP 5/10K Festival Run - 5/28
• Intro. to Whitewater Kayaking - 5/28

VIRGINIA IS FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.

*This innformation is brought to you to assist in travel planning, please contact the events directly for hours of operations/fees.

GOT GAS?

IF NOT, WE KNOW WHERE YOU CAN GET SOME!
The Blue Ridge Parkway which is "America's Favorite Road" is 469 miles with no stops.  

America's Favorite Ride - The Blue Ridge Parkway

Since the Blue Ridge Parkway was meant to share the love of driving/riding and gorgeous outdoor scenery, there are no commercial signs or buildings along this famous road. 

This means NO GAS STATIONS along The Blue Ridge Parkway.

We would like to share where to get gas while travelling the Blue Ridge Parkway, this would be especially helpful for motorcyclists who have shorter gas range than vehicles.  We are located near the Half Way point of THE BRP in Virginia.
Feel free to print this out and take along with you as your travel this road! This is for the Virginia Section of the BRP.
GAS AVAILABILITY ON THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY - Not far from these US or State Highway Intersections in Virginia:

• US 250-MP 0
• US 60-MP 45.6
• VA130-MP 61.6
• US 501-MP 63.9
• US 460-MP 106
• VA 24-MP 112.2
• US 220-MP 121.4
• US 58-MP 177.7
• US 52-MP 199.4
• VA 89-MP 215.8

Remember, The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is motorcycle friendly, we have off-street paved parking and you can sit on the porch and near the ponds and relax, and walk to local restaurants. Our MP exit from near Roanoke to HWY 220 is MP 121. We are in Rocky Mount VA.
VIRGINIA IS FOR ROAD TRIP LOVERS
Life is too short for bad coffee...Shellie your innkeeper @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount, VA - Blue Ridge Country! You can book your room online at any time right here http://www.claibornehouse.net/

The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is 15 miles to three exits off The Blue Ridge Parkway.  We are located at the half-way point of this beloved road in Virginia, exit at MP 121.  We were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor - click here to see our certificate.