“The James River is where American history began…Skyline Drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Appalachian Trail are all such quintessential Virginia journeys. They were built to give hard-working, everyday people a place to go and get in touch with the grandeur of nature.” -Senator Tim Kaine
Perhaps you’ve heard of the Colorado Fourteeners Challenge or New York’s Adirondack 46er Challenge. Could Virginia have a similar outdoor quest? US Senator Tim Kaine believes we should. An avid outdoorsman, Senator Kaine spent three years hiking, cycling, and paddling over 1,200 miles on a journey he calls the “Virginia Nature Triathlon.” His adventure included hiking the Virginia portion of the Appalachian Trail, cycling the Blue Ridge Parkway and adjacent Skyline Drive, and paddling the James River, from the mountains to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Senator Kaine shares the motivation behind his journey, what he learned about Virginia and about himself along the way, and why he believes Virginians are blessed with an abundance of public lands and natural beauty. Let’s go!
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Article, “Why Tim Kaine Created the Virginia Nature Triathlon”
Big Meadows Lodge, Shenandoah National Park
Cycling the Blue Ridge Parkway
Virginia White Water by Roger Corbett
Guides to James, New, Shenandoah Rivers by Bruce Ingram
Great Dismal Swamp kayaking and camping