Some Trail adventures are planned around mileage. Others are planned around friendship. For distance skater Richie Kesseli, 124 miles on the Virginia Capital Trail became more than just a long weekend adventure. It was a rolling reunion, a rain-soaked test of balance, a campout under the stars, and a reminder that the best miles are the ones that challenge us.
Inspired by Community
When we asked Richie what his inspiration was to skate 124 miles, “The short answer is friends.”
The long answer stretches all the way from Virginia to Georgia and Alabama.
“There’s a social skate event every June called the Chief Ladiga Silver Comet Challenge in GA/AL where a group will skate the entire Chief Ladiga/Silver Comet trail out and back in 3 days. I’ve been lucky to do it the past couple years and made some really cool friends in the distance skating world. This year there was talk of a skate/camp get together in the fall on the VA Capital Trail. Of course I wanted in! The original plan was to camp at Chickahominy park Friday and Saturday night. That way we could skate the trail from 0-25 and back to camp Saturday, then Sunday head back to Richmond and skate 51-25 and back.”
Essentially riding the whole path in an odd way. As it approached both my partner, Whitney, and I had work trips come up that needed us back in Richmond Saturday night, so we decided to change up our plan. We set out in Richmond, at MM 51 with the plan to meet our friends at Chickahominy park to camp Friday night, then Saturday skate all the way back to Richmond. This allowed us to get in a fun night of camping and skating half the trail with everyone."
Favorite Moments (and Sandwiches)
Smooth pavement. Rolling hills. Scenic view. And then there’s the sandwiches….
“It’s hard to pick a favorite. Camping at Chickahominy park was a lot of fun, bonus since it's right off the trail. Cul’s Courthouse Grill had a smoked turkey sandwich on special I still think about. The trail itself was really nice too, the pavement was smooth and all the rolling hills made it super fun to ride. Also, the bridges were fun and scenic.”
Rolling Through the Challenges
Believe it or not, the 100+ mile distance wasn’t the hardest part of the trek. Through rainstorms, flooding, and submerged skateboards, they rolled on.
“Definitely the rain storms. We knew it might rain and were relatively prepared for it. Once you embrace the wet it's not so bad. The tough part was that some sections of the trail were flooded 4-5” deep, my board would be completely submerged at times. It’s not so bad skating on wet roads, but hitting a big puddle will slow the board down immediately. That plus a heavy camping back all shifting forward took much balance.”
Pro Tips for Future Trail Explorers
A few non-negotiables for the perfect weekend escape:
“Stop for a smoked turkey sandwich of course! Really, since the trail ends in Richmond, it’s easy to get to via the Amtrak train. We live in Durham, NC and this time we didn’t use the train, but when I come back I plan to. It’s easy to get up to Richmond, ride to mile 0, camp, ride back to Richmond and home on the train for a quick weekend out.”
If they could do it all over again?
“I’d probably pack lighter haha. Since we were camping Friday night, I carried all my gear and food on my back. I didn’t plan for pit stops like hot lunch and had more than enough food for both days. Another thing I’d do is spend more time on the trail and camping! Two days was too short of a trip.”
Trail Shoutouts
“Yeah, shout out to Whitney StCharles, Earl Stout III, Max Frank, Zeilend Powell, and Landy Cook for also skating/biking and arranging the trail camp meetup. Hoping to do it again.”
And Just for Fun
Official Capital Trail T-Shirt Slogan?
“Come for the trail, stay for the sandwiches.”
Must-have Trail snack?
Haribo Twin Snakes.
Rolling Home
Long after the rain cleared and the gear was unpacked, what stuck wasn’t just the mileage; it was the experience. The steady rhythm of wheels on smooth pavement. The quiet miles spent side by side. Camp setup after a full day of skating. Rolling hills, scenic bridges, and working together through flooded stretches.
In the end, 124 miles was simply the framework. The real story was time spent with friends, adapting when plans changed, and discovering just how much ground you can cover in a weekend. The Virginia Capital Trail continues to be more than a straight line from mile 0 to 51, it’s a place to test yourself, try something new, and share the ride.
Come for the adventure. Enjoy the miles. Stay for the sandwiches.
Thank you, Rich and friends, for sharing your soggy yet spirited adventure! We can’t wait to welcome you back for, hopefully a little drier, Round 2!
Virginia Capital Trail Faces of the Trail
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