We made the final 6 hour drive from Beckley, West Virginia to Home. There was a short visit in Columbus with our youngest daughter as she was taking a lunch break from work. It was great to see her after such a long absence!
It was good to be home. Of course there is all the mail to sort through, a dead battery in the car to replace, the Clothes Dryer needed repaired, and other things to catch up on, but sleeping in ones own bed is a wonderful feeling! There is other things that you miss, like cable television and toilet paper that is greater than 1 ply (which is what most campgrounds provide.)
So, the bicycling portion of the trip went from the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans, covered 10 states, 4,470 miles, 80 days (68 on the bicycle, 12 days of rest), averaged 66 miles a day, spent 352 hours peddling, averaged 12.75 MPH, climbed 198,000 feet of altitude, and stayed at 68 different campgrounds.
Not enough thanks can be said for those who made the trip possible. The neighbors watched for any funny business at the house and mowed the lawn...thank you!! A huge thank you goes out to the Phillips family who took care of the inside of the house, collected the mail from the Post Office, cleaned out the spoiled food from the refrigerator/freezer after the power went out for 4 days, watering plants, and numerous other household duties! The Campbell family graciously took care of our Cockatiel bird, Sadie. There were countless family, friends, and unnamed others who offered prayers to God for our safe travel. Obviously your prayers were answered! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
A few of the many blessings include: 1) There were only a couple of times when I had to ride in the rain. 2) He offered clouds of shade on hot days, 3) Although there were a couple of angry motorists, I was never hit or run off the road, 4) No dog bites, 5) Beautiful scenery, 6) Views of wild animals, with no bear attacks, 7) Only minor bicycle breakdowns...I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Then, there is the extremely generous contribution of Kim's parents through thick and thin by helping Kim and I through this adventure.
Lastly but certainly not least, there is my amazing bride of 31 years. Kim's unwavering commitment to making my dream a reality is truly an amazing display of love and commitment. When she vowed "...for better or for worse..." I suspect this was not in her wildest idea of reality. It was not always easy, but she tirelessly worked hard in setting up and tearing down the camper, pulling the camper up and down mountains, planning meals, and keeping many other things in line. I publicly want to thank her for her love and commitment! Praise be to God for a wonderful wife!!
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012 - VICTORY!!
Williamsburg, VA to Yorktown, VA (31 miles) (Total for entire trip = 4,470)
Due to Kim's brother being in the hospital, Walt and Vera left to return home at the same time as I was peddling out of the campground to meet the Ocean. It was sad that they did not get to see the destination, but they felt it was more important to head for home. They planned to drive straight through for 13 hours. Although we tried to convince them to wait a couple hours so all of us could head back together, Kim and I expected their decision to go on their own.
Right out of the Chickahomony County Campground, a very nice bike path started my ride for the first 8 miles. Even after I departed the path and started on the Colonial Parkway, the early morning provided light traffic and a very pleasant ride. If there was anything to complain about, it would have been the road surface on the Parkway. It appears they used a very pebble filled concrete substance that caused a very rough ride for the last 23 miles. But, I was willing to endure almost anything today, as the destination was near and the smell of ocean was in the air. As I rounded a bend in the bike path, a doe and fawn deer was standing not 10 feet away from me. They seemed to freeze as I paused, told them "Good Morning", and took their picture. The little fawn was so cute with the little white spots on his back. It was not 10 miles later along the Parkway that I was started by another doe and fawn that were next to a guardrail about 5 feet from me. The second pair bolted into the brush, so no picture this time.
The route was designed to take me through historic Jamestown, Williamsburg, and destination Yorktown. In order to detour around a short tunnel prohibiting bicycle travel, the Williamsburg route went directly through the old colonial buildings. Of course I was too early to see the town in action, but it was still pretty cool! As I came along side the York River, I could see some huge Navy battle ships docked at the US Naval Supply Center. The smell of ocean increased and my excitement escalated. It was about that time that I saw a bald eagle fly right over the road and land in a tree along the road. Of course, I stopped and took some pictures of the eagle as he ate his morning catch. He got nervous about my picture session and took off. How amazing was that!
It was about 10:00am in the morning and I saw my lovely bride parked next to the Yorktown Victory Monument (the official end of the TransAm Bicycle Trail). It was a very exciting moment. We took some pictures at the monument and made our way down to the beach. More pictures were taken of the ceremonial dipping of the front bicycle tire into the Atlantic Ocean. It was 80 days ago that the rear tire of my bicycle was dipped into the Pacific Ocean. Now, 4,470 miles later, I have bicycled across the United States of America. It was bitter sweet, in that I completed the ride, but now it was over.
I loaded the bicycle on the top of the Durango and we started driving West toward home. About 5 miles back on the Parkway we passed Whitney and Promise as the peddled toward victory. I honked the horn like a crazy man and they waved with excitement. Another team was about to dip their tire in the salt water.
The 12 hour drive back home was now ahead of us. We drove about 6 hours as far as Beckley, West Virgina and decided to stop for the night. After setting up camp at a county campground, Kim and I had celebratory dinner at the Texas Steakhouse.
Due to Kim's brother being in the hospital, Walt and Vera left to return home at the same time as I was peddling out of the campground to meet the Ocean. It was sad that they did not get to see the destination, but they felt it was more important to head for home. They planned to drive straight through for 13 hours. Although we tried to convince them to wait a couple hours so all of us could head back together, Kim and I expected their decision to go on their own.
Right out of the Chickahomony County Campground, a very nice bike path started my ride for the first 8 miles. Even after I departed the path and started on the Colonial Parkway, the early morning provided light traffic and a very pleasant ride. If there was anything to complain about, it would have been the road surface on the Parkway. It appears they used a very pebble filled concrete substance that caused a very rough ride for the last 23 miles. But, I was willing to endure almost anything today, as the destination was near and the smell of ocean was in the air. As I rounded a bend in the bike path, a doe and fawn deer was standing not 10 feet away from me. They seemed to freeze as I paused, told them "Good Morning", and took their picture. The little fawn was so cute with the little white spots on his back. It was not 10 miles later along the Parkway that I was started by another doe and fawn that were next to a guardrail about 5 feet from me. The second pair bolted into the brush, so no picture this time.
The route was designed to take me through historic Jamestown, Williamsburg, and destination Yorktown. In order to detour around a short tunnel prohibiting bicycle travel, the Williamsburg route went directly through the old colonial buildings. Of course I was too early to see the town in action, but it was still pretty cool! As I came along side the York River, I could see some huge Navy battle ships docked at the US Naval Supply Center. The smell of ocean increased and my excitement escalated. It was about that time that I saw a bald eagle fly right over the road and land in a tree along the road. Of course, I stopped and took some pictures of the eagle as he ate his morning catch. He got nervous about my picture session and took off. How amazing was that!
It was about 10:00am in the morning and I saw my lovely bride parked next to the Yorktown Victory Monument (the official end of the TransAm Bicycle Trail). It was a very exciting moment. We took some pictures at the monument and made our way down to the beach. More pictures were taken of the ceremonial dipping of the front bicycle tire into the Atlantic Ocean. It was 80 days ago that the rear tire of my bicycle was dipped into the Pacific Ocean. Now, 4,470 miles later, I have bicycled across the United States of America. It was bitter sweet, in that I completed the ride, but now it was over.
I loaded the bicycle on the top of the Durango and we started driving West toward home. About 5 miles back on the Parkway we passed Whitney and Promise as the peddled toward victory. I honked the horn like a crazy man and they waved with excitement. Another team was about to dip their tire in the salt water.
The 12 hour drive back home was now ahead of us. We drove about 6 hours as far as Beckley, West Virgina and decided to stop for the night. After setting up camp at a county campground, Kim and I had celebratory dinner at the Texas Steakhouse.
Mother and Child in the early morning.
Views of the River as I approached the end.
Historic Williamsburg buildings
Bald Eagle
Overpasses along the Colonial Parkway
Quick, take the picture, this thing is heavy!
A Victory Kiss!
.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012-Civil War Battlefields
Ashland, VA to Williamsburg, VA (69
Miles)
Thankfully there was not fog to deal with today. The morning was crisp and the sun was coming up as I headed onto the trail. It was a good riding day. Traffic was busier than normal, but it still was a good day. There were occasional rise and fall of the roadway, but no climbing to speak of. Elevation was actually below 100 feet, which sure is a long way from the 11,000 feet of Hoosier Pass in Colorado. In order to stay out of major traffic roads and to see some historic civil war batttle sites, the route took me on the outskirts of Richmond. As I stopped to read a some of the historical placards along the road which overlooked battlefields and grave yards, the goosebumps rise on ones skin to think of what transpired at these places. We rightfully get worked up when a few soldiers die today in foreign lands, so we should be totally tramatized at the tens of thousands who would die in a single civil war battle fighting for what they believed to be true and right. My helmet comes off to honor these brave men.
The last few miles of the ride was on a very nice bike path that followed the road but wound through some woods. At the same time the team was pulling into the park, I arrived at the Chickahomony County Park Campground, which is next to the Chickahomony River. The team had stopped a ways back to have the oil changed in Walt's camper and it took longer than expected. Which is fine, as I could help with the camp set up process. It has not been too often I was there to help with the unhooking setup process, as Kim, with help from her parents, has been extremely patient and faithful in this job. It has gotten so that she could many times set up the camper before Walt and Vera had their camper leveled and ready. What a stong and brave woman!
As we were checking in at the park office, I asked the young fellow taking our money how to pronounce the name of the river and park. After I got him to understand what I was asking, he almost scolded me to say Chick-a-homony (with the accent on the Chick.) I wanted to say "Sorry, I didn't know!", but I did not. So, we had a very late lunch and went exploring into Williamsburg. As it was so late in the day, there was not enough time to enjoy hands on walking tours of the Colonial area. With all the old colonial looking buildings and people dressed to act out the time period, I would like to come back in the future to spend more time.
On the way back to the campsite from visiting WIlliamsburg, Vera received a phone call from home. Their son (Kim's brother) was facing emergency surgery from a perferated intestine. Of course the team was upset. Walt and Vera decided to leave first thing in the morning to head home to be with Jim. Kim and I will be a few hours behind, as we will leave after I touch the front bike tire in the Atlantic Ocean. We pray the surgery goes well.
Praise God! We received word later in the evening that Jim had made it through the surgery successfully. But he would have a long road to recovery. Pray for Jim and safe travels for us all.
Thankfully there was not fog to deal with today. The morning was crisp and the sun was coming up as I headed onto the trail. It was a good riding day. Traffic was busier than normal, but it still was a good day. There were occasional rise and fall of the roadway, but no climbing to speak of. Elevation was actually below 100 feet, which sure is a long way from the 11,000 feet of Hoosier Pass in Colorado. In order to stay out of major traffic roads and to see some historic civil war batttle sites, the route took me on the outskirts of Richmond. As I stopped to read a some of the historical placards along the road which overlooked battlefields and grave yards, the goosebumps rise on ones skin to think of what transpired at these places. We rightfully get worked up when a few soldiers die today in foreign lands, so we should be totally tramatized at the tens of thousands who would die in a single civil war battle fighting for what they believed to be true and right. My helmet comes off to honor these brave men.
The last few miles of the ride was on a very nice bike path that followed the road but wound through some woods. At the same time the team was pulling into the park, I arrived at the Chickahomony County Park Campground, which is next to the Chickahomony River. The team had stopped a ways back to have the oil changed in Walt's camper and it took longer than expected. Which is fine, as I could help with the camp set up process. It has not been too often I was there to help with the unhooking setup process, as Kim, with help from her parents, has been extremely patient and faithful in this job. It has gotten so that she could many times set up the camper before Walt and Vera had their camper leveled and ready. What a stong and brave woman!
As we were checking in at the park office, I asked the young fellow taking our money how to pronounce the name of the river and park. After I got him to understand what I was asking, he almost scolded me to say Chick-a-homony (with the accent on the Chick.) I wanted to say "Sorry, I didn't know!", but I did not. So, we had a very late lunch and went exploring into Williamsburg. As it was so late in the day, there was not enough time to enjoy hands on walking tours of the Colonial area. With all the old colonial looking buildings and people dressed to act out the time period, I would like to come back in the future to spend more time.
On the way back to the campsite from visiting WIlliamsburg, Vera received a phone call from home. Their son (Kim's brother) was facing emergency surgery from a perferated intestine. Of course the team was upset. Walt and Vera decided to leave first thing in the morning to head home to be with Jim. Kim and I will be a few hours behind, as we will leave after I touch the front bike tire in the Atlantic Ocean. We pray the surgery goes well.
Praise God! We received word later in the evening that Jim had made it through the surgery successfully. But he would have a long road to recovery. Pray for Jim and safe travels for us all.
Richmond National Battlefield Park.
Cemetary at Richmond National Battlefield Park
The Team!
Bike Path near Charles City, VA
As the Confederate Army emerged from the woods they faced a line of Union soldiers where you see the white house on the horizon.
Chickahomony River
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 - Small World
Mineral, VA to Ashland, VA (51 Miles)
It was foggy this morning, but I decided to head out. The road was not too busy, so I would pull off the road each time a car approached from behind. In doing so, it gave me time to clean the water off my glasses. As I have mentioned before, riding your bicycle in a heavy fog causes your glasses to collect beads of water until you cannot see very well. Water was also dripping from my helmet and rear view mirror. In about an hour the fog lifted above the roadway which resulted in a much better ride. Again today, the ride included routes through the countryside with lots of gradual downhill grades through wooded land. The elevation is now about 325 feet above sea level. We are just two days from the ocean and plan to dip the front tire in the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday! Wow!
Since leaving Astoria, Oregon on June 5th, the total miles to date on the bicycle is 4,370. There is about 100 miles to go. You may wonder why the total miles to date is greater than the miles ACA quotes for the entire TransAm ride of 4,250. Well, the answer is that I had to take some detours along the way due to construction, a couple wrong turns, plus I would normally ride off route to the campground location each day. So, these extra miles have added up a bit.
Today we are staying at a KOA Campground which is very nice. It has a nice camp store, very tidy sites, clean restrooms and showers. We can catchup on laundry duties. What is the chance of running into someone you knew in Lima, Ohio but now they live in Ashland, Virginia? Well, apparently it i a pretty good odds. Jeff and Vickie Parent once were members at our home church in Lima,but now they live here in Virginia. He is retired but works as a handyman at the KOA and she works as a nurse at a local hospital. What a small world!
So, tomorrow we will be at a State Park between Charles City and Williamsburg, VA which I doubt will have internet connection. Thursday is the end of the TransAm Bicycle Trip in Yorktown, Virginia! Therefore, the blog may not get updated until we return home on Friday/Saturday.
It was foggy this morning, but I decided to head out. The road was not too busy, so I would pull off the road each time a car approached from behind. In doing so, it gave me time to clean the water off my glasses. As I have mentioned before, riding your bicycle in a heavy fog causes your glasses to collect beads of water until you cannot see very well. Water was also dripping from my helmet and rear view mirror. In about an hour the fog lifted above the roadway which resulted in a much better ride. Again today, the ride included routes through the countryside with lots of gradual downhill grades through wooded land. The elevation is now about 325 feet above sea level. We are just two days from the ocean and plan to dip the front tire in the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday! Wow!
Since leaving Astoria, Oregon on June 5th, the total miles to date on the bicycle is 4,370. There is about 100 miles to go. You may wonder why the total miles to date is greater than the miles ACA quotes for the entire TransAm ride of 4,250. Well, the answer is that I had to take some detours along the way due to construction, a couple wrong turns, plus I would normally ride off route to the campground location each day. So, these extra miles have added up a bit.
Today we are staying at a KOA Campground which is very nice. It has a nice camp store, very tidy sites, clean restrooms and showers. We can catchup on laundry duties. What is the chance of running into someone you knew in Lima, Ohio but now they live in Ashland, Virginia? Well, apparently it i a pretty good odds. Jeff and Vickie Parent once were members at our home church in Lima,but now they live here in Virginia. He is retired but works as a handyman at the KOA and she works as a nurse at a local hospital. What a small world!
So, tomorrow we will be at a State Park between Charles City and Williamsburg, VA which I doubt will have internet connection. Thursday is the end of the TransAm Bicycle Trip in Yorktown, Virginia! Therefore, the blog may not get updated until we return home on Friday/Saturday.
Fog is still hovering over Anna Lake
Not sure how to pronounce Bumpass, VA, but I don't think it is a good choice for a town name.
Logging operation along the route.
Amtrak stops right in Ashland, VA with possible destinations like, Washington DC, New York City, Boston and the like.
Monday, August 20, 2012-Stay Out!
Charlottesville, VA to Mineral, VA (52 Miles)
First thing in the morning, Kim was gracious enough to take me back to the trail which was 8 miles from the campground. It was a cool 60 degree start with clouds and a threat of rain. I had some wet roads but no rain, thankfully! Again today, the road wound through the country with cattle, horses and crops along the mountainsides. The wooded stretches included beautiful houses nestled up the hills and sounded by tall trees. It was a rather uneventful day.
Something that bothers me is the excessive use of signs that basically say “Stay Out”. Nearly 90 percent of the wooded properties have this sign somewhere on their lot. Most have the sign hung on about every other tree along the road. There must be an issue with people just walking onto your land. I don’t know? The popular phrase is POSTED No Hunting No Trapping No Fishing No Tresspassing. Why does it have to say POSTED isn't it already posted on the tree? Why can’t they just say No Tresspassing, which I think covers all the situations. It must be a legal thing that you have to say POSTED. Oh, well, that is my rant for today.
We are staying at the Christopher Run Campground just north of Mineral, VA. It is a very wooded place built on a hillside. We got a downpour of rain about 6:00PM which sent us inside for the reast of the evening. Kim said the drive today was uneventful also. She is very ready to be home, but she has been a real trooper through the entire trip. I am very proud of her!!
First thing in the morning, Kim was gracious enough to take me back to the trail which was 8 miles from the campground. It was a cool 60 degree start with clouds and a threat of rain. I had some wet roads but no rain, thankfully! Again today, the road wound through the country with cattle, horses and crops along the mountainsides. The wooded stretches included beautiful houses nestled up the hills and sounded by tall trees. It was a rather uneventful day.
Something that bothers me is the excessive use of signs that basically say “Stay Out”. Nearly 90 percent of the wooded properties have this sign somewhere on their lot. Most have the sign hung on about every other tree along the road. There must be an issue with people just walking onto your land. I don’t know? The popular phrase is POSTED No Hunting No Trapping No Fishing No Tresspassing. Why does it have to say POSTED isn't it already posted on the tree? Why can’t they just say No Tresspassing, which I think covers all the situations. It must be a legal thing that you have to say POSTED. Oh, well, that is my rant for today.
We are staying at the Christopher Run Campground just north of Mineral, VA. It is a very wooded place built on a hillside. We got a downpour of rain about 6:00PM which sent us inside for the reast of the evening. Kim said the drive today was uneventful also. She is very ready to be home, but she has been a real trooper through the entire trip. I am very proud of her!!
An example of the POSTED signs.
An example of the roads being traveled today.
Camp is set outside Mineral, VA
The campground is very wooded.
Sunday, August 19, 2012-Hanging out at Jefferson's Place
Off Day in Charlottesville, VA
Well of course the day started with my, now famous, big breakfast. After eating and cleaning up, we headed to church. Immanuel Lutheran Church was on the south edge of Charlottesville. Folks were very welcoming and it was refreshing to worship God among his people! It was raining after church, so we took a drive through the city to see the big old houses plus the University of Virginia campus.
For lunch, we packed a sandwiches and ate it in the parking lot at Montecello. The former home of President Thomas Jefferson was quite a complex. We took the tour of the house and grounds which was very impressive. Thomas had quite a view of the surrounding countryside from his home on the mountain top.
It was a quick but enjoyable day. Tomorrow we are back on the trail with only four days to go.
Well of course the day started with my, now famous, big breakfast. After eating and cleaning up, we headed to church. Immanuel Lutheran Church was on the south edge of Charlottesville. Folks were very welcoming and it was refreshing to worship God among his people! It was raining after church, so we took a drive through the city to see the big old houses plus the University of Virginia campus.
For lunch, we packed a sandwiches and ate it in the parking lot at Montecello. The former home of President Thomas Jefferson was quite a complex. We took the tour of the house and grounds which was very impressive. Thomas had quite a view of the surrounding countryside from his home on the mountain top.
It was a quick but enjoyable day. Tomorrow we are back on the trail with only four days to go.
Immanuel Lutheran Church in Charlottesville
Our tour guide. He was an odd fellow. He was constantly looking at his watch.
Montecello from the back
We stopped at a mountain top apple barn which also had their own vineyards
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Saturday, August 18, 2012 Tough Day in the Saddle
Lexington, VA to Charlottesville, VA (75 Miles)
Once again, I was up with the sun at a temperature of 59 degrees. It was going to be a difficult day to include the final day of major climbing. After the road meandered along a river for 10 miles, things turned ugly. It was a 2 mile very steep uphill climb to the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance. Once on the Parkway, I expected a rolling roadway with beautiful vistas. Well, the reality was somewhat different. Of course the views were very pretty from 3,000+ feet, but the road was filled with some very long climbs. By the time the end of the 27 mile stretch of the Parkway arrived, I was just about spent and I only had 35 miles to go. To top it off, I had another flat tire to change while on the Parkway.
As for the positive things to this point, I saw 2 deer, a crane, a hawk and some very pretty scenery. There must have been a Saturday morning cycling group on the Parkway, as I counted 21 local cyclists stretched along the route.
Exiting the Parkway, I had to turn onto US 250 for 1.5 miles. It was very busy road but I was glad to see the yellow caution sign that says, “Share the Road” with a picture of a bicycle. It was a steep downhill as I was moving 25-30 MPH, with many cars and trucks whizzing past me. Well, about ¼ mile before my turn off of the busy road, a panel delivery truck was coming up behind and started excessively honking his horn at me. I waived to acknowledge seeing him, but he pulled right beside me as we both were going about 25 MPH, rolled down his window and yelled at the top of his lungs, “GET OFF THE ROAD, IDIOT!” and then sped away. Well, I did not expect that! Apparently he did not see the “Share The Road” sign!
The balance of the ride was much better as the roads leveled off with only minor rolling up and down elevations. I made it into Charlottesville and stopped for an ice cream sandwich and called Kim for a rendezvous point. The only campground we could find was 10 miles off the route and she agreed to come pick me up for a ride to the KOA camp spot. It turned out to be over an 8 hour day of riding. The total elevation gain today was 6,040 feet. Unbelievable this was the second highest single day elevation gain for the entire trip. No wonder I am tired. Tomorrow is a day off and then there is only 4 more days of riding. Hallelujah!
The SAG team had been hanging out at the campground all day, so they were ready to do something. We ventured into Charlottesville to scope out a church to attend tomorrow (Immanuel Lutheran Church). As a treat, we decided to eat out at Red Robin…Yummmm!
Once again, I was up with the sun at a temperature of 59 degrees. It was going to be a difficult day to include the final day of major climbing. After the road meandered along a river for 10 miles, things turned ugly. It was a 2 mile very steep uphill climb to the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance. Once on the Parkway, I expected a rolling roadway with beautiful vistas. Well, the reality was somewhat different. Of course the views were very pretty from 3,000+ feet, but the road was filled with some very long climbs. By the time the end of the 27 mile stretch of the Parkway arrived, I was just about spent and I only had 35 miles to go. To top it off, I had another flat tire to change while on the Parkway.
As for the positive things to this point, I saw 2 deer, a crane, a hawk and some very pretty scenery. There must have been a Saturday morning cycling group on the Parkway, as I counted 21 local cyclists stretched along the route.
Exiting the Parkway, I had to turn onto US 250 for 1.5 miles. It was very busy road but I was glad to see the yellow caution sign that says, “Share the Road” with a picture of a bicycle. It was a steep downhill as I was moving 25-30 MPH, with many cars and trucks whizzing past me. Well, about ¼ mile before my turn off of the busy road, a panel delivery truck was coming up behind and started excessively honking his horn at me. I waived to acknowledge seeing him, but he pulled right beside me as we both were going about 25 MPH, rolled down his window and yelled at the top of his lungs, “GET OFF THE ROAD, IDIOT!” and then sped away. Well, I did not expect that! Apparently he did not see the “Share The Road” sign!
The balance of the ride was much better as the roads leveled off with only minor rolling up and down elevations. I made it into Charlottesville and stopped for an ice cream sandwich and called Kim for a rendezvous point. The only campground we could find was 10 miles off the route and she agreed to come pick me up for a ride to the KOA camp spot. It turned out to be over an 8 hour day of riding. The total elevation gain today was 6,040 feet. Unbelievable this was the second highest single day elevation gain for the entire trip. No wonder I am tired. Tomorrow is a day off and then there is only 4 more days of riding. Hallelujah!
The SAG team had been hanging out at the campground all day, so they were ready to do something. We ventured into Charlottesville to scope out a church to attend tomorrow (Immanuel Lutheran Church). As a treat, we decided to eat out at Red Robin…Yummmm!
It is hard to capture the views from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
More views from the Parkway
Based on the houses, there is some money in the Charlottesville Area
Lewis & Clark Statue in downtown Charlottesville
Friday, August 17, 2012- Another Great Ride!
Troutville, VA to Lexington, VA (51 Miles)
Fog Delay! I am thankful the ride was not excessive today. Even after the delay, it was another very pleasant day with long gradual downhill runs. The roads were very lightly travelled and wound through the countryside. Temperatures were very mild beginning at 58 degrees and rising to about 75 degrees. At 20 miles, I detoured a couple miles to visit the Natural Bridge, billed as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. Well, after arriving at the entrance to the “Wonder”, I refused to pay the $18 to see the rock formation. What a racket! I picked up the brochure and looked at the picture for free. As Kim was planning to swing by later and see the Wonder, I called to warn her of the situation. To add insult to my injury, I now had to make a substantive climb back to the ACA route.
We stayed at the Mallard Duck Campground and Hostel about 6 miles southeast of Lexington. The campground was acceptable, but the guy running the place was very odd. First he was hard to understand (mush mouth), then he hassled the SAG team about where to park and made jokes about our camper (calling it a little outhouse). Glad we were only staying here one night.
As I arrived at camp at lunch time, we dined on bologna sandwiches and decided to venture into Historic Lexington, Virginia. We discovered it was the home to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), which is the first military school in the United States. It was a very impressive looking campus setting with many large cream colored buildings, a large football stadium, and nice housing for the military officers’ (professors’) families. Lexington’s visitors center provided a map to tour the town and enjoy the architecture from the 1700’s and 1800’s. General Stonewall Jackson is buried here and the church that General Lee attended is close to the VMI. We enjoyed the visit and spent the rest of the day back at camp enjoying each other’s company. But, we are all counting down the days until we get home.
Tomorrow looks like the last big climb of the trip where I have to climb a two mile steep grade to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Oh Goodie!! NOT!
Fog Delay! I am thankful the ride was not excessive today. Even after the delay, it was another very pleasant day with long gradual downhill runs. The roads were very lightly travelled and wound through the countryside. Temperatures were very mild beginning at 58 degrees and rising to about 75 degrees. At 20 miles, I detoured a couple miles to visit the Natural Bridge, billed as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. Well, after arriving at the entrance to the “Wonder”, I refused to pay the $18 to see the rock formation. What a racket! I picked up the brochure and looked at the picture for free. As Kim was planning to swing by later and see the Wonder, I called to warn her of the situation. To add insult to my injury, I now had to make a substantive climb back to the ACA route.
We stayed at the Mallard Duck Campground and Hostel about 6 miles southeast of Lexington. The campground was acceptable, but the guy running the place was very odd. First he was hard to understand (mush mouth), then he hassled the SAG team about where to park and made jokes about our camper (calling it a little outhouse). Glad we were only staying here one night.
As I arrived at camp at lunch time, we dined on bologna sandwiches and decided to venture into Historic Lexington, Virginia. We discovered it was the home to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), which is the first military school in the United States. It was a very impressive looking campus setting with many large cream colored buildings, a large football stadium, and nice housing for the military officers’ (professors’) families. Lexington’s visitors center provided a map to tour the town and enjoy the architecture from the 1700’s and 1800’s. General Stonewall Jackson is buried here and the church that General Lee attended is close to the VMI. We enjoyed the visit and spent the rest of the day back at camp enjoying each other’s company. But, we are all counting down the days until we get home.
Tomorrow looks like the last big climb of the trip where I have to climb a two mile steep grade to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Oh Goodie!! NOT!
Some nice houses outside of Lexington
Stonewall Jackson's grave in Lexington
A waterfall along the road that lead to our campgroung.
Some of the buildings at the Virginia Military Institute.
Thursday, August 16, 2012-Enjoyable Ride!
Christiansburg, VA to Troutville, VA (59 Miles)
The hot breakfast bar at the Holiday Inn was wonderful. I loaded up on pancakes, eggs, and sausage. Plus it was a treat to have some coffee! Now that I am ready to conquer the world, or at least a mountain or two, I pedaled out of Christiansburg. It was 60 degrees and clear roads in town, but about 5 miles out a heavy fog was set in place. Please remember, that to this point I have had no shoulder along the road in Virginia. But this morning at about 5 miles out of town, there was the start of a bike lane, which gave me about three feet of pavement to work with. What a blessing to have an extra lane when the visibility was poor for me plus for the cars coming from behind. I had my blinking tail light on, what little good that was doing. In addition, I had to stop about every ¼ mile to clean off my glasses, as water droplets would collect on the lenses from the fog. I probably would have delayed my departure if the fog would have been present at the hotel. But, now that I was on the road I wanted to keep rolling. After 15 miles the fog lifted, strangely enough so ended the bike lane. Some people would not think twice about that or call it a coincidence. But, I still call it a blessing!
Today’s journey ranks right up there with one of the most enjoyable legs of the entire trip. Much of the day was gradual downhill winding roads. The road followed a ridge between some mountain ranges and temperature was in the 70 degree range. There were a couple bicycling locals on the route, but they always look as if they are in a race with no time to stop and chat. The traffic was very light and before I knew it, I had reached the camp.
We are staying at Camp Bethel outside Troutville. It is run by the Church of the Brethern and listed on the ACA map. It was a very nice wooded area with both water and electric hookups for RVs. Obviously, we are not their primary customers, but instead they house big groups in camp buildings and hold conferences. It was quite a nice facility and they only charged us $12. What a deal!
The hot breakfast bar at the Holiday Inn was wonderful. I loaded up on pancakes, eggs, and sausage. Plus it was a treat to have some coffee! Now that I am ready to conquer the world, or at least a mountain or two, I pedaled out of Christiansburg. It was 60 degrees and clear roads in town, but about 5 miles out a heavy fog was set in place. Please remember, that to this point I have had no shoulder along the road in Virginia. But this morning at about 5 miles out of town, there was the start of a bike lane, which gave me about three feet of pavement to work with. What a blessing to have an extra lane when the visibility was poor for me plus for the cars coming from behind. I had my blinking tail light on, what little good that was doing. In addition, I had to stop about every ¼ mile to clean off my glasses, as water droplets would collect on the lenses from the fog. I probably would have delayed my departure if the fog would have been present at the hotel. But, now that I was on the road I wanted to keep rolling. After 15 miles the fog lifted, strangely enough so ended the bike lane. Some people would not think twice about that or call it a coincidence. But, I still call it a blessing!
Today’s journey ranks right up there with one of the most enjoyable legs of the entire trip. Much of the day was gradual downhill winding roads. The road followed a ridge between some mountain ranges and temperature was in the 70 degree range. There were a couple bicycling locals on the route, but they always look as if they are in a race with no time to stop and chat. The traffic was very light and before I knew it, I had reached the camp.
We are staying at Camp Bethel outside Troutville. It is run by the Church of the Brethern and listed on the ACA map. It was a very nice wooded area with both water and electric hookups for RVs. Obviously, we are not their primary customers, but instead they house big groups in camp buildings and hold conferences. It was quite a nice facility and they only charged us $12. What a deal!
Look at this cool fully restored Plymouth setting out in the country.
Mountain Views.
What an elaborate metal mailbox holder.
Our camp spot at Camp Bethal outside of Troutsville.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012-It's All Downhill
Ft. Chiswell, VA to Christiansburg, VA (50 Miles)
Making it up and out of the campground at sun up, I was concerned about the weather. There was predictions of rain today, but I hope to be finished before getting wet. Even though we are in a rather busy area of the state, the route still took me through lightly traveled roads. I am so glad to have the ACA maps to guide the way. Not sure how or why, but most of the day was a gradual downhill ride. I almost felt guilty, but that only lasted for a couple minutes. Since, I have been climbing for days a lot of downhill was welcomed.
At mid-ride, I approached a Westbounder who looked to be extremely loaded down. We were in a somewhat busy section of road, but I slowed to talk to him. He just said hello and rolled on by. Well, that was rather odd. He must be a "rookie" TransAm cyclist and hopefully he will learn the etiquette of talking to other touring cycling brethren along the route.
Although, I have not mentioned the Knights of Terror recently does not mean there has not been thoughts of the monsters. As predicted by the Westbounders, the crossing out of Kentucky seemed to also be the end the Knights' kingdom. With the exception of one isolated encounter, there have been no battles in Virginia. The one exception was on a downhill run when I caught the two Knights out of the corner of my eye. They were too slow off their perch and had no chance to catch me before I crossed the end of their driveway. Out loud, I told them, "Too Slow Boys!" Maybe the Knights use Virginia as a training ground before they are shipped to the Kingdom of Kentucky. If that is so, the two amateurs from yesterday will need more training.
Thankfully, I made it to the Christiansburg stop before it rained. But, as I approached the Interstate RV Park, there stood the SAG team in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn. They had went over to the proposed RV park and found it to be a real dump for $30 a night. Plus, they could not get anyone to answer the knock at the Office door. So, we decided to stay at the Holiday Inn. It was only a few dollars more than the RV Park, plus we get a hot breakfast in the morning. We explored town, visited a shopping mall and, of course, Walmart. I did not realize Christiansburg, VA is the home of Virginia Tech Hokies. What is a Hokie?
We are one day closer to the end...
Making it up and out of the campground at sun up, I was concerned about the weather. There was predictions of rain today, but I hope to be finished before getting wet. Even though we are in a rather busy area of the state, the route still took me through lightly traveled roads. I am so glad to have the ACA maps to guide the way. Not sure how or why, but most of the day was a gradual downhill ride. I almost felt guilty, but that only lasted for a couple minutes. Since, I have been climbing for days a lot of downhill was welcomed.
At mid-ride, I approached a Westbounder who looked to be extremely loaded down. We were in a somewhat busy section of road, but I slowed to talk to him. He just said hello and rolled on by. Well, that was rather odd. He must be a "rookie" TransAm cyclist and hopefully he will learn the etiquette of talking to other touring cycling brethren along the route.
Although, I have not mentioned the Knights of Terror recently does not mean there has not been thoughts of the monsters. As predicted by the Westbounders, the crossing out of Kentucky seemed to also be the end the Knights' kingdom. With the exception of one isolated encounter, there have been no battles in Virginia. The one exception was on a downhill run when I caught the two Knights out of the corner of my eye. They were too slow off their perch and had no chance to catch me before I crossed the end of their driveway. Out loud, I told them, "Too Slow Boys!" Maybe the Knights use Virginia as a training ground before they are shipped to the Kingdom of Kentucky. If that is so, the two amateurs from yesterday will need more training.
Thankfully, I made it to the Christiansburg stop before it rained. But, as I approached the Interstate RV Park, there stood the SAG team in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn. They had went over to the proposed RV park and found it to be a real dump for $30 a night. Plus, they could not get anyone to answer the knock at the Office door. So, we decided to stay at the Holiday Inn. It was only a few dollars more than the RV Park, plus we get a hot breakfast in the morning. We explored town, visited a shopping mall and, of course, Walmart. I did not realize Christiansburg, VA is the home of Virginia Tech Hokies. What is a Hokie?
We are one day closer to the end...
Notice the 76 sign with the bicycle emblem...it represents the path of the TransAm route originally travelled in 1976. Virginia has been great about posting the route signs. Signs in the rest of the country is rather sparse.
Crossing the New River into Radford, VA
We treated ourselves with a little luxury at the Holiday Inn.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012- Climbing Mountains in Virginia
Damascus, VA to Ft. Chiswell, VA (73 Miles)
As I was riding out of Damascus a city worker stopped me to ask about
today’s ride. He said you have a mountain climb a short distance out of town and
he said it was a tough one. Plus, there is a prediction for a big thunderstorm
today and he hoped I would not get wet. I thanked him for all his “good” news
and headed out.
Climbing is not my favorite thing to do, but riding in the morning is a wonderful treat. The first 30 miles of the day are always enjoyable, even when climbing. The air is so fresh, and crisp. Today, the climb was in dense forest mountains where you have the added smells of wet forest, occasional flower scents. Also, you hear the rushing water from the creek that is flowing next to the road. As you make it over the mountain with a fun downhill, it opened to a rolling meadow area, followed by another wooded mountain climb. The second half of the day was through rolling farming and pasture land with a welcomed slight downhill run most of the way to the campsite.
Tonight we are staying at the Ft. Chiswell RV Park in the city with the same name. It was one of the best campgrounds we have stayed at to date. Restrooms were very clean, air conditioned laundry room and even cable TV. It is amazing how you grow to miss some of the simple things in life. With low humidity and moderate temperatures we also enjoyed sitting outside in the cool breeze of the day. We will be moving on to Christiansburg, VA tomorrow.
Climbing is not my favorite thing to do, but riding in the morning is a wonderful treat. The first 30 miles of the day are always enjoyable, even when climbing. The air is so fresh, and crisp. Today, the climb was in dense forest mountains where you have the added smells of wet forest, occasional flower scents. Also, you hear the rushing water from the creek that is flowing next to the road. As you make it over the mountain with a fun downhill, it opened to a rolling meadow area, followed by another wooded mountain climb. The second half of the day was through rolling farming and pasture land with a welcomed slight downhill run most of the way to the campsite.
Tonight we are staying at the Ft. Chiswell RV Park in the city with the same name. It was one of the best campgrounds we have stayed at to date. Restrooms were very clean, air conditioned laundry room and even cable TV. It is amazing how you grow to miss some of the simple things in life. With low humidity and moderate temperatures we also enjoyed sitting outside in the cool breeze of the day. We will be moving on to Christiansburg, VA tomorrow.
The Appalachian Trail crosses the road near Damascus, VA
Cool Mailbox
A Cemetery with a view!
Entering the Jefferson National Forest
Monday, August 13, 2012 - Nearly Too Much!!
Breaks, VA to Damascus, VA (80 Miles)
There was need for a fog delay before starting today. I left at 7:30am and started out with, you guessed it, climbing. There were more tough climbs, plus tough downhill with lots of switchbacks. I stopped once on a big downhill to check the temperature of the rim due to braking. It was pretty hot, so I let it cool a bit before proceeding. I rarely used my brakes on downhills in the West, so it was a new concept to have to think about heating up the brakes.
After the largest climb, I was about a mile or so from the end of the downhill, when a power line repair truck passed me. Around the next bend in the road, there sat the power truck in a parking lot next to the road and the driver was standing in front of the truck holding out an iced bottle of water. I wonder if Curtis, the power line repairman, was an angel? He asked if I had just climbed over the mountain. I told him that I had. He said that will be the worst you will have to do today. He was a cyclist also and was obviously sympathetic to the climb. I enjoyed the water and he had to get back to work. Wow, how cool is that!!
About a mile further, I encountered a dreaded orange sign that said Route 80 Road Closed Ahead. Oh Great!! I did not see any alternate routes on my map, so I once again decided to ride to the construction and see what situation might present itself. As I approached the cement barricades on the winding mountain road, I saw two construction workers and decided to go talk to them. They were very friendly and sympathetic to my situation. “Yeah, just go on up to the big power shovel equipment and make sure the operator sees you. He will let you go by. What a wonderful break! I did just as they said and the equipment operator moved his equipment over a bit and waived for me to go by. Otherwise, I don’t know what I would have done. Another Blessing!!
All day the temperature was great. Which helped the climbing considerably, but it still was a long day. The total climbing elevation gain for the entire day totaled 6,465 feet. No, that number is not typed wrong. You might guess that a couple times during the day, I was wondering, if I had bit off more than I could chew today. It was a huge relief once I arrived at the campground outside Damascus at about 4:00PM.
Wild Animal Sightings for today: young deer standing in the middle of the road as I rounded a curve and ground hog (not too exciting).
As I got into camp later than usual, we decided to try a local establishment for dinner. We ventured into Damascus and found they were big into bicycle rentals. As we had witnessed with the rafting a while back, Damascus would shuttle folks along with their bikes to points along a Rails to Trails small stone bike path (Virginia Creeper Trail), so they could pedal back into town. The Creeper Trail is 34 miles long. After I picked up a spare tube for my bike at a local shop, we ate at the Old Mill Restaurant in Damascus. It was a converted mill, and we sat by the window to enjoy the water falling over the dam.
There was need for a fog delay before starting today. I left at 7:30am and started out with, you guessed it, climbing. There were more tough climbs, plus tough downhill with lots of switchbacks. I stopped once on a big downhill to check the temperature of the rim due to braking. It was pretty hot, so I let it cool a bit before proceeding. I rarely used my brakes on downhills in the West, so it was a new concept to have to think about heating up the brakes.
After the largest climb, I was about a mile or so from the end of the downhill, when a power line repair truck passed me. Around the next bend in the road, there sat the power truck in a parking lot next to the road and the driver was standing in front of the truck holding out an iced bottle of water. I wonder if Curtis, the power line repairman, was an angel? He asked if I had just climbed over the mountain. I told him that I had. He said that will be the worst you will have to do today. He was a cyclist also and was obviously sympathetic to the climb. I enjoyed the water and he had to get back to work. Wow, how cool is that!!
About a mile further, I encountered a dreaded orange sign that said Route 80 Road Closed Ahead. Oh Great!! I did not see any alternate routes on my map, so I once again decided to ride to the construction and see what situation might present itself. As I approached the cement barricades on the winding mountain road, I saw two construction workers and decided to go talk to them. They were very friendly and sympathetic to my situation. “Yeah, just go on up to the big power shovel equipment and make sure the operator sees you. He will let you go by. What a wonderful break! I did just as they said and the equipment operator moved his equipment over a bit and waived for me to go by. Otherwise, I don’t know what I would have done. Another Blessing!!
All day the temperature was great. Which helped the climbing considerably, but it still was a long day. The total climbing elevation gain for the entire day totaled 6,465 feet. No, that number is not typed wrong. You might guess that a couple times during the day, I was wondering, if I had bit off more than I could chew today. It was a huge relief once I arrived at the campground outside Damascus at about 4:00PM.
Wild Animal Sightings for today: young deer standing in the middle of the road as I rounded a curve and ground hog (not too exciting).
As I got into camp later than usual, we decided to try a local establishment for dinner. We ventured into Damascus and found they were big into bicycle rentals. As we had witnessed with the rafting a while back, Damascus would shuttle folks along with their bikes to points along a Rails to Trails small stone bike path (Virginia Creeper Trail), so they could pedal back into town. The Creeper Trail is 34 miles long. After I picked up a spare tube for my bike at a local shop, we ate at the Old Mill Restaurant in Damascus. It was a converted mill, and we sat by the window to enjoy the water falling over the dam.
Scenery along the road.
If you cannot find a local dairy stand, one has to resort to a Klondike bar from Family Dollar.
Winding roads, but scenic.
One of the many houses that will soon be consumed by weeds.
Oh Boy, you mean I have to deal with these guys again. Truthfully I did not see too many and I was thankful!
Sunday, August 12, 2012- Grand Canyon of the South
Off in Breaks, VA (0 Miles)
The morning included a big breakfast cooked outside and we held family devotions. Walt was excited to get NBC television so we watched the USA vs. Spain Olympic basketball game (Go USA!). Afterward, we all went into Elkhorn City, KY to get some groceries (as it was the closest place with a grocery). There were some pull off overlooks of the Grand Canyon of the South which was in Breaks Interstate Park. It was quite breathtaking. It was a nice day outside as the temperatures again were very mild. The family camping next to us apparently have a small farm, as the gave us a dozen eggs and a huge watermelon. That was very nice of them and we really enjoyed the watermelon! Tomorrow we are moving on to Damascus, VA.
The free Watermelon was delicious!
Grand Canyon of the South
Look at the cute couple!
The Visitors Center shows us how make Moonshine.
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