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
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