Day 4 Scottsville to Lexington

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Miles 81.34     Total miles 263     Avg per day 66 miles
Elevation gain 6388 ft     Max Speed 40.1 MPH     Temp 74 degrees  Time 6:09:34

The past week has been very hectic as we prepared for our trip.  Last Thursday we left for Morgantown and Joey's graduation from WVU.  We did not return home until late Monday night.  After unloading and putting away all his belonging from college we were able to concentrate on packing and getting ready for the cycling journey.  Tuesday was a bee hive of activity; doing laundry, packing, getting the house ready and running errands.  Definitely could have used more hours in the day.  We left Richmond at 8:10 this morning, making it to Scottsville and departing on our bikes at 10:45.  The weather was overcast and cool in the lower 60's, a bit of a chilly start as we rode along hilly country roads with very little traffic.  About an hour into our ride a turkey vulture hiding in a tree decided to take flight as soon as I approached him.  Kelly screamed from behind as the bird almost took off my head.

We  arrived at the intersection of Route 29 and SR 655 at 12:15 after 34 miles.  Joey was waiting for us with a disgusted look on his face, with surgical gloves and a sponge in hand.  I thought he was going to tell us he was going home except all he said was "look at the dog."  As Joey was driving down Rt 29 Roxy had an accident,  so Joey was left cleaning up the mess.  Now Kelly understands why I had her place a plastic tablecloth and two sheets on the back seat.   I can not thank Joey enough for being so patient and understanding with Roxy.

From here we rode up Route 655 toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. There was a 1-2% incline for approx. 8 miles until we hit the steep stuff, 4 miles from Crabtree Falls and another 4 miles to Montebello.  We met Joey at Montebello Store for a quick break, then continued the final 4 miles up to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  This route was very steep with prolong inclines reaching 14%.  I had trained on this climb last fall and never completed it with less than 3 stops.  Kelly and I completed the climb today with some pain but no stops.

Once at the top we experienced an exciting decent of four miles over many switchbacks into Vesuvius.  Our top speed on the decent reached 40 MPH, it could have been faster except we were always braking for the next hairpin turn. It wasn't until after this decent Kelly decide to tell me about the "emergency brake" procedure.

The last part of the day was a 20 mile ride into Lexington home of VMI and Washington & Lee.  Much of this was along the South River, a very scenic ride with fields and wild flowers covering the roadside.  As we approached Lexington we came onto a country store offering $.99 Pepsi, 2 for 1 chocolate covered raisins and candy orange slices.  This is not something we would normally eat, never mind purchase, but, we figured we burned enough calories so why not.

After a long 81 mile day, we are exhausted but even more excited for the next days journey.
So, we are in the Sleep Inn in Lexington, everyone is clean, fed and ready for for another day tomorrow.

                                            Joey spends his day with his Kindle

Kelly on a slight downhill grade

Approaching the Blue Ridge Mountain and our climb

This time we are on the correct side of the sign.  We love the downhill

Snacking on candy orange slices

 Love that Pepsi

Day 3 Richmond - Scottsville

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

55 miles -    Total mileage 182 -     Daily average 60 miles
Average speed 16.3mph

Just east of Richmond the TransAmerica Bike Trail heads north toward Ashland then continues west into Charlottesville and up Afton Mountain.  The trail continues south on the Blue Ridge Parkway for 30 miles.  We are taking a slight detour from the published route and riding through Richmond and due west toward Scottville, up Route 156 pass Crabtree Falls to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We will rejoin the TransAmerican Trail at the intersection of Route 156 and the Blue Ridge Parkway.  From this point we will descent into Vesuvius.

By making this detour we will be missing several key historial points of interest.  In Virginia the trail passes the residences of three pass US Presidents.  John Tyler's home on Rt 5 in Charles City Co, James Madison's home in Montpelier and Thomas Jefferson's home at Monticello.  Unfortenuately we will miss Jefferson's and Madison's home.  Equally we will miss the home of the world known "Cookie Lady" June Curry.  Since 1976 when the original Bicentinnel Bike Trail began June Curry has been giving fresh baked cookies to cross country cyclist from her home on Afton Mountain. Over the years she has purshased the home adjacent to hers and made it available for showers and overnight stays for any cyclist.  She is a true legend and her generosity is know throughtout the world.

To begin the day I left  Richmond at 9:15am.  The weather was 60 degrees, humid, cloudy with some drizzle.  I headed west on Patterson Ave from Route 288.  There was a very interesting sight as I arrived at the Dept of Correction James River Farm in Goochland.  A dozen inmates were crowded around a horse who was laying on its side being cared for by a vet.  It was a strange sight watching the inmates in their orange prison garb with intent looks of concern on their faces as they watched the vet tend to the stricken horse.  I would have liked to have taken a picture, but assumed it would not have been appreciated.

Later in the morning the weather cleared and it was great riding.  The road was flat with some rolling hills.  Terrific last mile and a half downhill toward the James River and into the Town of Scottsville.
Arrived in Scottsville at 12:30 where Joey was waiting to bring me back to Richmond.  Before returning to Richmond we stopped in Charlottesville for Gyros at the Tip Top Restaurant on Afton Mountain.

 Stopped at this closed store near Columbia for a break

Joey Downtown Scottsville

Day 2 Williamsburg - Richmond

Tuesday March 8, 2011
  
67 miles -    Total Miles 127 -    Average miles per day 63.5
Average speed 14.6 mph

Left hotel at 8:30am, the morning was sunny but cold in the mid to low 30's. The wind was not as strong as yesterday.  Kelly and I were both wearing bike shorts.  The first thing we saw were two other cyclist in tights and warm clothing.  I hoped we were not under dressed for a long day. The day did warm to become very comfortable.

We rode out Monticello Rd to Route 5 toward Jamestown.  Route 5 was our route all the way into Richmond.  The road was flat and smooth.  A number of large dump trucks buzzed by until we reached a sand quarry where they all pulled off the road.

We arrived in downtown Richmond at 12:00 noon and stopped at the State Capitol.   We proceeded west on Grace thru VCU and the Fan.  This was the slowest section of the ride.  Traffic and traffic lights really slowed our progress.  As we continued out Patterson we began to hit our first small rolling hills for a mile or so.  Arrived at Paterson and Route 288 west of Richmond at 1:30pm.  Thanks to Christian Oiticica for picking us up and transporting us back home. 

The following afternoon Kelly and I drove down to Va Beach to retrieve my car which  we had left on Monday.  Overall we had a great two days.  The weather although cold in the morning and windy on Monday was perfect.  The route was as flat as we will see the entire trip.  We came away from the two days excited and anxious to get started and looking forward to great adventure.

                                                    Crossing the Chickahominy River

Crossing the Chickahominy River

Virginia State Capitol

Day 1 Va Beach - Williamsburg

Monday, March 7, 2011

60 miles -       avg speed 14.6 mph

7:00 AM depart Richmond driving to Va Beach.  Stop at the Sleep Inn on Rt 60 bypass in Williamsburg, VA.  Drop off overnight bags and quickly get back on the road.  Arrive at LaQuinta Inn on Pacific and 27th ST.  Make arrangements to leave the car overnight.  Kelly and I change into riding shorts and prepare to leave. 

It was cold this morning when we first left the house, requiring us to scrape ice from the windshield.  The weather has warmed some to the high 30's, but it is very windy.  Wind gusts of up to 30 mph from due North.

We rode several blocks to the Hilton on the oceanfront and walked onto the beach.  We took several quick ceremonial pictures with our rear bike wheel in the Atlantic Ocean.  Between the cold air, water temperature and the strong winds we were anxious to get off the beach.  A young girl having a cup of coffee on a park bench agreed to take several pictures of Kelly and I at the Neptune statue on the Va Beach boardwalk.

10:30 AM We begin our journey traveling North into the 30 mph winds.  We turn west onto Shore Dr to the Hampton Roads bridge/tunnel.  Kelly's friend from VT, Aaron and his father picked us up at the last entrance ramp to the bridge.  Thank you Aaron and his Dad for transporting us across the bridge and into Hampton. 

On our way to Yorktown we passed Langley Air Force Base.  As we neared the base, a squadron of fighter jets was taking off.  What a thrill to be directly below them as they screamed off the runway and flew directly overhead.  The noise was deafening.  What a great experience for the start of our adventure.

In Yorktown we stopped at the Victory Monument for a few pictures.  Continued along the very bumpy Colonial Parkway into Williamsburg.  There was terrific scenery as we rode along the banks of the York River.   Our butts and arms were sore after all the vibration from the 15 miles on the rough cobble road.

In Williamsburg we stayed at the Sleep Inn.  Kelly was hungry after our first day of riding.  We walked across the parking lot to a Golden Corral for dinner. I left the Golden Corral at 5:00pm, Kelly remained at the restaurant.  She continued to eat and study until 7:00pm.  Later that evening I walked to Uno's to watch ODU beat VCU for the CAA championship.  Who knew this would be VCU's last loss until the Final Four.  While in Uno's I spoke with a LtCol stationed in Fort Leavenworth, KS, which happens to be my birthplace.

Introduction

In the early 70's my brother in law and I talked of hiking the Appalachian Trail. Now 35 years later my joints can not tolerate 6 months carrying a 25 lb pack and the bone jarring hiking downhill. So I have convinced my two children Kelly and Joey to spend 2 ½ month cycling the back roads across America. Kelly will be cycling with me, Joey will be driving our sag or support vehicle. Kelly and Joey insisted our twelve year old German Shepherd Roxy, is part of the family and should join us. Roxy will ride shotgun with Joey.

We will be riding the TransAmerica Bike route which runs from Yorktown, Va to Astoria, OR, 4200 mile total. The TransAmerica route starts in Yorktown, but we will be starting in Virginia Beach, in order to officially ride from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. It is tradition to dip the rear wheel of the bike in the Atlantic Ocean at the start and the front wheel in the Pacific Ocean at the finish. Conventional wisdom says to ride from west to east taking advantage of the tail winds. I have read many reports, diary’s and blogs which say the winds are similar from either direction. If anything, most of the winds are southerly crosswinds which affect you in either direction. I will let you know how this theory works out as we cross Kansas. I like the idea of riding with the sun at my back. Since most of our riding will be in the early morning, I do not want the sun's glare in my eyes or more importantly the eyes of approaching drivers. American settlers also traveled East to West, so in a sense we will be traveling the route of the American pioneers; although we will have the luxuries of 7-11, McDonald’s and Starbuck’s along the way.

The “Atlantic to Pacific Cycling Journey 2011” begins Thursday, May 19, 2011. There is no set itinerary or timetable. Our route is set, beginning in Virginia continuing through Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, then heading north into Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and finish in Astoria, Oregon.  We will ride daily for  4 or 5 hours averaging 65 miles per day. The majority of nights we will camp where we can. Rainy nights or temperatures in the mid to high nineties we will stay in hotels. We are anxious to start and see the country at a slower pace than 70 mph on the interstate. It will be a unique experience to be able to spend three months with my adult children.  We welcome all comments, encouragements, and support.  Please feel free to post on our blog or email us at atpcyclingjourney2011@yahoo.com

We are taking this ride in memory of Sharon, beloved mother and wife, who died of leukemia in Jan 2006. Some of our fondest family memories are of traveling, especially our summer trips through Colorado and Wyoming. We miss Sharon everyday but know she will be with us every mile of our ride. My family will always be grateful for the wonderful care Sharon received at the Thomas Palliative Care Program at VCU Massey Cancer Center. Please consider making a donation in Sharon's name to a very compassionate and caring program.
 

                   The Thomas Palliative Care Program

The VCU Massey Cancer Center Thomas Palliative Care program provides an important component of patient care at Massey, focusing on relieving suffering and improving quality of life for patients and their families.

The unit is designed to foster comfort through interdisciplinary care that provides symptom control, pain management, holistic support and practical assistance—and most especially patience, kindness and individual attention.  Each patient’s team includes highly specialized physicians and nurses, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, chaplains and volunteers all dedicated to his or her physical comfort, emotional and psychological health, and social and spiritual needs, as well as provide support for family members and friends.

The Palliative Care program at Massey has received numerous awards and is consistently recognized as a national model in this ever-growing medical field.  The program’s medical director, Dr. Tom Smith, and clinical director, Patrick Coyne, are both dedicated clinicians and actively participate in educating their peers around the world in palliative care.

Your support of this program ensures that patients have access to interdisciplinary care that helps them achieve the highest quality of life possible by relieving pain and other difficult-to-treat symptoms.

To learn more about Massey Cancer Center and Palliative Care program, please visit www.massey.vcu.edu/palliative.  To make a donation to the program, please visit www.massey.vcu.edu/GiveNow

The Thomas Palliative Care Fund
VCU Massey Cancer Center
P.O. Box 980037
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0037