Gabriel the Lab

I forgot, I felt like I was at home with a dog on my bed. This was at the Cookie Lady. He jumped on my sleeping bag on the couch and got comfy.

The Mirror

I forgot to talk about the helmet mirror. I never used it before my trip. It is not for me. I spent four hours the first day adjusting it and couldn't get it to see past my shoulder.  I stuck it way out and it gave me eye strain.

I got rid of it. I have no mirror but I listen for cars. When I find a bike store, I will get one. I never did get a mirror.

Pictures

Day 4 The End

My thinking fell apart. I ended up at a Budget Hotel. I have to plan better. I saw a group of bikers across the street in a Church. They are riding across America in 83 days not sure their destination. They paid for a guide including a support van to carry their stuff, and bike mech. They said there is another group a week ahead of me.

Day 4 Blue Ridge

Day 4 The Hills

Monster Downhill At The End Look At The Plunge

I woke up very tired. I did not sleep well and my eyes are very puffy. Left Afton and the hill was immediate. The road was called the Blue Ridge Parkway.  It was relentless. Although tiring, it was absolutely beautiful. So much different than the Cascades because the green growth of the trees was so abundant.  There were rarely any cars.  I was at peace.  All I could hear was birds chirping. I ran out of time and got caught in the rain that evening. I was headed for a KOA campground but I had  my first paid room instead.

Day 3 The Cookie Lady

I ended the day at "The Cookie Lady" house in Afton, VA. There was a large hill at the end of the day to get there. I spent the night there with Dan and Briane, their kids, and the dog Gabriel.  See the pictures. It was very interesting. She must have been a very nice lady. After she passed away, she left the house for bikers to stay at.  Briane gave me some Oriole Cookies to honor her.

Day 3 Monticello

Beautiful

Liked This

Lewis and Clark

I rode by Monticello.  Monticello was the primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, who began designing and building Monticello at age 26 after inheriting land from his father.

Day 3 Rain

I woke to rain and it rained and rained. I'm StormyJames so I didn't mind.  Stormy because I like stormy weather and James is my middle name.  The roads were mostly rolling country roads. I met a young fellow at the country store.  He chatted with me.  He said his name was Billy, grew up local, lived here his entire life.  He started tree-cutting at 14 and now he was 31.  I said Virginia is beautiful.  I noted all the beautiful plantations and green country land.  He said the "Civil War burned down many of them"  I was going to lock my bike, but Billy laughed and said, "this is Virginia, you don't have to do that." The day ended with the start of tomorrows climb.

Day 2 Nice Weather, Nice People

Be Safe Coin 

Brooks

The weather is beautiful. I got lost again today so I figured I better start using the maps. I stayed the night behind a fire station in Mineral, VA.  I camped in the grass by a pavilion.  No shower. Three nice locals came up to me. Bicycle Bill Alewine (like alcohol) was the first. He was retired Pentagon Army. He had the same bike I had.  He got it for Christmas. He said out of college, he and a few friends went to SEATAC Airport, unpacked their bikes and rode all across America. As our conversation ended, he said "I got something for you" and reached in his pocket. I knew what he was doing.  I said "do you have a coin?" I didn't. No worry. He handed me a mint never touched bicentennial (1776-1976) gold looking quarter in a hard plastic protection. He wished me safe travels. Another local pulled up in the grass with his Chevrolet 1500 pick-up. I thought I was in trouble. He was Brooks Besley. I said "how are you?" He said "no good".  I thought "oh-oh" but he was actually very nice.  He gave me a pencil, wished me luck, and safe travels.

Day 1 Good Night

Day 1 is finished. I spent the night at a Church.  It was an eventful day. I missed a turn today and came to a tunnel. No bikes allowed. Tried to shortcut through historic Williamsburg and came back to the same spot. I decided to go through the tunnel but it was clear and I rode fast.

United Methodist Church

Day 1 The Flag

Stars and Bars

The Confederate Flag is flown on many back roads homes and yards. I saw the flag waving in the air attached to a few trucks.

Day 1 I'm Hungry

I will eat these snacks in less than two days

Day 1 History

Day 1 The Bungee

Bungee

When I started, my map case on the handle bar  bag kept blowing up. I thought I wish "I had a 6-inch  bungee." Then I saw a large red barn with three white crosses painted on it. I thought that is an interesting picture. Then a older white truck in oncoming traffic slows to a stop across the road. A women never looking at me rolls the driver window down, holds a yellow sign out with the word "Pray" painted in black. She never looked at me. I said "oh". I start thinking about it, look down and I see a 6-inch bungee on the road.

Day 1 Plantations and Cemeteries

Plantation Cemetery

There are many magnifance plantations. Also there are many cemeteries. I went down a dirt road trying to get a better view of President Tyler's Sherwood Forest Plantation and saw this cemetery for children.

Day 1 About the People

I met wonderful people today. I saw David and Diane on a tandem bike. I was looking for the Memorial. David said "up the hill" then "catch up with us". I did catch up later as they took a break. They were going to ride for four months. They had no destination but rather how far. John and Mary took the picture of me at the windmill. They are from Roanoke. I later would draft off of them as John took the lead. I made good time. John pumped up my tires because they were soft. They were happy their third child just graduated from college. Dan and Briane I saw often. They were wonderful. Dan gave up his job for a bike ride across America. They took there two children and a dog and left Nebraska. Each day Briane waits for Dan to finish. Amy was lost when I met her. I spent the first night at the same place with her. She was from Indiana. She was traveling from Yorktown to Florence Oregon. She had a young family at home.

Day 1 New Friends

David and Diane

Dan, Briane, Conor, Aaron

John and Mary

Day 1 The Windmill

Heading out of Yorktown

Day 1 The Atlantic

I'm Ready

Day 1 The Monument

Victory Monument

This is where it starts. Read the words on the monument.

Travel Day

Michel from Haiti

Long day. The flight was all night. I had a nice family with a woman and little baby sitting next to me. The baby kept kicking me as it nursed,  but that didn't bother me. The Mom felt bad. At the Airport, a nice taxi driver befriended me. He wasn't a yellow taxi, he was a green taxi. He was upset because the Hotel did not pick me up. They were suppose to send me a yellow taxi. Two hours and I didn't have a ride. I saw orange taxis and yellow taxis zip by. I almost walked. None of the taxi drivers wanted to lose their spot in line at the airport for a short ride. He called the Hotel and complained. His name was Michel, like my twin Sister spelled different.  I guessed he was Jamaican by his accent. I said "you have an accent, Jamaican?" He laughed and said he would bet me two dollars I couldn't guess where he was from. I would guess from a list of three countries. He opened his wallet and placed the money in my hand.  I wouldn't bet but said I would give him a buck. My first guess was Cameroon just because i know a person from Cameroon. Way off,  He smiled. He told me he was from Haiti and I gave him a dollar. I got to the Hotel in Newport News, VA. My bike was there. I put the bike still in the box in the room and decided I would assemble it in the morning.

Update

Sorry I haven't updated. I have great pictures, met wonderful people, and have  good stories, however, due to only having a cell phone and limited signal, I haven't posted. Doing well.

Ready to Travel

Today is Friday. I packed today in a few hours. Flying all night. My plan was to put the bike back together tomorrow and start riding on Sunday. Hope I have it all. Last I checked my bike was in Maryland and won't arrive in Virginia until late Monday. That is a little setback. I planned on starting the ride on Sunday. Blog you later from the East side.

In the Beginning

Biking 1972

Grade School Days, taking the long way home.

Big Bike Little Box

Bike out of the Box

Bike in the Box

I managed to fit this big new bike in that box. Ready to ship.

Ready to Ship

The Bike is packed.

Seeing Green

Follow the sign

I can follow this sign through Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas.

Reliving History

40th Anniversary

Bikecentennial was launched in 1976 to celebrate the bicycle and America’s Bicentennial. During that summer, 2,000 cyclist rode the 82-day, 4,250-mile TransAmerica Bicycle Trail from Astoria, Oregon to Yorktown, Virginia, the biggest bicycle-touring event in U. S. history. I will attempt this route opposite direction in 71-days.

Sleeping Giant

Lahar Alley

Standing tall at 14,411 ft Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. If it blows, a massive lahar (mudflow) would fill the valley. This is where I ride.

Mt Rainier

Seeing Yellow

Wild Flowers

Spring is here.