That's all Folks

Yorktown - A promise made is a debt unpaid...RS

If you haven't already, I suggest if you get the opportunity, visit Williamsburg and the surrounding Virginia area. Jamestown, the first American colony is only nine miles away and Yorktown where the decisive battle that won our independence from King George is just 13 miles away. Not only should you visit for the historical significance but it is a beautiful area with old Virginia charm. However, charm was not what I was thinking about as I rode the 13 miles into Yorktown. I had mixed feelings. I was elated the trip was finally coming to an end and I could go home. But, I was also a little sad that all of a sudden it was over. Now what? Five years of thinking about it, two plus years of planning and about six months of my life devoted to doing it and now poof it's gone. As I rode across the U.S. and especially Kentucky and Virginia my mantra was simply, keep moving. Run Forest Run....Stop! Well, I've stopped. What do I do now? How do I turn it off, the go button. Before I got back on the road in September, I made a promise to someone that I'd finish the trip. Now that the debt is paid I should be able to rest but for how long. I owe you one more blog entry so when I get home tomorrow hopefully I can make sense of it all.

Williamsburg

Got a good rest in Short Pump (no jokes) yesterday so today I was ready to roll. Short Pump is actually a suburb 12 miles NW of Richmond city center. I started early, about 7:15, so I could avoid heavy traffic and since today was Sunday I breezed through the city. I was almost through the city and only needed to make one turn onto US 5 when I saw another biker headed East on the road above me. I was a little uncertain as to which road to take and connect onto US 5 so I fell in behind him. He was from Quebec and was headed to Texas following Adventure Cycling maps down the Atlantic Coast to Jacksonville then turning West. He had been on the road for about three weeks and was on his first tour. He was a nice young fellow but due to the amount of gear he was hauling his pace was a little slow. He did however offer me a look at his map and lucky for me we were on the road that turned into route 5. We were only together about two miles when the road split and I took US 5 and he turned North. At that point I had about 50 miles to go. 50 miles, but it was a great day to bike. The sun was shining and the temperature was around 70 degrees. And oh yes there is some level ground in Virginia. Aside from a slight headwind, the day was ideal for biking and for the first time in a long time I really enjoyed being on the bike. Around Charles City I ran across another biker. He started in Maine and was going down to the Outer Banks and ending his trip on Tybee Island. He was riding a road bike with no gear and was assisted by his wife in the Sag, Hag, Nag wagon. I told him based on my experience he was probably doing it the right way. After we parted ways I had about 20 miles to Williamsburg and since it was pretty much level I made good time arriving around 2:30. I found a red dot hotel, got a good meal and now it is time to rest for tomorrow. Tomorrow. I have biked over 4000 miles and tomorrow it's 13 miles to Yorktown. Yorktown is the end of the line. Maybe it's time to think about travel arrangements.

on the move

Thursday my doctor's appointment was at 8:15. Russ said he didn't see any reason why I couldn't resume biking if I felt strong enough. That was all I needed. I had been sitting around almost a week and was really getting anxious to get underway. As soon I got back to my sister's house I got my bike and gear packed and we headed to Afton. When we got to Afton I had to make one more try to see June Curry, the Cookie Lady. This time she was sitting on the steps and even though still sick with the flu and 89 years old, her light blue eyes twinkled when she spoke of the many cyclists she has met. I took a tour of the house she offers bikers as they pass through Afton. The house is filled with cards and memorabilia from bikers back to 1976. Almost every inch of the four room house is covered with a card, letter or a token left behind by bikers to commemorate their stay with the cookie lady. After talking with June I was stoked and ready to continue my ride. It was only about 30 miles to Charlottesville so it was a great way to ease back into the game. I think all of Virginia is either going up or down so by the I got to Charlottesville I was ready to rest. I said goodbye to my sister around 5pm with mixed emotions. She was a tremendous help and had it not been for her I'd probably be on the side of the road with my legs kicking fruitlessly in the air. Anyway, I checked into the Red Roof Inn just past the college in Charlottesville and got a good nights sleep. Yesterday I got an early start. Now loaded with my panniers and gear I was on my own again. I rode about 20 miles and passed three bikers headed West. Odd, I thought for it's pretty late in the year to be headed West. About five miles further down the road I came to an intersection with a store to my left. I saw two bikers there and thought it a good time for a rest. Turns out the bikers were two English blokes from the London area. They started the first part of August near San Diego and were finishing in Yorktown. Prior to my arrival they had talked with the three bikers I saw. The three were young Germans and were planning to bike the TransAmerica and end it in San Francisco in December. I didn't think it possible with the weather out West and the blokes agreed since a lot of the passes close by November. After we discussed the Germans fate, they suggested an alternate, more direct route to Richmond. Since my goal has been narrowed to just biking across America, the shortened route sounded pretty good. The scheduled route out of Charlottesville went South then North with numerous road changes along very narrow back roads. Even though the road wasn't heavily traveled when the cars did come, they came fast and had there been cars going the opposite direction, it would have been very interesting. So after weighing my options I decided I would follow Steve and Dave's lead and go the more direct route. In so doing I was able to get just West of Richmond and a hotel for the night but I paid for it. The downside was a 70 mile bike ride. By the time I got to my room I was spent. Today the forecast was 50% chance of rain with clearer weather tomorrow. Also, tomorrow is Sunday so the traffic through Richmond should be minimal. Therefore, I elected to rest today and start again tomorrow. I probably have 15 miles through Richmond and another 50 miles to go East of Richmond. Getting close but I'll probably take two days to finish.

Wait, wait & wait

Went to the doctor, now known as Russ since I have become a regular patient, on Monday. I told him my temperature had stabilized Sunday and the emergency room doctor thought I'd be ready to bike within 24 hrs. after stabilization. He just laughed and said well I disagree. Dr. Davis is old school and I am sure has seen a lot of pneumonia cases throughout his years living in Virginia. When he asked me when I was leaving I told him that depended on what he said because I was going to finish the trip as soon as he cleared me. Come see me again on Thursday was his response. So for the last couple of days I have just been resting at my sister's house and pondering my fate. I need to finish this trip/adventure/saga, whatever it has become before it gets much colder. I am ready to be home and I know being away has been difficult on my family. When I look back, it really burns me that I couldn't finish in July. Not because of something I did, a missed gear or I took a curve too fast, but I was robbed of a significant emotional event because a dog owner didn't keep his pets under control. Bummer. Now I just want to finish the trip whereas before the fall, I would have really enjoyed the last two states. There's a lot of history in Virginia but I'll probably miss most of it in my haste to finish.

What, no cookie!

Got up early Friday morning feeling pretty good so I decided to get the mountain out of the way. Turns out it wasn't quite as bad as I thought. Don't get me wrong, I needed frequent rest stops during the climb and a long rest at the top but it could have been worse. The touring map stated that there was a four mile steep climb but the first two miles were less steep than the last two. After reaching the parkway the work wasn't finished. The overcast sky and windy conditions didn't make for a leisurely ride. And unfortunately, the leaves have only the least bit of color change so the view was not as spectacular as it can be. But, having the last climb of the trip behind me, I made my way to Afton and the Cookie Lady. June Curry has three buildings on her property, from West to East: her home, an old building that was probably a store at one time, and a house she allows bikers to overnight in on their way across country. There is also a sign that directs you to her back door but hard to see if you are traveling West to East. I went to the door only to see a sign she had posted. The sign said,[ I have a cold and I took a pill and laid down for a nap. If you want a room for the night ring the bell and sit down. I am old and move slow and I'll get there as quick as I can.] I wasn't planning on spending the night so there was no way I could disturb a sweet old lady like her. Hopefully, when I resume my trek I'll get to meet her. As of now I am not sure when I'll start back. Friday after Afton my sister picked me up and took me back to her house to rest. Friday night my temperature reached 104 and my niece, Fran, threatened me with 911 if I didn't get in the car with my sister and go to the hospital. As it turns out, I am stubborn. Bottom line, I have a mild case of double pneumonia. Tomorrow I go back to the doctor for a follow-up and will have a better idea how long my rest period will be. It just gets better and better.

VMI

Got into Lexington yesterday early enough to do some sight seeing. I stopped by the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery and toured the campus of VMI. The local brochure tauts VMI as the West Point of the South and the only military academy that actually had a unit fight in a war. About half of the graduates go on and enter the military. It really is a beautiful campus with stately old buildings in a town rich in Southern history. I wanted to go to the Chapel where Robert E Lee is interned but it closes at five and I missed it. Going into Buchanan the other day and bucking that wind took more out of me than I thought. I was quite chilled and it took me about two hours to warm up. Likewise yesterday when I got to Lexington, I just couldn't get warm. About 5:30 my sister called and asked how I was doing. She then surprised me and said she was driving to Lexington. When she arrived we went for a quick dinner. While at dinner I guess I complained too much about the cold in Virginia. She put her hand on my forehead and said I felt feverish. Well she wouldn't have it any other way, we had to go get a thermometer and take my temperature. Well the trail God is not finished with me yet. I did have a pretty high temperature but was able to get it down enough to take a short ride today. I only got in 18 miles but that puts me at the foot of my last big climb in Virginia. I am still fighting the fever but hopefully I can ride tomorrow and then take a rest.