It rained during the night while I was sleeping. Not much, just enough to get everything damp. I had a towel to dry my stuff off with and then I decided to continue on my way. I was headed to Damascus VA and in between me and Damascus was my last major climb until the Rockies. There would be a few smaller ones after this, but this was the last real climb that would cause much physical exertion. I set off. It was a pleasant day to ride. There were a few clouds but mostly it was just sunny and warm. I began my assent and much to my surprise I was riding along a beautiful mountain stream most of the way that flowed crystal clear with a slight rush to it. It was not in to big a hurry, but still it didn’t lazily wonder its way through the hills as many streams on the eastern half of the country do.
I arrived in Damascus pretty early in the evening and the thought of going on was some what appealing, but in the end that little voice that said, “this coffee shop has free internet and a computer for you to use” won out and I sat around for a good few hours trying to converse with friends. Then a quick stop by the store for some more food and off I went to the next camp ground. It was simply delightful. I was camping right along a river that reminded me of the Applegate River back home. It was clear, deep and moving along at a good pace. There were also rocks along it, not small ones, but huge boulders and cliffs. It was simply amazing to sleep only feet a way from it. I found a little grassy patch under a big fur tree and pitched my tent.
Later that night I went and made a few phone calls to mom and Natasha (my contact for Mennonite Your Way homes) and then I went to bead. Over all it was a splendid day with little or no hardships. In fact it was so easy I made the mistake of thinking to myself, “waw, I haven’t even popped a tier yet.”
It was another short day. I rode 67.5 miles at 12 mph. It took me 5:37 with a max speed of 36.6 mph.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Day 7
Day 7
Day seven was a nice day. I woke up at about 8:00 and got to make my own breakfast, my own warm breakfast in a kitchen. It was simply wonderful. I made an omelet, one of my favorite breakfasts. Then I hung around for the morning with Kaitlin, Kendra, and Absalom. It was a good day for riding. It had rained the night before so the air was nice and crisp and it was not to hot. Little did I know heat would be the least of my concerns the next few days. I didn’t end up taking off until 1:30 pm. It was a lazy day and I needed it after my last two days of hard riding with little rest. I began after lunch and after Kendra gave me the stuff to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for the road. Then I was off. I rode until it was nearly dark. I was glad to find my camp ground because a cold weather front was moving in and I was beginning to get very cold.
Today also marked the beginning of something besides being cold for me, it was the first time I was chased by a dog. Something I didn’t mind because it was only one. I had no idea what I was headed for.
I rode 61.8 miles from Christiansburg to Wytheville on day 7 at 10.72 mph and I rode for 5:45, not my fastest time. My max speed was 34 mph.
Day seven was a nice day. I woke up at about 8:00 and got to make my own breakfast, my own warm breakfast in a kitchen. It was simply wonderful. I made an omelet, one of my favorite breakfasts. Then I hung around for the morning with Kaitlin, Kendra, and Absalom. It was a good day for riding. It had rained the night before so the air was nice and crisp and it was not to hot. Little did I know heat would be the least of my concerns the next few days. I didn’t end up taking off until 1:30 pm. It was a lazy day and I needed it after my last two days of hard riding with little rest. I began after lunch and after Kendra gave me the stuff to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for the road. Then I was off. I rode until it was nearly dark. I was glad to find my camp ground because a cold weather front was moving in and I was beginning to get very cold.
Today also marked the beginning of something besides being cold for me, it was the first time I was chased by a dog. Something I didn’t mind because it was only one. I had no idea what I was headed for.
I rode 61.8 miles from Christiansburg to Wytheville on day 7 at 10.72 mph and I rode for 5:45, not my fastest time. My max speed was 34 mph.
Day 6
Day 6
I woke up and believe it or not I really didn’t want to go anywhere. I wanted to just lay there in my sleeping bag listening to the calm river flow by, but I had a long ways to go on day six so I needed to pick up and move out. I ate a quick cold breakfast and packed up camp before moving out. I was in Lexington VA headed to Christiansburg VA. This, if I made the full trip today would not only put me in a Mennonite Your Way home, but be the end of my first map, a mile stone in my cross country bike trip. Both of those things were enough to motivate me to move out with a little speed under my tail, even though my legs burned from the tough ride the day before.
It was a long day, about 90 miles over all. I stopped in Buchanan VA to use the internet and was informed that I was crazy for thinking that I was going to make it all the way to Christiansburg by nightfall. The librarian meant well, but she wasn’t helping. Actually she probably helped more than I am giving her credit. Had she said I could make it I probably wouldn’t have peddled so hard.
The day was beautiful, a few clouds and a nice slight breeze. It was very hilly most of the way. I even took a shortcut in order to speed up my time. It worked. I eventually came to a little store in the country and tiered as I was I stopped to fill my water bottles and ask how far I had to go. The woman told me I had 17 miles to go. 33 miles later I reached Christiansburg. I don’t understand how you can be off almost half the distance like that. I guess I would understand if it was a half a mile or if she was five miles off at 33 miles, but as I see things, that was like saying, “Oh, its about 17 miles--give or take--17.” At this point I decided to quit asking people who drove cars for information about distance or terrain. I just didn’t want to be so misled any more.
I finally made it to Christiansburg and called the family I was going to stay with for the night. The daughter Kaitlin answered the phone and gave me directions to their house. Before she hung up the phone she said, “boy, you have some hills to climb.” Yet another affirming word of encouragement. I made the four or five miles out to the home of Conrad and Janie Heatwole and was kindly welcomed by all the members of the family that were home (Kaitlin, Kendra, and a son in law Absalom).
My host family for the night was simply amazing. Kaitlin drove me to the store to get more food for the next day and Janie gave me a cell phone to call all of my family and friends. They also provided internet for me to continue to schedule homes for me to stay in and check the weather. Then after all of that they invited me to play Settlers with the family until way later than I have been staying up on my trip. I must say by the end of it I felt like I was going to fall over. I was so tiered. I eventually limped off to bead. But I didn’t want to. It felt so good to be part of a community, even if it wasn’t mine. To be accepted into a home and treated like some one who belongs there is an amazing and powerful thing when you are alone. I must say, the next day when it came time to leave I didn’t want to go. But the road was calling and I never did do well sitting in one place to long.
I woke up and believe it or not I really didn’t want to go anywhere. I wanted to just lay there in my sleeping bag listening to the calm river flow by, but I had a long ways to go on day six so I needed to pick up and move out. I ate a quick cold breakfast and packed up camp before moving out. I was in Lexington VA headed to Christiansburg VA. This, if I made the full trip today would not only put me in a Mennonite Your Way home, but be the end of my first map, a mile stone in my cross country bike trip. Both of those things were enough to motivate me to move out with a little speed under my tail, even though my legs burned from the tough ride the day before.
It was a long day, about 90 miles over all. I stopped in Buchanan VA to use the internet and was informed that I was crazy for thinking that I was going to make it all the way to Christiansburg by nightfall. The librarian meant well, but she wasn’t helping. Actually she probably helped more than I am giving her credit. Had she said I could make it I probably wouldn’t have peddled so hard.
The day was beautiful, a few clouds and a nice slight breeze. It was very hilly most of the way. I even took a shortcut in order to speed up my time. It worked. I eventually came to a little store in the country and tiered as I was I stopped to fill my water bottles and ask how far I had to go. The woman told me I had 17 miles to go. 33 miles later I reached Christiansburg. I don’t understand how you can be off almost half the distance like that. I guess I would understand if it was a half a mile or if she was five miles off at 33 miles, but as I see things, that was like saying, “Oh, its about 17 miles--give or take--17.” At this point I decided to quit asking people who drove cars for information about distance or terrain. I just didn’t want to be so misled any more.
I finally made it to Christiansburg and called the family I was going to stay with for the night. The daughter Kaitlin answered the phone and gave me directions to their house. Before she hung up the phone she said, “boy, you have some hills to climb.” Yet another affirming word of encouragement. I made the four or five miles out to the home of Conrad and Janie Heatwole and was kindly welcomed by all the members of the family that were home (Kaitlin, Kendra, and a son in law Absalom).
My host family for the night was simply amazing. Kaitlin drove me to the store to get more food for the next day and Janie gave me a cell phone to call all of my family and friends. They also provided internet for me to continue to schedule homes for me to stay in and check the weather. Then after all of that they invited me to play Settlers with the family until way later than I have been staying up on my trip. I must say by the end of it I felt like I was going to fall over. I was so tiered. I eventually limped off to bead. But I didn’t want to. It felt so good to be part of a community, even if it wasn’t mine. To be accepted into a home and treated like some one who belongs there is an amazing and powerful thing when you are alone. I must say, the next day when it came time to leave I didn’t want to go. But the road was calling and I never did do well sitting in one place to long.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Day 5
Day 5
The day started early because I was kind of scared of being caught as I didn’t have permission to sleep behind the church. I didn’t think any one would care as I didn’t do anything damaging in any way, but still, I feel its just better for no one to know you are there when you are trespassing as that way you are sure to avoid all problems. I got up and ate my cold breakfast and then headed out. The day started with more climbing than I was used to and my maps showed that I was in for a long hard day. When I woke up I checked my GPS and it said I was at 722 ft elevation. I started climbing into the Blue Mountains and decided I would stop at the little town at the foot of the mountains in order to restock on food and water.
There was nothing in the town, just a post office with bad drinking water. It was not looking like a good day. I was about to leave and attempt the suicidal climb with a half bottle of water when one of the women behind the counter said, “try the cookie lady, she is biker friendly.” I was a bit concerned to say the least, but I gave it a go. So off I went in search for the cookie lady. I wasn’t ready for what I found. She was an old woman with no remaining family and a hear bigger than anyone I new. She lost her mother, her last remaining family member in 1976, the same year the bike trail was planed. It ran right past her house, so she began taking in bikers. She told me that because she has no family, bikers were her family now. She gave me the keys to the bike house and told me to look around and to put the photo she had taken of me (she had an old Polaroid camera) in the photo album on the table. I was shocked when I went in. she had 16 photo albums with photos of every biker who has stopped by her house sense 1976. On the walls of the house she had every post card, newspaper clipping and letter that every biker has ever sent her. There were wedding photos and photos of peoples children on there graduation day. She really had become part of these peoples family. The house ended up being fully furnished with all the food a biker could ask for as well as several bedrooms and couches. It was amazing. I took what I needed and then locked it up before heading back to the old woman’s house to say good by. We talked for a while and she told me some of the amazing stories of bikers that had come through the pass over the Blue Mountains. I was amazed to put it lightly.
Setting off over the Blue Mountains was the hardest thing I have done to date on a bike. It was no easy climb. By 1:00 that afternoon I had climbed to an elevation that exceeded 3250 ft. Now remember that I had started at 722 ft that morning.
I stopped at the ranger station on the mountain and asked how many more inclines I had until I reached Vesuvious, the town I was going to descend to on the other side of the mountain range and he said, “oh, about two more.” Six inclines later I finally reached SR 59 and began my descent. That was the low point in the trip. With each passing incline my heart sank a little more. I ran out of food and nearly out of water on that mountain. I was very lonely and wanted nothing more than to be with my friends. But I was very alone and had no idea how far it was until I would reach my destination for the night. I pushed on and finally made it. I got down the mountain to Vesuvious and there was nothing there ether, just a post office, but this time with drinkable water. I asked the man how far it was to Lexington VA and he said 33 miles. I was very skeptical, but I had no choice so I took off as fast as I could.
I made it to Lexington and found a place to eat and a store to get more food for the next day which was promising to be as hard as the day that I had just finished. I then began looking for a place to sleep. I found a little park and began looking to see if I could sleep there that night. There was a state police officer there so I asked him if I could sleep there. He called headquarters and asked them and they sent two more police officers to check it out. Then they said, “NO”. The state cop got eratated and said, “just put your bike in my car.” I was a bit confused until the other police officers asked me what he was going to do with me. He said he had a place for me to sleep and he was going to take me there. I couldn’t believe it. He took me to his in-laws farm and let me sleep in their pasture next to a river. It was simply splendid. I got to sleep right along a river that was nice and clean. He told me it was safe to swim in and that I could bath in it if I wanted to. I did. It was simply a wonderful way to end a hard and trying day. That night I slept very soundly.
Over all I rode 73.5 miles at 9.6 mph from Whitehall VA to Lexington VA. I rode for 7:38 with a max speed of 34.5 mph.
The day started early because I was kind of scared of being caught as I didn’t have permission to sleep behind the church. I didn’t think any one would care as I didn’t do anything damaging in any way, but still, I feel its just better for no one to know you are there when you are trespassing as that way you are sure to avoid all problems. I got up and ate my cold breakfast and then headed out. The day started with more climbing than I was used to and my maps showed that I was in for a long hard day. When I woke up I checked my GPS and it said I was at 722 ft elevation. I started climbing into the Blue Mountains and decided I would stop at the little town at the foot of the mountains in order to restock on food and water.
There was nothing in the town, just a post office with bad drinking water. It was not looking like a good day. I was about to leave and attempt the suicidal climb with a half bottle of water when one of the women behind the counter said, “try the cookie lady, she is biker friendly.” I was a bit concerned to say the least, but I gave it a go. So off I went in search for the cookie lady. I wasn’t ready for what I found. She was an old woman with no remaining family and a hear bigger than anyone I new. She lost her mother, her last remaining family member in 1976, the same year the bike trail was planed. It ran right past her house, so she began taking in bikers. She told me that because she has no family, bikers were her family now. She gave me the keys to the bike house and told me to look around and to put the photo she had taken of me (she had an old Polaroid camera) in the photo album on the table. I was shocked when I went in. she had 16 photo albums with photos of every biker who has stopped by her house sense 1976. On the walls of the house she had every post card, newspaper clipping and letter that every biker has ever sent her. There were wedding photos and photos of peoples children on there graduation day. She really had become part of these peoples family. The house ended up being fully furnished with all the food a biker could ask for as well as several bedrooms and couches. It was amazing. I took what I needed and then locked it up before heading back to the old woman’s house to say good by. We talked for a while and she told me some of the amazing stories of bikers that had come through the pass over the Blue Mountains. I was amazed to put it lightly.
Setting off over the Blue Mountains was the hardest thing I have done to date on a bike. It was no easy climb. By 1:00 that afternoon I had climbed to an elevation that exceeded 3250 ft. Now remember that I had started at 722 ft that morning.
I stopped at the ranger station on the mountain and asked how many more inclines I had until I reached Vesuvious, the town I was going to descend to on the other side of the mountain range and he said, “oh, about two more.” Six inclines later I finally reached SR 59 and began my descent. That was the low point in the trip. With each passing incline my heart sank a little more. I ran out of food and nearly out of water on that mountain. I was very lonely and wanted nothing more than to be with my friends. But I was very alone and had no idea how far it was until I would reach my destination for the night. I pushed on and finally made it. I got down the mountain to Vesuvious and there was nothing there ether, just a post office, but this time with drinkable water. I asked the man how far it was to Lexington VA and he said 33 miles. I was very skeptical, but I had no choice so I took off as fast as I could.
I made it to Lexington and found a place to eat and a store to get more food for the next day which was promising to be as hard as the day that I had just finished. I then began looking for a place to sleep. I found a little park and began looking to see if I could sleep there that night. There was a state police officer there so I asked him if I could sleep there. He called headquarters and asked them and they sent two more police officers to check it out. Then they said, “NO”. The state cop got eratated and said, “just put your bike in my car.” I was a bit confused until the other police officers asked me what he was going to do with me. He said he had a place for me to sleep and he was going to take me there. I couldn’t believe it. He took me to his in-laws farm and let me sleep in their pasture next to a river. It was simply splendid. I got to sleep right along a river that was nice and clean. He told me it was safe to swim in and that I could bath in it if I wanted to. I did. It was simply a wonderful way to end a hard and trying day. That night I slept very soundly.
Over all I rode 73.5 miles at 9.6 mph from Whitehall VA to Lexington VA. I rode for 7:38 with a max speed of 34.5 mph.
Day 4
Day 4
The night before, Bob and I had looked on the map and computer to find the quickest way to me next destination. I have not been real concerned with fallowing the rout on my maps exactly. Basically if I can find a shot cut I will take it. Most of the time there is not one, but there are days that I save 10 or 20 miles because of this. At any rate, I left very early because I new that even with my shortcut it would take a long time to get to Charlottesville VA from Richmond VA.
The day went mostly without incident. Half way through it I rode into a gas station to fill my bottles up with water. I hit the gravel with my front tire and my bike went right out from under me. I didn’t hit the ground but my bike did. The only real damage was my cleat. That’s the piece that attaches to the bottom of the shoe and to the peddle. I nearly ripped it in half. This was a problem. I limped the rest of the way into town, about 30 miles and then began looking for some where to replace the part.
I was headed to the bike shop when I am drove up beside me in a car and asked me where I was going. I told him out of town for the night. Then he asked me where I was going long term. I said “Oregon”. Then I asked him if he new where the bike shop I was looking for was. And he, being the nice man he was told me he would drive there and that I could fallow him. To make a long story short the bike shop did not have what I needed. I was very disappointed, that meant that I had to go biking all over town to find a piece that is not very common and was probably not carried in any of the bike shops. This may not sound like a real big deal, but because Charlottesville is so hilly I didn’t want to bike anywhere after peddling about 70 miles already that day and it was rush hour.
The man who drove in front of me to the bike shop looked and me and seeing that I was distraught told me that he would drive me around to the bike shops if it was ok with me, and it was. His name was Wayne. He drove me to every bike shop in town before I gave up and was about to buy completely new peddles, about 100.00 worth of equipment because I couldn’t go over the Blue Mountains on a broken cleat. Before I bought the new peddles Wayne stopped me and said we could go to his place and he could see if he had anything that might help me. As it turned out he did. He had an extra set of peddles that he had not used in a few years and he didn’t think he would be using them any more so he gave them to me. They were worth about 125.00 dollars. I couldn’t believe it. I as shocked. Then he drove me to the edge of town and dropped me off where my map said I was to head out and he said he may get his bike and catch up to me. And he did. He rode all the way to Whitehall with me and found a place for me to sleep behind a church for me because we couldn’t find the camp ground marked on the map for me. Then he gave me one more gift as a “going a way” present as he put it. It was a converter for my tiers so I could pump them up at gas stations from now on instead of using my hand pump.
Wayne was one of the necest and most unexpected people I have ever met in my life. Without him I would ether be 100.00 dollars more pour or still in Charlottesville VA right now.
That day I rode 92.5 miles at 12.17 mph for 7:35 with a max speed of 35.6 mph.
The night before, Bob and I had looked on the map and computer to find the quickest way to me next destination. I have not been real concerned with fallowing the rout on my maps exactly. Basically if I can find a shot cut I will take it. Most of the time there is not one, but there are days that I save 10 or 20 miles because of this. At any rate, I left very early because I new that even with my shortcut it would take a long time to get to Charlottesville VA from Richmond VA.
The day went mostly without incident. Half way through it I rode into a gas station to fill my bottles up with water. I hit the gravel with my front tire and my bike went right out from under me. I didn’t hit the ground but my bike did. The only real damage was my cleat. That’s the piece that attaches to the bottom of the shoe and to the peddle. I nearly ripped it in half. This was a problem. I limped the rest of the way into town, about 30 miles and then began looking for some where to replace the part.
I was headed to the bike shop when I am drove up beside me in a car and asked me where I was going. I told him out of town for the night. Then he asked me where I was going long term. I said “Oregon”. Then I asked him if he new where the bike shop I was looking for was. And he, being the nice man he was told me he would drive there and that I could fallow him. To make a long story short the bike shop did not have what I needed. I was very disappointed, that meant that I had to go biking all over town to find a piece that is not very common and was probably not carried in any of the bike shops. This may not sound like a real big deal, but because Charlottesville is so hilly I didn’t want to bike anywhere after peddling about 70 miles already that day and it was rush hour.
The man who drove in front of me to the bike shop looked and me and seeing that I was distraught told me that he would drive me around to the bike shops if it was ok with me, and it was. His name was Wayne. He drove me to every bike shop in town before I gave up and was about to buy completely new peddles, about 100.00 worth of equipment because I couldn’t go over the Blue Mountains on a broken cleat. Before I bought the new peddles Wayne stopped me and said we could go to his place and he could see if he had anything that might help me. As it turned out he did. He had an extra set of peddles that he had not used in a few years and he didn’t think he would be using them any more so he gave them to me. They were worth about 125.00 dollars. I couldn’t believe it. I as shocked. Then he drove me to the edge of town and dropped me off where my map said I was to head out and he said he may get his bike and catch up to me. And he did. He rode all the way to Whitehall with me and found a place for me to sleep behind a church for me because we couldn’t find the camp ground marked on the map for me. Then he gave me one more gift as a “going a way” present as he put it. It was a converter for my tiers so I could pump them up at gas stations from now on instead of using my hand pump.
Wayne was one of the necest and most unexpected people I have ever met in my life. Without him I would ether be 100.00 dollars more pour or still in Charlottesville VA right now.
That day I rode 92.5 miles at 12.17 mph for 7:35 with a max speed of 35.6 mph.
Day 3
I slept in on Day 3. I was really tiered and I didn’t want to get out of bead, or my tent as the case was. I also only had 50 miles to go that day so it was no big deal. I woke up and packed up all my stuff before heading over to Buddy and Edna’s place for breakfast. It was really nice to have a place to eat breakfast and relax before starting my trip on my Second day of riding. Basically it’s the same idea I talked about in the previous post, that is, any act of kindness no matter how big or small is greatly appreciated. Some one opening up their home or trailer for you to eat breakfast with them and talk to you is a gesture that is not quickly forgotten on a trip like this.
Most of my life, starting when I was young I was taught not to trust strangers. As a small child that is really not a bad thing for parents to teach you. But I am learning more and more that the trusting of total strangers, really putting your life and well-being in their hands is something not only special, but amazing and life changing. Because of SST and this trip I am really learning to trust people, and in trusting them I believe I make them trust worthy. You see if you think of someone as untrustworthy they are much more likely to be untrustworthy in order to fulfill that reputation, however if you think of some one as trustworthy, they are more likely to be trustworthy. I think that believing in people makes them rise to the occasion and be worth believing in. I know that’s the case for me. If you are counting on me I will be there for you, if you think I will steal from you, I will. Its very much the way people work. At least in my experience.
So I set off riding at a nice lazy pace. It really was nice to not be in a rush. On my way into the city I came up to a building with a sine on the top that said Grocery Store and a big gravel parking lot with cars in it. So I decided to stop and take a break, eat some lunch and relax for a few moments. As soon as I was off my bike this man came running up to me asking me if I new that I was on private property. I must confess I didn’t know it was somewhere I shouldn’t be. As it turned out, the building was the man’s house, he just never bothered to take the sine down from the old store he turned into his home. I explained myself and he said it was fine and that I could stay if I wanted to for my break. Then he proceeded to tell me that I couldn’t be to careful and how I shouldn’t trust anyone. In many ways its good sound advice, but I would rather live a shorter life trusting people than a long drawn-out life locked in a cave. So I go on trusting people.
I rode into Richmond and found that riding through Richmond at 7:00 AM is much different than riding through Richmond at 2:30 PM. The streets were crowded and people were in a hurry. It made for unpleasant riding. I finally found the library which was the Virginia State Library, a very nice one. I checked my email and called my host family for the night to get directions to their home before heading off to meet them.
The way to their house was rough to ride, it was a four lain divided highway, my first, but not my last. I finally arrived and met Bob and Margaret and was warmly welcomed into their home. It was my second night and I had a warm bead to sleep in. it was a nice way to finish up the third day of my trip. I got to call home and sleep in a nice warm bead.
For day three I rode 54.7 miles at 12.8 mph. I rode for 4:16 and my top speed was 29.8 miles. It was a nice relaxing day.
Most of my life, starting when I was young I was taught not to trust strangers. As a small child that is really not a bad thing for parents to teach you. But I am learning more and more that the trusting of total strangers, really putting your life and well-being in their hands is something not only special, but amazing and life changing. Because of SST and this trip I am really learning to trust people, and in trusting them I believe I make them trust worthy. You see if you think of someone as untrustworthy they are much more likely to be untrustworthy in order to fulfill that reputation, however if you think of some one as trustworthy, they are more likely to be trustworthy. I think that believing in people makes them rise to the occasion and be worth believing in. I know that’s the case for me. If you are counting on me I will be there for you, if you think I will steal from you, I will. Its very much the way people work. At least in my experience.
So I set off riding at a nice lazy pace. It really was nice to not be in a rush. On my way into the city I came up to a building with a sine on the top that said Grocery Store and a big gravel parking lot with cars in it. So I decided to stop and take a break, eat some lunch and relax for a few moments. As soon as I was off my bike this man came running up to me asking me if I new that I was on private property. I must confess I didn’t know it was somewhere I shouldn’t be. As it turned out, the building was the man’s house, he just never bothered to take the sine down from the old store he turned into his home. I explained myself and he said it was fine and that I could stay if I wanted to for my break. Then he proceeded to tell me that I couldn’t be to careful and how I shouldn’t trust anyone. In many ways its good sound advice, but I would rather live a shorter life trusting people than a long drawn-out life locked in a cave. So I go on trusting people.
I rode into Richmond and found that riding through Richmond at 7:00 AM is much different than riding through Richmond at 2:30 PM. The streets were crowded and people were in a hurry. It made for unpleasant riding. I finally found the library which was the Virginia State Library, a very nice one. I checked my email and called my host family for the night to get directions to their home before heading off to meet them.
The way to their house was rough to ride, it was a four lain divided highway, my first, but not my last. I finally arrived and met Bob and Margaret and was warmly welcomed into their home. It was my second night and I had a warm bead to sleep in. it was a nice way to finish up the third day of my trip. I got to call home and sleep in a nice warm bead.
For day three I rode 54.7 miles at 12.8 mph. I rode for 4:16 and my top speed was 29.8 miles. It was a nice relaxing day.
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