Day4 Charlottesville, VA to Love, VA

Yorktown, VA to Love, VA

Charlottesville, VA to Love, VA

And then there were two riders. Jennifer rode the first 5 miles then decided to ride in the SUV with Margie. Dennis was too sore from yesterday's ride so went with Mary in the Camper to visit the Monticello site in Charlottesville (home of Thomas Jefferson). That left Stephen and me to ride together. Stephen is an experienced biker so we matched up pretty well. He's faster on the hills and I'm a little faster on the flats. Since there weren't too many flats today I followed slightly behind for most of the ride.

The ride started UP almost immediately when we left Charlottesville. Lots of 5%-10% sections for miles at a time. Our average speed was only 8 MPH as a result. Once we entered the Blue Mountain Parkway it was mostly a steady 6%-9% climb for 20 miles or so. I put my bike in "granny" gear a lot. Made me feel I made the right decision on the Trek 520. Not sure I could have made this segment without the "tour" gearing on the 520. Gained 4,611 feet during the day.

Fox Field Inn BB owner Dan and me

Our car will never be the same

The backroads we travel

On the way to the Parkway

Margie and Jen picked up lunch here

Picnic on the Parkway

The store at Love, VA

Could have been married in Love, Va

Our cabin had a jacuzi in the living room

Laundry in Love, Va

Our Rigs

Our Cabin with ringer in the foreground

Dinner at brewery six miles down the mountain

Virginia pulled pork sandwich

Day 3 Mineral, VA to Charlottesville, VA

Yorktown, VA to Charlottesville,VA

Biking Detail

The best day so far. Weather cooled off a bit and started the day at about 50 degrees and a little wind from the North, just enough to give us a partial tailwind for awhile. Lots of rolling countryside making for fast decents and slow climbs. Many 9%-10% sharp rises for 1/4 mile or maybe a little more. Every time we went down we knew there would be a hill to climb up. Hit max speed of 38.4 miles and got 3500 feet plus of elevation gain in the 53.8 miles.

Stopped early today at the Foxfield B and B just outside Charlottesville. It is graduation week at the University of Virginia so we felt lucky to get a room. Even has a hot tub which we used.

Day 2 Glendale, VA to Mineral, VA

Glendale, VA to Mineral, VA

Started the ride earlier (planned 7 am) in order to get most of the ride done by noon. We did pretty good in that we got off at 7:15 am. However, the ride was a little longer than expected and the speed was slower. We also got 2,873 ft of elevation gain. A little taste of what's coming up. Didn't finish the 88.25 miles till 6:30 pm. A long day.

Also we lost one rider today. Celia decided to continue her trip on her own as self-supported. We wish her the best.

We are staying at a real nice B&B tonight in Louisa, VA. About 10:30 pm Margie discovered she left her IPad at Patrick Henry's home which we visited during the day. Had to make a 70 mile round trip to retrieve it but all is good we got it back. Pictures will be coming. Can't seem to get the phones connected for data transfer.

Day 1 Yorktown, VA to Glendale, VA

Day 1 Yorktown to Glendale

Great start to our ride. Spent the night at a B&B in Yorktown, Virginia. Cute little village just down the road from Williamsburg. It never recovered completely from the Battle of Yorktown, which George Washington with help from the French Navy defeated General Cornwallis and ended the American Revolution. Ride was hot with wind in our face most of the day.

Ended the day at a little church near Glendale, VA. A wonderful place to spend the night with WiFi, rooms to sleep in, places for our bikes, hot showers, a kitchen to cook in and air conditioning too! They have about 200 bikers a year stay in the church.

The Five Riders Celia, Dennis, Stephen, Me, Jennifer at the Yorktown Memorial

The Back Tire Dip to Start the Journey

Checking the maps in Williamsburg, VA

Horse Carriage in Williamsburg

Ride through Jamestown, VA

Stephen and Jennifer check Bike Trail Map before we leave Jamestown

Countryside outside of Jamestown

Great Lunch stop at Charles City (pop 10)

Took Celia and Jennifer on a Bonus Ride after heading the wrong direction on Willis Church Road

The Church we stayed in for the First Night

The Swing Daddy in Action

The Schnitker RV and our SUV at the Church lot

The Drive to Yorktown, Virginia

Left about 3:30 pm and made it as far as Ridgeland, South Carolina about 381 miles. Had a surprise send-off from Brett and Johanna which was nice.

Bikes on Rack and Ready to Go

Send off with Brett and Johanna

Traveloge in Ridgeland, South Carolina

Biking the Transamerica Route

Transamerica Biking Trail 4234 Miles

As we get closer to taking off (we leave for Yorktown today), I'm thinking more and more of completing the Transamerica route rather than jumping to the Lewis and Clark trail as currently planned. Right now there is one other biker who has plans to continue on the Transamerica route.

I like the idea of biking through the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone Park. We bought some bear pepper spray (also used for dogs) so I'm already prepared for the school question: "What if you are chased by a grizzly bear". No need to make our final decision until we hit the Mississippi River near Murphysboro, IL on the map above.

Last Training Ride in Florida

Last training ride in Florida. decided to take it easy and just do a "quick" 40 miles. Will have to check my Garmin. It was 20 miles to Troublecreek turn-around. Not sure why it was only 18 miles back. Mostly a cross wind from the east so was able to pick up the pace a little. Guess that should compensate for the shorter miles. Got started just before sunrise and had an enjoyable ride.

Troublecreek Road  North of Tarpon Springs

Bags are packed and ready to go. 

Bags Packed, Labeled and Ready to Load