Day 4 : Let the Hills (Mountains) Begin...

From Afton, VA to Lexington, VA - 56.9 miles

Story [in numbers]:

Time on bike: 6:30:04
Average speed: 8.6 mph
Max speed: 36.1 mph

Story [in words]:

this morning we woke up at 5 am at the cookie ladies house, along with our friends keith and kirk. we were on the bikes by 6 am.

the cookie ladies house is literally in the middle of a climb, and so as we began cycling, we were climbing. no doubt about it. we climbed and climbed until we reached the blue ridge parkway (a national park that is just barely wider than the road...and goes about 469 miles). it was a pretty serious climb, but it was well worth it to get up to the parkway. it was an amazingly beautiful ride. we climbed to 3400 ft at our highest point today.

the climbing was challenging, but all in all i felt like it was a success. the climbs seemed slow...but doable. i felt like we learned that we can do the climbs, and that was a concern that we both had. so it was good. i am also learning that climbing also means awesome downhills, and we did plenty of that as well.

we rode for a number of hours this morning with our new friends, and then mid-morning we decided to part ways as they stopped to get some sandwiches and we wanted to keep covering the miles. so we continued on. a ways further up the road, we had two older cyclist come up behind us. great local guys that were just out for a morning ride. cailyn called them rocky and crash. rocky because he was going to do a ride in the rockies in a couple of weeks. and crash, because he had broken his leg a couple of years ago in a crash. they were really cool guys. and they gave us some great info about a local place to grab lunch in vesuvius.

we got off the parkway above vesuvius, and the decent was epic to say the least. huge grades, and switchbacks. we had to stop twice to let our brakes cool down and make sure that the breaks didn't overheat. and when we got down to vesuvius, we did indeed find the restaurant that the guys had told us about. it was called girty's, and it was an awesome little place. the ladies that worked there were hometown as they come, and the food was killer! great stop to say the least! and to our surprise, as we were about to head out, our friends keith and kirk pulled in.

they were there for just a quick stop, and so we ended up leaving there together again. we had a great gentle downhill ride next to a beautiful stream all the way into lexington. it is a beautiful college town (vmi and william and lee). we stopped at a little ice cream shoppe called sweet things ice cream shoppe, as it was a place that my friend pervis stopped at on his trip.

we ended up deciding to just go ahead and stay here for the night. we really wanted to get more miles in, but it was after 4 before we got into town, and there was no where close to the route where we were going to be able to camp, and so we decided it would be best to just stay here with our friends keith and kirk. so we are at a super 8 motel (with the cost split between us, it was not bad at all)...and so hopefully it will provide a great nights sleep...and we will again get on the bikes by 6 and try to cover a solid number of miles tomorrow. it would be awesome to get to christiansburg by tomorrow. if we could do that, we would complete the first of our 12 maps, which seems like it would be a great confidence boost.




8.6
36.1
6:30:04
56.9

Day 3 : The Cookie Lady...

From Mineral, VA to Afton, VA (The Cookie Lady) - 74.6 miles

Story [in numbers]:

Time on bike: 7:25:53
Average speed: 10 mph
Max speed: 31.7 mph

Story [in words]:

the fire house was quite a treat. we got rested up and were out on the bikes and riding by 6:30. it was great to be out early, before the temps got up. we rode a number of miles, and then hit the road that the local from the pizza shop the night before had said would be a great short cut for us to get into charlottesville. and so we figured...we gotta trust the local...so we went for it.

as we started into it, it was great! the road was newly paved with a shoulder and we were really able to move. it was great, until we got into charlottesville, at which point the traffic got really bad and we had to exit before we wanted to, and then had to make up our own route in order to get back onto our mapped route. but all in all, the shortcut was a success (i think we cut out about 10 mapped miles) and because of our having to make up our route to get back on the mapped route, we got to ride right through the university of virginia campus, which was really nice.

we then headed out of charlottesville, on our mapped route, shooting to get to afton, which is the home of the cookie lady, june curry. we had heard that the route had it's first real climbs going up and into afton, and the rumors were true! it was a pretty intense climb, but honestly nothing that we couldn't handle as long as we were patient. so we rolled into the bike ladies place at around 5:30 to find two other guys already settled in for the night. so, we got our stuff situated, showered up, and began getting to know them.

keith and kirk. keith had done most of the transam in 2008, but had made up his own route in the east and didn't ride the virginia and kentucky section. so he has two weeks off of work and is going to ride the section that he didn't do in 2008. and kirk was just laid off of his job, he said that he is 58 and hasn't had more than a weekend off from employment in his whole life and so he was going to take advantage of the opportunity.

we sat around the bike house (the cookie lady has a whole seperate house to host cyclists and it is an absolute shrine to people that have done the transam. she estimates that she has hosted over 14,000 cyclists. there are postcards and memorabilia and every other thing imaginable in the house. this was the first time that we really began to understand the magnitude of doing something like this. and she even keeps the house stocked with food for cyclists. what an amazing deal) and talked with kirk and keith. shared stories and life a little bit. both great guys!

then we headed up the road a bit and knocked on june's door, and she came out and we sat on her porch, as the cats and peacocks checked us out, and talked with june for quite some time. or more like listened to her talk. she doesn't hear well anymore, but even if she did, i think that we probably would have just listened mostly. she has an amazing memory and amazing stories to tell. so we just sat and listened as she talked and talked. she is an amazing lady. you should google her, you will find all kinds of things.

we finished the night back at the bike house, with keith giving cailyn all kinds of wisdom and insight about places to check out and things to watch out for as we head to the west. we called it a night around 10, with the hope that we would be on the bikes by 6.

today was the first really good all around day. the first day that i felt like i actually ate enough calories to have the energy to do all the riding.

Day 2 : Let the Stories Begin...

From 4 miles SE of Ashland, VA to Mineral, VA – 57.8 miles (152.5 miles)

Story [in numbers]:

Time on bike: 5:33:20

Average Speed: 10.3 mph

Max Speed: 31.9 mph

Story [in words]:

We woke up a little late this morning, after having not felt terribly good as we went to bed last night. We woke up to wind blowing our tent. The good news is that it was not raining (which the weather had said there was a 60% chance), the bad news was that it was windy. in my opinion, quite possibly the worst thing for a cyclist is wind. it makes the riding incredibly tough and it is incredibly demoralizing as well.

we began riding around 7:40, and rode into ashland where we find a really cool coffee shop, where we had a great breakfast, a bagel sandwich and a huge apple fritter. we got back on the road and before long cailyn was very tired. she felt like she was about ready to fall asleep on the bike, and so we found a nice piece of shaddy grass and so we layed down and took about a 45 minutes nap.

we were just about to get back on the bikes, and looked to our left to find another pair of transamerica cyclists pulling up next to us. steven and erica, we rode with them (or at least in the same area for the next 30 miles or so). we stopped at a convenience store to eat with them. it was a good time to get to know them a little bit. they have a pretty cool story...they are making a one way trip from virginia to oregon. they are going to be living in oregon when they get there. all in all, it was fun to be with them and it was exciting to find another group doing the same thing that we are doing. hopefully we will be seeing them again.

we stopped for the night in mineral, where we are staying at an amazing fire house. they have a lounge, showers, internet, and have been amazing to us. we walked across the street to an awesome little pizza joint where we had some great pizza and ice cream. but the highlight was the two people we met there. george and whitney, two awesome locals, who were incredibly interested in our trip. they are both pipe organ builders and tuners. they asked us lots of questions about our trip and our route. they also gave us some great insight into our trip. george cycles in the area regularly, and he gave us a tip on a shortcut for tomorrow that will save us at least a few miles. i am not too into taking shortcuts, and diverging from the trail, but at the same time, i think follow some locals advice really seems to fit into the nature of this trip. all in all, it was a great encounter!

i have to admit that these first couple of days has been quite difficult, especially with the eating and whatnot. and i have to admit that i have had my doubts about being able to complete this trip, but cailyn has been and incredible motivator and encourager, which makes me love her all the more. tomorrow will tell us a lot i think. we are hoping to make it to afton, va, which means that we will have to really begin to climb some hills.

Day 1 : A Colonial Type of a Day...

Yorktown, VA to 4 miles SE of Ashland - 94.9 miles (94.9 total)

Story [in numbers]:

time on bike: 8:19:40
average speed: 11.3
max speed: 28.6 mph

Story [in words]

today was an all around great first day. the weather was great as we arrived at a little after 7 at the water front to begin our journey. we got the bikes assembled, got the gear all loaded, did our ceremonial tire dip (above), and then we were off on our journey.

the route started on a beautiful section of road, that included many colonial types of locations including yorktown, williamsburg, and jamestown. and as we came into jamestown, we picked up an amazing bike path (probably the best i have ever seen) and were able to ride that for a solid 5 miles or more.

we then rode on SR 5 for a while before coming upon another really nice bike path that we probably rode for another 10 miles or more. both paths were a nice way to kind of easy into the first official day of riding.

we got to see my parents twice more during the day. the first time because they just wanted to catch up with us and see us. and then the second time because cailyn seems to be having some trouble with sun poisoning, and so she is getting terrible rashes on her legs. so my parents went into richmond to get cailyn some knickers that will cover past her legs and hopefully help with the rashes. it was fun to be able to meet up with them a couple of times yesterday.

the one real negative is that i think that we probably tried to push ourselves a little too hard for day one. we were both incredibly spent by the time we got to the camp ground and both of us had a tough time eating because we were just so exhausted. it was great to be able to knock off so many miles on the first day, but maybe not the best decision, i don't know.

we did get to see some amazing pieces of history and of God's creation. in some senses, it is really tough to take in everything that you see in a day. there is just so much that you see in any given day.

Day 0 : From Indiana to Virginia...

well, we have arrived safely in yorktown, va. we left fort wayne at around 8am this morning, and arrived in yorktown, at around 11:30pm. it was a long day of driving, but a great time spent with mom and dad.

the emotions were varied to say the least. excitement, followed by nervousness, and the occasional, "what-the-crap-are-we-doing". but all-in-all, we are excited! i am just ready to get this thing started and get a couple of days under our belts. to feel like we are starting to have a routine, and honestly to just prove to ourselves that we can do this thing.

so...hopefully we can get a solid 6 hours of sleep tonight, and the goal is to head to the start by around 6:30 tomorrow morning. hopefully we are riding no later than7:30. ideally, by 7. we will see. there is still a little bit of bike setup that must happen in the morning.

Day -1 : From Missouri to Indiana...

day #1 of traveling to the east coast is in the books. we got up and on the road this morning at around 7:30am, and arrived in fort wayne at around 7:20pm (after loosing an hour to the time change).

the bed of the truck (left) was loaded up with all of our gear as well as all of the stuff for tahoe (our dog) who will be staying here in fort wayne with my parents while we are going. the bed of the truck was full with cailyn, tahoe, and myself. and it was rather hot to say the least (the ac doesn't work).

we really enjoyed the time to just be together driving. it was a great start to the trip.

the one story that sticks with me from today was this family (dad, mom, and son) who we ran into at the rest stop that we stopped at to eat lunch (subway that we picked up a few exits earlier). i had noticed that the dad and son had been soliciting a few people for money, and i wondered what their story was. i headed to the bathroom before we were going to leave, and the whole time i was in the bathroom, i was thinking about whether i was supposed to help them or not. and on my way back from the bathroom, sure enough, they intersected with me.

the guy said that he wasn't a bum, but that he was needing money to get his family to indianapolis (we were about 140 miles outside of indy). he said that his wife had lost the funds they had. so, feeling like i should help them out, i went to the car and got them a $20 bill and we got back on the road.

but as i drove, i continued to think about it. i was bothered, because i noticed as we were leaving that the family did not get into their vehicle and leave, but rather, they went back to the table they had been sitting on top of, almost as if they were waiting to solicite more people. it was just hard for me, because i had given them $20 and i had seen two other people already give them money. and i know for a fact that was enough money for them to have made it to indy. and so it is really hard for me to believe that they were not just working the system.

it is a really tough thing for me. first of all, i really struggle to figure out how i should be Christ in that situation. what would He do. what is my response supposed to be. and then my heart really broke for that kid...if it is indeed a scam...that is an absolutely terrible story for that little boy to grow up into.

all in all, it was a tough deal...and yet it was good...it was formative...and it provided for good conversation and thinking.

so, tomorrow, mom, dad, cailyn, and i will load up and head to yorktown, va. if everything goes as planned, we should be to yorktown by 9pm. just in time to get the bikes unloaded and setup, and to get to bed to be ready to hit the road on monday morning. we will try to cover about 92 miles on monday.

i will try to make a post tomorrow with our packing list on it along with a picture of all of the gear.

The Gear...

here is a complete list of everything that we will be taking with us on our trip.

Cycling Gear:

- (2) pairs cycling shoes w/ cleats
- (2) 2 liter hydration systems
- (2) bicycle helmets
- (2) head lamps
- light weight lock
- adventure cycling association cycling maps
- map holder
- (2) backpacks
- handle bar mirror
- front and rear lights
- plastic squirt gun (for chasing away dogs)

Camping:

- tent w/ ground cloth
- sleeping bag
- twin sheet
- (2) sleeping pads
- (2) camping pillows
- deck of cards

Personal Care:

- first aid kit
- (2) camping towels
- chapstick
- sun screen
- toilet paper
- monkey butt powder
- bug spray
- 2-in-1 shampoo
- toothepaste
- tooth brush
- razor
- tampons
- baby wipes

Cailyn's Clothing:

- sanuk sandals
- sleeveless jersey
- short sleeve jersey
- long sleeve shirt
- (4) pairs of socks
- (3) sports bras
- pair of underwear
- swimsuit
- zip-off pants
- cotton t-shirt
- (2) pairs riding shorts
- gloves
- riding jacket
- sunglasses
- riding pants
- bandana
- t-shirt sleeve (to hold back hair)
- fanny pack

Brad's Clothing:

- (4) pairs socks
- (2) short sleeve jerseys
- (2) riding shorts
- riding jacket
- zip-off pants
- cotton t-shirt
- gloves
- swim trunks
- sandals
- riding sleeves
- riding leggings
- head beanie
- fanny pack
- sunglasses

Cooking/Food:

- (2) aluminum water bottles
- (4) plastic baggies
- plastic knife
- small jar of peanut butter
- electrolyte tabs/mixes
- clif bars

Maintenance:

- (3) 26" tubes
- (3) 26" tires
- (1) 20" tube
- (1) 20" tire
- (1) 16" tube
- (3) tube repair kits
- floor pump
- spare chain links
- multi tool
- (2) tire irons
- chain lube (8oz.)
- 40ft. roll duck tape on a pen
- zip ties
- (2) replacement cleats
- 50ft. rope

Tech Gear:

- laptop
- laptop charger
- (2) cell phones
- (2) cell phone chargers
- (2) ipods
- ipod charger
- cycling computer

Books:

- Bicycling Coast to Coast
- Bible
- (2) journals
- (2) pens

Bike:

- (2) recumbent bicycles
- bob trailer

Misc:

- knife (Gerber 3")
- debit card
- drivers licenses
- insurance card
- id holder