Now that I have had a couple days to rest and reflect I find myself formulating my next adventure. I think I would really like to try this ride again, self-supported. That does not necessarily mean solo but rather me carrying my gear and equipment with me on the bike. I would like to be able to accomplish this and camp along the way, but I will have credit/debit card in hand should an intermediate night in a hotel, or said another way, an actual mattress and bed, be needed.
If anyone is interested in coaching/guiding/riding with me, please let me know.
Jason
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Epic Trip
Boy did we have fun! I'm not even sure which was the best part of the trip. Riding a bike is a simple task that most of us learned as a child. Really not much to it many might say. Still covering great distances under your own power while taking in the sights and sounds of a rural road can be sublime. Doing this on mountain roads with glorious views in all directions can't be described. Still I'm going to try.
We did have a few bumps in the road. I think I planned too many miles early in the week. In my mind I had us ending the day at two or three each day with our feet up enjoying a beer before dinner. In actuality we rode until six and hurried to dinner. Our legs were heavy and overloaded. Luckily Jason has a limitless supply of enthusiasm and Rhonda is wonderful sag. We did become accustomed to the miles and by the last two days we were making better time and finishing earlier.
The highlights of the trip were many. As both Jason and I have said the views where glorious, the riding challenging and rewarding, but the people we spent time with made the trip. I have ridden with Jason many times and have enjoyed his company, but now I feel like a know him. He listened to my stories and rode back to meet me as I neared the top of the hills. He was even willing to climb a tree for apples. He is always positive, loves to meet new people and makes them feel special, and is loads of fun.
We also had many visits from family and friends. Tom, John, David, and Stephen all joined us at times for the ride. Stephen is the master cycling trip planner and it was great having him join us for our Queen stage. The Phemister's joined us for a meal and great conversation. Of course getting to visit with my family in Moneta started us off well and our night in Brevard was extra special with a get together with Mom, Dad and Matt. Thanks for dinner Matt.
Best of all was having a beautiful sag who always had a smile and something to eat around every hill. Have a cable break?-just call for a ride to the bike shop. Start to rain and ready to pack it in?-just say the word and the Subaru shows up. Need to back track to make up miles?-she is happy to take you in the wrong direction. Need a massive amount of home cooking to make the rest day work?-she can make it happen at the Cheese. All I can say is thanks Rhonda and I love you.
Well that is it for me. Jason I'll close by saying let's do it again!
Mike
We did have a few bumps in the road. I think I planned too many miles early in the week. In my mind I had us ending the day at two or three each day with our feet up enjoying a beer before dinner. In actuality we rode until six and hurried to dinner. Our legs were heavy and overloaded. Luckily Jason has a limitless supply of enthusiasm and Rhonda is wonderful sag. We did become accustomed to the miles and by the last two days we were making better time and finishing earlier.
The highlights of the trip were many. As both Jason and I have said the views where glorious, the riding challenging and rewarding, but the people we spent time with made the trip. I have ridden with Jason many times and have enjoyed his company, but now I feel like a know him. He listened to my stories and rode back to meet me as I neared the top of the hills. He was even willing to climb a tree for apples. He is always positive, loves to meet new people and makes them feel special, and is loads of fun.
We also had many visits from family and friends. Tom, John, David, and Stephen all joined us at times for the ride. Stephen is the master cycling trip planner and it was great having him join us for our Queen stage. The Phemister's joined us for a meal and great conversation. Of course getting to visit with my family in Moneta started us off well and our night in Brevard was extra special with a get together with Mom, Dad and Matt. Thanks for dinner Matt.
Best of all was having a beautiful sag who always had a smile and something to eat around every hill. Have a cable break?-just call for a ride to the bike shop. Start to rain and ready to pack it in?-just say the word and the Subaru shows up. Need to back track to make up miles?-she is happy to take you in the wrong direction. Need a massive amount of home cooking to make the rest day work?-she can make it happen at the Cheese. All I can say is thanks Rhonda and I love you.
Well that is it for me. Jason I'll close by saying let's do it again!
Mike
Sunday, October 12, 2014
The Morning After
"Always leave them wanting more." I have no idea where I first heard that quote. Basically it means, don't stay too long, don't over-do it, don't do something so excessively that the appeal wears off. Well, even as heavy as my legs feel this morning, I find myself wanting more. I wish I had one more section to ride today, one more mountain to summit, one more descent to bomb down.
Yesterday was the final day of the Parkway By Bike ride Mike and I began a mere 7 days ago. We decided to get an early start yesterday morning based on weather forecast. We hoped to beat the rain that was expected by early afternoon. Almost immediately out of the gate we began the repeated up-and-down riding that would predominate the day. Breath-taking vistas were book-ended by extended climbs and exhilarating downhills. Mike and I took it all in knowing that yesterday was the final day. We made several stops simply to take pictures and appreciate the views.
Sunrise over Brevard
We also made a stop at the highest point along the parkway for the obligatory picture and to put on warmer clothes and rain gear as our early morning start wasn't quite early enough. We were in and out of weather all day long. Normally, I might have bemoaned the weather and wished for cloudless skies and sun, but it seemed befitting of the territory and Mike and I both simply took it in stride. You can see the weather behind us in this picture.
Normally, descending is effortless and carefree. However, the descent from here was almost as taxing as the climb that followed. Wet roads covered with leaves, limited visibility and temps cool enough to cause your fingers to become stiff, all add up to a descent that leaves you exhausted. And then you bottom out to see one more climb for the day. One final climb but it was a daunting one. It did seem to just go on forever, back up into the clouds and rain.
The final several miles were all downhill. We easily reached speeds into the 40s on our final descent and, if roads were a little drier, would have allowed for even faster riding. Those speeds made the culmination of our efforts come to an end much too quickly. We rounded several curves at breakneck speeds and bottomed out at mile 469, the end of our journey. We circled back around and made one last picture of our trek.
Mentally I am fully aware of what Mike and I just completed. Riding the Blue Ridge Parkway by bike, if I may say so myself, is quite an accomplishment. 469 flat miles is a lot of ground to cover by bike in 7 days. Throw in the mix that our route required us to climb 50,900 total feet and you have for yourself an accomplishment you can hang your hat on. As I sit here typing this I catch myself thinking I should feel more satisfied with what we just accomplished...and yet...part of me is still desiring more. I don't think it is because I am a discontented person; I consider myself to be, overall, fulfilled. I think it has more to do with the fact that cycling is my passion. I don't just have fun doing it. I don't simply enjoy doing it. I feel alive on a bike and I yearn for ways to keep that feeling going. I am not sure what the next cycling goal will be, but hopefully I can set my sights on something else now to focus my energy and drive.
But, there is time for that decision later, after today. Today, right now, is the time to give ample consideration and appreciation for a goal completed. To quote William Blake, "Great things occur where men and mountains meet." And Mike and I met the mountain, both literally and metaphorically, and we won, and it was a great thing.
Yesterday was the final day of the Parkway By Bike ride Mike and I began a mere 7 days ago. We decided to get an early start yesterday morning based on weather forecast. We hoped to beat the rain that was expected by early afternoon. Almost immediately out of the gate we began the repeated up-and-down riding that would predominate the day. Breath-taking vistas were book-ended by extended climbs and exhilarating downhills. Mike and I took it all in knowing that yesterday was the final day. We made several stops simply to take pictures and appreciate the views.
Sunrise over Brevard
We also made a stop at the highest point along the parkway for the obligatory picture and to put on warmer clothes and rain gear as our early morning start wasn't quite early enough. We were in and out of weather all day long. Normally, I might have bemoaned the weather and wished for cloudless skies and sun, but it seemed befitting of the territory and Mike and I both simply took it in stride. You can see the weather behind us in this picture.
Normally, descending is effortless and carefree. However, the descent from here was almost as taxing as the climb that followed. Wet roads covered with leaves, limited visibility and temps cool enough to cause your fingers to become stiff, all add up to a descent that leaves you exhausted. And then you bottom out to see one more climb for the day. One final climb but it was a daunting one. It did seem to just go on forever, back up into the clouds and rain.
The final several miles were all downhill. We easily reached speeds into the 40s on our final descent and, if roads were a little drier, would have allowed for even faster riding. Those speeds made the culmination of our efforts come to an end much too quickly. We rounded several curves at breakneck speeds and bottomed out at mile 469, the end of our journey. We circled back around and made one last picture of our trek.
Mentally I am fully aware of what Mike and I just completed. Riding the Blue Ridge Parkway by bike, if I may say so myself, is quite an accomplishment. 469 flat miles is a lot of ground to cover by bike in 7 days. Throw in the mix that our route required us to climb 50,900 total feet and you have for yourself an accomplishment you can hang your hat on. As I sit here typing this I catch myself thinking I should feel more satisfied with what we just accomplished...and yet...part of me is still desiring more. I don't think it is because I am a discontented person; I consider myself to be, overall, fulfilled. I think it has more to do with the fact that cycling is my passion. I don't just have fun doing it. I don't simply enjoy doing it. I feel alive on a bike and I yearn for ways to keep that feeling going. I am not sure what the next cycling goal will be, but hopefully I can set my sights on something else now to focus my energy and drive.
But, there is time for that decision later, after today. Today, right now, is the time to give ample consideration and appreciation for a goal completed. To quote William Blake, "Great things occur where men and mountains meet." And Mike and I met the mountain, both literally and metaphorically, and we won, and it was a great thing.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Parental Guidance Advised
Disclaimer - Children may need to jump straight to paragraph #2.
Last night Mike and I decided all we wanted to do today was Kick @$$ and chew bubblegum and we woke up this morning and realized we were all out of bubblegum. So, that summarizes what kind of riding we had today. It was, well, "kick..."
Truly, today was a PHENOMENAL day of riding. We got an early start and finished before the rain came through. Stephen Janes joined us for the day's ride and it was a pleasure riding with him. Stephen is a strong rider and I am thankful he was riding his mountain bike that was weighted down by 60 lbs, we were able to stay up with him only because of the added weight he was lugging. The three of us:
On a side note, Stephen leads Trip for Kids out of Western North Carolina. It is a non-profit cycling organization that has a wonderful cause. Their mission is to use bicycles as a vehicle for lessons in confidence building, achievement, health, fitness and environmental awareness through the development of practical skills and the simple act of having fun.Please check out their website at: http://tripsforkidswnc.com/
Today's route had us leaving Little Switzerland for our biggest day of climbing yet. We covered 77.8 miles with 10,400 feet of total climbing today. We traversed mountainous terrain up to and past Mount Mitchell, through Craggy Gardens, had a maddening fun descent down into Asheville (speeds reached just under 50 mph today), and then another epic climb to the top of Mt Pisgah. Just prior to reaching the Craggy Gardens visitor center we were met by two other riders, John Paxoy and Tom (sorry buddy, I didn't catch your last name.) They both accompanied the three of us while we bombed down into Asheville. On the descent we all took turns pulling to the front and pacing a wide-open line down to the bottom of the mountain. The only negative from the day was that the GoPro battery died seconds into our maddening descent. I was hoping to post the descent but alas, we outlasted the GoPro today.
Close to the end of today's route Mike and I spent some time reflecting on this adventure. It has been an epic time. This trip has made a permanent mark on my soul. (Thanks Stephen for the eloquent word) For me, tomorrow is a melancholy event. I miss Halle Grace and cannot wait to see her, but as for the cycling, it has been tremendous, almost spiritual at times. To see and experience God's world in this way is fantastic and describing it, sufficiently, is beyond my ability. Even the pictures I have taken, and will be posting after the ride is totally over, don't do the vistas justice. It is something you simply have to experience. If I have to explain it to you, I probably can't explain it to you.
So, we now are down to one final day of riding. We finished today on top of Mt Pisgah at mile marker 408. We will complete our journey tomorrow at mile marker 469. Don't let the limited mileage fool you. The elevation profile tomorrow is probably our second toughest day, today being the penultimate day. So, it is time for bed and much needed rest. I plan to try and type up my thoughts and experiences, with pictures, once we finish the ride. As for now though, it is time to put my legs up and close my eyes and get some rest. One more day of riding and then plenty of time to post material.
Last night Mike and I decided all we wanted to do today was Kick @$$ and chew bubblegum and we woke up this morning and realized we were all out of bubblegum. So, that summarizes what kind of riding we had today. It was, well, "kick..."
Truly, today was a PHENOMENAL day of riding. We got an early start and finished before the rain came through. Stephen Janes joined us for the day's ride and it was a pleasure riding with him. Stephen is a strong rider and I am thankful he was riding his mountain bike that was weighted down by 60 lbs, we were able to stay up with him only because of the added weight he was lugging. The three of us:
On a side note, Stephen leads Trip for Kids out of Western North Carolina. It is a non-profit cycling organization that has a wonderful cause. Their mission is to use bicycles as a vehicle for lessons in confidence building, achievement, health, fitness and environmental awareness through the development of practical skills and the simple act of having fun.Please check out their website at: http://tripsforkidswnc.com/
Today's route had us leaving Little Switzerland for our biggest day of climbing yet. We covered 77.8 miles with 10,400 feet of total climbing today. We traversed mountainous terrain up to and past Mount Mitchell, through Craggy Gardens, had a maddening fun descent down into Asheville (speeds reached just under 50 mph today), and then another epic climb to the top of Mt Pisgah. Just prior to reaching the Craggy Gardens visitor center we were met by two other riders, John Paxoy and Tom (sorry buddy, I didn't catch your last name.) They both accompanied the three of us while we bombed down into Asheville. On the descent we all took turns pulling to the front and pacing a wide-open line down to the bottom of the mountain. The only negative from the day was that the GoPro battery died seconds into our maddening descent. I was hoping to post the descent but alas, we outlasted the GoPro today.
Close to the end of today's route Mike and I spent some time reflecting on this adventure. It has been an epic time. This trip has made a permanent mark on my soul. (Thanks Stephen for the eloquent word) For me, tomorrow is a melancholy event. I miss Halle Grace and cannot wait to see her, but as for the cycling, it has been tremendous, almost spiritual at times. To see and experience God's world in this way is fantastic and describing it, sufficiently, is beyond my ability. Even the pictures I have taken, and will be posting after the ride is totally over, don't do the vistas justice. It is something you simply have to experience. If I have to explain it to you, I probably can't explain it to you.
So, we now are down to one final day of riding. We finished today on top of Mt Pisgah at mile marker 408. We will complete our journey tomorrow at mile marker 469. Don't let the limited mileage fool you. The elevation profile tomorrow is probably our second toughest day, today being the penultimate day. So, it is time for bed and much needed rest. I plan to try and type up my thoughts and experiences, with pictures, once we finish the ride. As for now though, it is time to put my legs up and close my eyes and get some rest. One more day of riding and then plenty of time to post material.
Day 6 - Morning
We are now up and moving about. We're going to try and get an early start and finish today before the afternoon rain sets in. Today's agenda has us rolling out of Little Switzerland, climbing up to and past Mount Mitchell, past Craggy Gardens, through Asheville and finishing in Brevard.
We have two days left; roughly 130 miles to go. These last two days though will include some of the most significant climbing yet. I'm interested to see later today what our cumulative ascent will be.
For part/most of today's ride we will have company. Stephen Janes from Asheville will ride with us. He rode up from Asheville, on his bike, yesterday afternoon. He is an experienced and strong rider. I hope he takes it easy on us.
More to come later today after some immediate morning coffee and subsequent hours of pedaling. Resting in faith on today's Scripture as I pray for safe travels and a good day on the bike: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we askor imagine, according to his powerthat is at work within us." Eph 3:20
We have two days left; roughly 130 miles to go. These last two days though will include some of the most significant climbing yet. I'm interested to see later today what our cumulative ascent will be.
For part/most of today's ride we will have company. Stephen Janes from Asheville will ride with us. He rode up from Asheville, on his bike, yesterday afternoon. He is an experienced and strong rider. I hope he takes it easy on us.
More to come later today after some immediate morning coffee and subsequent hours of pedaling. Resting in faith on today's Scripture as I pray for safe travels and a good day on the bike: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we askor imagine, according to his powerthat is at work within us." Eph 3:20
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Waking Up
Ahhh, today is a relaxed day. Our itinerary for the day is roughly half of what we have been riding. Originally it was scheduled to be an all out rest day but Mike and I decided an easier-paced day would be better than a complete day off the bike.
Yesterday was an all-out picture-perfect post-card kind of day. I wish I could describe the absolute beauty and majesty of this trip but I cannot. I don't think my vocabulary is the limiting factor though; some things cannot be adequately described but rather must be experienced.
As for experience, this trip is definitely a bucket-list item for me. How could it not be? The scenery is absolutely breath-taking. Each turn of the road offers up a new vista that both awes and inspires you. The company is wonderful. I am thoroughly enjoying getting to know Mike and Rhonda better. And oh by the way I am spending hours on my bike, which is one of my favorite things to do. What is there not to love!
As fantastic as this trip is, I am however having withdrawals from Halle Grace and I am VERY excited to see her in just a couple of days. One day honey, I would love to redo this event with you.
We will give it a few years yet though.
Jason
Yesterday was an all-out picture-perfect post-card kind of day. I wish I could describe the absolute beauty and majesty of this trip but I cannot. I don't think my vocabulary is the limiting factor though; some things cannot be adequately described but rather must be experienced.
As for experience, this trip is definitely a bucket-list item for me. How could it not be? The scenery is absolutely breath-taking. Each turn of the road offers up a new vista that both awes and inspires you. The company is wonderful. I am thoroughly enjoying getting to know Mike and Rhonda better. And oh by the way I am spending hours on my bike, which is one of my favorite things to do. What is there not to love!
As fantastic as this trip is, I am however having withdrawals from Halle Grace and I am VERY excited to see her in just a couple of days. One day honey, I would love to redo this event with you.
We will give it a few years yet though.
Jason
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Day #4 What a Difference a Day makes
All I can say is Wow! I'm not going to tell you that my legs aren't heavy or that I'm not tired, but it was a fabulous day. One of my best days ever on a bike. After yesterday's rain and the broken shift cable, we were hoping for a better day-and we got it.
We woke to a few clouds but a much warmer day. After a big breakfast at Roadies, Rhonda drove us back North on the Parkway to the spot, mp234, where she picked us up in the rain yesterday. The sun was out and Jason and I both felt much better than yesterday. It was windy but after we warmed up it became clear that we were going to make great time and have a great day. Most of the wind was a tailwind or crosswind. Most importantly around every turn was another beautiful view. Almost no cars and smooth as silk asphalt. The Parkway was very pastoral yesterday with may farms and more rollers. Today it was becoming much steeper with fewer farms. The 25 miles back to Glendale Springs was so pretty I also didn't mind the hills. Rhonda kept leap frogging with us and I kept eating so we kept rolling. The climbs kept coming and we stopped for several great pictures. Jason was climbing much better today so for the most part I just tried to hold his wheel or would just let him go and he would drop back down to pick me up again before the next climb.
As the climbs increased the descents also became faster and longer. Screaming down the Parkway at 40mph is pretty fun. There are few technical turns and not many potholes. The only thing that made me nervous at all was the sun/shade chances on the road. We kept up the work and the miles rolled by. As we slowly gained elevation the views increased. It warmed up to the low 60s and the arm warmers came off. Jason noticed his cleats were about worn out so we pushed on with snacks (a large cinamon bun for me) and in stopped Blowing Rock for a late lunch and a trip to a bike shop. We made it there by 2pm and had 60 miles. Rhonda picked us up and we had lunch at a Subway in Blowing Rock. We then headed into Boone and made a quick stop at Magic Cycles. They had one set of the perfect cleats for Jason. This is turning out to be a Parkway tour of bike shops which is cool by me. Magic Cycles, like Main Street Cycles, is a great shop. After that we had a nice tour of App, which is getting pretty big and is impressive. Rhonda called Laura Lampley and after dropping us back at the Parkway, was able to visit with Elizabeth at Moses Cone. Elizabeth was very surprised when she showed up to chat.
Back on the road we had a few lesser climbs, but soon began the real climb of the day up to the Viaduct. The grade was not horible, but it seemed to go on forever. By now it was approaching 5 and the sun was getting low. Soon in the distance we could see Grandfather. He is one big dude so I was more respectful today. I think the Viaduct is one of the, if not the, prettiest roads in the country. Today was perfect with clear skies and views which seemed to go on forever. Only problem we had was sharing the views with more cars than we have seen all week. After reaching the apex Jason powered us down the other side of Grandfather and Rhonda picked us up where 221 crosses the Parkway.
We had a nice drive to the Cheese in the Subaru. Tomorrow she will take us back to the same spot, mp305, and we will ride an easy 30 miles back to the Cheese. Best of all we had a great meal of pizza, salad, beer, and dessert. It will be good to have 2 nights here and alittle extra rest before the high mountains. Still today will be hard to beat, 74.9 miles, 8400 feet of climbing, and all with good food, good company, and perfect weather on the most beautiful roads in the country.
Hoping for more of the same,
Mike
We woke to a few clouds but a much warmer day. After a big breakfast at Roadies, Rhonda drove us back North on the Parkway to the spot, mp234, where she picked us up in the rain yesterday. The sun was out and Jason and I both felt much better than yesterday. It was windy but after we warmed up it became clear that we were going to make great time and have a great day. Most of the wind was a tailwind or crosswind. Most importantly around every turn was another beautiful view. Almost no cars and smooth as silk asphalt. The Parkway was very pastoral yesterday with may farms and more rollers. Today it was becoming much steeper with fewer farms. The 25 miles back to Glendale Springs was so pretty I also didn't mind the hills. Rhonda kept leap frogging with us and I kept eating so we kept rolling. The climbs kept coming and we stopped for several great pictures. Jason was climbing much better today so for the most part I just tried to hold his wheel or would just let him go and he would drop back down to pick me up again before the next climb.
As the climbs increased the descents also became faster and longer. Screaming down the Parkway at 40mph is pretty fun. There are few technical turns and not many potholes. The only thing that made me nervous at all was the sun/shade chances on the road. We kept up the work and the miles rolled by. As we slowly gained elevation the views increased. It warmed up to the low 60s and the arm warmers came off. Jason noticed his cleats were about worn out so we pushed on with snacks (a large cinamon bun for me) and in stopped Blowing Rock for a late lunch and a trip to a bike shop. We made it there by 2pm and had 60 miles. Rhonda picked us up and we had lunch at a Subway in Blowing Rock. We then headed into Boone and made a quick stop at Magic Cycles. They had one set of the perfect cleats for Jason. This is turning out to be a Parkway tour of bike shops which is cool by me. Magic Cycles, like Main Street Cycles, is a great shop. After that we had a nice tour of App, which is getting pretty big and is impressive. Rhonda called Laura Lampley and after dropping us back at the Parkway, was able to visit with Elizabeth at Moses Cone. Elizabeth was very surprised when she showed up to chat.
Back on the road we had a few lesser climbs, but soon began the real climb of the day up to the Viaduct. The grade was not horible, but it seemed to go on forever. By now it was approaching 5 and the sun was getting low. Soon in the distance we could see Grandfather. He is one big dude so I was more respectful today. I think the Viaduct is one of the, if not the, prettiest roads in the country. Today was perfect with clear skies and views which seemed to go on forever. Only problem we had was sharing the views with more cars than we have seen all week. After reaching the apex Jason powered us down the other side of Grandfather and Rhonda picked us up where 221 crosses the Parkway.
We had a nice drive to the Cheese in the Subaru. Tomorrow she will take us back to the same spot, mp305, and we will ride an easy 30 miles back to the Cheese. Best of all we had a great meal of pizza, salad, beer, and dessert. It will be good to have 2 nights here and alittle extra rest before the high mountains. Still today will be hard to beat, 74.9 miles, 8400 feet of climbing, and all with good food, good company, and perfect weather on the most beautiful roads in the country.
Hoping for more of the same,
Mike
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Life Happens
"A bad day on the bike is still better than the best day at work." Unknown
Today was a test of wills. Less than pristine weather conditions (it was rainy), a detour for mechanical reasons (Mike's rear derailer malfunctioned) and physical limitations (I was tired and hit the wall) all made for a day where our forward progress was hard fought.
We left in the rain this morning from the Woodberry Inn in Dan of the Meadows Va. Our first two hours of riding was a mixture of misty overcast and steady light rain. Fortunately the bottom never fell out so Mike and I were able, for the most part, to stay relatively dry. That is, everything from the ankles up. Ankles down we were a different story. Spray from the road quickly covered our legs and then drained down into our shoes. Our feet got extremely wet and extremely cold. I am just now regaining feeling in my toes from the exposure.
Shortly after the rain stopped Mike began experiencing problems shifting. He was limited in his gear range and unable to get to either extreme small or large cassette in the back. If you are riding down the Boardwalk in Atlantic City this wouldn't be so bad. In the mountains though, this is a deal breaker. We rode for about an hour with his trouble continually getting worse. Thankfully our ever-present and willing-to-help sag support, Rhonda, was there to help out. We took a slight detour from the Parkway and drove up to Galax Va and received assistance from Corbitt owner of Main Street Bike Shop. He worked us in while we went to lunch and had us up and running in no time. (Kudos to Corbitt who truly did a fantastic and thorough job on our bikes.) While we were there I also asked him to take a look at Bella since something just didn't feel right with my riding today. On several occasions I checked to see if my brakes were sticking and rubbing my tires. It sure felt that way for most of the day. Unfortunately Corbitt confirmed nothing was wrong with Bella other than the weariness of the rider. I kind of wish it would have been my brakes; Corbitt could have fixed that.
So, after having Rhonda take us back to our departure point on the parkway, Mike and I trudged out another two hours before finally calling it a day before the heavy steady rain did finally set in. Based on the time lost from the detour, the ever-worsening weather conditions and the fact that I was spent, we made the decision to call it a day finish with 60 miles.
All things not-with-standing we still had a great day, both on and off the bikes. We are now south of the boarder, NC and VA border that is, as we passed into North Carolina during today's leg of the ride.
One final note in closing. You certainly see, hear and experience things on a trip like this that you most likely would not encounter in your normal day-to-day activities. For instance, day one we learned motor-pacing on the parkway is a no no. Day two I learned that Mike sometimes is inclined to talk trash to cows that are innocently grazing in the fields as we pass by. And today I heard a man yell to Mike, as he was attempting to relieve himself on the roadside, "It sure is hard to piss with everyone a watchin ya!"
Words of wisdom from some unnamed philosopher in the countryside of Va.
Cheers.
Jason
Today was a test of wills. Less than pristine weather conditions (it was rainy), a detour for mechanical reasons (Mike's rear derailer malfunctioned) and physical limitations (I was tired and hit the wall) all made for a day where our forward progress was hard fought.
We left in the rain this morning from the Woodberry Inn in Dan of the Meadows Va. Our first two hours of riding was a mixture of misty overcast and steady light rain. Fortunately the bottom never fell out so Mike and I were able, for the most part, to stay relatively dry. That is, everything from the ankles up. Ankles down we were a different story. Spray from the road quickly covered our legs and then drained down into our shoes. Our feet got extremely wet and extremely cold. I am just now regaining feeling in my toes from the exposure.
Shortly after the rain stopped Mike began experiencing problems shifting. He was limited in his gear range and unable to get to either extreme small or large cassette in the back. If you are riding down the Boardwalk in Atlantic City this wouldn't be so bad. In the mountains though, this is a deal breaker. We rode for about an hour with his trouble continually getting worse. Thankfully our ever-present and willing-to-help sag support, Rhonda, was there to help out. We took a slight detour from the Parkway and drove up to Galax Va and received assistance from Corbitt owner of Main Street Bike Shop. He worked us in while we went to lunch and had us up and running in no time. (Kudos to Corbitt who truly did a fantastic and thorough job on our bikes.) While we were there I also asked him to take a look at Bella since something just didn't feel right with my riding today. On several occasions I checked to see if my brakes were sticking and rubbing my tires. It sure felt that way for most of the day. Unfortunately Corbitt confirmed nothing was wrong with Bella other than the weariness of the rider. I kind of wish it would have been my brakes; Corbitt could have fixed that.
So, after having Rhonda take us back to our departure point on the parkway, Mike and I trudged out another two hours before finally calling it a day before the heavy steady rain did finally set in. Based on the time lost from the detour, the ever-worsening weather conditions and the fact that I was spent, we made the decision to call it a day finish with 60 miles.
All things not-with-standing we still had a great day, both on and off the bikes. We are now south of the boarder, NC and VA border that is, as we passed into North Carolina during today's leg of the ride.
One final note in closing. You certainly see, hear and experience things on a trip like this that you most likely would not encounter in your normal day-to-day activities. For instance, day one we learned motor-pacing on the parkway is a no no. Day two I learned that Mike sometimes is inclined to talk trash to cows that are innocently grazing in the fields as we pass by. And today I heard a man yell to Mike, as he was attempting to relieve himself on the roadside, "It sure is hard to piss with everyone a watchin ya!"
Words of wisdom from some unnamed philosopher in the countryside of Va.
Cheers.
Jason
Monday, October 6, 2014
Day #2 Peaks of Otter to Meadows of Dan
Well I have never posted anything, but I've followed the best, that's you Stephen, so here it goes.
We arrived at the Peaks last night late after our battle up Apple Mountain. Unfortunately we did not have a room. Who made all the reservations for this trip anyway? After a few nervous minutes we got the last room. We took quick showers then had a glass of wine and a great meal with Dave and Kim Phemister. They live in Lynchburg and came up for the evening. It was great to see them and we had a long conversation after dinner. Kim left us with many goodies for the ride. Looking forward to seeing them again.
This am we had an early breakfast at the Peaks and left for the Meadows of Dan about 9am. Mary Evelyn and David Sellars drove up so David could lead us out for the first part of the ride today. It was cool but warmer than yesterday. David stayed with us for the first 35 miles. He is great company and a super strong rider. Yesterday he was racing cyclocross in Richmond and today he pulled us all the way to Roanoke Mountain and entertained us as well.
After a quick refuel from Rhonda, Jason and I headed out on our own. The pace slowed, but it was warming and a beautiful day on the parkway. The views were marvelous. We continued to make pretty good time until lunch. Rhonda had stopped in Roanoke and had lunch ready for us on a beautiful overpass. Warm sun and good food. We were about 55 miles into the ride and getting tired. Jason ate too much and I was just showing wear. Just after getting back on the bike it started to cloud up. The miles sure went slowly going uphill and quickly going down. Fortunately this part of the Parkway is almost pastoral with many farms and climbing. The last climb was up Rocky Knob. It went on for way longer than we had hoped and by the peak I was talking to the local cows. At the top of the climb it started to rain. The weather sure changes quickly up here. Luckily we found a shelter at the top. It was only 5 miles from our hotel, but we had no cell service so we had to wait it out. We met three interesting guys on Harley's who tried to make a move on Jason, but otherwise very pleasant. Eventually it stopped so we went on to the hotel. Once my phone had service it sent Rhonda my text and she came to get us. By then we were close so we just rode on to the barn.
So 90 miles down today. Great weather until the rain, a great lead out from David, and a great meal at the Woodberry Inn. Before I close I'll thank Susan for the great food, Aunt Shirley for taking such good care of us, and Rhonda for being a perfect sag. We have two more days until we reach the Cheese, then we'll hit the big Mts. Get ready for that because Stephen Janes is going to join us!
Mike
We arrived at the Peaks last night late after our battle up Apple Mountain. Unfortunately we did not have a room. Who made all the reservations for this trip anyway? After a few nervous minutes we got the last room. We took quick showers then had a glass of wine and a great meal with Dave and Kim Phemister. They live in Lynchburg and came up for the evening. It was great to see them and we had a long conversation after dinner. Kim left us with many goodies for the ride. Looking forward to seeing them again.
This am we had an early breakfast at the Peaks and left for the Meadows of Dan about 9am. Mary Evelyn and David Sellars drove up so David could lead us out for the first part of the ride today. It was cool but warmer than yesterday. David stayed with us for the first 35 miles. He is great company and a super strong rider. Yesterday he was racing cyclocross in Richmond and today he pulled us all the way to Roanoke Mountain and entertained us as well.
After a quick refuel from Rhonda, Jason and I headed out on our own. The pace slowed, but it was warming and a beautiful day on the parkway. The views were marvelous. We continued to make pretty good time until lunch. Rhonda had stopped in Roanoke and had lunch ready for us on a beautiful overpass. Warm sun and good food. We were about 55 miles into the ride and getting tired. Jason ate too much and I was just showing wear. Just after getting back on the bike it started to cloud up. The miles sure went slowly going uphill and quickly going down. Fortunately this part of the Parkway is almost pastoral with many farms and climbing. The last climb was up Rocky Knob. It went on for way longer than we had hoped and by the peak I was talking to the local cows. At the top of the climb it started to rain. The weather sure changes quickly up here. Luckily we found a shelter at the top. It was only 5 miles from our hotel, but we had no cell service so we had to wait it out. We met three interesting guys on Harley's who tried to make a move on Jason, but otherwise very pleasant. Eventually it stopped so we went on to the hotel. Once my phone had service it sent Rhonda my text and she came to get us. By then we were close so we just rode on to the barn.
So 90 miles down today. Great weather until the rain, a great lead out from David, and a great meal at the Woodberry Inn. Before I close I'll thank Susan for the great food, Aunt Shirley for taking such good care of us, and Rhonda for being a perfect sag. We have two more days until we reach the Cheese, then we'll hit the big Mts. Get ready for that because Stephen Janes is going to join us!
Mike
It is now 10:10 P.M. I am just now sitting down to type up
the post for the day’s ride. Currently the hotel’s WIFI is not working so I may
have to wait until tomorrow to actually make the post.
So, the first day of riding is a done deal. At one point
today I thought I was going to be a done deal. Overall, it was a fantastic day
of riding, cold at times. The low temps were in the 40s but it was dry so no
one here is complaining. Our journey began around mid morning in Waynesboro VA,
which is the northern-most portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway, henceforth
BRP. Mike and I rode a total of 85.9
miles and climbed a total of 8681 vertical feet. Rhonda covered much more than
that as she drove back and forth as sag support throughout the day. Yay Rhonda.
…I am trying to figure out how to begin to cover the day’s
events; there is a lot of worthy material to start with. Trying to determine
where to begin, in addition to simply being fatigued, is causing me to simply
stare at my screen at the moment.
Of the day’s notable events, one specifically sticks out in
my mind. It was watching Rhonda being pulled over by a Park Ranger. Yes, you
read that correctly. Rhonda was pulled over by a Parkway Ranger just past the
James River Bridge on the parkway. Several miles prior to the bridge Mike and I
were coming out of a descent and had several miles of relatively flat ground. I
mentioned to Mike that Rhonda was doing a great job of sagging and wondered
aloud if she might also be willing to motor-pace. For you non-cyclists let me
explain. Motor pacing is when the car driving support drives in front of you instead of behind you. The benefit is that with a
car leading the way you don’t have to exert as much energy cutting into the
wind and the riding is faster and easier. Rhonda, being the trooper she is,
agreed. She did this for several miles and Mike, being the faster rider, was
able to keep right on her bumper. It was fun simply to watch. I however didn’t
have the legs to hang on and I slowly drifted further back. That is when I
noticed a park ranger come from the other direction and then do an immediate
u-turn. The ranger then caught up to Rhonda and Mike and pulled them over. Apparently, motor pacing on the parkway is
frowned upon, boo Park Ranger rules. It took me about a minute to reach their
location and did so right about the time the ranger got back into her car and
Rhonda drove off. I caught Mike and asked how it went. (Honestly I was a little
afraid to ask.) I did ask him if the ranger gave Rhonda a ticket. He said the
ranger verbally chastised Rhonda for impeding traffic. Funny thing is, WE were
the traffic. At least we didn’t see much other traffic besides ourselves. At
any rate, it was exciting to watch.
Overall the riding today was fairly challenging. It grew
especially tough at Mile Marker 64 when Mike and I began climbing Thunder Ridge
on the ascent to Apple Orchard Lookout. I was a daunting 13 mile climb that
seemed to go on and on and on and…
As our legs grew fatigued Mike actually became surprisingly animated
. In fact, at mile marker 74 (still on the climb) Mike belted out what sounded
like a cross between a war cry and cry for help. That is all I heard. I didn't see
or hear the cannon from which he was then shot but Mike took off. I tried to
catch but my legs were spent. Whether he felt sorry for me or the efficacy of
the war cry faded, Mike slowed down and I caught him a mile or two later. For
the remainder of today’s ride we both suffered and counted the remaining distance
in feet not miles until we finally reached our destination at Peaks of Otter.
Tired as I am I have to say today has been a blast. I am
looking forward to riding again tomorrow, after a good night’s rest, and some
more food. Pictures to come, although those may have to wait till our rest day
to be downloaded.
Just in at end of day 2
Mike and I just finished day two of Parkwaybybike. There is MUCH to tell of the ride over the past two days. Until we get something to eat though, this post is going to be limited to saying we are having an absolute fantastic time.
All the prayers are appreciated. Speaking of, those that are praying for safe travels, great job, those that have been praying for us to have a fun time, well you guys are awesome. Those of you that are praying for all tailwinds and no rain...you need to step up your game. : )
More to come after dinner.
All the prayers are appreciated. Speaking of, those that are praying for safe travels, great job, those that have been praying for us to have a fun time, well you guys are awesome. Those of you that are praying for all tailwinds and no rain...you need to step up your game. : )
More to come after dinner.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
About to Start
Our time to roll has finally arrived...well sort of. We still have about a 90 mile drive north to the actual start of the Parkway, however our roll-out is now a matter of hours.
Yesterday I thoroughly enjoyed the ride up with Mike and Rhonda. The Keeleys are super people. Even with an extended route, which added a little bit of unplanned beautiful scenery along the way, the drive up passed by quickly. Not only was the scenery gorgeous but I also enjoyed getting to know Mike and Rhonda better as well. I am not sure if they would say the same of me though. Part of the time we chose different songs from Mike's iTunes list and sang along. If you know me, you know I love to sing, and you also know that I cannot carry a tune in a bucket. Either they were kind enough to not complain or, they are still in shock and simply unable to respond. Either way the drive was fun.
Last night we stayed in Moneta VA with some of Mike's family. Their hospitality was second-to-none. They are such a welcoming and accommodating family. (They remind me of my extended family in many ways.) A special "thank you" to my gracious hostess last night, Miss Shirley, Mike's aunt. She is such a cordial hostess for allowing me to stay with her last night. (My post is late and brief because I enjoyed spending time last night with them instead of on the computer.) Shirley, Jim, Susan, David, Mary Evelyn, Frank and the kids are all very kind and interesting people. (Good luck today David on your race.)
So, it is currently 42 degrees outside at the moment. Brrrrr. But it is dry, so I am not complaining. I do believe, however, I am going to need my heavier gear for today's ride. It is going to be cold. Yesterday on the ride in we were able to see some of the terrain we will be covering over the next two days. I will do my best to take pictures and possibly video from the GoPro (thanks Preston). But I also want to take the time to soak it all in and not be too distracted by trying to take pics. Oh yeah, and I believe I also have some riding to do in the meantime as well. : )
Your prayers for safe travel are appreciated. More to come later today.
Yesterday I thoroughly enjoyed the ride up with Mike and Rhonda. The Keeleys are super people. Even with an extended route, which added a little bit of unplanned beautiful scenery along the way, the drive up passed by quickly. Not only was the scenery gorgeous but I also enjoyed getting to know Mike and Rhonda better as well. I am not sure if they would say the same of me though. Part of the time we chose different songs from Mike's iTunes list and sang along. If you know me, you know I love to sing, and you also know that I cannot carry a tune in a bucket. Either they were kind enough to not complain or, they are still in shock and simply unable to respond. Either way the drive was fun.
Last night we stayed in Moneta VA with some of Mike's family. Their hospitality was second-to-none. They are such a welcoming and accommodating family. (They remind me of my extended family in many ways.) A special "thank you" to my gracious hostess last night, Miss Shirley, Mike's aunt. She is such a cordial hostess for allowing me to stay with her last night. (My post is late and brief because I enjoyed spending time last night with them instead of on the computer.) Shirley, Jim, Susan, David, Mary Evelyn, Frank and the kids are all very kind and interesting people. (Good luck today David on your race.)
So, it is currently 42 degrees outside at the moment. Brrrrr. But it is dry, so I am not complaining. I do believe, however, I am going to need my heavier gear for today's ride. It is going to be cold. Yesterday on the ride in we were able to see some of the terrain we will be covering over the next two days. I will do my best to take pictures and possibly video from the GoPro (thanks Preston). But I also want to take the time to soak it all in and not be too distracted by trying to take pics. Oh yeah, and I believe I also have some riding to do in the meantime as well. : )
Your prayers for safe travel are appreciated. More to come later today.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Day of Departure
Finally, the day of departure is here! We drive up to VA in just a few hours. Still a little packing to do but otherwise I am READY TO GO. This past week has reminded me of how I felt when I was 7, 8, 9 years old waiting for Christmas morning the week before. It has been hard to focus on, well, much of anything else other than getting ready for and anticipating this ride.
Funny enough when I was getting my gear ready last night, trying on multiple items making sure I had everything I needed and such, I noticed something. In preparing for this ride I have actually gained a few pounds. Some of my jerseys and bibs were a little tight. I guess this past week I continued to eat the same obnoxious amount of food I have been in the previous weeks. The only problem is that I also tapered my training mileage to almost 0 this week wanting to save my legs. End result-I am gonna have to carry a few extra lbs up the first day or two of climbing. : ) An unintended consequence to say the least.
Oh well, extra climbing weight notwithstanding, I am STOKED to be driving up today. A recent check on weather forecast is yet another reason to be excited. I know, I know, weather forecasting is about as precise as correctly predicting the roll of a dice beforehand...not very good. But, if the current forecast does hold true then Mike and I could not have custom ordered any better weather for our trip. Overall highs in the upper 60s and lows in the lower 50s; slight headwind on most days but LITTLE CHANCE OF RAIN. In fact, the only day that is forecasted to have over a 15% chance of rain is Thursday, which happens to be our pre-determined rest day anyway.
So, we appreciate all your prayers this week. Please pray for safe travels, rainless days, strong TAIL winds (if I can be greedy and ask for such) and effective chamois cream. For all you non-cyclists out there, you may not fully understand exactly what this last item is, but PLEASE pray for it none-the-less. : )
I may be able to post again tonight in VA before we start rolling tomorrow. If not, pictures are soon to follow.
Funny enough when I was getting my gear ready last night, trying on multiple items making sure I had everything I needed and such, I noticed something. In preparing for this ride I have actually gained a few pounds. Some of my jerseys and bibs were a little tight. I guess this past week I continued to eat the same obnoxious amount of food I have been in the previous weeks. The only problem is that I also tapered my training mileage to almost 0 this week wanting to save my legs. End result-I am gonna have to carry a few extra lbs up the first day or two of climbing. : ) An unintended consequence to say the least.
Oh well, extra climbing weight notwithstanding, I am STOKED to be driving up today. A recent check on weather forecast is yet another reason to be excited. I know, I know, weather forecasting is about as precise as correctly predicting the roll of a dice beforehand...not very good. But, if the current forecast does hold true then Mike and I could not have custom ordered any better weather for our trip. Overall highs in the upper 60s and lows in the lower 50s; slight headwind on most days but LITTLE CHANCE OF RAIN. In fact, the only day that is forecasted to have over a 15% chance of rain is Thursday, which happens to be our pre-determined rest day anyway.
So, we appreciate all your prayers this week. Please pray for safe travels, rainless days, strong TAIL winds (if I can be greedy and ask for such) and effective chamois cream. For all you non-cyclists out there, you may not fully understand exactly what this last item is, but PLEASE pray for it none-the-less. : )
I may be able to post again tonight in VA before we start rolling tomorrow. If not, pictures are soon to follow.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
For those of you asking, here is the planned travel itinerary for the ride:
Sunday - Begin Mile Marker 0 and ride to Mile Marker 85.9
Monday - Ride to Meadows of Dan, Mile Marker 174.1
Tuesday - Ride to New River Inn Glendale Springs, Mile Marker 259
Wednesday - Ride to Little Switzerland, Mile Marker 331
Thursday - Rest
Friday - Ride to Pisgah Inn, Mile Marker 408.6
Saturday - Ride to end of Parkway
Sunday - Begin Mile Marker 0 and ride to Mile Marker 85.9
Monday - Ride to Meadows of Dan, Mile Marker 174.1
Tuesday - Ride to New River Inn Glendale Springs, Mile Marker 259
Wednesday - Ride to Little Switzerland, Mile Marker 331
Thursday - Rest
Friday - Ride to Pisgah Inn, Mile Marker 408.6
Saturday - Ride to end of Parkway
What is Parkway By Bike?
I am not certain of exactly when it was Mike first mentioned to me the prospect of riding the entire Blue Ridge Parkway by bike. Maybe it was in the close of last year, maybe it was at the turn of the new year this year. Regardless of exactly when it was we first began contemplating/discussing the prospect of traversing the entire parkay on our bicycles, the fact of the matter is, our trip is now a mere three days out.
In some ways, it seems as if our first initial thoughts of this trip occurred years, as in multiple years, ago. I remember thinking then, I have forever to train for, prepare for, and try to be patient for the start of this epic journey. And to some degree this trip has been a long time in the making. And yet in other ways, the time has passed all too quickly, leaving me feeling unprepared and rushed. It is almost as if this trip has somewhat snuck up on me in the middle of the night and has yelled, "Surprise, guess who!" We really begin riding in three days! I am filled with excitement and trepidation at the same time.
So, what exactly are we doing? Saturday, Mike, his wife Rhonda, and myself will be driving to Virginia, bikes in tow. Sunday morning Mike and I will then begin on the Northern-most portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway and head South. (A brief pause is required right now to give proper thanks and recognition to Rhonda who is graciously willing to drive sag/support for us for the entire week. Thank you Rhonda!)
Our plan/goal is to complete the entire Blue Ridge Parkway, all 469 miles of it, in 6 days on bicycles. During the ride both Mike and I will be providing commentary, reflection, pictures and video on this blog. I am betting we will experience a multitude of thoughts and emotions ranging from euphoria and exhilaration to questioning our own thought processes for attempting such a thing. So there is no telling what, on any given day, you might read from us of our experience. One thing though we are completely confident of is this, it is not a question of if we will have fun but rather a matter of how much.
We invite you to follow us on this blog through our journey. We also invite your prayers for safe travels and nice weather. A link to a map of the ride is: http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/map.
In some ways, it seems as if our first initial thoughts of this trip occurred years, as in multiple years, ago. I remember thinking then, I have forever to train for, prepare for, and try to be patient for the start of this epic journey. And to some degree this trip has been a long time in the making. And yet in other ways, the time has passed all too quickly, leaving me feeling unprepared and rushed. It is almost as if this trip has somewhat snuck up on me in the middle of the night and has yelled, "Surprise, guess who!" We really begin riding in three days! I am filled with excitement and trepidation at the same time.
So, what exactly are we doing? Saturday, Mike, his wife Rhonda, and myself will be driving to Virginia, bikes in tow. Sunday morning Mike and I will then begin on the Northern-most portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway and head South. (A brief pause is required right now to give proper thanks and recognition to Rhonda who is graciously willing to drive sag/support for us for the entire week. Thank you Rhonda!)
Our plan/goal is to complete the entire Blue Ridge Parkway, all 469 miles of it, in 6 days on bicycles. During the ride both Mike and I will be providing commentary, reflection, pictures and video on this blog. I am betting we will experience a multitude of thoughts and emotions ranging from euphoria and exhilaration to questioning our own thought processes for attempting such a thing. So there is no telling what, on any given day, you might read from us of our experience. One thing though we are completely confident of is this, it is not a question of if we will have fun but rather a matter of how much.
We invite you to follow us on this blog through our journey. We also invite your prayers for safe travels and nice weather. A link to a map of the ride is: http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/map.
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