Skyline Drive and the Deserted Campground. 8/20/2012

Woke up to no rain! Ate breakfast at the Big Meadows Lodge. Cheap breakfast with wonderful coffee. Headed out at 9:00 a.m. Leisurely is our style.

Drove to Harpers Ferry. John was surprised at the sites-- great natural beauty, historic town, John Brown information, and ice cream. There was also the John Brown wax museum. John talked me out of paying the seven dollar entrance fee... but I already regret the decision. John Brown AND a wax museum- TOGETHER!! I shall return.

We were on the bridge that crosses the Potomac when a train passed within three feet. Fun and scary.

We have been riding fewer miles than planned due to the rain. Tonight we stopped right as it began to pour rain. The Indian Rock Campground near York. The place seemed deserted. Gunshots heard nearby. Big flocks of black birds circling overhead. We sat under an awning for two hours, waiting for the rain to let up.

"Pennsylvania-- Philadelphia at one end, Pittsburg at the other, and Alabama in between."

Rainy day on the Parkway. 8/19/2012

Woke to rain. Debated to stay or venture out. Headed out in cold rain. Discovered my rain pants are not really rain pants.

After a couple of hours, headed off the Parkway to look for breakfast. Ended up in Buena Vista. Nothing but fast food open on this Sunday morning. Ate at Hardees. Do you know you can buy a double cheeseburger, chili dog, fries, apple pie, and soda for $5? Those have to be the cheapest 2000 calories ever.

Once the fog lifted, it was a beautiful ride along Skyline Drive. Amazing views made more dramatic by the clouds. But riding in the rain is difficult, riding while cold is even more difficult so we called it quits 50 miles early. Pulled into the Big Meadows Campground.

Hot showers and a dryer for our clothes-- so wonderful, hard to describe. Hung out in the warm lodge, drank some cocoa, and played with our electronic toys.

Beginning of a motorcycle ramble 8/18/2012

Dropped Emma of at university to begin her freshman year. Sad to leave her but excited about the next five months. John and I are on sabbatical. Our house has been rented and we are on the road. Two and a half weeks in campgrounds between North Carolina and Quebec plus four months in France.

Leaving Chapel Hill, it didn't take long to leave behind the urban and enter beautiful Virginia. After riding for 4 hours we camped at Peaks of Otter, along the Blue Ridge Parkway. We got in at dark, made Mac and cheese, and drank cocoa. No showers in campground-- fine with me. Freed from the tyranny of hygiene.

Three Cities bike tour, May 12-19, 2012

Our annual bike tour, hosted by Paul Gordy. This year we rode from Lancaster, Pa. to Washington, D.C. to Baltimore to Philadelphia and back to Lancaster. 512 mile in eight days.

We ride with this group every year and have a great time. We talk about cycling and food-- never about work or politics. For me, the trip is all about freeing my mind and challenging my endurance.

This was actually an easy tour compared to the other annual rides. Every other year, the tour is on the Blue Ridge Parkway-- a grueling yet rewarding ride.

Great mix of highway, bike paths, back roads, and urban riding. Highlights included professional baseball games in all three cities, eating at Chick and Ruth's in Annapolis, a rainy day of riding/sightseeing in D.C., hospitality at Darryl and Sandy's house, Gettysburg, riding the train into Philadelphia, and Valley Forge.



 

Paul Gordy, friend and trip organizer

News article about Paul Gordy, organizer of May bike tour.

300K Morrisville to Seagrove, NC

The Boone Town Rats headed to Morrisville in Eli's VW bus, eating much food along the way. Woke up to clear skies and Waffle House. My brake cable came disconnected three miles into ride, told John I was heading back to hotel but in true randonneur
spirit, I was able to fix and continue. John was surprised to see me pull up to control 50 miles into ride.

My brakes were one of several technical challenges faced by Boonies, including slow leaks ands Eli's losing all the bolts from his chainring-- John P. came through with an extra bolt, allowing Eli to finish.

Thoughts-- I do not like riding in the dark, almost hit a opossum, ate way too much but just enough, if someone gives you a free honeybun you don't have to eat it, there are worse things than a rainstorm in the last ten minutes of a 17 and a half hour ride, and I feel fortunate that John P. introduced me to the wonderful world of randonneuring.

1st Brevet of the Season

We completed our 1st Brevet of the season, a 200 km ride from Morrisville to Siler City and back to Morrisville. It was a great ride over rolling hills.

John finished in under ten hours and Beth finished in 10 hours, 45 minutes. Other Boone Town Rats in photo are John P. (our Randonneur mentor) and Eli P. Much eating by all and only minimal discomfort towards end of ride.

Builds confidence for 300K attempt on April 21st.