This was my first solo day. I was excited about hitting the road and started out about 7:00 am. The sunrise was beautiful and I enjoyed a good breakfast at the Cavalier Inn. They even had scrambled eggs! It’s the little things…
I took a wrong turn right away down a big hill and said a couple of choice words before climbing back up and getting back on track. As I was heading out of town and going through the Interstate 64 exchange I hit a giant pothole and lost my taillight. I was thankful that my taillight was all I lost and I didn’t blow a tire, or worse.
I took the left onto 53 East and was on my way! Palmyra 18 miles…nothing to it.
I pedaled along on some shady roads and went through Monticello. It really is beautiful through there and I even passed a gorgeous vineyard. The hills weren’t too bad at all and things were moving pretty smooth. I eventually got to a little store and, while they didn’t have any ice, they were nice enough to let me fill by bottles up with some cold water. I talked to some old men outside who asked about my trip and then I was off again. I had no idea what was ahead…
The heat was intense. Even going downhill and getting a little wind felt more like a hairdryer than a breeze. It was so hot it was hard to breath. 105 was the heat index. I had heard about bikers getting ‘hot feet’, but never had the pleasure. About 20 miles into the day it felt like my toes and half of my feet were on fire. I had had never felt anything like that before. As I kept riding the roads became more and more rural. No more lines on the road, only the occasional house, and there was just one hill after another, after another. I continued checking the map thinking that I must surely come across a store or something soon. The further I went, the more worried I became. I was hungry and not making good time at all in the heat. I did not prepare for a day of biking without the opportunity of food or water. That was my mistake. I kept going and going. I started to feel a little panicked. Then I started to feel a LOT panicked. I was worried that I was going to pass out from the heat and no food. It had already been 6 hours since I had eaten and that’s a long time when you are on a bike.
It was 1:00 or so when I flagged down a car. I was hot, and tired and afraid. I asked the woman how close it was to Mineral. She said, “Oh honey…it’s every bit of 30 miles.” I was devastated. She asked if she could bring me something and I said I would be fine. She asked if I was sure because she would be happy to and I finally agreed. Determined is a great quality…stubborn, not so much. She brought me back water, a can of peaches, a mason jar of ice, and a loaf of homemade banana bread. It was the best banana bread I had ever eaten. She was so very kind. I will forever be grateful for her. Kitty was her name. After eating, I was able to get back on the bike and begin to face the next 30 miles.
The heat does funny things to you after you spend that much time in it. I was in my 9th hour on the bike and in the heat and I just didn’t know if I could make it. I wanted so bad to quit and just lay down in the shade, but I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep going if I did. I began doubting whether I was even going the right way. Thankfully right before I began to completely panic there was a sign showing me I was headed the right direction. Finally, after 10 hours on the road, I came to a convenience store. I was sunburned, exhausted, beaten, and absolutely done. Everything on me hurt. I called my friend Meredith and between her, Stacy & Steve, they were able to book a room for me at the Lighthouse Inn at Lake Anna. That was the good news, the bad news was it was 11 miles away. My mom called and when I called her back I was crying and said, “I’m calling you back because I know you are worried, but talking to me isn’t going to alleviate your fears.” I told her about the day and where I was and that I would call her soon. The heat had completely wiped me out. After I ate a few chicken fingers I got back on the bike and headed to the Inn. I thought to myself, I can’t make it. I just can’t do it. And then I thought…I can’t go 12 miles, but I can go 1.2 miles until the next turn. I would make the turn and think, I can go the 1.2 miles to the next turn. I kept breaking it down until I got there. I actually passed it by almost a mile, but I have never been so relieved to find a place in my whole life.
I spent 11 and a half hours on the bike and traveled 72.33 miles. My fingers and toes were starting to feel numb. I took a cold shower and went through the normal routine of packing up the bike and getting ready for the next day. I talked to several of my friends a family and was feeling tons better by the time I went to bed.
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