The day started extremely foggy, so I took off about 10:00 in hopes that it would burn off before I left. It was still pretty foggy, but it wasn't as cold as it had been. The roads were only a little wet and that was manageable. It's a beautiful ride out of Abindgon and I enjoyed the trip. By noon the sun was peeking through the fog and I could actually see some blue skies! AND it was beginning to warm up. I was able to ditch my 2nd coat, shoe covers and winter gloves! It was magnificent! :)
The terrain was rolling hills and really quite enjoyable! I was making excellent time and it felt so good to be on the bike! After the last two days, I was a little worried I wouldn't enjoy it again. About 15 miles outside of Kingsport, TN was the best. I was able to average about 25 mph! I was FLYING! I was able to race down the hills and then I hardly had to pedal going up the next one. I was having a blast!
About two miles from the hotel my friend rode by in her sons car and cheered me on. I've been so blessed and fortunate to have people with me at the end of both of my trips. There is something amazing about having someone there to give you that last little push. :)
One more big hill up to the hotel and I was done! It's an incredible feeling to finish a ride. Even though I didn't get to finish the whole thing (I still need to go back and do that 42 miles from Rural Retreat to Abingdon) I'm proud of the 130 miles I did. I know that there are lots of people who could have done that trip in half the time and 3 times the speed...but there are also lots of people that haven't done any of it. I'm still relatively new at this whole thing. I'm learning...and that takes time. :)
I took my friend and her husband out for dinner as a thank you for everything they have done to help me get ready for this trip and everything they did to get me there. It was an adventure and have made for some fantastic memories. I can't wait to leave in May for the trip to Fl with my dad! I'm so excited to not need winter gear for that one!
I even got to meet up with a friend I went to high school with and haven't seen in 25 years! What a wonderful trip! :)
Thanks again everyone for all that you do and have done. You really are the best and you each have a small part in making this girls dreams come true....one day...one mile...one crank of the pedal at a time. :)
Surly Long Haul Trucker
My ride to the beach! :)
Monday, April 8, 2013
TN Trip - Day 2 - 16.81 miles
I slept in a little in hopes that the day would warm up before I got started. I had checked the weather before I left and things looked good. Turns out they can get the weather wrong occasionally. :) I left at 11:00 and was feeling pretty good. I had layered up more and doubled up on my socks. I was almost warm. Remember the miles I had to climb to get to the hotel? Well, I got to start the day going downhill! That's the good stuff! :)
About the time I got to the other side of Wytheville, it had started to rain. At least I thought it was rain...turns out it was sleet. About 10 minutes after that the snow started. I texted a friend saying that it had just started to sleet and snow and she asked if I need her to come get me. I told her I was ok right then and would let her know. Had I know that it was going to get as bad as it did, I would have asked her to come right then. I was on a back road about 10 miles outside of Rural Retreat and I realized that the snow was beginning to stick so I called for backup. I STILL didn't imagine that it would be as bad as it was, and I almost didn't call. About 3 miles from Rural Retreat the roads started getting bad. A truck passed me on an old country road and as soon as he got around me he slid and almost went in a ditch. I'm glad I wasn't a few feet further along...he would have gotten me for sure.
I called my friend back to set up a meeting place and she was on her way. I only had three miles to go to get to the meeting spot, but it took forever! I kept stopping and pulling off the road every time a car came so they wouldn't have to move over. I did this because I was hopeful that the cars would just drive by instead of moving over. I know that they were trying to be helpful and safe by moving over, but they were actually only moving out of the clear tracks on the road into the slush. So every time a car, truck or school bus went by, they splashed a ton of ice, slush and snow on me. I must say that being drenched in icy water is not my favorite. :) By the time I got to the McDonald's where we met, I couldn't feel my hands or feet and it was hard to walk because my legs were so cold. I hadn't been that cold since...well...since yesterday. lol :)
My rescuer was 3 miles away and stuck in a wreck. I got some dry socks and my shoes from my bike bag and was so very happy to get them on! It was fantastic to get on dry clothes and I was thrilled when she got there and I was able to get in the heated vehicle! :)
She took me on to Abingdon where I was able to check into the hotel and get a hot meal. The worst was that once she got about 20 miles from her home her car broke down! I felt awful! I was so grateful that it didn't break down while she was in that traffic for the wreck, or while she was on that icy interstate. But after all that she had done, I hated that it happened. Anyone wishing to donate a vehicle to the cause...please see me. :)
I crashed early and was feeling hopeful that the last day of the trip was going to be great!
About the time I got to the other side of Wytheville, it had started to rain. At least I thought it was rain...turns out it was sleet. About 10 minutes after that the snow started. I texted a friend saying that it had just started to sleet and snow and she asked if I need her to come get me. I told her I was ok right then and would let her know. Had I know that it was going to get as bad as it did, I would have asked her to come right then. I was on a back road about 10 miles outside of Rural Retreat and I realized that the snow was beginning to stick so I called for backup. I STILL didn't imagine that it would be as bad as it was, and I almost didn't call. About 3 miles from Rural Retreat the roads started getting bad. A truck passed me on an old country road and as soon as he got around me he slid and almost went in a ditch. I'm glad I wasn't a few feet further along...he would have gotten me for sure.
I called my friend back to set up a meeting place and she was on her way. I only had three miles to go to get to the meeting spot, but it took forever! I kept stopping and pulling off the road every time a car came so they wouldn't have to move over. I did this because I was hopeful that the cars would just drive by instead of moving over. I know that they were trying to be helpful and safe by moving over, but they were actually only moving out of the clear tracks on the road into the slush. So every time a car, truck or school bus went by, they splashed a ton of ice, slush and snow on me. I must say that being drenched in icy water is not my favorite. :) By the time I got to the McDonald's where we met, I couldn't feel my hands or feet and it was hard to walk because my legs were so cold. I hadn't been that cold since...well...since yesterday. lol :)
My rescuer was 3 miles away and stuck in a wreck. I got some dry socks and my shoes from my bike bag and was so very happy to get them on! It was fantastic to get on dry clothes and I was thrilled when she got there and I was able to get in the heated vehicle! :)
She took me on to Abingdon where I was able to check into the hotel and get a hot meal. The worst was that once she got about 20 miles from her home her car broke down! I felt awful! I was so grateful that it didn't break down while she was in that traffic for the wreck, or while she was on that icy interstate. But after all that she had done, I hated that it happened. Anyone wishing to donate a vehicle to the cause...please see me. :)
I crashed early and was feeling hopeful that the last day of the trip was going to be great!
TN Trip - Day 1 - Salem to Wytheville - 76.2 miles
The sun was just peeking over the horizon when I started down the road. It was cold, 33 degrees, but there is something about starting out on a long trip that helps mask the weather...initially. I knew when I couldn't feel my feet at 4 miles in, it was going to be a long day. I stopped at a little country store a few miles further down the road until I could feel my toes again and headed back out.
I had put my Camelbak in the freezer on Thursday night so it would freeze. I figured it would thaw as I biked and I could just drink it as I went. Well, at the top of Christiansburg mountain (about 18 miles into the trip) I had to stop for water because it was still frozen solid! I got the water and swiped my card to pay. The woman behind the counter said something about calling the police and I was thoroughly confused! I said, "Well, I was just assaulted by Christiansburg mountain and I would like to press charges...so go ahead and call them." She gave me an odd look and said, "Enter your pin number puleeze." Oh, please! Well, that makes more sense. I thought you said something about calling the police. :)
Typically on these trips I spend a lot of time just thinking and relaxing. I feel like I have this hole in my heart shaped like a bicycle, and when I have the opportunity to take a long ride, I feel like I'm complete again. I take in all the sights, sounds and smells of the journey and there is something magical about it. This time though...it was difficult to focus on much of anything but the cold! I was grateful for the sunshine, but it didn't hold much warmth. I'm always amazed at the people I meet along the way. There really is a lot of good still out there. People often tell me that they would never take a trip like this because people are crazy and scary. Well...some people are, and I'm probably one of them. :) But I have had the best conversations with people who are truly good.
It took me 13 hours to get the 76 miles to Wytheville. I stopped so many times to warm up and take breaks from the cold. At about 15 miles from the hotel I really felt a little panicked...like I wasn't sure I could make it. I had to break it down in to increments of a mile or two to get through. Most of the last 8 miles were up hill. Not steep crazy climbing hills, but hills none the less. At about 2 miles out I crossed a bridge and considered tossing the bike over.
I had never been so happy to see a hotel in my entire life! I was only sad that my room was on the second floor and there was no elevator. I was cold...and hungry...and tired. And would you believe that the water in the Camelbak was still frozen! lol I showered, called some friends to help undo what the day had done and crashed. Thank God for my friends! You are all so incredible! After a day like this, I really wasn't sure if I could, or even wanted to go on. But with the encouragement and support that I get from you all, how could I not keep going. :)
Thank you all. Much love.
I had put my Camelbak in the freezer on Thursday night so it would freeze. I figured it would thaw as I biked and I could just drink it as I went. Well, at the top of Christiansburg mountain (about 18 miles into the trip) I had to stop for water because it was still frozen solid! I got the water and swiped my card to pay. The woman behind the counter said something about calling the police and I was thoroughly confused! I said, "Well, I was just assaulted by Christiansburg mountain and I would like to press charges...so go ahead and call them." She gave me an odd look and said, "Enter your pin number puleeze." Oh, please! Well, that makes more sense. I thought you said something about calling the police. :)
Typically on these trips I spend a lot of time just thinking and relaxing. I feel like I have this hole in my heart shaped like a bicycle, and when I have the opportunity to take a long ride, I feel like I'm complete again. I take in all the sights, sounds and smells of the journey and there is something magical about it. This time though...it was difficult to focus on much of anything but the cold! I was grateful for the sunshine, but it didn't hold much warmth. I'm always amazed at the people I meet along the way. There really is a lot of good still out there. People often tell me that they would never take a trip like this because people are crazy and scary. Well...some people are, and I'm probably one of them. :) But I have had the best conversations with people who are truly good.
It took me 13 hours to get the 76 miles to Wytheville. I stopped so many times to warm up and take breaks from the cold. At about 15 miles from the hotel I really felt a little panicked...like I wasn't sure I could make it. I had to break it down in to increments of a mile or two to get through. Most of the last 8 miles were up hill. Not steep crazy climbing hills, but hills none the less. At about 2 miles out I crossed a bridge and considered tossing the bike over.
I had never been so happy to see a hotel in my entire life! I was only sad that my room was on the second floor and there was no elevator. I was cold...and hungry...and tired. And would you believe that the water in the Camelbak was still frozen! lol I showered, called some friends to help undo what the day had done and crashed. Thank God for my friends! You are all so incredible! After a day like this, I really wasn't sure if I could, or even wanted to go on. But with the encouragement and support that I get from you all, how could I not keep going. :)
Thank you all. Much love.
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