Roanoke to Louisa, Virginia
Things just seem to work themselves out on this trip, and while we were staying nice and warm with Peer and Jen in Roanoke (we contacted them through couchsurfing.net), we got word that my dad was headed home from DC where he had been visiting my big sister and her family and would be able to visit us on his way back! So he flew to Lynchburg, Virginia and met us in Roanoke. We spent the day exploring the town with him in the classy '91 Oldsmobile (is that right, Dad?) that was the airport courtesy car. We ate amazing Indian food, the first since Missoula, and went to the Old Crow Medicine Show concert that night. It was really different to hear Old Crow in their part of the country; their first song brought cheers from the audience everytime they sang something about being from "Dixie," and during Wagon Wheel the crowd went crazy as Roanoke was mentioned. Dad dropped us off at Jen and Peer's house and then met us the next morning there again to sag our bags all the way to Lexington!
The ride to Lexington was beautiful - the leaves were changing colors and the miles flew by on our unloaded bicycles. If there was ever any doubt that we are stronger riders now, our average speed for the day erased it. Dad met us in Lexington and we looked around town a little and ate far too much for dinner. Dad left early the next morning and Liz and I spent the morning finding our Halloween costumes at the Goodwill. We biked to a bike hostel outside of town and worked on our costumes, getting plenty of rest before our huge climb up to the Blue Ridge Parkway the next day.
Halloween dawned clear and warm, and Liz as Dorothy (complete with a long wig in pigtails, blue and white dress, Toto, and ruby red slippers) and I as the Wicked Witch of the West (black dress and cape with "Wicked Witch" written on the back, blue and white striped tights, and witch's hat attached to my helmet) were ready to ride. We had an easy ride to Vesuvius, at the base of the Blue Ridge, and spent some time at the gas station/cafe there before starting the four mile climb to the top. Adventure Cycling had warned us that the climb was long and steep, and it was. Strangely, it felt like an almost welcome climb after all the short ones we had done, but the grade was far steeper than any out west, so we never could quite get into climbing mode. We were quite proud when we made it to the Parkway, and stopped for a snack at an overlook before continuing.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is not flat. Contrary to what we had heard, we spent the whole day in rolling hills, and climbed several thousand more feet before descending into Waynesboro, where we stayed at the Church of the Brethren. But the Parkway was beautiful, and riding it in costume was a blast.
From Waynesboro we climbed back up to the Parkway, and met back up with the route in time to go to the Cookie Lady's house. She has been hosting cyclists since 1976, and the house next to hers was full of TransAm memorabilia that folks have left or sent over the years; in many ways the official TransAm museum. It was great to get to visit her and see the house. We left my Wicked Witch cape with a note as our contribution to the house (I hope to post photos soon.)
The ride to Charlottesville from there was rolling hills, but thankfully mostly smaller roads, and we met two cyclists along the way! One was just out for a day ride, and the other, "Bear Bag," as he is known on the Appalachian Trail, was heading west on the TransAm route for a few days, having already ridden from the West Coast to Yellowstone and from Yorktown to where we met him. It was great to see other cyclists again!
In Charlottesville, we caught a ride to Little Flower Catholic Worker, where I lived a few summers ago, so that we could go to their Day of the Dead fundraiser that night. Little Flower is a small farming community outside of Louisa, Virginia, and we spent two days there catching up with old friends, relaxing, and warming up by the wood stove! We also visited Twin Oaks, an intentional community nearby, and got the official tour of the place. It was good to see familiar faces again.
And now... We left Little Flower this morning, and are headed for somewhere outside Ashland, Virginia tonight. It's very strange to be less than 200 miles from the Atlantic Ocean; with the end in sight, I keep wanting to prolong the journey. It's beautiful and brisk today, and good weather is predicted for the next several days, but we plan on taking our time and visiting historic sights along the way. We don't have an exact arrival date for Yorktown, but we can almost smell the ocean now. How is it possible we've come this far???
The ride to Lexington was beautiful - the leaves were changing colors and the miles flew by on our unloaded bicycles. If there was ever any doubt that we are stronger riders now, our average speed for the day erased it. Dad met us in Lexington and we looked around town a little and ate far too much for dinner. Dad left early the next morning and Liz and I spent the morning finding our Halloween costumes at the Goodwill. We biked to a bike hostel outside of town and worked on our costumes, getting plenty of rest before our huge climb up to the Blue Ridge Parkway the next day.
Halloween dawned clear and warm, and Liz as Dorothy (complete with a long wig in pigtails, blue and white dress, Toto, and ruby red slippers) and I as the Wicked Witch of the West (black dress and cape with "Wicked Witch" written on the back, blue and white striped tights, and witch's hat attached to my helmet) were ready to ride. We had an easy ride to Vesuvius, at the base of the Blue Ridge, and spent some time at the gas station/cafe there before starting the four mile climb to the top. Adventure Cycling had warned us that the climb was long and steep, and it was. Strangely, it felt like an almost welcome climb after all the short ones we had done, but the grade was far steeper than any out west, so we never could quite get into climbing mode. We were quite proud when we made it to the Parkway, and stopped for a snack at an overlook before continuing.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is not flat. Contrary to what we had heard, we spent the whole day in rolling hills, and climbed several thousand more feet before descending into Waynesboro, where we stayed at the Church of the Brethren. But the Parkway was beautiful, and riding it in costume was a blast.
From Waynesboro we climbed back up to the Parkway, and met back up with the route in time to go to the Cookie Lady's house. She has been hosting cyclists since 1976, and the house next to hers was full of TransAm memorabilia that folks have left or sent over the years; in many ways the official TransAm museum. It was great to get to visit her and see the house. We left my Wicked Witch cape with a note as our contribution to the house (I hope to post photos soon.)
The ride to Charlottesville from there was rolling hills, but thankfully mostly smaller roads, and we met two cyclists along the way! One was just out for a day ride, and the other, "Bear Bag," as he is known on the Appalachian Trail, was heading west on the TransAm route for a few days, having already ridden from the West Coast to Yellowstone and from Yorktown to where we met him. It was great to see other cyclists again!
In Charlottesville, we caught a ride to Little Flower Catholic Worker, where I lived a few summers ago, so that we could go to their Day of the Dead fundraiser that night. Little Flower is a small farming community outside of Louisa, Virginia, and we spent two days there catching up with old friends, relaxing, and warming up by the wood stove! We also visited Twin Oaks, an intentional community nearby, and got the official tour of the place. It was good to see familiar faces again.
And now... We left Little Flower this morning, and are headed for somewhere outside Ashland, Virginia tonight. It's very strange to be less than 200 miles from the Atlantic Ocean; with the end in sight, I keep wanting to prolong the journey. It's beautiful and brisk today, and good weather is predicted for the next several days, but we plan on taking our time and visiting historic sights along the way. We don't have an exact arrival date for Yorktown, but we can almost smell the ocean now. How is it possible we've come this far???
posted by Heidi & Liz at 11:44 AM
2 Comments:
hugs and hugs to you both - thanks for sharing the images of Dixie music and the Carter family and Appalachian views and strength bought hard but enjoyed... warm smiles thinking of you being back in the Little Flower community. And had to smile about your magic carpet ride, since Erin spent July being the puppeteer for the carpet (this one not so magical) in local production of Aladdin - she would have loved to sing you along about "showing you a whole new world, riding here with you..." We're prepping for SOA Watch, wondering if there's any chance you'll be on your way back and stopping there in a couple weeks?
Deb, Erin, Wes etc.
Heidi & Liz,
I'm going to miss your blog entries when your trip is over. It is like a novel that you can't wait to get back to! So I hope a book will follow.
Your perseverance is an admirable quality. Thanks for undertaking this great adventure and taking us on the ride! Ruth (Mom)
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