I'm rather relieved to be in Blacksburg, Virginia tonight. It was a slog today...96 miles and apparently 8,561 feet of climbing according to my Garmin GPS. "Google Maps - Bicycle version" is hereby on probation for leading me down a gravel road (Hwy 325 at left) and underestimating by a few thousand feet the climbing total. As the day wore on with continuous climbing intermingled with rapid drops, my knees offered a crescendo for Kansas. No chance, but after 340 miles and 19,900 feet of climbing in the last three days, I could use some of Lance Armstrong's vitamins. I ended up plea bargaining with my legs for a short day tomorrow if they give me a cramp and leg spasm-free evening.
My apperception of western West Virginians as friendly in a freaky way is reflected in an interaction this morning. I'm climbing the umteenth hill, breathing hard and out jumps a man from behind a car parked along the road. He shouts "Take care biker. Dem rabid dogs up ahead gunna getcha" and then he smiled and waived as I passed. Gee thanks. I won't say anything more except to mention there were large swaths of human habitation in western West Virginia that lacked a dollar store. Enough said.
I'll miss the West Virginia roads for they had shoulders....thank you Senator Robert "pork barrel" Byrd. Virginia lacks that so far and made today a bit stressful. Crossing into the state, there was no "Welcome to Virginia" sign that I saw to get a picture of. I guess you're just supposed to be thankful you've arrived. I'm at a Holiday Inn that has shampoo in the bathroom (it's a concept with some merit, West Virginia) adjacent to the Virginia Tech campus. Lively night scene, even for a Monday, and I opted for the buy one-get one free burger at Sharkey's on North Main. Not to be a pig, I had the second burger to go and we'll see if it lasts until morning.
About 300 miles to go and 7,000 feet of climbing to Yorktown on the Atlantic coast.
My apperception of western West Virginians as friendly in a freaky way is reflected in an interaction this morning. I'm climbing the umteenth hill, breathing hard and out jumps a man from behind a car parked along the road. He shouts "Take care biker. Dem rabid dogs up ahead gunna getcha" and then he smiled and waived as I passed. Gee thanks. I won't say anything more except to mention there were large swaths of human habitation in western West Virginia that lacked a dollar store. Enough said.
I'll miss the West Virginia roads for they had shoulders....thank you Senator Robert "pork barrel" Byrd. Virginia lacks that so far and made today a bit stressful. Crossing into the state, there was no "Welcome to Virginia" sign that I saw to get a picture of. I guess you're just supposed to be thankful you've arrived. I'm at a Holiday Inn that has shampoo in the bathroom (it's a concept with some merit, West Virginia) adjacent to the Virginia Tech campus. Lively night scene, even for a Monday, and I opted for the buy one-get one free burger at Sharkey's on North Main. Not to be a pig, I had the second burger to go and we'll see if it lasts until morning.
About 300 miles to go and 7,000 feet of climbing to Yorktown on the Atlantic coast.
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