Tag: Virginia
Today, our stupidity almost got the best of us.
After a late start, I had problems with my front derailleur and tried to fix it as a gas station. It was 10 a.m. before we got underway. We stopped for a bite at Newbern, where several log cabins appeared to be under restoration
We continued on along a road that had a beautiful sweeping vistas of wide green valleys backed by blue tinted mountain ridges (bottom photo).
This led us to the Draper Country Store, “18 and 90” it said above the door. Inside, a guy cut some longhorn cheese from a huge block he kept under glass. The old store had a pool table, a cast iron stove, some well-worn chairs, and lots of unusual items for sale…
Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2020/05/22/1984-bike-tour-day-10-dickie-boyles-where-are-you/
We bolted from the campground without breakfast, and coasted all the way down to the town of Vesuvius. This is one of the hardest climbs on the TransAmerica Route for eastbound riders; but going westbound, we weren't even warmed up.
The guidebook says 200 people live here, but we didn't see a soul. Vesuvius is bisected by the Norfolk Western RR, and it looks like both halves were the “wrong side” of town — everything was boarded up. We ended up at a truck stop on I-81 for breakfast, our bicycles dwarfed by the giant 18-wheelers.
We headed south down the scenic Shenandoah Valley, stopping for lunch at Lexington, home of Washington and Lee University and the Virginia Military Institute. (The congestion at W&L led us to believe it was graduation weekend.) …
Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2020/05/20/1984-bike-tour-day-8-natural-bridge-seems-so-unnatural/
Six days into our TransAmerica bike tour, and we're already taking our first day off. The first five days have been a shakedown cruise — the last days of training and the first of our trip. I feel that our journey begins in earnest tomorrow.
After lolling around our hostess' apartment for a while, we boxed up some clothes to send back home. I sent back an extra sweater and other clothes that only filled space and added weight to my panniers.
Why did I pack so much crap? Maybe I can cheat gravity a little a we head into the Appalachians…
Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2020/05/18/1984-bike-tour-day-6-rest-day-mailing-gear-back-homethat-years-top-40/
After another breakfast of instant coffee, Pop-tarts and juice, we followed the campground owner's directions to the TransAmerica bicycle route via the historical Washington-Rochambeau route.
Today was chilly riding. Bruce wore polypro bottoms and tops, sweats, turtleneck, wool sweater, gloves and a hat under his helmet. Yesterday's warmish 80 degree high makes the weather today seem that much cooler….
Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2020/05/15/1984-bike-tour-day-3-still-a-shakedown-cruise/
West Virginia has become the 22nd state to require motorists give bicyclists 3 feet of space or more when passing, as the bicycling safety measure continues to gain approval in legislatures across the US.
The law passed in West Virginia during the 2014 legislative session and was signed by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on March 21. …
Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2014/06/09/west-virginia-protects-bicycles-with-3-foot-passing-law-virginia-law-awaits-signature/
If you ask me, all the bicycle routes, bicycle paths or bicycle lanes are useless if they’re not on a map so people can find and follow them.
The folks at the Virginia Department of Transportation must think the same way as they’ve released an updated version of the Commonwealth of Virginia Bicycling in Virginia …
Continue reading
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/10/23/virginia-is-for-bicyclists-map-available/
A new policy in Virginia requires state parks to set aside areas for bicycle tourists so they’ll have a place to pitch their tents, even when the campgrounds are full.
This is an issue near and dear to traveling bicyclists who prefer camping but don’t relish the thought of stealth camping in a patch of woods.
It hasn’t been much of an issue for me lately, as most of my bike camping involves overnight trips. If I’m heading to Washington state parks, I can choose those that have primitive hiker/biker spots, such as the one at Joemma Beach State Park on the Key Peninsula, above left.
This one was swank by primitive standards ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/04/05/virginia-parks-guarantee-campsites-for-bike-travelers/
Recent Comments