Distance traveled: 74.15 miles
Total distance: 351.49 miles
Average speed: 8.7 miles/hr
Time on bike: 8hrs and 29mins
We expected thundershowers all day today but instead got a little bit of drizzle in the morning and a hot afternoon. We had a frustrating morning but it overall turned into a productive day!
We set out from Christiansburg and headed to the next town, Radford, in search of a bike shop to get a chain link. No offence to anyone who chooses to live there, but Radford was a bust. The bike shop that we had called the night before (and talked to someone) was apparently closed and out of business for some time. Instead we went searching for a diner someone had recommended... it was also closed! Being two hungry bikers, we couldn't understand the idea of a diner that closes! We spent a good hour and a half just riding around Radford in search of bike shops and diners and were disappointed when we had no results!
No matter! We cycled on!
In fact, we cycled on so much that we hit 74 miles today! it's important to note that at around 60 miles we were hot, exhausted, and in need of some quick sugar! We found a fruit stand on the side of the road and I thought I was going to cry! We bought fresh peaches, apples, and honey sticks! (In hindsight I apologize that so many of these entries are about food, but I just want to emphasize how hungry we get!)
We were excited to meet a few other cyclist today! We passed two women who were also cycling cross country (East to West) to raise money for charity! We expected to catch up with them soon after reading the log books. (At each place we stop, whether it be a fire house or a grocery store, they have a log book of cyclist or hikers that pass through) We stopped and chatted with them for a long time and ended up stopping at a picnic table to snack on lunch together!
A little later in the day we met a man (probably 60ish) who was cycling cross country (West to East) and had been on the road for 8 weeks already! He was from England and this was his third time cycling across the United States! He had also done tours of Europe and the Middle East but he said that this tour was definitely his favorite so far because of the pretty landscape.
We found a great campsite at Rural Retreat Lake, made dinner (hamburgers for Joe, and fish for Mary, complete with cheese, tomato, and potato salad!), took the coldest shower ever (no hot water), and proceeded to pass out sleeping!
Mary and Joe
PS Mom, I'm still alive.
Total distance: 351.49 miles
Average speed: 8.7 miles/hr
Time on bike: 8hrs and 29mins
We expected thundershowers all day today but instead got a little bit of drizzle in the morning and a hot afternoon. We had a frustrating morning but it overall turned into a productive day!
We set out from Christiansburg and headed to the next town, Radford, in search of a bike shop to get a chain link. No offence to anyone who chooses to live there, but Radford was a bust. The bike shop that we had called the night before (and talked to someone) was apparently closed and out of business for some time. Instead we went searching for a diner someone had recommended... it was also closed! Being two hungry bikers, we couldn't understand the idea of a diner that closes! We spent a good hour and a half just riding around Radford in search of bike shops and diners and were disappointed when we had no results!
No matter! We cycled on!
In fact, we cycled on so much that we hit 74 miles today! it's important to note that at around 60 miles we were hot, exhausted, and in need of some quick sugar! We found a fruit stand on the side of the road and I thought I was going to cry! We bought fresh peaches, apples, and honey sticks! (In hindsight I apologize that so many of these entries are about food, but I just want to emphasize how hungry we get!)
We were excited to meet a few other cyclist today! We passed two women who were also cycling cross country (East to West) to raise money for charity! We expected to catch up with them soon after reading the log books. (At each place we stop, whether it be a fire house or a grocery store, they have a log book of cyclist or hikers that pass through) We stopped and chatted with them for a long time and ended up stopping at a picnic table to snack on lunch together!
A little later in the day we met a man (probably 60ish) who was cycling cross country (West to East) and had been on the road for 8 weeks already! He was from England and this was his third time cycling across the United States! He had also done tours of Europe and the Middle East but he said that this tour was definitely his favorite so far because of the pretty landscape.
We found a great campsite at Rural Retreat Lake, made dinner (hamburgers for Joe, and fish for Mary, complete with cheese, tomato, and potato salad!), took the coldest shower ever (no hot water), and proceeded to pass out sleeping!
Mary and Joe
PS Mom, I'm still alive.