BIKE VIRGINIA
June 20-25, 2003

On June 20, 2003 Anne and I drove to Winchester, Virginia to register for the Bike Virginia 2003. This five day ride covered 238 miles in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland with stops in Winchester VA, Martinsburg WV and Shepherdstown WV. There were over 1700 cyclists from many states and countries. The first two days were windy, cool and rain although we never rode in the rain. The last three days were clear and each day getting hotter especially the last day. Virginia is a very pretty state and the riding was scenic. The ride was well organized so everything went well. Police support in all three states was outstanding.

June 20, 2003 Friday Drive to Winchester, VA

Anne and I left at 2:00 to drive south on US-29 to west on MD-32 to west on I-70 to south on US-340 to west on VA-7 to Winchester, VA. We arrived at 4:00 and picked up our registration material. I unloaded the car and set up my tent with our bikes and gear inside then parked my car in the stadium lot. We met Carol and Barry Nelson, Kathleen and Lew Frain and Bob Moore. We took a shuttle bus to the Glen Burnie Estate for supper of salmon, spaghetti, gnocchi, squash, salad, ice tea and ice cream. Met Bob and Marie Hertzler who I met riding across the country in 1996. We would talk often during the next 5 days. It was raining and cold so we rode with the Nelsons 38 miles to Fort Valley and Barry's brother's house where we stayed for the night with the Frains.

June 21, 2003 Saturday Bike Around Winchester, VA

We got up about 5:30 and drove back to Shenandoah University in Winchester. Went to breakfast in the school cafeteria which was a buffet with everything. We were finally all ready to go and biked out of tent city at 8:18. We cycled south and west out of Winchester through the pretty lush green Virginia countryside with it's neat homes. We separated quickly with Barry and I riding together, then the Frains and then Carol and Anne. We passed through Opequon, Fawcett Gap and Marlboro on our way to the first rest stop at 17.6 miles in Middletown. Each rest stop is unique but they all had water, sport drink, fruit, sweets, salty snacks and bread with peanut butter and jelly and/or bagels with cream cheese. We crossed US-11 and I-81 headed east before passing through Ridings Mill, Bunker Hill and the Refuge Church rest stop at 24.1 miles. Then it was on through Nineveh, Ashby, Stone Bridge, Sugar Hill and White Post before turning right for the long ride back into the lunch break at the Long Branch Estate at 38.1 miles. On the way in I thought I saw John Boyle and a few riders late Jim Kellett. John and Jim had biked across the US with me in 1996. We didn't have lunch tickets so we turned around and headed back out again. We stopped at Millwood a working corn grist mill with wooden gears driven by water. We were able to sample some cornbread with honey. I ran into John Boyle and it was good to get reacquinted since we biked across the US in 1996, Florida to Canada in 1998 and New Zealand in 1999. Now headed north and a little west we passed through Boyce, Greenwood Heights and Frederick Heights completing our loop back to Shenandoah University in Winchester at 12:51. It was threatening, blustery and a cool 58^o all day but we had no rain. We rode a hilly 53 mile circuit averaging 14.2 miles per hour (mph) reaching a maximum 38.5 mph in 3:46:35 hours climbing 3225' and descending 3224'.

Barry and I walked off campus to Pargos for ice tea, barbecue pork sandwich, French fries and cole slaw for $12 including tip. Back at tent city I showered in a brand new shower truck. The truck has 16 showers evenly divided between men and women. Since there are many more men than women there was a long line for the men's shower. A few ladies automatically joined the men's line momentarily the men's line before realizing they had no line.

I ran into Bob Hinkle from Illinois who I have biked with many times. I also saw Bob Moore, Bob Benhoff, Geoff Marx and Gary Kelley from the Baltimore Bike Club. Ran into Jim and daughter Kirsten McIver who I've known for years. It is like a reunion seeing people I haven't seen in years.

Bob Benhoff, the Frains, Nelson and us took a shuttle bus downtown for supper at Brewbakers. I had two pints of Old Dominion Black and Tan, Bayou chicken and shrimp pasta, Caesar salad, ice water and Anne's meal plus tip for $49.58.

Back in the tent it started raining and rained hard a few times the rest of the evening. I slept well in the cool airy tent.

June 22, 2003 Sunday Bike Winchester, VA to Martinsburg, WV

Got up a 5:40 and went to the buffet breakfast at the Shenandoah University cafeteria. The food and drink is all you want of a large variety. Packed up and took down a wet tent. Loaded the tent and gear on a truck. Our stuff has bright green identification tags.

We were all ready and biked north at 7:15. We soon separated into the three pairs as we passed through White Hall at 11.5 miles, into West Virginia at 15 miles and stopped at the Gerardstown United Methodist Church rest stop at 18.5 miles. Continuing on through Union Corner we passed the Homestead Equestrian Center rest stop at 28.2 miles entering Martinsburg winding through the city to the B&O Round House lunch stop at 35.5 miles. After a quick drink and a banana we twisted through Martinsburg for two more miles to the Martinsburg High School at 9:55. We biked 36.4 miles averaging 13.9 mph reaching a maximum speed of 31 mph climbing 2210' and descending 2422' in 2:36:56 hours.

I found our tent and luggage and set up our tent in a light rain. After everyone got in and showered we took a shuttle bus to the mall where we stopped at a Subway. I had a 6" Italian BMT sub, potato chips and a lemonade along with Anne's lunch for $10.61. Ate a huge double scoop butter pecan ice cream cone for $3.75. We took a shuttle bus back to tent city. Barry and I walked about 4 blocks to a hotel for a 24 ounce Appalachian Pale Ale for $5.

We ate supper at the school cafeteria which was catered. The food was good. went to bed early trying to catch up on lost sleep.

June 23, 2003 Monday Bike Martinsburg to Shepherdstown, WV

Got up at 5:40 and went to breakfast of French toast, sausage, egg, orange juice and milk. I packed the tent wet again and all our gear before loading it on the truck.

We biked from school about 7:45 headed southeast through Winebrenners Crossroads and Shenandoah Junction to the Ranson Independent Fire Company rest stop at 17.2 miles. Passing through Charlestown we turned right at 18.1 miles by the John Brown hanging site on the green route loop. With sunny skies and no threat of rain but relatively cool we enjoyed the rolling hills through Rippon stopping at the Kobletown United Methodist Church rest stop at 31 miles. They had loads of sweet watermelon which I thoroughly enjoyed. We rejoined the regular route at 35 miles in Mechanicstown to Bloomery. Here we turned left along the flooding Potomac River through Millville to Harpers Ferry. We walked our bikes across the railroad bridge and down the steps to the C&O Canal towpath. We biked west for half a mile on the towpath before walking across a short footbridge to the road. We had two very steep hills to climb that were fairly long passing through Pleasantville, Samples Manor and Dargan. After several more significant hills we dropped down next to the river for a pleasant level ride for a couple miles before turning sharply right and up a steep incline to MD-34. We turned left going down across the bridge into Shepherdstown and the college. We biked 57.1 miles averaging 13.6 mph reaching a maximum 35.5 mph climbing 3495' and descending 3521' in 4:11:45 hours.

The sun came out and it started getting hot. I found our luggage and set our tent in a field next to the gymnasium. I took a cool shower in the gym. I ran into Jim Kellett and had a chance to talk with him. After everyone got in and showered we took a shuttle bus downtown stopping in the Mechlenberg Inn for a pint of Bass Ale $3.75 and a pint of Liberty Ale $3.50.

Back on campus we took a shuttle bus to the dining hall for buffet supper of pasta, meatballs, milk, bratwurst, potatoes, salad and a white chocolate chip cookie. At 7:00 we paid $5 to see the sold out cycling comedian. He has been cycling continuously since 1986 and has covered over 121,000 miles making 9 TV appearances. His slides of road signs and running commentary were great.

June 24, 2003 Tuesday Bike Around Shepherdstown, WV

We slept in until about 6:30. We caught the shuttle to the dining hall for a buffet breakfast of egg, biscuit, sausage cheese, milk and orange juice.

Barry, Lew and I biked across the river bridge following the green route basically reversing the way we came in yesterday through Dargan and turning sharply left up the hill at Samples Manor. This hill turned out to be the worst hill of all with probably a 20% grade and long. When you thought you topped it we turned and started up again just as steeply and long. We turned on Porterstown Road joining the orange route and wound our way into Boonesboro and a rest stop in Shaffer Park. We wound our way back to the Antietam Battlefield and lunch at the Philadelphia Brigade stop. We continued up and down and around on the green route through the battlefield until we came out on the river road across from Shepherdstown. We continued across the bridge past the college to Bob's Pizza in downtown for a pint of Anchor Pale Ale for $4.50. Back in tent city on campus we biked 44 miles averaging 13 mph reaching a maximum of 38 mph climbing 1646' and descending 1639' in 3:22:46 hours.

A shower in the truck and we hung around in the shade talking to old friends all afternoon. Took a shuttle bus to the dining hall for supper of beef, ham, potatoes, corn, four milks, two plums, apple pie and salad. Walked up the street to a street party of several hundred people. They had a good band and beer tent plus food. Many people were dancing. I bought and drank a liter bottle of cold water as it is getting hot. Talked to Richard Sulker who has traveled extensively and done many of the same things I have done. We exchanged contact information.

June 25, 2003 Wednesday Bike Shepherdstown, WV to Winchester

We got up at 5:30 and packed up folding wet tents from the heavy dew. Biked down to the dining hall for a buffet breakfast.

We biked from the dining hall and out of town on WV-230 for about a mile turning left on Engle Molers Road to our daughters new house under construction. We continued down Engle Molers Road until we joined the route. We stopped at the Job Corps Center rest stop at 12.6 miles. It is getting hot. We crossed US-340 and VA-9 at Mechanicstown before stopping at the Kabletown United Methodist Church rest stop at 25.4 miles. We continued on through Myerstown, Wickcliffe, Birch Landing and VA-7 at Webbtown before stopping for lunch at fairgrounds in Berrysville at 37.2 miles. We biked through Normansville and Frederick Heights into Winchester and Shenandoah University at 11:30. It is hot. We biked 47.4 miles averaging 14.1 mph reaching a maximum 37 mph climbing 2807' and descending 2595' in 3:21:41 hours.

I biked to my car in the stadium parking lot and loaded the bike in the car. I drove to the luggage area retrieving our luggage and loading it in the car. After an ice cream bar and some bottled water Barry and I waited for Anne and Carol. I took Anne's bike when she arrived and loaded it in the car. We made good time coming home in about one and a half hours.