04 Bike Virginia

June 18, 2004 Friday Drive to Bridgewater, VA and Registration

Bob Benhoff pulled in my driveway with his Subaru Forrester a few minutes before 2:00. I was waiting with my old trusty Trek 2120 carbon fiber bike, hockey bag and tent in the yard. We quickly loaded my gear and were off headed south on US-29. We took MD-32 west to I-70 west to US-340 west to VA-7 west to I-81 south. We exited just south of Harrisonburg and drove a short distance to Bridgewater, Virginia and the College located at 38^o 22.668 N by 78^o 58.042 W at 5:30.

We unloaded our gear and set up our tents in the grass next to the parking lot. We ran into Allan Segree, Don Bowie and Joe Wisniewski talking to them briefly. Bob and I walked up to register which was real easy. I ran into Pat Canale from New Jersey that I biked New Zealand, Florida to Canada and San Francisco to San Diego with him. We agreed to have a beer together but I never saw him the rest of the trip. I saw Ron Cully and Pete Flaton from the Annapolis area who I would bike with the whole week. Also talked to Barbara Garner from the Baltimore area.

We prearranged to meet and I took the shuttle bus to Harrisonburg with Don Bowie, Bob Benhoff and Joe Wisniewski. We got off at the library in downtown and across the street we spotted the recommended Dave's Taverna. We were seated upstairs and I enjoyed a Red Hook draft, potato soup, salad, green beans, potato fish and tip for $15.

After shuttling back to Bridgewater I settled down in my tent on top of my sleeping bag and sheet at 10:40 in 75^o at 1230' elevation with the barometer at 28.75".

June 19, 2004 Saturday Bike around Bridgewater

I was up at 5:42 and headed for breakfast in the college cafeteria. I had scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes, orange juice and milk.

We started off as a group including Don Bowie, Bob Benhoff, Joe Wisniewski, Ron Cully, Pete Flaton, Allan Segree and Dan McQueen at 7:08. It soon became apparent that we could not stick together so Ron, Pete, Allan and I split off and rode together the rest of the week.

We biked southwest out of Bridgewater in a clockwise loop. We had rest stops at the Spring Hill Presbyterian Church 15.3 miles into the ride and the Mount Zion Union Church 28.8 miles into the ride. All the rest stops for the first two days were understaffed and under supplied for 2100 cyclists resulting in long lines and shortages of everything. The rolling green hills of the Shenandoah Valley are very scenic and unsurpassed in beauty. They are backed up by majestic mountains in all directions. The undulating terrain is fun to ride in. There is plenty of history with civil war battlefields, caverns, museums and a rustic operating water mill.

We took a spur side trail 5 miles to Todd Lake including a 2 mile climb. On this climb Kathy Brugh from Pennsylvania came flying down in the opposite direction. Kathy rode with me in Germany last fall. I talked to two young ladies from Columbia, SC as we climbed. They had a few days for hiking in Shenandoah National Park after the ride. I advised them on trails to hike to experience the highlights of the park given their short visit.

After enjoying the cool long glide back down from Todd Lake we rejoined the main route and stopped for lunch at Sangerville Towers Ruritan 45 miles into the ride. Allan had the lunch meal plan so he ate lunch while Pete, Ron and I grazed on what they had at the adjoining rest stop.

We regrouped after lunch in 80^o and back tracked about a mile to the Natural Chimneys State Park. I remembered the park from the Virginia Fall Foliage bike ride about 6 or 7 years ago. There was a Renaissance Festival being held including a sanctioned jousting tournament. There were scores of people in period costume engaged in various activities but we headed for the jousting tournament being from Maryland and jousting being the state sport. There was a series of eliminations and it got down to a maid and a knight competing for the top prize. After several runs the Maid of Centreville prevailed.

We returned to the route into Bridgewater arriving at tent city at 1:52. We biked 62.4 miles in 4:33:09 averaging 13.7 miles per hour (mph) reaching a maximum 36.5 mph biking up and down 3120' in 5 climbs. On the road I talked to Jim Kellett from Winchester, VA who rode cross country with me in 1996. I also saw Sue Morsberger (rode in Germany last year), Dan Artley and Rose Eiker from the Baltimore area.

Bowie, Benhoff, Wisniewski and I walked to the North River Grill for two Starhill 23 oz drafts with potato chips, two pork chops, salad, baked potato and squash for $32.81. It is important to replace the salt and other electrolytes as well as fluids on a multi-day ride.

Back in tent city I spotted and old 1920s truck from the Rock Hill Creamery selling homemade ice cream. I really enjoyed a raspberry cone with two scoops for $3. It is still warm as I went to bed about 9:30 with the barometric pressure at 28.75".

June 20, 2004 Sunday Bike Bridgewater to Harrisonburg

I got up at 5:36 in 54^o. Walked to breakfast of scrambled eggs, two sausage links, grits, three pancakes, orange juice, milk and fruit salad. Packed up a wet tent from the heavy dew and lugged everything the length of the field to the luggage trucks.

At 7:04 Ron, Pete, Allan and I biked south in a counter clockwise slightly open loop. We had a brief rest stop at 11.8 miles at Hoffman Farm. At Spring Hill we again opted for the extra loop. We climbed up to Pleasant View Road above Staunton, VA for some great views of the mountains and valleys as we cycled along the ridge. We returned to the main route near Spring Hill before stopping 25.5 miles into the ride at Stewart Middle School for Gatorade and fruit.

We stopped for lunch 41.2 miles into the ride at Grand Caverns Park. We repeated yesterday's lunch procedure. We continued biking through the town of Grottoes before stopping at the Cross Keys Ruritan rest stop. We rolled through a hilly section into Harrisonburg and James Madison University located at 38^o 26.287 N by 78^o 52.164 W about 1:40. We biked 64.25 miles in 4:49:51 averaging 13.3 mph reaching a maximum 35.0 mph going up 3220' and down 3070' in 6 climbs.

We set up our tents in a square in the corner of the athletic field near a big tree. Showered in the shower truck that has 8 men's and 8 women's showers in the opposite ends of the truck with propane fired hot water on demand. I set up my chair in the shade and saw Tom Snyder the biking comedian come up and talk to some people near by. It is 2:39 at 1320' elevation with the barometric pressure at 28.65" and the temperature at 76^o. I talked to Kathy Brugh.

Cully, Flaton, Segree and I took a shuttle bus to the library. We walked around to Calhoun's on courthouse square. It is hot and humid so we savored two of Calhoun's hand crafted Scottish Smokin 16 oz drafts and homemade potato chips. Ron, Pete and Allan headed back to campus because they are on the meal plan. I stayed for another Scottish Smokin 16 oz draft, chicken quesadillas, crab legs, shrimp, steak, potatoes, broccoli and green beans for $42.02.

I took the shuttle back to campus. I ran into Gary Kelley and Tim Munn from the Baltimore Bicycle Club and many rides together including Germany last fall. Gary described preliminary plans for BBC's ride in Italy next year.

We relaxed in folding chairs by our tents chatting until almost 10:00 when we turned in.

June 21, 2004 Monday Bike Harrisonburg to New Market

Got up at 5:28. Found the cafeteria for breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit salad, orange juice and milk. Packed up slightly wet tent and loaded on the luggage truck.

Our foursome biked from tent city at 7:10. Today we are biking north but bulging to the east. The George Washington National Forest is on our right with the Massanutten Mountains. The scenery is getting progressively prettier if that is possible. Our first rest stop is at camp Horizon at 12.4 miles. The stop is improved over the last two days in terms of accessibility (shorter lines), the quantity and variety of food.

We continue on through a hilly section with a couple of tough hills. One is particularly long and increasingly steep, probably the steepest of the ride so far. We reach the Broadway Volunteer Fire Department rest stop at 25.3 miles. Again the rest stop is improved with no lines and an abundant supply of a good variety of food and drink.

Again we take the optional 18 mile loop to the west. We start off gently rising but easy biking. After a few miles we got into roller coaster hills where we were going up or down steep short hills constantly. I enjoyed them as some you could run without shifting down too much. Although fun these kind of hills can be tiring. After about 10 miles of these hills we had looped back towards town and rolled along a dirt road next to a stream for a mile or so. We then had a nice gradual descent back to the fire house and the rest stop at 44.0 miles. We saw Dick and Susan Whiteford from Annapolis riding recumbents.

The riding smoothed out some as we rode into lunch at the New Market State Historical Park on the edge of town at 54 miles. Allan enjoyed his lunch while we hung around a bit. It is hot and humid but we have a good breeze most of the time.

We head north of New Market past the Shenandoah Caverns and American Celebration on Parade (floats) Museum to Stonewall Jackson High School at 1:28. We are located at 38^o 42.320 N by 78^o 39.775 W at 921' elevation. At 2:30 the barometric pressure is at 28.95".

We biked 62.78 miles in 4:43:46 averaging 13.2 mph reaching a maximum 39.0 mph climbing 4100' descending 4330' in 7 climbs.

We set up our tents for the last time and showered. Pete, Ron, John from Canton, Ohio and I took a shuttle bus back to New

Market.We got off in front of Jalisco's Mexican restaurant so we entered. We enjoyed two Dos Equis in frosted mugs. Although Ron, Pete and John were on the meal plan they decided to stay and eat at Jalisco's. I had ice tea, salsa & chips and a seafood chimichanga which came with refried beans, salsa and sour cream for $21.13.

We returned to tent city by shuttle and then took a shuttle to the caverns about a mile up the road from tent city. They had a band and draft light beer so I opted for cold bottled water at $1.50. We walked through the Hargrove's parade float museum then shuttled back to tent city. I talked to Bob Moore and Jeff Marx from the Baltimore Bicycle Club.

When I went to the shower truck to brush my teeth I noticed the Rock Hill Creamery antique truck so I was forced to indulge in a root beer float for $3.

June 22, 2004 Tuesday Bike Around New Market

Got up at 5:42 and walked to breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, orange juice, milk and a waffle.

We four biked from tent city at 6:52 headed north on a counter clockwise loop. We biked to a covered bridge near tent city then turned around and headed north again. We passed through Mt Jackson and Edinburg before stopping at our first rest stop at Shenandoah Vineyards at 17.8 miles. Everything was greatly improved with adequate facilities with no lines and an abundant supply with great variety of food. We tasted a Shenandoah Ruby (Cabernet Sauvignon) which was very good. Pete bought a bottle. Allan Segree introduced me to Art Smokely a few months ago and I have seen him a few times since on bike rides. We kept running into Art on this ride especially today.

Here we took an alternate longer loop. It was a lot easier than yesterday. We rode through Woodstock a very nice town and I recognized the road we take up to the Big Schloss hike. We stopped for lunch at the Union Methodist Church. I had a Subway Italian cold cut sub and a Sprite included in our trail fee. We completed the extra 17.4 mile loop rejoining the regular route before stopping at the Grace United Christian Church rest stop. We rolled back to tent city at 12:28

We biked 52.58 miles in 3:54:40 averaging 13.4 mph, reaching a maximum 39.5 mph climbing 2440' and descending 2440' in 4 climbs.

I took the shuttle bus to New Market with Pete and Ron. We stopped in Jalisco's for two Negro Modelos, an ice tea and tortilla chips with salsa for $9.26. We walked to the fire house to check on dinner. The bank thermometer read 92^o. We walked back to town and stopped for a root beer float for $1.96. We talked to a bike Virginia volunteer who worked the lunch stop. He was not going to use his meal ticket so he gave it to me. Talked to an English couple with a Tour de France jersey. They were very enthusiastic about their experience encouraging us to go. We walked back to the fire station arriving at 5:00. There was virtually no line as we were served salad, kraut, turkey, stuffing, sweet potato, chocolate cake and ice tea. They were serving people one at a time so with 1200 people to serve lines were four abreast out to road when we left. I heard later that the lines actually went down the road with more people arriving on buses.

We walked to the town ball park to watch the New Market Rebels play the Winchester team. The teams are made up of college ball players that stay in volunteer host homes. We were surrounded by host families and soon were engaged in conversation. One lady had gone to Slippery Rock College where I graduated from and one of the Rebels coaches was from there. Another man had a strong English accent as we talked to several more fans. After a rocky start giving up 4 runs in the first inning the Rebel pitcher settled down to retire the same batters in order in the second inning. The Rebels got 2 runs in the first then added 3 more in the second to take a 5-4 lead after 2 innings. We had to leave taking a shuttle back to tent city.

At 9:21 the barometer was at 28.85". I was in bed by 10:00.

June 23, 2004 Wednesday Bike Bridgewater

I got up at 5:22 and packed up for the last time. Walked to breakfast for scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, fruit salad, orange juice, milk and biscuit.

It is cloudy and cool as we biked from Stonewall Jackson High School at 6:42. We are heading a little west before turning south and then a little east into Bridgewater. Because it is get away day and cool with the threat of rain we are biking at a brisk pace and stopping only briefly. We stopped at 11.6 miles at the Mt Olivet Brethren Church for some Gatorade. At 25.0 miles the Rest stop at Singers Glen Ruritan was loaded with food but we weren't that much interested in it. It started raining at about 35 miles and slowly picked up in intensity. Pete and I pulled in at the 40 mile mark for the Pence School rest stop in Dayton and watched Ron and Allan go past, as they apparently didn't see us. We turned to follow but my speedometer quit as a result of the stop in the rain.

We pulled in to the Bridgewater College at 10:28 having biked 46.0 miles in 3:09:02 averaging 14.6 mph reaching a maximum 91.5 mph climbing 2110' descending 1910' in 2 climbs. My maximum speed always goes crazy when it rains and I ride through water.

We had to wait for the baggage trucks to be unloaded. Bob retrieved his car from the long term parking, found his gear and loaded it with our bikes in the car. My bags were almost the last ones off the second truck. We changed into dry clothes and walked to the large hospitality tent in the rain. We were served a nice lunch of cole slaw, macaroni and cheese, pasta salad, barbecue pulled pork, green beans, baked beans, Sprite and cake. We said good bye to everyone and started the long drive back retracing our route back to Columbia, MD.

Cost

Bike Virginia Fee $199 $199.00

Breakfast Fee (5) $35 $35.00

Charges $136.45

Cash $14.31

Total $384.76

Statistics

Road Bike Feet Feet

Time Time Miles Avg Max Up Down Climbs From To

June 18 Friday 03:30 Columbia Bridgewater

June 19 Saturday 06:44 04:33:09 62.37 13.7 36.5 3120 3120 5 Bridgewater Bridgewater

June 20 Sunday 06:36 04:49:51 64.25 13.3 35.0 3220 3070 6 Bridgewater Harrisonburg

June 21 Monday 06:18 04:43:46 62.78 13.2 39.0 4100 4330 7 Harrisonburg New Market

June 22 Tuesday 05:36 03:54:40 52.58 13.4 39.5 2440 2440 4 New Market New Market

June 23 Wednesday 03:46 03:09:02 46.00 14.6 91.5 2110 1910 2 New Market Bridgewater

Total 29:00 21:10:28 288.0 39.5 14990 14870 24

Average 05:48 04:14:06 57.6 13.6 37.5 2998 2974 4.8

Packing List

Wear Hockey Bag Tent bag

GoreTex jacket T-shirts (5) Coleman Tent 7'x7'

T-shirt Underwear (5) Plastic sheet

Underwear Burmudas Sponge

Burmudas Socks (5) Chair

Socks Sandals Sponge

Dockers Biking shirts (5)

Biking pants (5)

Trek 2120 Bike Biking socks (5)

Water bottle Biking shoes

Rack pack Towel

Tube Shorts

Pump Sleeping bag

Cables Sleeping bag liner

Spokes Pillows & case

Spoke wrench Air mattress

Tire tools Battery razor

Allen wrenches Soap

Free wheel tool Shampoo

Patch kit Toothbrush & paste

Biking glasses & mirror Comb

Biking gloves Head lamp

Sunscreen 30 Log & pens

Cable lock Trip Info

Tail light Bible

Tire-foldup Running shoes

Super glue Socks (2)

First aid Shorts

Underwear (2)

Shirts (6)