August 15, 2008, Finish Plus One Week

The ride is done but the garage is not cleaned up yet. That's my next project! Following posts are additional images from most recently finishing in Yorktown, back to final days in Missouri. Also, here are a few factoids from the trip. I may add a few more as I think of them or calculate them. I pedalled for 395 hours during 72 days of actual biking, for 4,452 miles. (Remember, I had three days off the bike.) That comes to 1.896 million pedal strokes and an average speed of 11.27 MPH. I need to count up number of pancakes eaten and report on a later post. I thouroughly enjoyed the ride, the wonderful and memorable experiences, and especially the many people I met along the way. I am very appreciative of the love, support, and prayers of family members, (especially my wife, Kathy), friends, and St. John Neumann Church "family." I am amazed at the amount of interest the trip generated. I wish the best to fellow cyclists I met and urge on those still working their way across the country, especially you, Lucas! You can do it!

That's it!

Tom

Celebratory Seafood Dinner with Kathy after the Finish - 4,452 Miles!!

Dipping the Front Wheel on the East Coast

Tom Did It!!

Done at Yorktown Victory Monument - John, Mark, Blair, Asta, and Tom

The Bridges at Williamsburg - Almost Done!

The View from Blue Ridge Parkway after Conquering Vesuvius

Vesuvius - Base of the Big Climb

Sunrise Near Buchanan, Virginia

Son Michael Surprised Me in Wytheville, VA

"76" Sign from Original Bike Centenial Route of 1976 - Damascus, VA

Hostel "The Place" in Damascus, Virginia

David Smith at Historical Society Bed & Breakfast

Thanks for the great meals and the challenging hill

Kenny at Berea Days Inn Was a Great Host and Help

Kathy Visited in Kentucky for Day & a Half

Visiting Lincoln's Birthplace

The Round, Stone Silo House

"Non-Denominational" Gas & General Store

Gary Hinklin Coming Into Town - Kentucky

He Ain't from Texas - Big Horn Cow - Illinois

Popeye at Chester Crossing

108 F on Bike Computer in Missouri. Saw Up to 111 Degrees.

Miller Time

Entering Perry County, MO . . . . and Hills

Missouri Flowers Were Abundant & Beautiful

Cobles Corner

Day 75 - 70 Miles to Yorktown - DONE!!!

Friday, 8/08/08 - 70 miles to Yorktown, 4,452 total miles. Rode in to town at 2:15 with 4 cycling friends and a tailwind. Kathy, Kathy Filopowicz, her daughter Sheila and friend Scott were at the Yorktown Victory Monument to greet us and cheer us in. A crowd gathered, took pictures, offered congratulations, and the local trolley rang its bell and yelled out, "welcome to Yorktown." We went to the Yorktown pub for a late lunch and celebration. It was a perfect day and way to finish. Thanks to my wife Kathy for her love and support that made the trip possible. It was a wonderful and magnificent trip full of people, places, and events and memories to last a lifetime. Thanks to all for prayers and support. More thoughts about the trip and pictures to follow.

Day 74 - 35 Miles to Sandston, VA

Thursday, Aug. 7 - 35 miles to Sandston (near the Richmond Airport), 4,382 total miles. Left Asland at 9:30. Stopped at Atlee Library for 30 minutes, then ate a deli lunch (ham & cheese sandwich w/lettuce and tomato). Went 29 miles on Trans-America route and then about 6 miles more to the Holiday Inn Express. No wildlife. Showered, took a short nap, loafed, and read a book waiting for my honey. Ate a shrimp salad for dinner and apple crisp ala mode. I'm ready to wrap this ride up tomorrow.

One more day til Yorktown!!!

Day 73 - 98 Miles to Ashland - A Gentler Near Century

Wednesday, Aug. 6 - 98 miles to Ashland, 4,347 total miles. Breakfast was 2/3's box of fiber and dried fruit cereal (not an individual serving box but a regular size box), 2 blueberry muffins, a danish, orange juice, and coffee. Loafed this morning and left leisurely at 8:00. I left Charlottesville in heavy traffic, it was tiring and stressful on the narrow winding roads. Went past Jefferson's Monticello home and James Monroe's home. Lunch was eaten at the side of the road - peanut butter on a bagel, fig newtons, chocolates, and an apple. I arrived in Mineral at 2:00 craving ice cream and what do I see but an ice cream shop right there. Had a chocolate milkshake. I felt good. While chatting with the clerk about my heading on to Ashland, she said, "I don't like to drive that far," as I'm getting ready to bike there. My snacks today included 3 apples, 2 bananas, a peach, and lemonade. Not much wildlife, just ground hogs and humming birds flying in front of me. The afternoon's ride was "gently" rolling hills and light traffic. About 2 miles from Ashland, there was one climb where I had to stand up on the pedals. One contrast to note, while the West has no shade and low humidity, the East has shade and humidity. I checked into a Days Inn and ate a salmon and shrimp dinner with rice and broccoli at Ruby Tuesday's.

2 more days til Yorktown! Tuesday and today's near century mileage mean I'll finish on Friday! And Kathy arrives tomorrow night!

Day 72 - 98 Miles to Charlottesville, VA - Vesuvius "Conquered" in a Tough Near Century

Tuesday, Aug. 5 - 98 miles to Charlottesville (pop. 40,437), 4,250 total miles. I had no options for breakfast so ended up eating 3 pieces of junk food. After my unhealthy breakfast, I stopped in an organic food store in Lexington (Virginia), bought cantaloupe which I immediately ate and stocked up on fruit, cereal, soy milk, energy bars, and energy drinks. My plan was to cycle 44 miles to Vesuvius, rest up my legs and hit it when I was fresh tomorrow morning. Not to be confused with Mt. Vesuvius, the volcano in Italy, Vesuvius is located at the base of South Mountain along one of the main access points to the Blue Ridge Parkway. I reached Vesuvius at 11:35 with the temp in the mid 70s. Had a comfortable ride over there and said to myself, "I think I can take this baby right now." You know the saying, "strike while the iron's hot," well, this time, "strike while the iron's cool." It was a steep 4 miles, maybe a 10-15% grade. Lunch was very healthy - peanut butter on a bagel, 2 bananas, 3 apples, 2 plums, and soy milk. I saw a couple of deer, squirrels, groundhogs, and rabbits. Even though I was off the Blue Ridge Parkway, I wasn't done with the hills as it was more up and down the rest of the way to Charlottesville. My motel is near the University of Virginia campus; Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's mountain top home is also located in this city. Dinner tonight was Italian cannoli stuffed with pork and beef and smothered in cheese, salad, and bread.

4 more days til Yorktown!

Day 71 - 65 Miles to Buchanan, VA

Monday, Aug. 4 - 65 miles to Buchanan, 4,156 total miles. Breakfast was oatmeal, cold cereal, juice, a jelly roll, and coffee. There was all that hype about today being the hottest day when it actually was my coldest morning since leaving the Rockies. I put on my fleece top for 2 hours as it was in the 50s. Today was gentle, rolling hills, very pleasant riding. It was beautiful. Saw a dozen wild turkeys, heard both a buck snorting and another deer crashing thru the woods. Lunched on a tuna salad sandwich, cookies, and pepsi. My afternoon snack was at a country store where I ate a fresh bowl of banana pudding, a banana, and chocolate milk. Got a room at the inn tonite and plan on eating at the restaurant down the hill.

5 more days on the road to Yorktown!

Day 70 - 56 Miles to Christiansburg, VA

Sunday, Aug. 3 - 56 miles to Christiansburg (pop. 17,853), 4,088 total miles. I had a really good time with Michael, enjoyed it immensely, and the visit sure picked up my morale as I began my last week on the trail. Breakfast was at Bob Evans where I was treated (thank you, Michael!) to oatmeal, fresh fruit (delicious), orange juice, and good, strong coffee. We cycled 10 miles together and took pictures before Michael turned back towards his car and I continued on my journey. It was an A+ riding day as the temperature was in the 80s and low humidity. (Tomorrow, I've been told, is supposed to be the hottest day of the year.) Had one climb that wasn't too long. Not seeing much wildlife these days, just some groundhogs. I saw 2 more Westbounders but no cyclists going East. Lunch was eaten near the New River in Radford. Had peanut butter on a cinnamon bagel, fig newtons, dark chocolate, and an apple. Checked into a room at the Econo Lodge and dined at Ruby Tuesday - New Orleans tilapia with shrimp, broccoli, and rice.

A bit of trivia to ponder. I estimated my time biking thru today at 356 hours and about 80 strokes per minute which equals 1,708,800 pedal strokes!

Just 6 more days til I reach Yorktown!

Day 69 - 57 Miles to Wytheville, VA

Saturday, Aug. 2 - 57 miles to Wytheville (pop. 7,804), 4,032 total miles. Left the hostel early stopping at Cowboys at the gas station to eat. A man sat down at my table, turned out he was the owner. Had my standard fare - 3 blueberry pancakes, a bunch of bacon, and coffee. Encountered one mountain out of Damascus, some long grades and minor passes, none of which were particularly bad. It was tranquil, beautiful, and no traffic. Saw one deer. Snacked on a peanut butter bagel and pepsi. My route took me thru Troutdale, Sugar Grove (which has a store), and Rural Retreat before reaching my destination, Wytheville (pronounced WITH-vill). Had a tailwind the last 10 miles. Wytheville is located at the junction of I.77 and I. 81 and is known as the crossroads of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A severe storm began just as I checked into the Travel Lite Motel.

After showering, I received a call from my son, Michael, who moved back to Knoxville several weeks after I began my bike trip. Surprise! He was in Wytheville trying to find me. Another surprise, Michael brought me a nice cold beer that was recommended to him by a friend called Pale Ale, brewed by Boulevard Brewing Co, Kansas City. How did he know that it's been 2 weeks since I had a beer? We went to Mass at St. Mary's where, as visitors, we had to stand up and introduce ourselves afterwards. Then, ate dinner at the Log House 1776 Restaurant - chicken marenga (chicken, mushrooms, mushrooms, and chunks of tomatoes and known as Thomas Jefferson's favorite dish), a huge Greek salad, and broccoli. No dessert. Michael plans on biking part of the trail with me tomorrow before heading back to K-town.

Day 68 - 75 Miles to Damascus, VA

Friday, August 1 - 75 miles to Damascus, 3,975 total miles. Began my day with 3 pancakes and coffee for breakfast. Did 4 climbs, several annoying PUDs (pointless ups & downs). The toughest climb was Big A Mountain - it lived up to its name - with traffic, direct sunlight, and it was hot. Contrast it with Clinch Mountain, a comparable climb, with no traffic, good road, in shade, and peaceful. A subway, coke, and cookies was lunch. A little bit of wildlife today, a rabbit, couple of groundhogs, and I heard but didn't see a deer running through the woods.

I took the road to Damascus (pop. 900) although I considered skipping it. Thought of St. Paul on his journeys and it's the Year of St. Paul. Also thought of my backpacking buddies and all the memories of the AT (App Trail) coming in to Damascus. I'm staying at The Place, a hostel run by the Methodist church for AT hikers. Ate dinner at Sicily's Italian Restaurant. Ate a Sicilian pizza (chicken, green pepper, and onion) that was thick and rectangular. So far only one other person is at the hostel and he's sleeping.