Day 5--Our Introduction to Appalachia

Today we woke up at 7:30, left the Massaro's by 8, and ate breakfast at Bodo's Bagels in Charlottesville. I had 2 bagels and saved one for later. Jake got a bacon egg and cheese bagel and it took him an hour to eat it. That's incredibly slow. I think we were all trying to postpone our introduction to Appalachia.

Our First View of Mountains Outside of Charlottesville.

The climb out of Charlottesville wasn't so bad, but we ended up taking a wrong turn down the road a little ways and ended up on the steepest 2 mile stretch of gravel road I've ever seen. Needless to say we had to push the bikes all the way to the top of a ~2,000 ft mountain. We gained about 1500 ft of elevation in around 2 miles. It took us two hours. I was completely drenched from head to toe with sweat. Looking back, I'm not sure what would have been worse, riding up the hill or pushing the 80lb bike up the hill. So we got to the top after about two hours of pushing only to see a sign saying "State maintenance ends"...I wanted to cry. We ended up asking a lady leaving her driveway how where we were, she confirmed that we were on the wrong road. However, she told us how to get back on track. So that worked out I guess, and we had a small adventure along the way. I'm not so sure the way we took was any worse than the climb to Afton would have been. Either way, I probably wouldn't have liked either climb.
We finally got back on track about 20 miles into the 60+ mile day and it was about 12:00. That's not such a good pace. We rode on the Skyline road for a bit. That was nice, very scenic, and there wasn't much climbing to do. We finally made it to Rockfish Gap and ate lunch at a convenient store with cans of food that had been there for what seemed like years, considering all the dust that was on the cans. It was delicious to say the least. I had some Ravioli, a bag of chips and the leftover bagel.
Then we hit the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP). That was a living hell. We probably climbed close to 4,000 feet on the BRP alone. I never pushed the bike up a hill though. So I guess that makes me somewhat . I felt . The climbs weren't so steep, but they were loooooong. There were 5 and 6 mile climbs that would flatten out, only to bring you to another climb. I had to stop a few times to rest and recharge, but that's expected I guess. The day ended in Vesuvius. I hit 40 mph on the descent, so that was fun, but my forearms burned worse than I have ever experienced b/c I had to check my speed so I wouldn't kill myself. When we finally got to Vesuvius, I ate more food than I have ever eaten in one sitting. I ate, in this order, a can of Ravioli, 2 Reeces cups, a Coca-cola, a homemade Philly Steak and Cheese (which consisted of 2 hamburger patties and all the fixings, fries (which came with the sandwich) and for dessert I had a hot dog with chili. Then I drank 2 PBR tall boys to wash it down. I was amazed at myself, but I think everyone who saw me was kind of sickened. I thought it was incredible, but maybe it's just gross. Whatever, I need my food energy. That's what keeps me going.
We camped out behind the store with part of the group of 5 with whom we started in Yorktown. We all drank a few beers and reminisced about the day.
The main lessons learned today were, eat more, pay attention to directions, enjoy the ride/scenery, and most importantly, the Appalachians aren't as scary as I thought. Don't get me wrong, today was the toughest day I've ever spent on a bike. However, I learned a lot about how hard I can push myself and succeed in accomplishing a goal. It took a lot of mental fortitude, but we made it through one of the toughest parts of the trip. I'm stoked, and I guess maybe I can call myself a man now after all.

Time for a Litte R&R

Rest and relaxation. So necessary today. I literally did nothing today. We ate at a Chinese buffet in Charlottesville. It had sushi, good sushi too. I typically can't stand Chinese buffets because the food is usually sub-par. But this place was incredible.
Anyways, we also went to the bike store to see if Jacob could get a granny gear on the front gear set. No such luck. But, I got some handlebar tape. Mine was falling off a little on the right side. I think the combination of the salt from my hands and me wrenching on the bars going up some hills sped the deterioration process up a little. I also think the tape they used was just really cheap,. Either way, it needs replacing soon as the only thing holding it on is duct tape.
Tonight we're staying at the Massaro house again. To clarify, Andrew Massaro was a friend of mine from college, and we're staying at his family's house in Charlottesville.Courtney and Mike Massaro and AnnaMike's dog Lilly
I also got to talk to a lot of friends and my parents today, so that was good. We also go to do laundry, which is definitely required. I had multiple salt rings on my shirt when we arrived in Charlottesville. Pretty cool, but I'm sure I smelled like a pole cat. I don't really know what a pole cat is, but I'm told they smell like death.
I'm not nearly as sore as I thought I would be after 3 days of riding hard, but my legs are definitely feeling a little soreness. I'm probably going to do some good stretching before going to bed.
The Appalachians will make themselves felt tomorrow. 5,000 feet of elevation gain, and we get to end the day with the longest and steepest decent of the entire trip (at least I think the day ends that way.) So in preparation I'm going to try and get as much rest as possible. We'll probably leave around 7 or so tomorrow. I hate getting up early normally, but I'm getting used to it. I imagine I will be able to wake up with the sun in the weeks to come.
As my day of R&R comes to an end, I'm looking forward to seeing the first set of mountains on our trip. I'm also looking forward to the incredible amount of thigh-shredding riding ahead. I just hope I won't have to walk up too many ascents. I don't like walking my bike, it makes me angry with myself.
Hopefully I'll be able to update the site when I'm in the mountains, but I make no promises. I think we go through some sizable mountain towns, but I may not have time to upload pictures along with all the text, so you may have to wait a while for that. The next few days of riding will separate the men from the boys, so I'll tell you in a few days in which category I belong. I may surprise myself, but I don't think I'll turn out being in the former category. Either way, I look forward to telling everyone how it was.

Battling Hills and Headwinds--The climb to Monticello.

Day 3...ahh day three. I will not miss the ride to Charlottesville. Actually I'm kind of hoping to forget most of it. There were some funny parts about today, but it was most memorable as the toughest day so far. The hills really made an impact today. And 79 miles of hills really begins to wear you down very quickly, especially when every road sign reminds you of hills. I wanted to die about 50 or 60 in, but the absolute worst part of the ride was the climb to Monticello. Oh that climb. I'm ashamed to say...but I had to get off the bike and walk it up part of the top of the hill. I know, I suck. But whatever, try riding 220 miles in 3 days and not walk up a hill or two. That brings me to my next point...the Appalachians are going to suck. Oh the Appalachians...they will be the end of me. I think we will be taking the Appalachians as slow as possible.
This is a bridge at the top of Monticello where I almost died and had to walk a little. We had our first encounter with angry dogs today too. I was the first to be chased, and I sprinted fast enough to outrun them, but I almost ran straight over one dog. Then Rob took the lead and a pack of three dogs...one a Rottweiler, came out. That was nuts. From then on I made sure my mace was very easily accessible so I could mace Rob while he was being attacked by a dog. He's totally going to get maced.
On a separate note, I've been eating like a horse. I can eat a decent meal every hour or so and still be hungry. So that's totally sweet. Another interesting thing about riding so much is the natural high you get from doing cardio for eight hours a day. Jacob took a nap on the ground at a gas station today, and woke up hallucinating. That was probably one of the funniest things about today.
I had a lot of time alone today. I spent a lot of time ahead of the pack. I kept yelling at myself, I'm sure if people saw me they would think I was insane. There are just some times when you have to psych yourself into pedaling harder, more, faster, whatever. Its totally a mental thing to a point, until you hit the wall. My wall today was Monticello.
It just started to rain as soon as we got into Charlottesville today. Actually, it poured, but we missed most of it. When it stopped raining, we went down to UVA and looked at the campus, it was beautiful. Not as cool as Carolina, but really pretty. There's a crazy house that was built on a hill overlooking the college. Supposedly the builder of the house got rejected from UVA, and he built a house overlooking it so he could look down on the school (sorry to any Wahoos if I butchered the story).
Tonight we're staying with Andy Massaro's brother and sister. They're incredibly nice to let us stay here. I can't even begin to explain how amazing a warm shower is after four days of cleaning myself from sinks and buckets. I've also been growing a pretty long beard. It's kind of sketchy, but whatever, I'll clean it up soon if I don't shave it off.
We're taking a day off tomorrow before we really hit the Appalachians. I need it. We all need it. I hope I'll be ready for them after a day of rest. I really like hills, but not 60 miles of hills. It gets really terrible after a while.
Anyways, this post is getting pretty long, and I'm getting really sleepy. But thanks for reading and I'm sure I'll be able to let you know how the Appalachians go soon enough. Peace.

Honeysuckle and Hospitality--Day 2

The first things I noticed on beginning my ride today were the bands of honeysuckle aromas wafting lazily though the air. It reminds me of my childhood and the honeysuckle bush in my back yard. The beauty of Virginia really made itself evident to me today. With bald grassy areas exuding a vibrant green color, and abrupt transitions to old growth forests and slowly moving rivers meandering through the countryside. It really makes you appreciate the rural areas and the slow-paced way of life around here.

For lunch we ate at an incredible BBQ place in Ashland, where Randolph Macon College is. The restaurant had Eastern NC style sauce and sweet tea. I feel like I never left home. The waitress also gave us a ton of ice for our water bottles and camelbak, which came in handy later.

We rode around 65 miles today. The terrain got somewhat hilly towards the end of the ride. I didn't have too much of a problem, but I was definitely huffing and puffing pretty hard at the top of a few hills. The Appalachains are going to be incredibly arduous. I can't wait to challenge myself in Appalachia. I finished stronger today than I did yesterday. I couldn't tell you why. Maybe I ate better, and had enough carb reserves to finish strong. Either way it was encouraging.

I'm actually updating this blog from a small country store owned by an amazingly friendly and hospitable woman with seven children. She moved from NYC four years ago and now lives in the middle of a giant cornfield. It's probably one of the most interesting stores I've ever seen. It's a hybrid of a gas station, a grocery store, and an antiques shop all in one. But it's almost going to close and I should let her close everything down. So for now, have a good Memorial Day weekend, and keep reading...

The End of the Beginning--Day 1

Where am I? What am I doing? I'm what? I must be insane. I must be masochistic. Am I both? Am I dreaming this? Am I tripping or am I really about to start this trip? This can't be the beginning. The first day is already here? Should I be doing this? I hope the bikes fall off the rack on the way to Virginia and we can't even start. I'm crazy.
As soon as we arrived in Yorktown, all my fears, worries and anxiety melted away. I'm free now. No job, no money, just me, my bike, and the road. I really thought I wouldn't be excited, but just plain nervous and jumpy, but as soon as we drove into Yorktown and I dipped my tire in the Atlantic, it was nothing but smiles and excitement.We rode 65.26 miles today, I averages 13.6 mph, but that includes the time I wasn't actually pedalling as well. The terrain changed a lot more than I expected in the first 65 miles. It went from very flat, coastal terrain, to densely forrested, then mildly hilly farmland, back to dense forest. It was very nice in the morning but it got pretty hot later on. It seemed like as soon as it got hot we hit wide open, unshaded farmland, or plantations rather. There were lots of plantations and civil-war era farms and battlefields. We also rode through Colonial Williamsburg. That was strange. Do whole families get paid to dress up like they live in the 1700's? Weird...
I felt really strong riding today, but I drank like 3 or 4 liters of water throughout the day, and almost ran out. I shouldn't have to drink that much. So to rehydrate I'm drinking two 24 oz beers instead of more water (that replenishes "electrolytes" or something like that right?) Anyways, I felt good all day, and tonight were sleeping in an air-conditioned church hostel, and life is good. This trip will be amazing...

Beer me a Sausage

The title only makes sense if you watch The Office...so, sorry for those of you who don't, I just like it because I get a laugh probably a quarter of the time I say beer me something.
The shakedown ride was successful in a number of ways. We rode about 20 miles out to a campsite at Jordan Lake and we camped out for the night. I thought I was going to die the first few miles into the ride. The combination of being a hangover, and a lack of sleep did not do too well for my cardiovascular abilities. However, I finally got into the groove and rode hard for the rest of the trip out. There weren't too many hills or wind, so it was good ride. It was a different experience riding fully loaded. It makes the ride seem more stable, but I'm still apprehensive to get above 25 or 26 mph fully loaded. That will probably go away quickly, but I don't have the confidence quite yet to get up to 30 or over.
Dozier drove out to the camp site and brought a fly-fishing pole. We were camped next to a small pond full of very darkly colored brim. So we fished for a while and then cooked some bratwurst once it got dusk.
Dozier drove out to the camp site and brought a fly-fishing pole. We were camped next to a small pond full of very darkly colored brim. So we fished for a while and then cooked some bratwurst once it got dusk.


The immediacy of my departure makes me want to spend every minute I have with my best friends and my family. At this point in my life I have met so many amazing friends I don't know how to deal with leaving everyone for an entire summer. I'm sure I'll look back at this and laugh at how naive I am, but I'm not too excited about leaving home for a whole summer. That being said, I am excited about seeing an entirely new place every day that I'm on the road, and living for three months as minimalist as possible.
So, the ride was successful and brought to my attention a few things that I need to remember to bring along. Friday we're going up to Yorktown, and the trip will begin on Saturday. Keep reading, and leave some comments.

The Countdown

The day of departure is coming closer every day. I've been experiencing quite a lot of anxiety the past week. The combination of graduation, working non-stop, the process of subletting my apartment, moving out, packing for the trip, and making all my final preparations is really starting to get to me. But, that will all be over soon and it will be just me and the road ahead. I've been gathering all the final gear and things that I'll need for my trip today, and I still have a few small things that I haven't been able to pick up yet.
Rob and I are going on a shakedown ride on Tuesday and Wednesday to streamline all that we will need, and shed any superfluous items. This will be a good test of what it will be like everyday this summer.
I'm really not ready to say my goodbyes to all my friends and family, but I guess its just part of the process. It's weird for me because I've never been out of North Carolina for more than a week or so. That being said, I don't think I will feel too far away from home because of the modern technologies that make everywhere in our world a phone call or e-mail away.
My mom told me she was going to get me a camera if I sublet my apartment this summer, and I'm about 99% sure I have found a subletter. That means I will most likely be able to take and post my own pictures of our trip.
The posts should be getting a lot more entertaining in a few days, when we actually get on the road. Thanks for reading.

You're Doing What?!?

For those of you who don't know exactly what the plan is for this summer, or just have questions about logistics, distances, and the like...keep reading.
The trip begins in Yorktown, VA and ends in Astoria, OR. It spans approximately 4,300 miles, with a total elevation gain of about 126,000 feet. We'll be going through ten states, maybe more, which include Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Oregon. The route is mapped out by the Adventure Cycling Association. It is their flagship route, and has been mapped and ridden for 31 years now. The route is mostly paved back-country roads which traverse through hundreds of small towns and several National Parks along the way. There is a loop through Mammoth Caves National Park, and the route goes through the Colorado Rockies (Breckenridge), Yellowstone National Park, The Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole, and part of the Sierras and Cascades.
Our plan is to travel about 65 miles per day, hopefully more once we get into the full swing of things. We are planning to have about one rest day a week, and will otherwise ride in the sun, rain, or hail (hopefully not too much hail!) Therefore, it will take around two and a half to three months. We will be camping out most of the time with maybe one day a week in a hotel or hostel if completely necessary. We plan to cook most of our meals, but there will surely be a few restaurants that we won't be able to pass up.
The idea was born at Milltown in Chapel Hill over a beer, and Rob and I kind of just ran with it. After much research and preparation, the moment is upon us, and we hope for all the support, either emotional, spiritual, or financial that anyone can offer. So let us know what you think, and offer some words of encouragement. It will always be appreciated. Thanks again, and goodbye for now.

10 Days Until Departure!

So, its 10 days until I leave for my incredible adventure. I just graduated from Carolina, and will be working as much as possible to make some money for food and anything else I'll need on the road. It's a very exciting time, but the anxiety for my journey ahead is ever present.
Anyways, the goal for this blog is to keep everyone who cares to keep up with me updated on my bicycle trip across the U.S., as it will not always be possible to use a cell phone. I will be posting edited journal entries, and some of the ridiculous anecdotes that will inevitably occur (especially considering I'll be with Rob for a whole summer). I probably will not be able to post entries any more than once or twice a week, maybe less. However, I will try my hardest to include some comment or story for every day that I'm out on the road.
I would really like to hear from everyone who wants to send they're love, comments, stories from home, and whatever else you feel like updating me on. All you have to do is make a comment on a recent post, I'll try to check them all. Thanks to everyone for your support, or your pessimism, they both drive me to work harder. That's all for now, I'll continue my story soon. I may even become literate in the process!