Pics from the road (Illinois/Missouri/Mississippi)

Well its been a while since we've updated the blog, we've been out in the middle of nowhere for quite some time. We finally made it out of god forsaken Kentucky the other day, we were all quite happy to do so.... (Although we did want to say thank you to Violet and Bob for their awesome hospitality and food at their Church and Home. We were basically given thanksgiving dinner, beds, bigscreen tv, and four square) But other than that, it still stands as god forsaken. Funny, as soon as we crossed the Ohio river into Illinois we arrived found two awesome towns immedietly... Cave in Rock and Elizabethtown. One had a huge cave in the rock (hence Cave in Rock) and the other set us up with a campsite and an awesome view of the river. The next day we arrived in Carbondale, Ill where at the last second we decided to all get a hotel room and we stuff 7 people into a one bed room for 6 bucks a person- very nice. The following morning we really just hung out and eventually made it 50 miles down the road to Chester, Ill, just before the Miss. Right before leaving we had to say good-bye to Anne and Colleen, two huge losses. Not a good idea not to have someone to keep 6 boys from being idiots, or make us brush our teeth before bed. I had a really good time with them and am really sad to see them go. Thanks for a good time though guys and for coming with us...

We stayed right at a park with an awesome pool with a high dive that, although closed, we eventually decided that a. we all smelled, b. we wanted to go swimming and c. how could we pass up a high dive. So we hopped the fence and did some olympic diving. The following morning we made it on accross the Mississippi into Missouri where we were all really were blown away by the power and size of the river at its height. We saw some flooding but nothing like we were seeing on TV or in the paper. After that we hit the Mississippi bluffs and have been climbing up and into the Ozarks since then which is where we are now. Hopefully we'll make our way down them by tommorow-ish and on into exciting and dynamic Kansas. To get away from the hills will by very nice though. Hopefully more pics to come and I'll have someone else insert their thoughts next time..

Campsite along Jacks Fork R.

Ozark Mtns.

Flooding..

Mississippi R.

Illinois!

Lunch at Delaney's - free pie/cake for bikers!

Good sign!

Camp site on the banks of the Ohio

Ferry across the Ohio R.

Kentucky..

More pics from the road...

Exhaustion

Rare double rainbow

Rolling hills countryside

Our apologies, it's been a while since updating

Yes, we have been a bit behind on updating this thing so we will try to jam as many pics and as much info as possible to get up to speed. Last time we posted from Lexington, VA. We have finally made exit from VA and are now in Hindman, KY. It has been a pretty wild past couple of days. We are certainly in more rural areas than we have ever been in. We were warned today of two big hills (which were fairly tough), trucks that will run us off the road (which is pretty accurate) and elk everywhere (of which we did not get to see one). So for our warnings, we were 2 for 3, too bad we missed out on the best one. Kentucky's moto is apparently "the land of unbridled spirit." We can defintely concur with their claim. Everyone drives around in four wheelers, huge american trucks (funny how few imports we have seen... Chevy's marketing department may actually know what they are doing), no one wears a helmet, everyone has dogs that are just insane and bark all night and roosters are always crowing everywhere. But, so far for the most part everyone has been very nice to us, so we are quite greatful for that.

Now we'll try and give you some idea of what we have been up to the past couple of days. After Lexington we headed towards Christiansburg, VA out side of Blacksburg and VT. Our maps began in Christiansburg so we arent pulling out hairs trying to make routes anymore. Riding into town the sky was black and things were looking ominous but we met a fellow cyclist at the supermarket who let us stay in his back yard, and the weather turned out fine anyway. The friendly fellow was a biochemist who worked at VT and had about 6 old cars he was working on including 2 Karmann Ghias, 2 volvos, and a bug. We passed out after some oversized omlettes made from fresh local farm eggs (18 for 3$) and the next day we were on our way to Wytheville, VA. Walker beat the challenge at a local restaurant to eat two sizable cheese steakes in a half hour, and got the $18.72 meal for free. We slept on a stage in a local park that night surrounded by a nice meandering creek, christmas lights up in the trees, and cooling rain. Next day we hit Damascus VA, where the Virgina Creeper, Appalachian, and Trans am bike trails all converge. We met some awesome AT through hikers and shared about 7 pitchers with them, then we cleaned house at the grocery store. Someone ate a zebra cake, star crunch, fudge round, and two hostess fruit pies that night... Damascus is a great town with super friendly people willing to help you out with whatever you need, anything from long distance phone service to a free place to stay. We stayed at a hostile known as "the place" for 4$ a night, which was a great deal for the showers and beds. The next day on our day off we fixed up our bikes, swam in the creek, caught some fish, and generally rested our bones. Best hamburgers this side of the mississippi, for the best price can be found at the Dairy King in Damascus.

Alright...the next day. Headed to Breaks Interstate Park on the border of Kentucky and VA. Today was supposed to be about a 60 mile day but it turned into 80, and the last 10 or so were up hill. 8 miles in an hour and a half doesnt equal fun, but getting to the top was worth it. A special thanks to Shawn's mom for flying in and letting us stay in her hotel room that night. It had rained for the better part of the 80 miles we rode that day, the fog was bad too and a few spirits were almost broken; howerver, a couple of cold ones, little ceasars pizza, a mexican dinner at "Mi Finca # 4", a spectacular view of the Kentucky/ Viriginia border canyon country from our ridge top motel, and the end of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc boosted our spirits enough to take us to Virgie Kentucky the next day (June 15). We slept in the side yard of The Virgie Middle School as trans american cyclers have been for years, and we ate some pretty impressive camp-style curry. Either a hound or a harp seal howled through the entire night, and in the morning it took a lot of Little Debbie treats and coffee to get us to where we are today, June 16th, which is Hindmen, KY. Along the way we found out why the call the bike route through Kentucky "the dog pound," and a few people had pepper spray ready incase any of the dogs chasing us had more than just a chase in mind. We also heard the lovely sound of rooster's crowing all day, and someone was kind enough to donate one to us. He has been a bit camera shy so far, but hopefully we'll get some pictures of him up soon.

Zoom in on that....

The Hindmen library has agreed to let us camp in their back yard so goodnight. (3:32 pm).
Also, thanks for the donation from Aaron's Uncle Bud!

So uh those mountains right there? Thats what we're doing eh? Interesting

So we just arrived in Lexington, VA home of VMI. After doing a swift 20 miles this morning we decided to get out of the heat and hit the library. The past couple of days have been pretty wild, the mountains kind of snuck up on us coming out of Charlottesville, and before we knew it we were headed straight up the side of one to the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was extremely hot out but we were all so excited and anxious to get to the top that we ended up biking all day up to about 3300 feet. It was by far the hardest day that we have had thus far. But while it was hard it was also just as satisfying to load ourselves and all of our own stuff up the side of and accross the mountains. Everyone made it that was with us in good time, quite proud of ourselves. Unfortunately in Charlottesville we had to leave Colleen, Zoe, and Chuck. However, we will hopefully be seeing Colleen soon, on the other side of the mountains.

The night before the big climb we stayed at one of the most beautiful sites yet. A family (wish I could remember their last name) let us stay in their back yard on a hill overlooking the valley with mountains off in the distance. There was a calm wind all night and few bugs, for the first time, that made it my most restful and comfortable sleep.

After descending from the top of the mountains at literally warp speed; last night we stayed at Gernie's convenience store just off the route. They let us in on a swimming hole where we got held up by a gun for diving. It was pretty awesome. This morning we got out a little late but I did find out that we are only about 115 miles from Christiansburg. So we can finally stop using a camera to guide ourselves. ha

Awesome Charlottesville visitors center... a big help to us

Beautiful campsite just outside the mountains the night before scaling them
Slow and steady
Almost lost Jonathan
Much of this, very beautiful

First Day Off in Charlottesville, VA

So, we are taking our first day off today just outside of the mountains. The coming days will be fairly rough, we are predicting, as we head into the Appalachians for the next week or so. We plan to ride about 20 miles out of town tonight to get a head start for tomorrow. The heat is still a huge issue, already it is only 11 o'clock and it is 91 degrees outside, feeling like 102 due with humidity- ouch.

Last night we stayed at a fraternity at UVA which was an awesome location to be able to hit the town and relax for the first time. We had a really good time last night hanging out on the roof and going to main street. A lot going on and the more and more we all hang out the more excited I am about the rest of the trip. We have really, really lucked out with our group and everyone's ability to just roll with the punches.

We have been doing really well with our riding. Yesterday we did between 50 and 60 miles by about 12:30, after getting up and out of Market 76 by 7.

I just want to take chance to thank Market 76, a convenience store on the Route 76 bike route for maintaining space for bikers to camp for free. Also, thanks to the guys at the fraternity in UVA for their last minute hospitality.

Resting under a tree after a tractor trailer went off the road, blocking it for a few hours

Finally, made it to Charlottesville, VA after the huge Horseshoe Hill

Hanging out in Ashland, VA to get out of the heat and shower at the YMCA

the ride is finally happening

Day 4
so... just made it to a library in Ashland, VA to escape the incredible, incredible heat. Just checked the forecast and it reads high temperatures of 97, 100, 101, 101, 100, 100, and 97. Just what we were hoping for...

Anyways, so far the ride has gone extremely well, we are finding out that people are extremely hospitable. Every night we have easily been able to find a yard to sleep in and the host families have been mopre than generous. Night 1 we were given a place to sleep, our dishes washed, a fire, and marshmallows. Night 2 we got fresh fish, steamed crabs, a place to sleep, channel 591, and we hung out with their whole family. Last night we ended up getting split up after countless bike issues throughout the day but both of our groups were greeted with awesome host families- a shed to sleep in, a car port, beer, and apples. Everyone has been just incredible so far and we would like to thank them so much once again.

Yesterday we did the Tangier Island cruise. It was quite wild, I couldn't believe that I lived so close to it without knowing my whole life.

So far, everyone is really good together, we are finding similar paces and everyone is going with the punches...

Leaving from Assateague Island, VA

The "Pleasure Cruise" Crisfield, MD to Reedville, VA

Our most gracious hosts in Northumberland, purveyors of sea food.....and catfish. They say the gentlman has never left Virginia.

Until next time.. hopefully we'll all make it through the heat