June 2, 2002
6 min. read
This post is part of the Trans-Am series.
We didn’t have any problems last night. There was only minimal traffic past, so I got a decent nights sleep. We both got up just before 6 AM, and started packing up. Adam is going to try for 65+ miles today, to see if he can make it to the coast before school starts. We said our goodbyes and I finished packing my stuff up. I got out of there at 6:30, about 10 minutes behind Adam. I had told him to remember that it was Sunday, because many small mom and pop groceries might not be open.
I was on a mission, in search of a bathroom. I found one in Draper, about 8 miles out. I grabbed a Strawberry Ice Gatorade (good stuff!) and some breakfast snacks. For some reason, the smell from grilling bacon and ham was getting me sick, so I headed out to the front porch to eat breakfast. I talked with the local farming crew as they stopped in for some breakfast before church.
When the talk turned to my trip, one of the guys told me that “You all (Trans-Am cyclists) have more guts than me!”
The other one agreed with a “Heck, Henry and Me couldn’t even WALK a mile.”
I climbed quite a few pretty good hills out of Draper and stopped to give my parents a call. This gave me another chance to rest. I finished the climb up to I-81 and crossed over to the north side of the Interstate. I wasn’t really happy with the noise pollution, but didn’t mind it when I came across the truck stop. I went in wondering if there were showers. Yep, looked good. $4 gets you soap, a clean towel, a wash cloth and access to the showers. Count me in. Amazing what a shower does to you. I washed my clothes and changed into some cleaner clothes and sat down for a while. The heat was really coming on and the few minutes in the AC were great.
The traffic was friendlier than normal, which I guess is people’s Sunday conscience taking over their road rage. Seems like it isn’t right to drive mean and aggressive on your way to church. Apparently, those pulling boats to go fishing get to drive that way though.
I got to Hwy 121 at 12:30, and decided to stop at a McDonalds. Not the best choice, but it looks like the only sure place for food and getting out of the heat for the next 12 miles into Wytheville. I had a grilled chicken sandwich and some Hi-C orange drink. They were able to plug in my extension cord, so I could charge my cell phone and my laptop. Might as well use the AC power if it’s there. I was able to catch up many day’s journals as I wait for my food to digest and the hot part of the day to get more over with.
The climb away from the McDonalds and I-81 was brutal. I was plodding along at 3.5 mph in direct sun with no shade and little wind. The rolling hills for most of the day were too far apart to use any of the energy from going down to get back up. The 10 mph headwind also helped loose whatever kinetic energy you had going down, before starting up. Having the wind helped a little with the heat. The wind quit for a while and I got really hot. My thermometer was stuck on 95 degrees for most of the afternoon. I finally laid under a shade tree to rest a while. I loaded up a sermon on my MP3 player, for my own little church service.
About 45 minutes later, I thought I heard voices. I turned to look and saw a couple on loaded touring bicycles. They were Gerrúl and Meta den Heÿer, from Holland, who were planning on camping at the city park in Wytheville. I had hoped to go a little farther for the day and I told them that I might see them there, but I wasn’t sure. Gerrúl asked me to lay back down, so they could have a picture like they found me. He said he wanted to be able to show people that it was really 95 degrees. (Actually he said something like 35 degrees, but I’m really good with all SI units, except temperature.)
Thunderstorms started to build again and I got a little wet during the miles into Wytheville. It felt really good, but it was almost too light of a sprinkling to cool down much. As I was getting into Wytheville, I saw John and Mary coming up behind me. They had been traveling with the Holland couple and were debating a nice looking Super 8 Motel. I had decided that there really wasn’t anything decent for the night for atleast 15 miles and quite a few climbs, so I was going to stay at the city park.
When I reached 4th Street, John and Mary caught up with me and we located the park. It is a nice place with trees around and a small stream flowing through the center. When we got here, there was a birthday party in full swing. I started my cook stove and got some rice going. Rice and tuna was the menu for tonight. As I finished cooking, someone from the party started offering leftover food. I guess I cooked a little too early. By the looks of things, my stomach will thank me for the less complex meal tomorrow.
I was planning on another night on a picnic table, without bothering to set up the tent. However, the sky started threatening rain and the roofs on the picnic areas are high. As I was getting in the tent to type this up, it started to sprinkle a little. I guess setting up the tent was worth it. My rain fly has a front area covered past the tent, that allows me to keep the bike mostly dry.
Gerrúl brought along a harmonica and a recorder. He was playing some little jigs earlier that were really kind of nice. I told him the only instrument I’m decent on is the guitar and its too big to carry. I was greeted with a snicker and a nod.
I’m hoping to make it to Damascus tomorrow, which will be a hard ride. I would like to be at the Kentucky/Virginia border in three days. We will see how it goes. Things would be much easier if it wasn’t above 90 degrees between 11 AM and 4 PM.
After our three tents were up, we were greeted by Mike. He is doing the Trans-Am solo and sleeping in a pretty cool tent he designed himself for hiking. It is kind of a rain shield over a netting bag.
Wytheville, VA
Tent Site: 36 deg 56.839 min N, 81 deg 04.940 min W, elev 2297 ft.
Part 19 of 48 in the Trans-Am series.
Series Start | Day 13 - Christiansburg, VA to Newbern, VA | Day 15 - Wytheville to Damascus