When I checked the weather forecast last eve for today it predicted a 50% chance of rain today. As we departed this morning the sky looked like it would deliver. It was cloudy with very dark skies to the North. It was lighter and less threatening in the East.
As we rode we got light showers of rain periodically. I came up to a rail crossing that had been highlighted on our route sheet and crossed it very carefully. The terrain was very hilly like yesterday but the hills were longer and steeper. The ride was identified as the ride of 1000 hills. I don’t think there were that many, but there were a lot. Picture a roller coaster that goes for 80 miles. One of the up hills was 14% grade, a few others were 12 and 11 % grades. Still beautiful farmland scenery. It reminds me of the Shenandoah Valley.
As we progressed toward our destination the sky was a changing canvas of clouds and in some cases you could see rain in the distance. As we left the first SAG stop it was raining lightly.
The new 17 year old rider, Dan, took a spill on the wet road today and got a good case of road rash on his leg. Gerard the mechanic had Dan, Larry and I line up for a group picture with our road rash visible. Larry definitely had the most impressive bruise on his hip and down his thigh.
We arrived at the hotel at 12:30 PM with dirty bikes and a little soggy and very hungry. Since there were no food establishements close to the hotel we ordered a pizza for lunch.
Since today’s report is short I will include a piece I wrote about Piet and Hetty when I shared a meal with them on a previous off day.
June 13
I ate dinner with Piet and Hetty tonight. They are a Dutch couple on the trip. Their bicycles are touring style which has bigger tires than many of the bikes on the tour. Their bikes are much heavier and sturdier than the light weight road bike I and many others ride. They each carry a pannier on their bike. They are both strong riders.
I mentioned in an earlier account about Hetty having a crash on her bike when nearing our overnight destination at West Wendover. Even though she had 13 stitches in her chin from the crash she rode to Salt Lake City the next day.
Piet is 61 years young. They both look younger than their years. Both Piet and Hetty are retired. Piet as a banker, retired at 55. Hetty retired from a career in Book Keeping. They have two daughters who are in their thirties.
Piet and Hetty love to tour on their bicycles. They often tour self contained tent camping at night. They love to be active. Hetty said that In Netherlands she rides her bicycles to do most of her shopping.
Hetty said that she will get her stitches taken out tomorrow. Sue one of the riders on the tour from Colorado is a nurse and will remove the stitches for Hetty.
As we rode we got light showers of rain periodically. I came up to a rail crossing that had been highlighted on our route sheet and crossed it very carefully. The terrain was very hilly like yesterday but the hills were longer and steeper. The ride was identified as the ride of 1000 hills. I don’t think there were that many, but there were a lot. Picture a roller coaster that goes for 80 miles. One of the up hills was 14% grade, a few others were 12 and 11 % grades. Still beautiful farmland scenery. It reminds me of the Shenandoah Valley.
As we progressed toward our destination the sky was a changing canvas of clouds and in some cases you could see rain in the distance. As we left the first SAG stop it was raining lightly.
The new 17 year old rider, Dan, took a spill on the wet road today and got a good case of road rash on his leg. Gerard the mechanic had Dan, Larry and I line up for a group picture with our road rash visible. Larry definitely had the most impressive bruise on his hip and down his thigh.
We arrived at the hotel at 12:30 PM with dirty bikes and a little soggy and very hungry. Since there were no food establishements close to the hotel we ordered a pizza for lunch.
Since today’s report is short I will include a piece I wrote about Piet and Hetty when I shared a meal with them on a previous off day.
June 13
I ate dinner with Piet and Hetty tonight. They are a Dutch couple on the trip. Their bicycles are touring style which has bigger tires than many of the bikes on the tour. Their bikes are much heavier and sturdier than the light weight road bike I and many others ride. They each carry a pannier on their bike. They are both strong riders.
I mentioned in an earlier account about Hetty having a crash on her bike when nearing our overnight destination at West Wendover. Even though she had 13 stitches in her chin from the crash she rode to Salt Lake City the next day.
Piet is 61 years young. They both look younger than their years. Both Piet and Hetty are retired. Piet as a banker, retired at 55. Hetty retired from a career in Book Keeping. They have two daughters who are in their thirties.
Piet and Hetty love to tour on their bicycles. They often tour self contained tent camping at night. They love to be active. Hetty said that In Netherlands she rides her bicycles to do most of her shopping.
Hetty said that she will get her stitches taken out tomorrow. Sue one of the riders on the tour from Colorado is a nurse and will remove the stitches for Hetty.
3 comments:
I wish some of that rain would hit Richmond.
Your writeup on the dutch couple was pretty neat. Maybe your next adventure will be touring the Netherlands.
Sounds like you are still enjoying your adventure. . . . . BUT A 14% GRADE sound awesome; I know what it feels like in a RV but can picture myself doing it on a bike.
Sure wish the weather would clear up a little for you all to make the trip more enjoyable.
Looks like your stop at Kirkville was you 25th stop by my calculations
Jay. Spending the Fourth of July in the middle of a cross-country bike tour of the United States is a neat way to celebrate that anniversary. Happy Fourth of July. //Ron
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