Part 1 - Complete

Day 13

Start: Stafford, VA

End: Oak Hill, VA

Daily Distance: 47.09 miles

Cumulative Distance: 952.60 miles

Average Speed: 12.0 MPH

Daily Riding Time: 3 Hours 53 Minutes

Net Elevation Change: 219 Feet (1,768 up and 1,549 down)

Cumulative Elevation Change: 348 feet

Cumulative Flats: 2

Short ride from Stafford to home today.  It was really cold though and I couldn't ride fast enough to keep warm due to the hills.  I was also watching the weather because there was more rain in the forecast for the afternoon.  Thankfully, I made it home before the heavy rain started.  

The first part of the ride was through Quantico, which is where the Marine Corps base is located.  There is a great museum.  I saw this monument on the corner.

Since I was headed in a familiar direction, the closer I got, the more I knew where I was and what to expect on the roads.  However, I turned onto Braddock Road in Centreville and was rolling along and saw a sign as I was blowing by.  I had to turn around to do a double take because I wasn't sure I just saw what I thought I saw.  A family friend who's son passed away several years ago, participates in the Adopt A Highway program in memory of their son.  We started participating last year for Joe.  It was awesome that I found the sign and that I had my #KTJA shirt on for today's ride. 

Upon arrival at home, the girls put out the welcome sign for me.

So that completes what I am calling "Part 1" of the Atlantic Coast ride.  My goal was to complete the entire ride to Bar Harbor, Maine, but I will stop for a while.  I made it just about half way.  I don't know how long the break will be, but I do plan to finish sooner than later.  Please stay tuned for "Part 2 - Oak Hill, Virginia to Bar Harbor, Maine.

Thank you all for following me along the road.
 

Rolling Hills

Day 12

Start: Richmond, VA

End: Stafford, VA

Daily Distance: 70.39 miles

Cumulative Distance: 905.51 miles

Average Speed: 13.0 MPH

Daily Riding Time: 5 Hours 24 Minutes

Net Elevation Change: 20 Feet (1,880 up and 1,860 down)

Cumulative Elevation Change: 129 feet

Cumulative Flats: 2

Coldest start this morning.  Temperature was in the low 40s after last night's storms rolled through.  However, it didn't take me too long to warm up.  I stayed on Highway 1 for almost the entire day and ride was filled with Virginia's rolling hills.  The hills were not big by any means, but pulling the 60+ pounds of gear uphill is not an easy task.  I tried to use momentum from the many downhills to gain on some of the uphills, but it didn't always work out.

Nice riding day overall.  The hills were not as challenging as they could have been.  I was blessed with a 10-20mph wind from the WSW, which meant a tailwind for much of the ride.  Tailwinds are always welcome!

Tomorrow is looking like another decent day for riding a bicycle. 🚴🚴

A Good Laugh

Day 11

Start: Boykins, VA

End: Richmond, VA

Daily Distance: 82.47 miles

Cumulative Distance: 835.12 miles

Average Speed: 12.3 MPH

Daily Riding Time: 6 Hours 43 Minutes

Net Elevation Change: 128 Feet (712 up and 582 down)

Cumulative Elevation Change: 109 feet

Cumulative Flats: 2

I was woken up about 4am this morning by thunder.  I figured it was going to be a wet start.  After the past few days of riding wet, no biggie.  I checked the weather and saw that there would be a break in the rain later in the morning before a second wave arrived.  So my mission was to get out there, get wet, air dry, and arrive before getting wet again.  Success!

I did take a short break when I saw a shed and shelter shop.  There was an awesome shelter that I hung out under for a little bit.  I didn't stay too long since it was cold and not riding while wet made it colder.

After the shelter stop, the rain lightened up and the route took me onto a nice road through a quiet neighborhood.  What a difference from the busy roads with all the vehicles and road spray.

I did get a good laugh.  I was getting close to my stop for the day and saw a sign that said "Road Closed Ahead - Local Traffic Only".  I continued down the road to see how far I could get.  I reached the closure and thought maybe the bridge was completed enough to walk over.  I thought better since it was not even close to being complete.  I checked to see how far I had to go to get around the detour.  It was thankfully only about 2 extra miles.  All I could think when I got the the closure was, "Dude...where's the road?"

Leaving it there for now.  Safe and sound just north of Richmond, VA.  Tomorrow, I should make it to Stafford, VA with a nice weather forecast.  Hooray!

Sunshine 🌞

Day 10

Start: Washington, NC

End: Boykins, VA

Daily Distance: 85.44 miles

Cumulative Distance: 752.65 miles

Average Speed: 12.1 MPH

Daily Riding Time: 7 Hours 6 Minutes

Net Elevation Change: 39 Feet (318 up and 279 down)

Cumulative Elevation Change: -19 feet

Cumulative Flats: 2

Early start and an uneventful trip through the remainder of North Carolina and into Virginia.  

After living on and off in Virginia for 30 years, I have always wondered why "Virginia is for Lovers".  In 1969, a $100-a-week copywriter named Robin McLaughlin in the Richmond advertising agency Martin & Woltz came up with the slogan “Virginia is for history lovers” that could be adapted for beach lovers, mountain lovers and so on. The agency owners thought that might be too limiting and shortened it to simply “Virginia is for Lovers.”  Today, the Virginia Tourism Corp. promotes the broad version of “Virginia is for Lovers,” referring to lovers of everything from sandy beaches to craft beer. (RecreationNews.com)

It was almost perfect bicycle riding weather today.  The fact that it was Saturday was helpful too.  More relaxing without all the commuter traffic and trucks.  Funny thing is the truck drivers are the most aware on the roads.  They usually give plenty of space when passing.  It is the regular cars and pickup trucks that sometimes buzz by a little too close.  I'm pretty sure they don't expect a bicycle rider.  

Tomorrow looks to be another longer than average day.  I will see how that goes.  The forecast is calling for more rain.  I will also be looking for more photo opportunities.  The same pictures of long, tree lined highways are pretty boring.

A Little Rain, A Little Heat, A Little Humidity

Day 9

Start: Jacksonville, NC

End: Washington, NC

Daily Distance: 80.23 miles

Cumulative Distance: 667.21 miles

Average Speed: 12.2 MPH

Daily Riding Time: 6 Hours 58 Minutes

Net Elevation Change: -13 Feet (161 up and 174 down)

Cumulative Elevation Change: -58 feet

Cumulative Flats: 2

Three days in North Carolina and it has rained each day.  That is more rain then I saw during my entire cross country ride and my Pacific Coast ride.  All part of the experience I guess.  

I didn't take any pictures today since I was riding a lot of miles and was on a mission to get to my destination.  I used a picture from yesterday and played around with it a little.  It kind of lets everyone know how I'm feeling.  

I should make it to the Virginia border tomorrow!  

Rain, Rain, and More Rain

Day 8

Start: Shallotte, NC

End: Jacksonville, NC

Daily Distance: 89.70 miles

Cumulative Distance: 586.98 miles

Average Speed: 12.4 MPH

Daily Riding Time: 7 Hours 23 Minutes

Net Elevation Change: 10 Feet (276 up and 266 down)

Cumulative Elevation Change: -45 feet

Cumulative Flats: 2

Not a lot to post today.  Long wet ride.  I watched the weather report last night to have an idea of what to expect.  Unstable air mass was the phrase that I knew meant I would likely see rain.  Sure enough, after several miles, the clouds started to look ominous.  Then the sky opened up.  This time, there was no where to hide.  So I just kept pedaling.

I was soaked from helmet to toes.  Once I was wet, there was no reason to stop.  The sun would come out for a little while, then more rain.  I think the worst part is the cars and trucks that pass by.  Most are kind and try to move over, but even with that, the road spray is awful.  I am so happy to have a hotel for the night to get a good shower to clean all the road dirt washed off.

Welcome to North Carolina - with Some Heavy Rain

Day 7

Start: Pawleys Island, SC

End: Shallotte, NC

Daily Distance: 67.20 miles

Cumulative Distance: 497.28 miles

Average Speed: 12.5 MPH

Daily Riding Time: 5 Hours 22 Minutes

Net Elevation Change: -3 Feet (341 up and 344 down)

Cumulative Elevation Change: -53 feet

Cumulative Flats: 2

Leaving Pawleys Island this morning was a cool early morning departure.  I had the privilege of getting to ride along the South Carolina coastline and see several beaches.  Garden City Beach, Seaside Beach, Myrtle Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Cherry Grove Beach. 

Scenery and pictures like this never get old.

Flat tire today.  I found this nice picnic table and used it as a staging area.  It made the tire change go smoothly.

When I made it to North Carolina, I was a little bummed that this was the only sign welcoming me to the state.

Then right after I put the phone camera away and got started riding again, the official welcome sign was not far away.

After I got to North Carolina, I was carefully watching dark clouds moving in.  I wanted to get to my stop before it rained.  I was about 5 miles from my stopping point and I felt a few little rain drops.  Then the sky opened up.  I found a business on the side of the road and took cover under an awning.  It rained heavy for about 20 minutes. 

I had to get back on the road.  I was dreading it because the road was full of water and vehicles spraying it all over the place...including on me.  Yuck!

About a mile from my destination, the roads were dry.  The rain only fell to the south.  I am just thankful I had the shelter because if not, I would have been soaked from head to toe.

Tomorrow I ride to Wilmington, NC.  Short ride day.