Today was a relative short day as Kyle and I needed to abbreviate the ride at 12:30 PM when we were picked up by my wife and daughter to travel to a Shabbat wedding celebration in Asheville, NC which began at 6:00 PM. Despite the abbreviated day we managed to pedal over 51 miles. Considering that we generally haven't suspended out riding prior to 5:00 PM after traveling between 70 - 80 miles, Kyle and I covered a lot of distance in a short period of time. That is not to say it was without some drama.
Despite the miles that we put in, we were not at out best in working together in ensuring the we followed the route detailed by our maps. While we harmoniously worked together during the first 30 miles and enjoyed the beautiful, rustic countryside with mountains partially encased in fog, the last 20 miles almost to the contrary. It all started when we missed a turn without realizing that we had missed a turn.
While I have a map of the route displayed to me from the top of my handlebar bag that allows to me identify roads, towns, turns and the various services along the route, the route is also marked by special TransAmerica Bicycle Trail/Route signs. We both missed a turn sign at a time when I was briefly disoriented as to our location on the map. The end result was that we ended up riding on a road that we 8 miles longer than planned. It brought us to the same exact destination where were supposed to be but via a busy, non scenic state highway. Our situation caused some discussion between Kyle and I, which resulted in Kyle charging ahead without knowledge of the route leaving me well behind. Unfortunately, unlike the ride up to this point, the route was not very clearly marked. In short, Kyle and I became separated on two occasions during the last 20 miles. Because Kyle's cell phone was a casualty of ice water in a water cooler during out travel to Berea, KY, I essentially had no way to contact Kyle to plan a rendezvous. Fortunately, this was not the first time that we had become separated (relates to my inability to match Kyle's speed and strength and somewhat to my overall weight package). On both occasions, I stopped at next course change and waited for Kyle to backtrack his route to find me. Not the best method, but a method nonetheless.
Given the combination of the lost time spent waiting for the action of the other, the warming temperatures, and our desire to reach the pickup rendezvous punctually, our temperaments were on edge. In the end, i) we saw more of Radford than we planned to see, ii) I was the first to the top of a major hill for the first time on this ride, and iii) we arrived at our rendezvous point outside of Radford, about 7 miles from Christiansburg, at almost the exact same time that Vicki and Andrea arrived. In short, near perfect timing.
We will not be riding on Saturday or Sunday, August 4 & 5. This will allow Kyle and I, as well as Vicki and Andrea, to attend the wedding of a member of our extended family that is being held in Asheville, NC. Kyle and I will resume riding Monday, August 6 in the PM. Andrea, my daughter, will also join us for 2 days.
When we came back from visiting Alex we drove some of the Blue Ridge Parkway on the way to Ashville. Nice shop selling products of the area artists and crafts people.
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