Transamericaride 2023

Remember. I talked about those black rubber bungy cords for so long and then after KS. I never saw them again. Well, Charlie had a collection that he laid out on the sidewalk for me so I’d feel at home. Only he would do that. I tho’t it was pretty funny.

Charlie has a fantastic garden. We have been eating tomatoes, corn, and carrots.

My brother picked me up at 8 a.m., and we made it to Stroudsburg by 12;30. However, he was having alternator problems, and his truck died 1/2 mile from Charlie’s house. We took the interstate instead of back roads, and boy, was that ever a good idea. His battery light was on most of the way. And we really tho’t we were gonna be stranded way before we were.

We spent the afternoon removing the alternator, ordering a new one, and touring Charlie’s gardens. I’ll send pics tomorrow.

This will be my second to last post as I have decided this is the end of my ride. I’m over the traffic and will rent a car home. I plan to spend a few days with Charlie, then rent a car to Ohio to work on the farm and then go home late Oct. It’s been a fun ride, but I’ve had enough. I’ll miss being on my bike, but the traffic here in the east is more than I want to deal with.

Did laundry then rode to the outskirts of town so it would be easier to meet my brother tomorrow morning. Rode around the parking lot for a while just for fun. Spent the afternoon reading another book. Another lazy day.

Bad guy from yesterday

Spent the day reading. Walked to lunch and dinner but a very uneventful day.

On the road early to check on a motel out of town that unfortunately doesn’t exist anymore. Was hoping to meet up there with my brother on Tues before getting into Winchester, but that was an attempt in futility. But I do have one right on the edge of town, so that will be ok.

After that, I went to the Museum of Shenandoah Valley. In one gallery, there were several miniature houses of the 1700-1800s, fully furnished with miniature furniture of that same time. So beautiful and absolutely a work of art. I can’t imagine trying to build a chair or anything else that small. Everything was built to scale, including glass chandeliers.

Another gallery room was nothing but full-size chairs of all kinds. Those did not impress me even tho they were all hand-crafted. There were other exhibits, too. I probably spent two hours there. One of the best museums I’ve ever been in. And I’m not a museum person.

After that, I went to the Glen Burnie home and toured the gardens, which were sad. This part of VA is in a drought, and all the gardens, even some trees, were suffering from lack of water. I felt sad for some of the plants. Those in pots were being watered and looked great.

There were several Lego art statues in the garden made by one artist, Sean Kenney. My favorite was the leopard. Looked so real. I was impressed.

Now, on my walk to this garden were flower beds along the walkway. My eye goes right to something out of place. Can you see what doesn’t belong. Answer tomorrow.

For lunch, I rode to Olive Garden and stuffed myself with soup, salad, and bread sticks. So good. Now I’m ready to read my book. Very hot out there again today. Time to get in where it’s cool.

Went downtown early to explore more in the historic district. Went through the house that George Washington used as his office when he came to this area at the age of 16 to do surveying. He was a self-taught man who did very well for himself. At the age of 20, he owned hundreds of acres of land. Later, he led armies and, of course, became president of the US.

I visited the library whose building is quite impressive. Hope you can see the dome on top.

I visited another antique store and salivated over more marble topped tables. You just don’t see them out west very often. Back here, they are very prevalent.

One thing I noticed in old town was how the old houses are right next to each other. No wasted space.

I took a walk this afternoon, and it was hot and muggy. In the 90s. So, I spent most of the afternoon reading a book in my cool room. No need to suffer.

My route today was a heavy truck route. The first two miles about freaked me out. But it got better and, fortunately, only a few miles of real stress. There was no other way to get here. The lady at the visitor center said that the short section of 522 between Front Royal and Winchester is one of the busiest because of all the distribution centers near this town.

Winchester is the birthplace of Patsy Cline. The visitor center had lots on her. She died at 30 in a plane crash. I didn’t know that. They even have tours of the house she grew up in.

I toured the old town ‘walk only’ section of town. That was better than battlefields and museums. I get bored with history stuff. But I will visit a big museum tomorrow.

Lots of rolling hills today with good shoulders on the “flat” and disappearing shoulders on the hills. I still can’t figure out Virginia’s reasoning of passing lanes and shoulders. The biggest mystery of this trip.

Just before town, I came across the Skyline Caverns and thought, what the heck. I had time to kill. I was the first and only one to sign up for the 10:00 tour. No self guided tours here, so I got a one on one special guided tour. This cavern had anthodites that are rare and formed in a vacuum. This cavern is one of the few places in the world that has these.

They are very delicate and take thousands of years to form. Consequently, they are protected by hardware wire from people who might try to harm them.

If you look closely and use your imagination, this is supposed to be an eagle.

Once in town, I walked the historic district. Lots of big houses. Some are now museums. I was bored so I went to the library and got a couple books. Then, it was time to find a motel. I passed a couple grade c motels and went on. Then I came to the high-end motels. Luckily, the visitor center gave me a discount code for the double tree inn. It was way out of town but on my way to tomorrow’s destination, so I went there. And this is great. Restaurant in house and very nice room. I’m happy.

I can’t believe I’ve ridden up and over the Blue Ridge Mtns now three times. I went over Massanutten Mtn to Luray this morning. And Eby errored out on me again just before the top. At least it’s not at the bottom. He must really be getting tired. I tho’t we had his problem fixed. He’s starting to make me really nervous. I still have lots of hills to ride. But I’m not going up and over a big mtn range again if I can help it.

I went through the Luray caverns this morning. Took more pictures than I can ever send. But here are a few of my favorites. Ignore the audio thing. I can’t get rid of it. There’s nothing there.

After going through the caverns, I went through a garden maze of junipers. Took me 20 minutes to get out.

After checking into the motel, I went looking for lunch. I was craving Italian, and the closest restaurant started being closed every tues as of today. Fine. I rode all the way to the other side of town (up and down big hills) to the other Italian restaurant, which was really good. On the way back to the motel, I stopped and rode the Greenway. It was short but very nice. And I saw my favorite little creatures, ducks. There were about 50 all sitting and napping in the shade between the river and the bike path. Apparently, they were used to people cause none got up and ran off. A couple gave a warning quack, but I talked to them softly, and they all stayed put. I used to have ducks and geese as pets, so this made my day. As I rode off, four Canada Geese flew into the river. So beautiful.

Only rode 20 miles today, but it was a fun day.

Walked out to high temps and high humidity this morning. What happened to my cool, dry mornings. I wasn’t ready for that.

On my way out of town this morning, I passed a landscaping business at which I just had to stop. All kinds of pots and lawn ornaments as well as water features, etc. Such a cool place. Lots of things were made out of concrete, which they make themselves. I saw a bench that had the perfect saying. “An hour in the garden puts life’s problems in perspective.” I believe this wholeheartedly.

I passed several rock houses today. This one really grabbed me.

I was able to get some shots of the Blue Ridge Mtns and the Shenandoah Skyline.

I have been on several major roads that are called the Spotswood Trail. All kinds of businesses and schools had Spotswood in the name. I finally looked it up, and Gov. Spotswood crossed the blue ridge mtns in the 1700s. This was apparently his route. Must have been some famous dude.

I visited the Civil War Museum here in New Market and the New Market Battlefield. Such destruction and loss of life. Almost made me depressed. I have never understood war.