Author: surlybiketour.com

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Update: Monday morning, April 28th

We (I) made the decision to stay at the hotel in Ashland VA until Thursday morning until the weather clears up.  I am physically drained and need a rest day.  However, after one rest day (today/Monday), the weather forecast is very poor and civilization is sparse for the next 100 miles which is why we must stay at the hotel more than one extra day.  Linda is not happy that we are behind schedule.  Phil IS happy that he is going to get rejuvenated and that we are at a full-service hotel near many stores.  Linda is not happy about paying for 4 nights at the hotel!  My Mother-in-Law WILL be happy to know that we are NOT riding in the bad weather (I need some love because I am getting a hard time about the delay)!!!!!!!

Stay tuned for “Day 2 – Sunday April 27th” post and more updates!

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Day 1, Saturday April 26th

WOW!  What a fabulous day, we could not have had a better first day!  

We started the day off very early so that we could get some sunrise photos on the beach!  Linda’s awesome sister took many amazing photos of us on the beach! 

After our early morning photo shoot, we all went back to our rooms to get ready for the “famous” breakfast served at the hotels Island Cafe.  We had a good breakfast together with our family and friends.

The official start of the TransAm bicycle route is at the Yorktown Monument just up the hill a few hundred yards from the hotel.  Four of our friends joined us for the first half of our first day and it was so much fun to have had them with us starting out!!!  

Before we all left, we once again had a professional photo shoot at the monument to capture the moment.  There we said our goodbyes to my Mom, Dad and sister. It was a blessing to have them there.

The 6 of us enjoyed a beautiful ride to Williamsburg and Jamestown.  We took a group photo at Jamestown, said our goodbyes to Wendy and Kim, which was bittersweet, and then continued on further with Dan and Janet.  We found the SS sub shop, about 9 miles from Charles City, which when we got there was closed.  However, we were there not even 5 minutes resting on the outside picnic tables and someone arrived early to open the shop.  So we were able to fill our water bottles, use the bathroom and get some snacks.  Oh, and I (Linda) noticed my skin frying so decided sunscreen was a good idea.

After we hung out and rested there for a while, we went our separate ways.  It was sad to say good-bye, but we know we’ll see them again because there just too awesome of friends not too.

We traveled on to Charles City, it felt like a long time  They are creating a fantastic trail along the Route that will be a wonderful blessing as it wasn’t the most fun road to ride on. We got to ride on some newer portions of the bike trail not yet listed on the Adventure Cycling Association maps.  Some of the new portions even appeared to have had blacktop freshly laid literally just before we rode on it!  

We ate lunch at a phenomenal restaurant called “Cul’s Courthouse Grille” in Charles City: 10801 Courthouse Road, Charles City, VA 23030, Ph: 804-829-2205, www.culscourthousegrille.com, Open 7 days a week

Cul’s Courthouse Grille is a MUST STOP for bicycle tourists!!!   FYI   ***Courthouse Road runs parallel to the actual TransAm Route and dumps you right back onto the Capital Trail***.  Do not miss the turn!  They have a guest-book for the touring cyclists to sign.  While we were there, we met some fabulous people, including Bonnie, Freeda (our server) and a really awesome couple, Mike and Kate, whom arrived soon after we did and sat at the booth next to us.  Mike noticed our fully loaded touring bikes outside and seemed very interested so naturally Phil started a conversation with Mike.  We then had a great conversation with Mike and Kate and they were very enthusiastic about our trip!  After a fun conversation with our new friends, we finished our lunch and got back on our way.

Back on our way and biking along the capital trail, Phil was at it again, asking strangers as we pass by them “How far is it to Oregon?”, knowing full well that it is a great conversation starter!  We have had all kinds of awesome reactions to this question.  Phil had asked a woman whom was biking the other direction with a man and a child this question in passing…

…Fast forward ten minutes down the trail and we stopped to take a break.  A man stopped where we were and said to Phil (paraphrasing) “My wife said you had asked her how far it is to Oregon…”  It turns out he was the man we had passed biking with the woman and child.  His name is Mike and he is a cycling enthusiast.  A few minutes later, Mike’s wife Mary and their son Liam arrived as well.  We talked for a while and then took a group photo using our awesome tripod before continuing on our way.  They biked with us for a bit and Liam showed off his speed, never letting us get ahead of him!  

After leaving the trail, we were back on roads again climbing and descending some rolling hills for a bit.  Just a few miles from Willis United Methodist Church where we were staying at for the night, we found a nice short cut that took us off the busy road and onto what eventually became a dirt road.  We only deviated from the official trail about two miles.  We had three more miles to go instead of five. 

Just about one mile before the Church, Phil stopped to take some photos of Cannons at one of the many Historical Sites of the “Seven Days Battles, Malvern Hill.”  The we continued on and pulled into the Church around 7:30pm.

When we arrived, a group of touring cyclists was there to greet us and show us around.  They offered dinner to us and Phil had some of their tasty meal while Linda ate her to-go food that she had ordered at Cul’s.

Willis UMC is an amazing stop for Cyclists.  They have a very clean shower for the cyclists to use and also provide very nice, clean, and soft bath towels as well!  They have WiFi and tons of food in the cabinets for the cyclists to eat!  They even have a commercial eight burner stove for the cyclists to use too!  There is plenty of space to camp outside or sleep inside.  The group that was there with us all camped outside while we decided on indoor accommodations.

After we got our showers we set up our room and then turned in for the night. 

We’re looking to do a shorter day tomorrow.  We knew today would be a long day and it was.  We appreciate everyone who came down to see us and ride with us.  Our thoughts are with those who wanted to come down but couldn’t.  Our thanks for all the prayers everyone is sending our way.  Words cannot express our appreciation and thanks.

P.S.- Pictures to come!

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In Yorktown!!

Phil and I are heading to bed after a long ride down and enjoyable evening with some family and friends.  Tomorrow starts our journey and we’d be more excited if we weren’t so beat from all the excitement.

We feel truly blessed by all the support that is being poured out to us.  I’d like to say thank you to my parents for being willing to take us down and our friend Wendy and Kim for helping us transport the bikes (and for the future ride in the morning).  Thanks to my sister, Ginny, who is here in Yorktown to support us and use her amazing talent to take some awesome pictures (to come).

We were so happy to eat at the Riverwalk Restaurant here in Yorktown.  The food was amazing.  As a bonus our friends Lauren and Robert from Virginia Beach came up to spend the evening with us which we hadn’t seen in a long time.  It was a blessing to see them and their children.

puttingbikesonWendy, Kim, Linda & Phil loading up the bikes

PhilDadLindaLinda, Dad, Phil at lunch stop

LindaMomGinnyLinda, Mom, Ginny at the hotel

 

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Visit to University of Wyoming & Barnett Bicycle Institute

Recently, Linda and I visited The University of Wyoming in Laramie where we will be attending after our cross-country bicycle trip is complete (read our about section).  Linda will be working on a Master’s Degree in the Nutrition field and I will work toward completing a Bachelor’s Degree.  We wanted to check out the University and the town and  investigate housing options as well.

Linda and I met with one of her Professors of her specific program and were given a tour of the Family and Consumer Sciences Department.  The Campus is very nice and has a lot to offer!

While we were visiting the University, we also had the awesome opportunity to have our V02 Max measured at the University’s Family & Consumer Sciences Exercise Research Lab!  We were very excited to have this opportunity!  The V02 Max test was most definitely an uncomfortable test for us to experience.  Wearing the breathing apparatus while working hard at running on the treadmill made our throats very dry while at the same time, swallowing was near impossible.  In all fairness to us, we were not used to the altitude since we live almost at sea-level.

We looked at the different housing options and decided on a two-bedroom campus apartment.  The apartments are very nice and include all utilities.  The apartment we chose also comes with a washer and dryer hookup as well!  The Campus Shuttle runs very frequently and it is a very brief drive to the Student Union where the on-campus bar and billiard hall are located!!!

The air in this region is dry and so even though the numerical temperatures were between -7 and around 40-45 during our stay, the feels like temperatures were much higher.  We were wearing shirts outside (at least from the various campus buildings to our vehicle) when the numerical temperatures were in the low thirties.

In addition to the numerically low temperatures, snow was also falling at times.  But despite the weather, we saw bikes, lots of bikes, bikes everywhere, AND people were riding them!!!   We even saw a man riding a unicycle on campus while the sidewalks were still somewhat snow-covered and even a little icy in some spots!  There was not a time when we were out and about that we did not see folks riding their bicycles on and around campus and all over town!  We were very excited to see all the bicycles!

We visited the local bike shop in Laramie called The Pedal House.  The owner, Dewey, is really cool as is his shop!  Check them out at http://www.pedalhouse.com  He gave us some really awesome stickers that say: WE STILL HANG BIKE THIEVES IN WYOMING!  We also learned that snowbiking is a popular activity out there.  This is done on bikes equipped with “Fat” tires, which are really big and wide tires! Read this article: http://www.bicycling.com/mountainbikecom/featured-stories/bike-skills-ride-through-snow

After a few days in Laramie we headed out to Colorado Springs, Colorado to check out The Barnett Bicycle Institute: http://www.bbinstitute.com where Phillip will be participating in the Bicycle Assembly and Maintenance Program in mid-August.  BBI is a well-known and respected trade-school.

While in Colorado Springs, we also visited Pikes Peak.  We were able to drive up to 12,000 feet at which point the access road was closed due to unsafe conditions on the mountain from snowfall.  We missed getting to the top by one day!  The staff at the entrance told us that the road was open to the top the previous day and that it was the first time in a whole month that the road was open to the top.  The nice ladies also informed us that the road should be open more often in August when we will be back.

Stop, Swap and Save Event 02/09/2014

What a great time we had with Wendy and Curtis at the 17th Annual STOP, SWAP and SAVE event at the Carroll County Ag Center in Westminster, MD on Sunday February 9th!  Phil and I got some GREAT DEALS on some GREAT GEAR at the Swap for our upcoming cross-country bike trip at the end of April 2014!

The facility was heated which felt great as it was cold outside.  We were able to wait inside and stay warm as we arrived very early and were second in line.

We met lots of awesome folks as we were walking around the venue looking at all the bicycle “eye-candy.”

As lunchtime approached, the delicious aromas in the air coming from the food vendors got our attention!  The food at the SWAP was excellent and very reasonablely priced! Phil indulged in a juicy bacon-cheeseburger while I had the delicious (and gluten-free) nachos and cheese!

Here is a list of what we purchased:  2 Cycling Caps for $2, a 10 Liter Ortlieb Water Bag for $20 and Foldable Sink for $15!!!, 2-Take-a-Look Helmet Mirror Adapters $3 each, Booties $20 (just in-case we do ride in cold weather in the mountains), 3 Water-Bottle Cages for $5 total , 2- Tail-Lights $5 each, a new Stem $7 (to attach extra lighting), a Cat-Eye Velo 5 Bicycle Computer $15, and a fabulous C17 Brooks Saddle for Phil $130!!!  Woohoo!!

We now have all necessary gear for the trip and just have a few small items to get.  We are ready for some nice weather so that we can go on some overnight practice mini-tours!!

Check out the STOP SWAP AND SAVE Facebook Page for lots of great PHOTOS: https://www.facebook.com/stopswapandsave/photos_stream

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Don’t miss out on February 8th, 2015 when over 4000 people make the trip from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and beyond to the spend the day at the Carroll County Ag Center in Westminster, MD at the East Coast’s largest indoor bicycle swap meet and consumer bike expo!

Whether you’re looking for road bikes, mountain bikes, triathlon bikes, BMX bikes, clothing, bike parts, cycling accessories, vintage, new or used, there’s something for everyone… all for sale at discounted prices! Click here for complete event info and here for vendor registration. You can also download an event flyer. Download last year’s Event Guide here or visit our Vendors page for a sampling of current and past vendors.

Follow them on Facebook or Twitter for all the latest SWAP info.

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Pack Job #1

So I might be getting a little over-excited about our trip. I decided I wanted to pack everything up to see how and where everything fits best, etc, etc. We’re actually trying to decide whether we can do without the BOB trailer or not. So far things are looking a little snug, so we’re debating getting a “rack pack” that would fit over the back rack and panniers. We also have a few items that we might be able to do without or make smaller. Decisions decisions. ~Linda
2014-01-20 17.00.51

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Weekend Bike Tour: A Portion of the C&O Canal Trail

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To begin practicing and preparing for our cross-country bicycle trip, we went on a mini bike-touring trip along the C&O Canal Trail in August.  We drove to and camped here at Antietam Creek Campground for the night.  In the morning we packed up our gear and headed out.  There was beautiful scenery along the way including the train tunnel at Harpers Ferry and the big mountain that it is carved into.  We went swimming in the Potomac River.  We bicycled to Whites Ferry where we set up camp for the second night and then biked back  the next day.