Day 59 August 8 Charleston, WV – Beckley, WV
After a small breakfast, it was to the road for an 80-mile day. Once again the weather was great but the ride was
pretty tough. We rode along an old mining road that was overgrown with shrubbery and reminded me of the movie Jumanji. We had some pretty tough climbs as we got into some serious hills. We had a roadside lunch around mile 60 and got back on the bike for the last 20 miles. We arrived at our lodging at Mountain State University around 2:30. I did some bike repairs and took a quick shower before leaving for dinner around 5:00. We went to the local Mountain State Center for Independent Living and had a nice lasagna dinner. The local Congressman and Chief of Police came out to welcome us which was kind of fun. I had dinner with the father of a young lady who has autism. It was a good visit and a great dinner. After that it was to the computer and off to bed.
Day 60 August 9 Beckley, WV – Blacksburg, VA
We woke up at 5:30a.m. and walked over to a nearby building at Mountain State for breakfast. After some eggs, sausage and biscuits, we hit the road for a 105-mile day to Blacksburg, Virginia. 105 miles with hills = Game Day = Eye Black from our chains.
For me, this was the 2nd hardest day of the trip behind our 115-mile day into Paradise, Montana. It was tough because it was our fifth day on the bike and we had some pretty serious climbs to deal with. It was another nice day of weather and was actually kind of cool. If it had been hot, half of us probably wouldn’t have made it through the day. Luckily, all of us made it and were extremely pooped from the day. We arrived at the campus of Virginia Tech around 4:00 and moved our stuff into our rooms. It was interesting being on the Virginia Tech campus and seeing the building I had seen on T.V. from the 2006 shootings. After showering up, we headed over to the dining hall and had an all you can eat buffet feast. It was great to replace all those calories I had burned for the day. (Average = 6,000 – 7,000 calories a day). After dinner I went to lay down for a bit before going out to celebrate a teammates 21st Birthday. Overall, it was a long day but those are typically the ones I remember the most.
Day 61 August 10 Blacksburg, VA – Roanoke, VA
Today was very unorthodox compared to the usual routine that we have become accustomed to. We had a short day riding and couldn’t check into our hotel in Roanoke until 4:00 so we didn’t have to be ready until 11:15a.m. I woke up around 9:30 and went to the dining hall at Virginia Tech. Once again it was all you can eat and it was pretty good food for a college. After breakfast, I went back to the dorm to pack up and get ready for the ride. We loaded the vans and went back to the dining hall to grab some lunch before hitting the road. It was a short day and mostly down hill so that helped the fatigued legs. Luckily it was a beautiful ride and it always helps knowing you’re riding into a day off. We arrived at Hotel Roanoke around 4:00 a
nd went to our rooms to settle in and shower up. This hotel was extremely nice and rich with history so it was a nice treat for our last day off. For the evening, we headed to Pump It Up to hang out with the Down Syndrome Association of Roanoke. It was really fun because Pump It Up is an establishment with multiple bounce house type contraptions inside. So, basically all the guys ran around like a bunch of 12 year olds and had a blast with the kids. After the visit we grabbed some pizza with the association and went next door to grab some ice cream. All the activity left me pooped and hitting my nice comfortable bed early.
Day 62 August 11 Roanoke, VA –Day Off
Today was a great day off…the last one of the trip! I woke up in my wonderful bed at Hotel Roanoke around 8:30a.m. and strolled to the lobby for a sponsored breakfast. We walked right over to the hotel restaurant where we had a phenomenal buffet breakfast sponsored by Larry & Betty Heaton, the parents of a former rider. It was a great meal and we stuffed ourselves with lots of biscuits and gravy, muffins, eggs and omelets. After breakfast, we headed to our lunch and friendship visit at Camp Virginia Jaycees. Many of the campers were there for a week and were engaging in certain activities when we arrived. We had the option to jump in at any of the activities and interact with the campers. I headed to arts and crafts where I met a young girl name Jennifer. Jennifer was going into the second grade and was confined to a wheelchair from what I’m guessing is Cerebral Palsy. She was so sweet and so fun to hang out with.
After painting a close pin to look like an alligator, we headed to the dining hall for lunch. All of us spread out to eat with both the children campers and the adult campers. I had lunch with my new friend Jennifer and after that we had to part ways. It was sad but it’s ok, we’re friends now. We headed back to the hotel where everyone had a few hours to do there own thing. I elected to do some journaling, which inevitably led to a nap. Some of the other guys made runs to the bike shop and Wal-Mart. Around 4:00p.m. we left for our friendship visit at Camp Easter Seals Virginia. After a scenic one-hour drive, we arrived at camp and went on a tour of the facilities. The folks currently attending the camp were families with a child who has a disability. I thought that was neat considering we hadn’t seen anything like that on the trip. After the tour, we joined the campers for a hamburger/hot dog meal. After dinner, we loaded up the vans for our long ride back. Once we arrived back at the hotel, we met out on the pool deck for a team meeting. We discussed the last few days of the trip and engaged in some share time. After the meeting, it was a little free time before heading to bed. Overall, it was a great day off before hitting the home stretch into D.C. I can’t believe we’re so close!
After a small breakfast, it was to the road for an 80-mile day. Once again the weather was great but the ride was
pretty tough. We rode along an old mining road that was overgrown with shrubbery and reminded me of the movie Jumanji. We had some pretty tough climbs as we got into some serious hills. We had a roadside lunch around mile 60 and got back on the bike for the last 20 miles. We arrived at our lodging at Mountain State University around 2:30. I did some bike repairs and took a quick shower before leaving for dinner around 5:00. We went to the local Mountain State Center for Independent Living and had a nice lasagna dinner. The local Congressman and Chief of Police came out to welcome us which was kind of fun. I had dinner with the father of a young lady who has autism. It was a good visit and a great dinner. After that it was to the computer and off to bed.Day 60 August 9 Beckley, WV – Blacksburg, VA
We woke up at 5:30a.m. and walked over to a nearby building at Mountain State for breakfast. After some eggs, sausage and biscuits, we hit the road for a 105-mile day to Blacksburg, Virginia. 105 miles with hills = Game Day = Eye Black from our chains.
For me, this was the 2nd hardest day of the trip behind our 115-mile day into Paradise, Montana. It was tough because it was our fifth day on the bike and we had some pretty serious climbs to deal with. It was another nice day of weather and was actually kind of cool. If it had been hot, half of us probably wouldn’t have made it through the day. Luckily, all of us made it and were extremely pooped from the day. We arrived at the campus of Virginia Tech around 4:00 and moved our stuff into our rooms. It was interesting being on the Virginia Tech campus and seeing the building I had seen on T.V. from the 2006 shootings. After showering up, we headed over to the dining hall and had an all you can eat buffet feast. It was great to replace all those calories I had burned for the day. (Average = 6,000 – 7,000 calories a day). After dinner I went to lay down for a bit before going out to celebrate a teammates 21st Birthday. Overall, it was a long day but those are typically the ones I remember the most.Day 61 August 10 Blacksburg, VA – Roanoke, VA
Today was very unorthodox compared to the usual routine that we have become accustomed to. We had a short day riding and couldn’t check into our hotel in Roanoke until 4:00 so we didn’t have to be ready until 11:15a.m. I woke up around 9:30 and went to the dining hall at Virginia Tech. Once again it was all you can eat and it was pretty good food for a college. After breakfast, I went back to the dorm to pack up and get ready for the ride. We loaded the vans and went back to the dining hall to grab some lunch before hitting the road. It was a short day and mostly down hill so that helped the fatigued legs. Luckily it was a beautiful ride and it always helps knowing you’re riding into a day off. We arrived at Hotel Roanoke around 4:00 a
nd went to our rooms to settle in and shower up. This hotel was extremely nice and rich with history so it was a nice treat for our last day off. For the evening, we headed to Pump It Up to hang out with the Down Syndrome Association of Roanoke. It was really fun because Pump It Up is an establishment with multiple bounce house type contraptions inside. So, basically all the guys ran around like a bunch of 12 year olds and had a blast with the kids. After the visit we grabbed some pizza with the association and went next door to grab some ice cream. All the activity left me pooped and hitting my nice comfortable bed early.Day 62 August 11 Roanoke, VA –Day Off
Today was a great day off…the last one of the trip! I woke up in my wonderful bed at Hotel Roanoke around 8:30a.m. and strolled to the lobby for a sponsored breakfast. We walked right over to the hotel restaurant where we had a phenomenal buffet breakfast sponsored by Larry & Betty Heaton, the parents of a former rider. It was a great meal and we stuffed ourselves with lots of biscuits and gravy, muffins, eggs and omelets. After breakfast, we headed to our lunch and friendship visit at Camp Virginia Jaycees. Many of the campers were there for a week and were engaging in certain activities when we arrived. We had the option to jump in at any of the activities and interact with the campers. I headed to arts and crafts where I met a young girl name Jennifer. Jennifer was going into the second grade and was confined to a wheelchair from what I’m guessing is Cerebral Palsy. She was so sweet and so fun to hang out with.
After painting a close pin to look like an alligator, we headed to the dining hall for lunch. All of us spread out to eat with both the children campers and the adult campers. I had lunch with my new friend Jennifer and after that we had to part ways. It was sad but it’s ok, we’re friends now. We headed back to the hotel where everyone had a few hours to do there own thing. I elected to do some journaling, which inevitably led to a nap. Some of the other guys made runs to the bike shop and Wal-Mart. Around 4:00p.m. we left for our friendship visit at Camp Easter Seals Virginia. After a scenic one-hour drive, we arrived at camp and went on a tour of the facilities. The folks currently attending the camp were families with a child who has a disability. I thought that was neat considering we hadn’t seen anything like that on the trip. After the tour, we joined the campers for a hamburger/hot dog meal. After dinner, we loaded up the vans for our long ride back. Once we arrived back at the hotel, we met out on the pool deck for a team meeting. We discussed the last few days of the trip and engaged in some share time. After the meeting, it was a little free time before heading to bed. Overall, it was a great day off before hitting the home stretch into D.C. I can’t believe we’re so close!
1 comment:
It was a pleasure to host you and your group! Thanks again for your contribution and time given to Camp Easter Seals Virginia.
Thank you,
Alex Barge
Camp Easter Seals Virginia
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