After Scott peeled off with Amy and the boys yesterday afternoon to spend the evening at my brother's Richmond home, he went through an extreme fit of eating, fluid and electrolyte replacement, and several other fits that I cannot mention here.
I CAN tell you that once he arrived at my brother's house, he had a tremendous craving for salt. In the fridge he found a pickle jar with two lonely pickles left inside. They were inhaled instantly. Scott found that pickle taste so desirable and satisfying that (I'm not making this up) he then proceeded to drink the entirety of the pickle juice inside the jar.
Scott rode strong today - perhaps it was the pickle juice?
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How many pharmacists does it take . . . part deux.
After Lynn and John Cox put on an awesome breakfast feed after our overnighter, we got a quick chance to catch up with Win Gouldin after his marathon training run. I'm the lucky guy between Lynn and Amy, with my good friends Win and John on the right. These guys have been friends of ours and as far as I can tell still look and act exactly the same as when we first met them 18 years ago. (uhh . . . 18 years?! . . . holy . . . ) |
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"TWO FROGS ON A BIKE"
Cool name for an old antique store! |
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Today was really the last of the major 100-miler-style rides of the trip and it was a beaut. The weather was hot, the air was stiff and muggy, the cicadas were in song . . . it was everything you would imagine a late July Virginia 100-miler would be (as opposed to the mid-March weather I had experienced during my first few days in Virginia).
| "I believe the heat is gettin' to that boy." |
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Today we left the classic TransAm bike route entirely and were literally rolling our own. Putting together a bike route over territory you've never even driven in a car is a lot like staring at one of those 3-D holographs... if you stare at the map long enough suddenly the route will be revealed to you. We traveled a route that featured at least 3-dozen different roads, and thankfully we never missed a turn. The route was a beautiful one rolling through the agricultural land between the piedmont and the Chesapeake Bay. Eastern Virginia is a great mix of giant old 1800's-era homes (some in utter disrepair - others glorious), expansive farms, and wood lands - and hardly anyone else on the roads.
The fuzz hassled us a bit when we were cruising through the Ashland area - this one Sheriff circled us no less than three times before finally pulling over to the side and yelling at us as we passed by: "Make sure y'all stay in a single-file line on this road, now." You'd think with all of the Michael Vick and Lindsey Lohan stuff going on these days that we wouldn't merit any attention on a Sunday morning at 8:30am, but that would be wrong.
Jan and Cal Boyd - family on my Mom's side - have a house and guest house in Fleeton . . . and had generously offered that I could crash there for the night. Unfortunately - they wouldn't be there to visit with as they were already on the Eastern Shore for our big family reunion that started yesterday (I'm a coupla' days late). So Fleeton was the target for the day & Scott's wife Amy met us there with their two boys. Jan & Cal's place was just awesome - right on the bay - water in the backyard - idyllic setting. After a quick shower we all headed to Tommy's in Reedville for dinner. Crabcake sandwich there really hit the spot.
Since I was traveling VERY light Scott loaned his Tevas to me to wear to the restaurant (so I wouldn't have to clomp around in cycling shoes). Naturally I failed to return them to him so will have to have them mailed to him in quick order. Sorry Scott!
Jan & Cal's place had cable so I watched Forrest Gump (seemed appropriate . . . "Run, Forrest! RUN!!) and dozed (about 3/4 of the time) until the evening news came on, before deciding it was silly to stay up any longer.
Last day tomorrow?
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