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The TransAmerica Trail – Virginia
Mechanicsville, VA – Mineral, VA
61 miles
June 1, 2006
Had a late start today, making the most of my room for the night. Rode along for an uneventful hour or two until I came to Ashland, VA. There’s a road through town where the two lanes are split down the middle by railroad tracks, and I think three trains passed while I was there. I stopped at the library there and updated my journal.
The rest of the riding this afternoon was uneventful – simple wooded country roads with occasional farms and homes. I saw a couple dead snakes, and passed the old homestead of Patrick Henry – first Governor of Virginia, famous speech maker, and all in all righteous colonial dude.
The terrain is getting a bit hilly as I make my way inland out of the flat coastal regions. I should be in the Appalachians soon – it’ll be fun to feel and experience the gradual changes in landscape as I roll across the continent.
Tonight I’m staying at a volunteer fire company in a town called Mineral. There’s a great group of cyclists here, doing a section of Virginia – Paul, Emilee, Jeannie, Rod, and Jesse – they treated me to an excellent dinner! Jesse is 25, and drives a support van for them. He has that thing hooked up! It was a great evening sitting up talking with Jesse and his dad, Rod. We even fit in a game of chess.
A thunderstorm rolled through earlier, but it was all bark and no bite – sort of disappointing, in a way. Life is good.
mmm… Scotchtown… Scotch… mmm…
yes, the town is called Bumpass, Virginia
outside the Mineral fire house
chess with Jesse – I lost
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