It’s a long read, but I hope you enjoy!
Day 65: Blacksburg to Lexington
The morning that we left Blacksburg, our host Charles biked with us a short distance up to the Atlantic Divide and showed us where you could pour a water bottle and have some trickle into the Gulf of Mexico and some into the main Atlantic Ocean. Then, we descended into the Catawba Valley and continued up towards Lexington.
Right as we exited this beautiful valley, my tire blew. Not in a fashion as spectacular as Eva’s only flat of the trip, just a pssst instead of a BOOM, but enough to stop my biking for the day. So, I switched with Tubb and plopped into the driver’s seat.
The driving has not appeared much in this blog since the writer of the blog for biking days has generally biked the entirety of those days. It’s nice to take a break, cruising up the hills the others must push through while seeing places I wouldn’t get to see otherwise. I first made a detour down to Roanoke to buy a replacement tire and then swung around to catch up to the others. As the van driver you realize even more than when you’re biking that bikes are surprisingly quick. Although my time was limited, I was able to stop at the swinging bridge in Buchanan.
That night, we had a scrumptious dinner with Dirk and Christina and their dog Roxy, the friendliest host pet we’ve met. Also, Dirk and I spent more than three hours that night trying to put the new tire on. So, PSA to everyone: You can put Continental GP5000 tubeless tires onto wheels without tubeless rims, but IMO it’s not worth the pain.
Day 66: Lexington to Charlottesville
After a truly hearty breakfast with Dirk and Christina, we crossed the Blue Ridge! I drove the first half (my last driving shift!) and so was able to literally watch over the rest of the team from above as they approached and ascended the Blue Ridge.
At this very moment, the rest of the team was in a little gift shop near the large white buildings in the middle of the photo.
At the top, we had lunch. While Tubb went on a trail run up the mountain (what’s an extra 800 feet when you’ve just done 2000?), Ethan, Will, and I hiked up to have a pack lunch on the summit of the Humpback Rocks.
The view from the top of Humpback Rocks
Then, we descended and decided to detour down an old railroad tunnel that Dirk had recommended to us. It was surreal, with jagged walls and puddles that looked from afar like hordes of wild beasts, but we made it out alive.
Exiting the Blue Ridge Parkway
Made it out of the scary tunnel!
We stayed that night with our host David in Charlottesville. They were kind and accommodating, and their beautiful outdoor shower was a fitting reward for having crossed our final mountain.
Day 67: Charlottesville to Richmond
Now that there were no mountains between us and the Atlantic, we had reached the land of the Founding Fathers. We biked through bucolic landscapes that resembled those in the Civil War documentaries, and we even passed by the estates of Presidents Jefferson and Monroe (Monticello and Highland respectively). We were unable to see Monticello without buying a ticket, but we were at least able to see the outside of Highland. It’s funny how that difference made a stronger impression of each president than all of US History class; I’m sure Jefferson explicitly stated in his will that he wanted visitors to have to pay to see his esteemed estate. (Now I’m actually curious about his intentions.)
The rest of the day was quite routine, in Spokes fashion. We visited an orchard that we happened to pass by and stopped to try their freshly picked apples and peaches. We had lunch at 4 p.m. in a random neighborhood park in the middle of seemingly nowhere. All reminders that the remaining number of these experiences, and the remaining days of our trip, were limited. And that brings me to my reflection.
Vibing on the swings at the park
Reflection
I can’t possibly encapsulate with words how incredible this trip has been. I’ve enjoyed biking, teaching, and getting to know the country I was born and grew up in so much better.
To start, here’s a tribute to the states we biked through in the form of what each state has taught me about biking:
California: How to use a road bike, especially shifting and stopping without falling over
Leaving campus the first day
Nevada: How to zoom down massive descents, having fun while staying safe! (hehe)
Vrooooom
Utah: How to bike through extreme heat, and how to true spokes on a wheel
Powering thru a 100 mile, 100 degree day
Colorado: How to ascend massive inclines, and how to bike at high elevation
Kansas: How to pace oneself on long, flat rides and what a difference wind can make
Western Kansas, near Leoti, golden hour
Missouri: How to bike on gravel, getting comfy with the rougher terrain
Gravel and tunnels
Illinois: How to complete a century, without overexerting oneself
Entering Illinois!
Kentucky: How to bike safely on roads with less shoulder, and how to deal with dogs
A super friendly neighborhood dog that followed us for four miles!
West Virginia: How to maintain speed and energy through rolling hills, one after the next
Up, and down, and now up
Virginia: When to coast amidst all the above and just enjoy oneself
Impromptu cheer tutorial on the road following a flat tire
(We also visited Indiana and Ohio, but only very briefly.)
Another highlight has been the many kind people out there that we’ve had the privilege of meeting on this trip. Talking to and in some cases living in the homes of these people, we’ve seen how diverse this country is. Yet they all gifted us with what I consider to be American hospitality, and they have restored much of my faith and hope in this country.
Lastly, I want to shoutout the rest of the Spokes ’24 team. We’ve become a lot like a family in the even truer sense of the word, making jokes with each other while also having minor disagreements that never last long. I’m so grateful to have met and gotten to really know a group of such wonderful people, and I’m sure we will all stay in touch for a long, long time.
The last mile in DC :)
It’s been a great journey, thanks for reading, and goodbye!
Hunter
