June 6 Crossing America

Trotsville, VA –  Blacksburg, VA Distance 42 miles

Today everyone is excited as tomorrow will be a day of rest.  Plus there is going to be a welcoming party for us in Blacksburg with TV and newspaper coverage.  The dread there is a 3 ½ mile climb going into Blacksburg which is extremely challenging but the welcome will be worth it.  The first 20 miles today had more than a fair share of hills.  The first
water stop we were surprised with fresh fruit, donuts and Gatorade, making the effort just expended a little more tolerable.  Right, in your dreams the next 7 miles had one hill after another.  I bonked, lost all my energy, guess I didn’t eat enough goodies at the water.  I
pulled off the side of road, drank a full 24 oz. of water from my emergency water bottle and ate the only thing in my bag some Sport Jelly Beans.  Pepper was riding sweep and came along about the time I finished my rest.  He assured me the road leveled out from here until the “dreaded hill” and again he steered me right.  The water and Sport Beans
worked as the next 20 miles went by rather quickly.

The Dreaded Hill, 3 ½ mile in length with an average gradient of 11% (6-19%), did an
average 3.3 mph up and only had to stop once to push my tongue back in my mouth
and pounding of my heart to get back into my chest instead of between my ears.  Everyone else had already made it to the top and gave me the clap when I made the summit.  From there it was an easy coast into town and the little city park where the media, friends and others were gathered to cheer us in.  Felt nice actually to have an audience to welcome us.  We indulged in salad, lasagna, deli sandwiches, and fresh fruits galore.  Everything tasted so good.  Great end to today’s ride.

Tonight we’re staying in a home rented by a rider from last year.  I didn’t get the details but the house was empty of furniture but did have stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer.  We all got a welcome shower and our clothes laundered.  Afterwards most of us headed
downtown for dinner at a Mexican Restaurant.  Most everything on the menu looked spicy hot to me so ordered a black bean and cheese dip with an order of shrimp and crab in an Alfredo sauce.  Unbelievable!  First the Bean dip was out of this world spicy hot, one dip and I was done with it.  I was going to send it back but the others at the table wanted to sample it.  They thought it was great.  Next the waitress served the shrimp and crab
Alfredo again this dish was so damm spicy hot I couldn’t begin to eat it.  Since everyone was raving about how great their meal was I just let my dissatisfaction go by without complaining.  I guess it will do me good missing a few meals on this adventure.  Who knows I may even lose a significant amount of weight which will allow me to get up this
monster hills.  Doubt it hills are my nemesis always have been probably always will.

Looking forward to having a “Rest Day” tomorrow as my body is screaming for mercy.

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