John Aylward Photography

Today’s Highlights:
Today we rode 101 miles from Battleborro to Warsaw. We were a little lucky with the weather. The morning temperature was in the 70’s. The humidity was so high that I was completely soaked a few miles into the ride, but at least it was comfortably cool. We also had very overcast skies until 10:30, helping to keep us cooler. In mid-day, the sun came out and it quickly warmed into the 80. Although warm and very humid, it was far better than the previous few days. We also had a nice little tailwind most of the day as we headed south.
We cycled through very rural areas of NC, passing farms all day. Several towns we passed seemed tiny and nearly abandoned.
I reached the hotel at 1:45pm, only 6-1/2 hours after I started. It was one of my fasted century rides. I also rode alone all day, without the aid of drafting with other cyclists. We are staying in a really dumpy hotel, and McDonald’s is the best restaurant within miles. That’s not a very good way to finish a 101 mile ride.

Day 15

Statistics:
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Time: 8/28/2016, 4:18:3

Duration: 06:26:10

Ascent/Descent: 3668 ft 3735 ft

Distance: 100.78 M

Today’s Highlights:
We had a late start at 8:00 today, because we only had to ride 59 miles. Although most people wanted to leave earlier to beat the heat, the staff prefers that we don’t get to the next hotel before noon. So we had a leisurely morning, loaded the luggage van at 8:00, and started our very hot and humid ride.
The heat was the only big challenge today. Our route was flat, and the roads were good. I cycled with Rene, Barry and Mike for the first 20 miles and averaged 17.7 mph. At mile-14, we stopped at the North Carolina border to take picture. I had to drop off their paceline after 20 miles, slow down a little, and stopped for a few more pictures. Our one SAG stop for the day was at mile-27 in River Falls Park, along the Roanoke River in South Weldon. Some really smart people were rafting on the river. I would have traded my bike for a raft today.
From the SAG stop, I cycled alone for the last 32 miles. My focus was mainly on drinking and moving along quickly to get out of the heat. It really detracts from sightseeing. Most of the route took us past farms of cotton, tobacco, corn and other crops I am not familiar enough with – perhaps soybean. The tiny village of Halifax had some interesting historic building, once visited by George Washington (he was everywhere) and Lafayette in the 1790s and early 1800s. We passed through some very depressed small towns. Although I have seen plenty of poor city and rural neighborhoods, there was something unusual about these. I can’t pinpoint what it was, but it seems like something I would only expect to see in a movie about the past.

Day 14

Statistics:
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Time: 8/27/2016, 5:03:2

Duration: 04:10:27

Ascent/Descent: 1115 ft 1117 ft

Distance: 59.66 M

Today’s Highlights:
Our 91-mile ride from Mechanicsville to Emporia was generally flat and on country roads with good surfaces. I was able to average over 16 mph today and finish in under seven hours. The challenge was the heat. It was in the 70s when we started, but also very humid. Two hours later it was in the 80s, and after three hours it was between 90 and 100. So the last half of the ride was extremely hot, and a challenge for us all. Some of the cyclist who were riding slower wisely got in the van after 60 miles and shuttled to the hotel.
At mile 14, we reached the halfway point of our route from Maine and Florida. Kathi marked the road, and we all stopped there for pictures. Our route also led us through several Civil War battlefields, commemorated with plaques. I would have like to stop at each one and learn about the history, but I was too focused on getting the miles done quickly to get out of the heat. All of our route was through rural farms and forest. We passed over the James River on the Benjamin Harrison Memorial Bridge. The size of the river was quite impressive.
For about 1/3 of today’s ride, I joined a small group of riders. Otherwise, I pushed on by myself.

Day 13

Statistics:
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Time: 8/26/2016, 4:12:1

Duration: 06:41:09

Ascent/Descent: 2040 ft 2110 ft

Distance: 91.29 M

Today’s Highlights:
Today’s ride was only 72 miles with rolling terrain and few significant hills. The morning was cool and comfortable, but it did warm up quickly and was in the 80s after 11:00 AM. I arrived in Mechanicsville before 1:00 and avoided the hottest part of the day on the road.
Near the start of the ride we were on a nice bike path for a couple miles. Then we entered the Fredericksburg Battlefield Park and rode on a quiet park road through the forest for several miles. It was a very pleasant start. After riding with Rene and Barry for 12 miles, I slowed down and cycled alone for an hour or so. A group of seven caught up to me, and I joined them to the first rest stop at mile 31. For the second half of the ride, I cycled with Allen and/or the three riders who joined us yesterday – Gene, Don and Dona. Larry and Steve sometime joined us. It was nice to have company today. There wasn’t much scenery to slow down for. Our route was mostly on quiet country roads, some of them very rough and some gentler on the saddle. Mechanicsville is just outside of Richmond VA to the northeast.

Day 12

Statistics:
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Time: 8/25/2016, 4:33:3

Duration: 05:17:08

Ascent/Descent: 2271 ft 2339 ft

Distance: 71.55 M