Day 7

Well, it's clear that I'm not sticking to this journal thing very well.  I'm staying in motels and watching TV--lots and lots of TV.  And smoking cigarettes -- lots and lots of cigarettes.  Some bike ride.

On the other hand I feel somewhat content.  I've ridden 350 miles in 7 days, and I'm not sore all over.   My butt seems to have adjusted to the seat.  The only real worry is that my condition/smoking won't get me over the mountains.

I've purposefully taken it easy for 4 days now so that I'm not already aching when I hit the mountains.  However, I will end up riding yet another short day tomorrow because I only want to go to Ashland [VA], where I know there's a bike shop.  I want a full tune-up before the mountains.

Hay bales in Virginia

Today's trip was so short (40 miles) and I started so early that I was here (Tappahannock [VA]) by 11:00AM!  It was a beautiful ride, and started to prepare me for the "rolling hills" -- I got to 33 mph going down one!

But instead of risking overextending myself or not finding a motel, I stayed in town.  Watched three movies, ate two ice creams, 2 brownies, a hamburger, a bag of potato chips and a bag of popcorn - ugghhhh!  Also went for a long walk around town - very quaint and historic.  I like Virginia - it's beautiful.  But also very "foreign".

I'm contemplating my attitude on this strip.  While riding, it's pleasant, but hard.  When not riding, I don't do much.  So why am I doing this?  What am I proving?  That I'm alive?

Day 6 was short - rode from Salisbury [MD] to Crisfield [MD] - 30 miles.  Had 2 breakfasts.  The ferries were nice, but it was very windy and overcast.   A nice bus driver/biker warned me about VA mountains and carpal tunnel syndrome.  His advice on carpal tunnel seemed to pay off today, because I tried to bend my wrists less and the numbness subsided.

*Quoting Dianne Lynne Ikenberry's book.