Virginia to Oregon

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Anticipation

Today is Sunday the 27th of April. Next Saturday Jon and I will begin his trek from Williamsburg, Virginia to Astoria, Oregon. An adventure that has been a dream of ours for several years. We began our journey more than six years ago, on a whim, to try and ride across New Mexico from West to East. We traveled through towns with names like Quemado, Pie Town, Datil, Magdalena. Through old trails like Journado del Muerto where the only refuge was a town named Bingham with two buildings; one was a magazine editor, and the other a rock salesman. The journey lasted nearly ten days and we covered over 550 miles. Little did we know at that time where our bikes would eventually take us. Since then we have ,over the course of the last 5 years, traveled roads paralleling the continental divide from Mexico to Jasper Canada. The multitudes of sites and friends we met along the way will always be a special part of our lives.
Next week Jon is undertaking what to some may seem an insurmountable task of crossing these United States. I am honored to join him for his first 500 miles. Anticipation by Merriam-Webster is "a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action; the act of looking forward". If I did not anticipate then half the experience of the the journey would be lost. Anticipation gives us an opportunity to develop in our minds the cans and cannots of the future. Therefore we attempt to anticipate any outcome that may be before us on this journey. But we also must be flexible, able to yield to unknown influence and adapt to change.
Riding requires an application of concentration unmatched by any other mode of transportation. First of all you must pack everything you may need to make the journey safe and possible, without packing so much that you are overweight. You must know your way without fault. Every wrong turn only adds anguish and consternation to a long day in the saddle. Planning includes clothing for any unseen change in the weather. You must maintain balance on your bike and in your mind. Wondering minds can bring you to undesirable destinations and wasted time. Fatigue will bring you to your knees. But proper attitude will allow you to enjoy the change and be flexible enough to adapt.
Someone once asked my how we could ride 50, 60, 80 miles a day and I explained that we don't think of it as a long ride but rather sever short rides in one day. We ride ten miles over and over. Every stop is a new view and a new adventure; remember "time is but a moving thing" and Jon will be pushing time from shore to shore. I am anticipating a great trip and Jon has the ability and flexibility to make it happen. I wish him good luck but I know he doesn't need it because he has anticipated this trip for years and he has the ability to adapt.
Buon Giorno!
Mike

April 29th 2008

I called Jon today and he said to bring a kite. The wind is incredible and if we catch it soon we'll be in Kansas in no time. Rather than taking a chance and camping out Jon opted for the safety and security of the Days Inn. He said it rained most of the night and continued to sprinkle off and on today. He also mentioned that the weather is unpredictable. I'm sure the local Virginia meteorologist agree. The last tornado to hit Virginia was more than twenty years ago. I hope Virginia get this all out of it's system before I arrive. Jon said these comforting words before he hung up, "Don't forget your coat, there are frost warnings tonight"

Friday, May 2nd

We always start out very precise. You will note by the 10th or 15th day notation of the day and date will be less than consistent. Anyway, I have arrived in Williamsburg, Virginia. Let me tell you the hour long cab ride was worth the experience. The cabby was from Nigeria and half the time he was on the phone with his friends or family speaking something incomprehensible to this westerner's ear. Even though he assured me that English was the national language in Nigeria. Non the less I pestered him relentlessly in the journalistic manner that many I meet have learned to detest. I mentioned that I would like to bike in Africa and his response was that I would be Lion Bait. He emphasized that it wasn't anything personal, that any westerner is considered less than desirable company but good revenue for the local bandits and robbers. He had lived in the States for greater than 6 years and had a family that were completely westernized. Due to the wild agility of his driving habits, I believe he must have had some sort of standing appointment that he needed to be at. He seemed to be apologizing to someone on the phone for being late. Needless to say he was becoming more and more agitated that we were not finding the bicycle shop sooner rather than later. He was just as happy to let me out of the cab as I was to see "Bikes Unlimited" As quickly as I paid him he was off. Spinning a U turn almost quick enough to catch me crossing the street. All kidding aside he was very friendly and tried patiently to answer the repetitive bombardment of questions that I shot at him.

		Virginia to Oregon
SECTION 1 Yorktown Church at Glendale Glendale to Ashland SECTION 2 Ashland to Mineral Mineral to Charlotteville Charlottesville to Wanesboro Wanesboro to Vesuvius Vesuvius Title 2 Title 3 Title 4 Title 5 SECTION 4 Title 1 Title 2 Title 3 Title 4 Title 5 Title 6		Jon Knudsen has decided to take on the challenge of crossing these United States via the Transamerica Route developed by the Adventure Cyclist Organization. The route entails over 3,000. miles of a variety of roads and terrain. I will begin this episode of his journey by flying to Norfolk, Virginia on May 2nd where I will then take a bus to Williamsburg and pick up my bike at the Bikes Unlimited shop. I shipped my bike on April 24th along with the trailer and camping equipment. UPS is a valued partner in these adventures. It may cost you in the neighborhood of $100.00 to have it shipped but the ability to travel virtually luggage free can give you the advantage of arriving quicker with less stress and assured your equipment is safely waiting for you. Sunday, April 27, 2008 Anticipation Today is Sunday the 27th of April. Next Saturday Jon and I will begin his trek from Williamsburg, Virginia to Astoria, Oregon. An adventure that has been a dream of ours for several years. We began our journey more than six years ago, on a whim, to try and ride across New Mexico from West to East. We traveled through towns with names like Quemado, Pie Town, Datil, Magdalena. Through old trails like Journado del Muerto where the only refuge was a town named Bingham with two buildings; one was a magazine editor, and the other a rock salesman. The journey lasted nearly ten days and we covered over 550 miles. Little did we know at that time where our bikes would eventually take us. Since then we have ,over the course of the last 5 years, traveled roads paralleling the continental divide from Mexico to Jasper Canada. The multitudes of sites and friends we met along the way will always be a special part of our lives. Next week Jon is undertaking what to some may seem an insurmountable task of crossing these United States. I am honored to join him for his first 500 miles. Anticipation by Merriam-Webster is "a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action; the act of looking forward". If I did not anticipate then half the experience of the the journey would be lost. Anticipation gives us an opportunity to develop in our minds the cans and cannots of the future. Therefore we attempt to anticipate any outcome that may be before us on this journey. But we also must be flexible, able to yield to unknown influence and adapt to change. Riding requires an application of concentration unmatched by any other mode of transportation. First of all you must pack everything you may need to make the journey safe and possible, without packing so much that you are overweight. You must know your way without fault. Every wrong turn only adds anguish and consternation to a long day in the saddle. Planning includes clothing for any unseen change in the weather. You must maintain balance on your bike and in your mind. Wondering minds can bring you to undesirable destinations and wasted time. Fatigue will bring you to your knees. But proper attitude will allow you to enjoy the change and be flexible enough to adapt. Someone once asked my how we could ride 50, 60, 80 miles a day and I explained that we don't think of it as a long ride but rather sever short rides in one day. We ride ten miles over and over. Every stop is a new view and a new adventure; remember "time is but a moving thing" and Jon will be pushing time from shore to shore. I am anticipating a great trip and Jon has the ability and flexibility to make it happen. I wish him good luck but I know he doesn't need it because he has anticipated this trip for years and he has the ability to adapt. Buon Giorno! Mike April 29th 2008 I called Jon today and he said to bring a kite. The wind is incredible and if we catch it soon we'll be in Kansas in no time. Rather than taking a chance and camping out Jon opted for the safety and security of the Days Inn. He said it rained most of the night and continued to sprinkle off and on today. He also mentioned that the weather is unpredictable. I'm sure the local Virginia meteorologist agree. The last tornado to hit Virginia was more than twenty years ago. I hope Virginia get this all out of it's system before I arrive. Jon said these comforting words before he hung up, "Don't forget your coat, there are frost warnings tonight" Friday, May 2nd We always start out very precise. You will note by the 10th or 15th day notation of the day and date will be less than consistent. Anyway, I have arrived in Williamsburg, Virginia. Let me tell you the hour long cab ride was worth the experience. The cabby was from Nigeria and half the time he was on the phone with his friends or family speaking something incomprehensible to this westerner's ear. Even though he assured me that English was the national language in Nigeria. Non the less I pestered him relentlessly in the journalistic manner that many I meet have learned to detest. I mentioned that I would like to bike in Africa and his response was that I would be Lion Bait. He emphasized that it wasn't anything personal, that any westerner is considered less than desirable company but good revenue for the local bandits and robbers. He had lived in the States for greater than 6 years and had a family that were completely westernized. Due to the wild agility of his driving habits, I believe he must have had some sort of standing appointment that he needed to be at. He seemed to be apologizing to someone on the phone for being late. Needless to say he was becoming more and more agitated that we were not finding the bicycle shop sooner rather than later. He was just as happy to let me out of the cab as I was to see "Bikes Unlimited" As quickly as I paid him he was off. Spinning a U turn almost quick enough to catch me crossing the street. All kidding aside he was very friendly and tried patiently to answer the repetitive bombardment of questions that I shot at him. Once at the bike shop I assembled and hooked up my trailer Barry had done a excellent job of reassembling my bike and tuning it up. I rode from Scotland Road down Richmond Ave to the Supper 8 where Jon was waiting. I had called him from the bike shop and he met me in the parking lot. We were both very glad to see each other. The hotel was across from a local shopping center where we grabbed dinner at Sal's Italian restaurant, picked up some necessary hardware items and visited the bookstore. As we walked back to our hotel the sidewalk was becoming crowed with local visitors who were out for a stroll on this Friday evening.		Virginias Historical Triangle Jamestown, VA Somebody left these boats in the water Yorktown 2.20 Mile Super 8 in Williamsburg 41 miles Glendale Methodist Church 33 miles Americamps Richmond North 48 miles Mneral VFD Grounds 55 miles Charlottesville 26 Miles Greenwood Misty Mountains Camp Resort 49 miles Mallard Duck CG 58 miles Troutville Ballpark 48 miles Christianburg 58 miles Wytheville - Elizabeth Brown 43 miles Grindstone 50 miles Rosedale-Elk Garden 46 miles Breaks CG