Hospitality, Hills and Dog Fighting

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip. They started from a seaside port aboard two Surly whips...

4 June '09 -Yorktown Victory Monument commemorating British General Cornwallis' surrender to George Washington/French allies and the start of American independence.

Day 1: Yorktown, VA
Before taking off for Virginia, we had to figure out where we would stay for our first night in Yorktown. A phone number for Grace Episcopal Church was listed on the Adventure Cycling maps. Elsa Bakkum picked up on the other line and welcomed us to stay at the church. We expected to be camping, but upon arrival we were shown to a brick home overlooking the York River and beach! That night, after 8 hours of driving, we took the traditional pic of dipping the rear wheel in the Eastern waters to be followed by the front wheel in the Pacific 3 months later. We had a kick off burger and a beer at the Yorktown Pub 100 feet below. We had a great air-conditioned sleep and although we felt like kings, we knew the next few weeks would be far less comfortable. The welcome we received in Yorktown, the birthplace of free America, was an excellent way to start the trip.

Day 2: First Day on the Road (To Glendale, VA)
We woke to a drizzle as we ate our first bowl of oatmeal, heavily doctored with honey, almonds, chocolate and dried fruit. We set out through historic Yorktown along flat marshland. Within an hour we were lost in colonial Williamsburg, rolling by historical interpreters dressed for the times. We met an 80 year old fellow, expecting Olde English speak, but received frank directions past the gallows, market square and a left at the cow pasture with windmill. Once out of rainy Williamsburg, home of William and Mary College, we stumbled once more through history into Jamestown, VA. The weather worsened as we rode through the wheatfields of Sherwood Forest Plantation (home of 9th President John Tyler).

5 June '09 - Grace Episcopal cottage accomodations

5 June '09 - Willis Church in Glendale, VA, after 60 miles in the rain.

5 June '09 - Willis Church in Glendale, VA, drying our gear.

5 June '09 - Cornfields along a bike path outside of Jamestown, VA. Our first cornfields. Why is Kevin squatting? We're the Fugawi..

13 June '09 - This is Nick, a XC rider we met going west. He's from MA and had been living out in San Diego, CA. Decided to come home for a jobular.

15 June '09 - Welcome to Kentucky! Glad to be done with the first 600 miles of the trip.

16 June '09 - Our accomodations on Kevin's birthday, the Knott County Historical Society. "A four star hotel without walls"; we slept in a tent out back. Ice cream sundaes and sweet tea upon arrival...awesome.

17 June '09 - Looking back on a steep climb.

18 June '09 - Boone Tavern Hotel on the 100th anniversary. They had free cake, we ate it. The early part of the day was pretty much the exact opposite...sitting in a muddy ditch in severe thunderstorms.

19 June '09 - Our blogging location for the day on the Berea College Campus. All the students here are on full scholarship to provide education for the underprivileged of Appalachia.