Andy at the Lake.
We still love each other. (for now... :)
Andy finishing off our breakfast. Yes, I posed both plates in front of him, but the finger and tongue are real time happenings.
Our stuff seems to have dried out from the Tstorms a few nights ago. Andy really did a fantastic job navigating yesterday for 11 hours! (We checked Google maps, and it looks like we went 95 miles!)
We have gotten off late today though, but not without its pleasures. We very awkwardly started our 3rd campfire. Andy commented that if he had an entire forest of dry wood he probably couldn't start one, but we did after many minutes and much smoke and without the aid of gas. Packed out tent, did a very good yoga session, spoke to a couple of the camp hosts (we have our eyes on some of you to get on this track- more on that later- very civilian jobs), and then we biked the couple miles down to the lake. Stupendous. Everyone should go and stay a week and get a floating device of some sort to go exploring with. We wanted to dive in, but knew, as it was already after 11 that we should really get our tails going.
We didn't go too far until we stopped at the White House Restaurant for some Mexican Chili Salad and their Hamburger Plate special. I will not say too much about this food, except that it was delicious in the moment, too much in the end, but we didn't really have to eat anything again until we got to Salem.
The dirt is definitely a solid red now. Brown dirt is just a memory. The wildflowers seem to be a bit more vivid springing forth from it anyway. Our bodies are really tight, and we are very grateful to only have about 40 miles cut out for us today.
Vinton, Roanoke, and Salem came upon us quickly and fortunately. Andy gave some version of ASL "I love you" to some people with bikes on the back of their car and they subsequently pulled over a few blocks later and waited to talk to us. Retired and probably in their 60s they had recently biked the Bike Rt 1 South the the Florida Keys, then the Southern Route across the USA and up to Oregon. Over 8000 miles people. These guys were tough and seemed pretty normal :) They were on their way to pick up the grandkids.
We stopped to refuel our trail mix/Clif bar stash at the Roanoke Natural Food Co-op, stopped at a great outdoor store on Apperson Rd. to get tent repair, and ended up picking up a variety of other items. We would immediately feel the new sensation of added weight in our packs.
Made it to Salem by 6. Had delicious roast by the famous chef Aunt Tish, had wonderful hugs from Tish, Ben, and Jane. Saw Jane's illustrious garden, and Ben introduced us to a new beautiful side of Google maps, recommended we either take a road flare or cotton balls with us on our journey to help us with our campfire challengedness (both are good suggestions, we are trying to pick the one that's more our style).
Slept brilliantly, and were off this morning. Up Catawba mountain via 311, I can't believe it at this moment, spoke to a lovely past thru-hiker of the A.T. up there and then cruised down the other side (a very chilly morning), and then, we met the Bicenteniall Trail, the Bike Route 76, the original TransAmerica trail which will hopefully hopefully lead us to safety in Oregon.
Now in Christiansburg. Times up!
1 comment:
Your narrative is very interesting; you have a flair for this type writing. Rebecca, as you approached Christiansburg and in the town you were in your great grandmother Geary's entire family area (the Jewels, etc.) since the 1700s.
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