Trish & Phill's Tandem TransAmerican

Tour 2003 

May 9 Ashland -Mineral Virginia 50mi

We left the Campsite this morning in very moist misty weather, the rain coat on. We seam to get wet but you cant actually see any rain falling. Along the road a woman called out to us and gave us Gods blessing. She was really genuine in her best wishes for us. We got chased by our first dog today Trish was not too pleased about it. We had lunch at a fire station. We used their picnic table. They told us that they have cyclist though there all the time and that next time we pass through we should stay at the station and use their facilities NEXT TIME ??? 

On the way we stopped for a coffee break at Palmyra and came upon Grant who had a spoke that had gone in his wheel.

Tonight we are staying at the home of Rob Mills on a small farm. He's a mate of our tour leader. He together with another buddy William Hail are cooking us up a BBQ tea. They live in a place that you couldn't find accidentally in a million years, it's miles away from anything. William is a sometimes farmer (grows popcorn) and Rob is a Airplane mechanic. William was telling us he has seen a Black Bear killed on the road "not more that three miles down the road". He tells us they are fairly shy animals and they wont give us no problems, I hope he's right

Rest & Recreation Time

As we traveled the last 2 miles or so up to Rob's place the heavens opened up on us, with fantastic lightning and some thunder. There are cyclones over the middle of the country especially Oklahoma with sever damage and people killed. They say we are seeing the tail end of it all. After pitching the tent a lightning strike ground to earth far to close scaring the hell out of Trish who was standing in the rain trying to photograph the lightning, she nearly got a close up.

The rain soon cleaned up as we prepared for tea. Over head a small plane buzzed us as Rob came over us to see if we had arrived. He returned after leaving the airport and we all had a nice meal sitting around a campfire, with a few bears. 

William cooking the bar-b-que

Page owned & maintained by Trish Collins email to  trishphill@aapt.net.au.  Last Updated 28/07/2003