Paul's mail:
letter dated 5/21/10, plain paper
Mom
Last night we stayed in KY for the first night at a heritage historical society. They let people camp, serve breakfast [real fruit!], cake, even a shot of moonshine before bed. I think the town was Hindelman, about 60 miles from the KY state line.
It's been raining A LOT here, almost every night. The most noticeable difference between VA and KY are the dogs! Pretty much every house has one and most will chase you down the street. Some of the bike group has pepper spray or use their air pumps to avoid bites. I've found if you just get off your bike and walk, they growl but stay away. Most of the energetic ones are little, anyways.
I will say, I'm looking forward to big hills because that means no dogs will attach you [you don't see any houses on the steep hills].
That's all for now!.
Love, Paul
PS The post office in Emmalena, KY gave me a free stamp.
May 24, 2010
May 20, 2010
Still in Virginia...
J & Shells,
So I saw part of this gorgeous lake. Got to bike on a highway over some sweet river in Radford as well...believe it or not, Radford, VA, is a pretty small, insignificant town, much like every other town I've been going through. I see a town on the map then, before I realize I'm out of it, I am! It's as if the "town" is one store/post office, if that! All very exciting, but no culture.
love,
Paul
(note #1 from the recipients: the front of the post card had the gazebo and, on further investigation, said gazebo is noted as a pretty popular site for weddings, for those who want a wedding in a state park...note #2: that store and post office is the culture Paul. welcome to small town america.)
May 18, 2010
Somewhere in SW VA
Allan, Annie, Clara,
So I'm sending you mail two days in a row! Don't get too used to it! In the small towns I'm having a hard time finding cool postcards; The post office cards will have to do. So far, The days have been hilly -> usually over 2000' of vertical climb a day. I'm smoking everyone up the hills since I'm running about 30 lbs lighter than they are.
Love, Paul
(editor's addition)
I talked to Paul Sunday night and he said yesterday was a layover day in some tiny town near Tennessee. Paul and one of his compatriots walked into TN for posterity. He was saying they got a bit of rain in the past few days and so going fast downhill hasn't been a great opportunity to bomb down hills. Apparently one of his group-mates bought a ton of keystone and Busch light and no one wanted to drink it so they ended up throwing it out instead of carrying it on to the next stop. He sounded in good spirits. More updates to come.
So I'm sending you mail two days in a row! Don't get too used to it! In the small towns I'm having a hard time finding cool postcards; The post office cards will have to do. So far, The days have been hilly -> usually over 2000' of vertical climb a day. I'm smoking everyone up the hills since I'm running about 30 lbs lighter than they are.
Love, Paul
(editor's addition)
I talked to Paul Sunday night and he said yesterday was a layover day in some tiny town near Tennessee. Paul and one of his compatriots walked into TN for posterity. He was saying they got a bit of rain in the past few days and so going fast downhill hasn't been a great opportunity to bomb down hills. Apparently one of his group-mates bought a ton of keystone and Busch light and no one wanted to drink it so they ended up throwing it out instead of carrying it on to the next stop. He sounded in good spirits. More updates to come.
Rockfish Gap - Afton Mountain, VA
Allan/Annie,
So yesterday I Biked over 5,000 feet of climbing! makes that hill in portland feel like a joke. Basically my group went about 17 mi in 3.5 hours! Gorgeous though, wanted to stop and see the view around every turn. Slept like a baby last night -> finally able to sleep now that i stole a pillow from Motel!
Love, Paul
So yesterday I Biked over 5,000 feet of climbing! makes that hill in portland feel like a joke. Basically my group went about 17 mi in 3.5 hours! Gorgeous though, wanted to stop and see the view around every turn. Slept like a baby last night -> finally able to sleep now that i stole a pillow from Motel!
Love, Paul
May 17, 2010
Day 14: Damascus, VA
All,
Today was a rest day in Damascus, which is also a central stopping point for hikers on the Appalachian Trail. Talking with a few hikers, Joe and I learned there was some huge Indian – style campfire a couple nights before that we just missed with hundreds of sweaty, stinky ATers worshiping the gods of nature. Sounds like a fun time.
Back to Joe, he and I walked to Tennessee today, planning on taking the AT. After the first mile, however, we learned the trail takes 12 miles while the road takes 3, which made our route quite a bit faster. It poured rain as we walked and chatted against traffic, dodging reckless drivers with each step. My five fingered feet, it turns out, offer no support whatsoever. Go figure.
Since today was a rest day, last night many of us gathered at the local pizza shop for greasy Italian food and some brews; the amount of food I’m able to eat is sort of overwhelming – it seems my stomach is stretching with each passing day. Most of the food we’ve eaten so far hasn’t been anything special – the vast majority of the meat has been precooked, and there have only been a couple of nights with fresh vegetables. Thinking of food as fuel is becoming more and more tempting, especially when everyone around insists that potato chips are good for you since we’re losing so much salt everyday. I never knew that UTZ chips were local produce.
Anyways, I’m off to finish my first book of the tour – Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
Cheerio,
Paul
PS: Since the last week has been so difficult riding-wise, I’ve started to bike with other riders, finally breaking my fears!
Today was a rest day in Damascus, which is also a central stopping point for hikers on the Appalachian Trail. Talking with a few hikers, Joe and I learned there was some huge Indian – style campfire a couple nights before that we just missed with hundreds of sweaty, stinky ATers worshiping the gods of nature. Sounds like a fun time.
Back to Joe, he and I walked to Tennessee today, planning on taking the AT. After the first mile, however, we learned the trail takes 12 miles while the road takes 3, which made our route quite a bit faster. It poured rain as we walked and chatted against traffic, dodging reckless drivers with each step. My five fingered feet, it turns out, offer no support whatsoever. Go figure.
Since today was a rest day, last night many of us gathered at the local pizza shop for greasy Italian food and some brews; the amount of food I’m able to eat is sort of overwhelming – it seems my stomach is stretching with each passing day. Most of the food we’ve eaten so far hasn’t been anything special – the vast majority of the meat has been precooked, and there have only been a couple of nights with fresh vegetables. Thinking of food as fuel is becoming more and more tempting, especially when everyone around insists that potato chips are good for you since we’re losing so much salt everyday. I never knew that UTZ chips were local produce.
Anyways, I’m off to finish my first book of the tour – Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
Cheerio,
Paul
PS: Since the last week has been so difficult riding-wise, I’ve started to bike with other riders, finally breaking my fears!
Day 7 (May 11)
Nina,
It was ¡great! talking to you last night. I'm at the post office in Ivy, PA [sic]. (Editor's note: Pretty sure he meant VA!!) Classically, I missed my turn again! When you see a big hill, and you're about to go down, it's always a good idea to make sure you're going the right way and look at your map because otherwise you'll have to go back up or take a detour, which I'm doing. It's cold and wet. Wish you were here.
Love,
Paul
It was ¡great! talking to you last night. I'm at the post office in Ivy, PA [sic]. (Editor's note: Pretty sure he meant VA!!) Classically, I missed my turn again! When you see a big hill, and you're about to go down, it's always a good idea to make sure you're going the right way and look at your map because otherwise you'll have to go back up or take a detour, which I'm doing. It's cold and wet. Wish you were here.
Love,
Paul
May 13, 2010
Day 6: Jamestown, VA (May 10)
Hillary,
So here I am in Jamestown VA, the “starting place” of VA (c 1607). It’s actually quite interesting – a lot of excavation has happened just around 1994, so the facilities are quite new here. I’m traveling alone today, which probably isn’t the best idea since I’ve already had somewhat of a “sick” bike. Nothing too serious, just some loose nuts and bolts; you know, those things that hold things together. My roommate, James, the 68 year old Episcopalian priest, lost his pedal yesterday! He’s the only one riding on a recombant bike, “re-bike” for short. The rest of the company is a great mix; the 5 young’uns: Amber, Bryan, Joe, Will & I → the Foreigners: Lee (UK), Mort (Nor), Ray and Mike (Can), Olaf (Ger) and the older Americans: Meg, Randy, Bill, James, Rob, Jack (the group leader). I’m super excited, my legs are feeling great and I’m happy I brought so little. If you talk to Christina, tell her, gently, that I can’t use her travel book because it’s too pretty and difficult to write in. Trivia: John Smith was only in Jamestown 2 years and he was arrested for mutiny on the ride over, and something else on the ride home.
Prost,
Paul
PS: Had a drink yesterday.
So here I am in Jamestown VA, the “starting place” of VA (c 1607). It’s actually quite interesting – a lot of excavation has happened just around 1994, so the facilities are quite new here. I’m traveling alone today, which probably isn’t the best idea since I’ve already had somewhat of a “sick” bike. Nothing too serious, just some loose nuts and bolts; you know, those things that hold things together. My roommate, James, the 68 year old Episcopalian priest, lost his pedal yesterday! He’s the only one riding on a recombant bike, “re-bike” for short. The rest of the company is a great mix; the 5 young’uns: Amber, Bryan, Joe, Will & I → the Foreigners: Lee (UK), Mort (Nor), Ray and Mike (Can), Olaf (Ger) and the older Americans: Meg, Randy, Bill, James, Rob, Jack (the group leader). I’m super excited, my legs are feeling great and I’m happy I brought so little. If you talk to Christina, tell her, gently, that I can’t use her travel book because it’s too pretty and difficult to write in. Trivia: John Smith was only in Jamestown 2 years and he was arrested for mutiny on the ride over, and something else on the ride home.
Prost,
Paul
PS: Had a drink yesterday.
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