Day 87: Newbern, VA

Day 87

August 11, 2015

Miles: 73

Glade Spring to Newbern

When Di woke me up this morning, it was already 7:30.  We had planned on getting an early start because we had a long day ahead of us, but oh, well, that's the way it goes sometimes. I must admit that even though it meant getting a later start, I can't get too upset about getting a little more sleep.  We left the Econo Lodge a little after 8:30am and went looking for some food.  It took eight miles of riding, but we finally found breakfast at Jaron's Burgers.  We both ordered pancakes and eggs and by the time I remembered to take a picture, our meals were already consumed.  I guess we were hungry.

Di at Jaron's Burgers

A typical break to buy more Gatorade

That's a nice sweater on that sheep

We were still riding on Rt. 11 and heading towards Wytheville, where we would rejoin the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail.  The temperature didn't get any warmer than the upper 80's and it was mostly overcast.  We could hear thunder off in the distance all morning, but it sprinkled on us only twice.  The second time it rained we took shelter under the awning of someone's home.

  

Di seeking shelter from the storm

Di never drinks water, she hydrates

We didn't arrive in Wytheville until 4pm.  We had ridden 50 miles to this point and probably could have gotten there sooner, but along the way we passed a good looking cafe and I was in need of an ice coffee.  Di suggested that because we were a little pressed for time we shouldn't stop for coffee, but I knew she must have been joking because the thought of passing up good ice coffee was just too absurd.  So, we found ourselves in Wytheville late in the day and we wanted to grab a bite to eat, but we were having trouble finding a restaurant.  We then espied Skeeter's, a Wytheville institution for over 100 years, that is famous for its hot dogs.  Neither Di nor I are big hot dog fans, but how could we pass up a Skeeterdog?

World famous Skeeterdog (onion, hamburg on a red hot dog)

Actually, after I found out how the hot dogs are made, its a lot easier to pass them up.  I learned from one of the workers that Skeeter's hot dogs are made from beef, pork, and red dye.  Red dye?  Isn't a hot dog unhealthy enough already without having to add red dye?

In addition to the skeeterdog, we also ordered chicken salad and pulled pork sandwiches

Red dye.  Mmm-mmm good!

We left Wytheville around 5pm and were back on the official TransAmerica Bicycle Trail.  The trail actually has a bicycle route number: 76.  I don't know if there are any other bicycle routes that are numbered, but I'm hopeful there are at least 75 others.  Actually, the route number comes from the fact it was created during the bicentennial year: 1976.  I don't know what they will do if another route is created during the tricentennial.

How welcoming to bicyclists

Serene scenery on bike route 76

These signs at the intersections make it hard even for us to get lost

The route we took to get to Wytheville from Glade Spring shaved off a few miles, but I was happy to be back on the TA so we could be more consistently in rustic environs.

Rustic

There are mountains in our future

That's not sheep on the left, its a cemetery

My shadow is an indication its getting late

Di took this picture after telling me to act natural

We arrived at the Hampton Inn (naturally) at 7:15pm.  It was a long day of riding and we were tired, so we ordered food from an Italian restaurant down the street: Verona's Pizzeria.  I got the lasagna and Di macaroni and gravy.  All this staying in fine hotels and having our food delivered is a far cry from roughing it by tenting and cooking our own food, but it is way more satisfying.

We aren't sure yet what we will do tomorrow.  If we are tired we may take a rest day or ride a short day, but we are hoping to ride a full day.