Summer Solstice: Day 1

The day started out great, we hit the road right on time and had a pretty smooth rise out of DC. We rode up an epic hill that I thought would be my big accomplishment of the day.

..little did I know what would face us in the disasters of day one. 

Before lunch we had smooth sailing, only needed to make slight adjustments to my seat. Then lunch happened. I should have started questioning when we took on on-ramp to get on a road. On-ramps and bike friendly don't typically go together. That road turned out to be a nightmare, thanks google biking directions!  We survived 3 miles on that road, full of huge trucks and small shoulders, before finding a place to pull over to reroute. We found what looked like a good alternative and started that way when I heard a strange noise coming from my bike, like paper was stuck in the wheel. Flat tire!! We get it changed, I learned how to change one (never had before). But as Mike promised so many of you he took care of it. 

Back on the road, praying it won't go flat again. Then after a few miles we realize we made a wrong turn. No biggie, I mean awful, but atleast it isn't another flat. So we get on the worst road in VA. Literally no shoulder, tons of angry drivers honking at us and revving their engines. Literally awful. We finally get off that road and I'm quite shaken up from that road. Emotional breakdown #1. We get going again on this quaint country road. All is well again, until our next turn. Traffic and no shoulder again. But thankfully as we were prepping to make the turn I saw another man on that road go by on a road bike, such a comforting site!!  

We eventually arrive at the friendliest connivence store ever. We get directions from  a fellow biker and stop for some drinks, then realize Mike has a flat. Really?!?  A man with a portable air compressor attempted to help us and after pulling out his tube and trying his spare we realize his spare also has a hole. Worst luck ever!  We patch it and hope for the best with the weight he is carrying. 5 miles in to the trip with the patched wheel we hear that awful noise of air leaking. Are you kidding me?!?  So we pull over in this church parking lot to figure out how to finish the last 18 miles of our trip to get to our B&B. I call a cab to ask if they could take us and our bikes. The man on the phone literally tells me to just change the flat. Like we hadn't   thought of that, but we are now out of supplies. Ugh. Someone pulls into the church lot in a pick-up. I decide we are desperate so I follow him into the church to explain our situation. They get the pastor. I ask for cab numbers or offer to pay someone to put our bikes in their truck and give us a ride or atleast if we get a cab we ask the pastor if we can leave our bikes there till the morning.  Still seriously hoping for a Good Samaritan to step up though.  I even threw out that I teach religion!  They keep inviting us to their prayer service they have that evening. I'm like dudes, you are living the parable, the Levite just passes by. But they did offer to pray for us. 

So we decide our best option is to leave our bikes, cab to town with our stuff, hit up the bike store in the morning and go back to our bikes. So I call the lovely cab man from earlier. He agrees to pick us up, but charges an arm and a leg for it. But when he shows up he has a van!!!!!  We insist on trying to fit our bikes in and it works!  I so was excited even though the cabbie is already talking about the tip he deserves. So we arrive at our B&B, 65 miles under our belt and head out for a much needed dinner and drinks!  

Even with all the mishaps I enjoyed my first day. I biked 20 more miles than I ever have before, had lots of laughs, and I'm sure will look back on this day and laugh as well. And heck, we got to spend lots of time outside as the longest day of the year approaches.