It all started with a hurricane. I'd been making good time and progress across the flatland just off of the coast and keeping my morale high by taking in all of the sights. I stopped at Asateague Island (off the coast of Maryland) and saw wild ponies and cape deer wandering everywhere. The state park side of the island was closed for the season, so I had the entire eastern shoreline to myself. It was a full moon night and taking a walk around the shore and dunes with a few of the horses was amazing. The next morning I was excited to push on so I left with a broad smile pasted to my face.
A few days later I made it to the north side of the Chesapeake Bay bridge. The authorities won't allow bikes to ride across the 21 mile span therefore I was forced to wait for arrangements to be made for a truck ride to Norfolk. Coincidentally I was born there on the naval base, so for the second time on my trip I had the feeling of coming home. I couldn't get a lift on the day I arrived and was told to try again the next day. That night a tropical storm moved in and dumped five days worth of rain and 80 mph winds right onto my head. I swear five days alone in a single man ultralight tent listening to the howling winds rip at the tie downs will drive anyone a little batty. I read all the books I had with me, then read them again, then played my guitar, then tried to sleep, then tried to eat. I couldn't keep a flame on my stove for the life of me so my menu was reduced to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and soupy oatmeal. I left my sanctuary and yelled into the gusts to vent my frustration a bit, I ended up laughing myself sore and then slept like a rock. When I woke up the sun was shining and felt and overwhelming sense of accomplishment for having braved the storm in a nylon tube tent.
After making it through Norfolk and into North Carolina the flatland gave way to mountains and there was nothing else. One after the other they rolled under my tires and eventually I made it to the Blue Ridge and Great Smokey Mountains. I was gaining elevation every hill I conquered along the way so it was nice to see what I'd been doing all the work for. The best payoff for sweating out the last few hundred miles came and went quickly, but it was totally worth it.
The day I was set to cross into Georgia started out like the others, I did about 27 milesof climbing and decided to take lunch at a random plot of land. When I started out again I didn't have to pedal for long, about a half mile down the road came a sign that warned of a 10% downgrade for the next eight miles with hairpin switchback turns the whole way. I just about melted, I was in heaven. I felt like I was racing a motorcycle around a track, the road was going by at 50 mph. The cars on the road couldn't take the turns nearly as fast as I could, and couldn't figure out just what in the hell I was doing at those speeds with a guitar on the back of my rig. So I made it down the mountain safely and when I hit the flatland I entered Georgia, It was a blissful moment.
A few days later I ended up at Rocktown in LaFayette, GA. This was my goal all along for the winter, and I hit 3000 miles. So you can imagine I was stoked to be there and have rocks to climb and be done with the pedaling for a while. But alas, it was getting cold and there wasn't much of a chance to climb in between snow and sleet storms. So a friend of mine was able to take some time off work and come down south to rescue me from boredom. It didn't take much to convince me to ride back with him to Athens, OH...where I had started from.
So now for the third time on my trip I had that homecoming feeling as we crossed into Athens County. My friends are here, my dog is here, I am here. Back where I stared isn't so bad after four months of camping out. Heat, showers, food, and company all make it worth coming back. For now this is where I'll be, however I plan on making some moves in the spring. Possibly continuing my trek, but heading west. Doing the math I'm sure 3000 miles towards the setting sun will plop me in the redwood forests I've only read about. Anything is possible.
