Big is beautiful (at least some of the time)

Another day without moving on, this time in the rather strange town of Roanoke. I mentioned yesterday about the peculiar street games we were watching, today we had a re-enactment of our French 'village of the damned'. Everything shuts here on Sunday downtown and finding food this evening was tricky. Last night we enjoyed monstrous Cappuchino Crunch ice creams late at night, today we struggled to buy bread.  After breakfast we headed off on the bikes to ride some of the traffic free bike paths - Tinker Creek and Roanoke River to name a couple. In our search for some bread rolls we came across 'Piggly Wiggly' only to find it shut all day - in fact it appeared as if it might be closing down. Obviously 'Dig the Pig' isn't working as a marketing tool. It was round here (in the Food Lion car park) that we saw a humongous fire engine parked across 7 parking spaces. It had drivers front and rear that steer in unison - a concept that the Humes find particularly scary!  

We went to the transport museum later and you can get some idea of the size of the steam trains from the picture below!  Wouldn't want to mend a flat on one of these. In the local paper they had an article on the 'Blue Ridge Destination Vision Plan 2030 progress'. To cut to the chase, they have concluded that they need to use 'Destination Visioning' and have employed Zeitgeist Consulting to advise them. The name of the CEO of this consulting firm is (wait for it), Mr Geist.........

As promised, a report on The Mechanic's pancake making prowess.  At the Holiday Inn Express, for the month of August, there are free pancakes from 8.00pm - midnight. Himself fancied trying this and can now make perfect pancakes!!  Press the button on the machine, wait one minute and a 'fluffy fresh pancake' pops out the side of said machine. He is very pleased with his success - Gordon Ramsey eat your heart out!

We are enjoying meeting the locals everywhere, can't believe how many cyclists come up and talk to us - many of them having been in Europe for the TDF or World Championships. People have shown us how to operate the gas pumps at filling stations, given us quiet back road routes out of towns, discussed Team Sky and the similarities with US Postal etc etc. The only serious oddball who has snared us to date was discussing how unlucky he was to have had four heart attacks, while trying to rest his beer gut on my saddle!  Himself is enjoying sampling the local craft beers and cider, while I have decided that Virginian wine is not about to win any major awards. Back on the road tomorrow so early night required now, after sorting the now clean laundry........

Sorry all the pictures are of me - Chris says I make all the big stuff look even bigger!!