You're not there until you're there!

This is our mantra on cycling holidays - no matter how short the day or how easy the route, the day is never over until you have booked into your accommodation for the night. Today was such a day, only 40 miles and 2,200 ft of ascent, we planned to be there at lunchtime. My back tyre felt a bit soft last night so Chris pumped it up before we went to bed. This morning it appeared to have gone down very slightly, but since it was a short day we decided to do a 'pump and run' to see how it survived. It was a chilly morning and the Mechanic was in his jacket when we set off. 8 miles later we caught up with 2 cyclists on US bike route 76. They were carrying a track pump along with all the rest of their gear (!!??) and we asked if we could top up my back tyre as it is difficult to get really high pressure with a hand pump. We chatted for a short time and as soon as they pulled off we found that my back tyre was seriously soft again. Nothing for it but to take off all the bags and change the tube. The Machanic had a technical issue with the change and it was 45 minutes later before we were ready to set off.

We had lost our rhythm by this time and it seemed like a real grind. After 20 miles we stopped at Gertie's Country Store (great if you wanted a sack of spuds and a two hour chat, not so good for a quick drink and a snack!). We plodded on, stopping again about 8 miles from the hotel and finally rolling in sometime around 2.30pm. This particular hotel had been on a cheap deal and was paid in advance but the jobs worth on the desk wouldn't check us in until he saw the same credit card I had paid with. I explained that it was at the bottom of one of the panniers and would require me to empty everything out in the lobby, with conference delegates milling around everywhere, but he wasn't giving an inch until I said 'fine, I'm sure the other guests won't mind two weeks of dirty washing lying around'. I got the room key and brought the credit card back down to show him, although he did hold the Mechanic as security (little did he know........)

Be warned, tomorrow I will be posting some photos of the breakfast foods enjoyed here, so don't tune in if you are of a delicate disposition. The Mechanic tried 'grits' tonight and reckoned they were similar to mashed potato, which left me wondering why they are such a popular breakfast food. Slightly alarming are the TVs in all the hotel rooms - Life is Good TVs no less, although we have to assume this doesn't refer to the content being shown.

Some if you might be aware of the fact that we are involved in the 'Save Westbury Library' campaign. It seems we have been missing a trick when it comes to suggesting alternative uses for the library - the place we are staying (Waynesboro) has a headline in the local paper 'Waynesboro gets a taste of beer brewing at public library'

We are sorry to be missing the following event:

The Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway's Humpback Rocks chapter offer residents a chance to explore the South River Lumber Railroad - a chance to hike the railbed.  One can only hope no trains are running.  If that doesn't appeal how about 'Sunday School Yesteryears'. The event will begin with a puppet show reminiscing about how much fun learning the Bible was back then. There will be old fashioned Sunday School songs ( called hymns IIRC), flannel graph Bible stories, object lessons and dinner on the ground (or as we might say, a picnic)!

Photos today are of Bike v Winniebago (can you imagine driving this monstrosity on coastal roads in Cornwall) and Gertie's place plus the Mechanic doing what the Mechanic does best