Day 6: Charlottesville, VA - Waynesboro, VA

Day 6 - Friday, 7/4/97, 7:32pm
44.1 Miles; about 10 hours
On-bike time: 5 hours, 9 minutes
Avg speed: 8.55 mph
Max speed: 37.83 mph

After a well deserved nights sleep, Ben and I left the Monticello Holiday Inn around 5:30 a.m. and headed for Waynesboro. We spent the first couple of hours going up and down the roller coaster hills leading to Whitehall.

Panoramic image: Two images (crudely) attached

Around 8:00 a.m. we reached the service station in Whitehall and stopped for drinks. We met several interesting people while we rested. First, a man driving an amazing motorcycle stopped to chat about our trip. He shared the fact that he had hitch hiked across America twice during the sixties when, as he put it, "…all you had to worry about were the rednecks in Wyoming." As he hopped on his bike and drove away he said "Keep the rubber side down." We also met a couple who took about ten pictures of us and the bike. They shared information about the route and told us to stop in and see the "Cookie Lady" at the top of the big hill in Afton.

Ben Says:

Trish really loves horses, so when we saw a pair of them, we just had to stop. Trish fed them, and ended up getting licked and pushed around by one of them. Here are some photos of the experience:

As we pushed and pushed our huge bike up the steep, winding road, we came to a hairpin curve. The suggested safe speed was 5 miles per hour, and they were not kidding! I can only imagine how many bikers traveling down this route and not paid attention to the speed limit. Ouch!

For the next couple of hours we continued our roller coaster ride, now becoming entirely an uphill battle. Around noon, we had climbed about 900 feet, and found the famous biker's rest stop run by the "Cookie Lady." Since we had been pushing the bike uphill for the last hour, we were anxious for an excuse to rest. We stepped inside a small screened-in porch where we found fresh lemonade, cookies, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! Around the porch were hundreds of newspaper clippings featuring June Curry (the Cookie Lady’s real name), her father, and the thousands of bikers that have passed through her rest stop over the past 20 years. We were completely amazed and excited to meet June. She came down to the porch and led us through a small door and we were again amazed. There was an entire house dedicated to touring cyclists. Curry offers lodging and a fully stocked kitchen. In this three room house, every wall is covered floor to ceiling with cards, clippings, pictures and biking memorabilia from bikers over the last twenty years. I have never seen a more amazing collection in my life. June was a wonderful hostess and shared several stories with us as we chatted. She is a truly generous woman and anyone biking through Afton must see her!

From June's house we continued our uphill pushing for nearly 3 miles as we approached the Blue Ridge Parkway. Around 12:30 p.m. we experienced our daily breakdown. Ben snagged the wires connecting the Avocet computer to the bike and ripped out the connectors. Amazingly he was able to rewire it and get it working within 15 minutes or so. He is an absolute whiz with electronics.

At last we reached the top - Rockfish Gap - 1,850 feet above sea level, and 1,250 feet higher than our start point. We were excited for the 4 mile descent into Waynesboro. On the way down we absolutely flew on Rolling Thunder. We hit our top speed of the trip at over 45 miles per hour. It was a compete rush and nearly justified the 3 hour climb.

We made it through the first week of our adventure without too much trouble. Each day we are getting stronger and faster. I can't wait to find out what adventures await us in week two!

This and Saturday evening, we’re being hosted by the Waynesboro Best Western. The Best Western is located at exit 94 on Interstate 64. It features the following:

· 56 Rooms
· Lounge
· Copy Machine
· Fax Machine
· Swimming Pool
· Free Continental Breakfast
· Exercise room and Spa
· Jacuzzi suites
· In-Room Refrigerator
· In-Room Microwave
· 25" TVs

The Hotel is simply beautiful. The furniture looks brand new and is very nice. Our room features a refrigerator and microwave. There’s an easy chair, a large closet, a large desk and dresser, and an incredibly large bathroom. The room is very clean and pleasant. For riders who take a day off, this is the place to spend it! The staff here is as friendly as the room is nice. The pool is beautiful, too. Plenty of large, fluffy towels - always a plus! To make a reservation, call 540-932-3060.

To get to the hotel while riding the TransAmerica Trail, follow the instructions on map 143, but DO NOT leave highway 250 for the Blue Ridge Parkway. Rather, continue on highway 250 into Waynesboro. Turn left onto highway 340 / Rosser Road. When nearing Interstate 64, you should be able to see a Shoney’s Restaurant to the left. Behind it is the Best Western. To continue on the TransAmerica Trail, follow the instructions in reverse, or continue on 340 west, and take highway 11 into Lexington.

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