Monday, August 5, 2013
August 5, Stage 30
August 5, Elkins, WV to Harrisonburg, VA, 107 miles, 10,500 climbing feet, by far, the most for any day of the tour. Perfect riding weather, total fog at the start, then lifting, revealing stunning terrain. On Route 33 most of the day. The main contributor to the climbing feet total was seven 2 mile to 4 mile climbs, the toughest as the last two. Then, 25 miles into Harrisonburg, with ups and downs along the way. The climbs were tough, at about 5-9 percent gradient. I told Marsha last night that the Grand hill from 63rd to 56th is about 8-9 percent, but it is over in less than a half mile. I think that I am repeating myself.
The winding descents were wonderful. I was the last one in again, due to my slow climbing. Was a tough, but satisfying day, until I got off the bike and the gradual return of the hip pain was back in full force. The shot in Missoula has been wearing off for a few days. Tomorrow has an early climb up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, then flattish ups and downs into Ashland, VA. Got to get to bed.
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You are so close I can't imagine what you're feeling, well besides lotsa hip pain for sure. Hope you got some "fixin' up" for it, and a good night's sleep too!
ReplyDeleteEllery you are nearing the accomplishment of awe-inspiring proportions! I know you didn't embark on this adventure for this reason, but how can we help but be inspired?!?! Find a mental place to accept (endure?) the hip. Wring out every bit of joy during the next two days. Eat. Sleep. Pedal!!
ReplyDeleteDad, I'm so proud of you for grinding through the toughest(?) two days of the journey. Sorry to hear about the hip, hopefully the pain will subside when you get back on the bike. You're in some of my favorite mountains that was my escape from the city when I live in DC. I'm trying to remember when we took our little backpacking trip in the Shenandoahs. The Carter Family enjoyed the beauty of Virginia, too.
ReplyDeleteThe Carter Family- "My Old Virginia Home"
Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kBmrayIL6o
Lyrics:
It was on one winter day, from my home I went away
Far away from friends and home, I longed to roam
But tonight I'm lone and sad, just a little homesick lad
And I'm longing for my Old Virginia home
I'm a lad from Old Virginia, bravely knocking my way back home
To that cabin home in the mountains, never more let me roam
I'm a lad from Old Virginia and I'm coming, coming home
There I'll settle down forever in my Old Virginia home
-Solo-
Since I left that little shack, how my mind has wandered back
How mother often prayed for her lad
But from her I went astray and I know I've dearly paid
So I'm coming back to mother and my dad
I'm a lad from Old Virginia, bravely knocking my way back home
To that cabin home in the mountains, never more let me roam
I'm a lad from Old Virginia and I'm coming, coming home
There I'll settle down forever in my Old Virginia home
ALMOST THERE! What an accomplishment! Lots of folks here cheering you on, more than you can imagine. It will be a relief to get to the final destination, but I can imagine a little sad too. Maybe not! What beautiful country you have seen. I'd like to take a car trip along the same route you took and see what you have seen. We are looking forward to your return to Iowa.
ReplyDeleteHi Ellery! I had to do some catching up with you on your blog but now I am current again. Not sure when you last day is but it sounds like you must be getting close. I thought I was in pretty good shape but man you are in a different league. Way to go Ellery! See ya soon my friend. Oh yea, we started inner city baseball yesterday with the CFUM group.
ReplyDeleteEllery; We are all very proud and inspired by your accomplishment. If worse comes to worse, pull that stunt my dad did on the PCH from Frisco to LA., grab onto a truck. (;-)Enjoy the scenery, ignore the pain and keep on trucking!
ReplyDeleteYou're almost there. The word of the past month-perseverance. I'm glad the Pactour folks supported you a couple days ago. You experienced what pro cyclists do when they're near the time cutoff. I've always thought it must be one of the most pressure-filled situations to be in. Biking while knowing there's a potential the cord could be pulled. So trying to bike faster, while utterly exhausted. You did it.
ReplyDeleteDespite the pressure, you were able to see the beauty of those grueling climbs. I've always felt such sweet sorrow when going through West Virginia. The confluence of gorgeousness and poverty that leads to some ugly situations--like strip mining, which has stripped the land of beauty and the people of clean water. But enough about that. We can talk poverty next time you're here.
I can't imagine what relief and jubilation you must feel. I do imagine you'll dance a bit on your pedals tomorrow. I've never wanted to be somewhere so badly in my life as I do on that finish line in W'burg. I'll be there in spirit, throwing my arms around your sweaty torso!
Amazing. You're amazing. I said that to you a couple days before you left for the ride. You said, "I haven't done anything yet." Well, now you have.
Love,
Amy
Oh, and one more thing. Wouldn't it be ironic if you felt most pain-free on the bike over the next couple weeks so you just biked around Cisne and Des Moines because it felt good? Just a funny image that popped in my head. I seem to recall the Fairfield ER provides narcotics and some sort of injection from my time there the month and a half before I had my spinal surgery.
ReplyDelete