Sometimes plans just get over ridden w/ new actions. Yesterday case in point.
Yes, i drove back into Appomattox to do my wash. yes I went to the Appomattox Court House site. But I spent the afternoon listening to a Union soldier in period perspective talk about the war from an infantry private perspective. He shared knowledge that I did not have and some contrasted w/ what others has said. Interesting is that his rifle: lock, stock, and barrel could be fired 3 times a minute and was more reliable and efficient as a killing machine than the new Henrys and Spencer repeating rifles. He spoke in the perspective of June 28, 1865. I stayed longer than I budgeted but gained more knowledge.
My plan was to drive towards H-burg and camp somewhere in George WA forest. Only the roads I chose per the color coding on the road map didn’t produce public land. Instead I climbed to the Blue Ridge Parkway. I turned north towards H-burg. Scenic drive shared w/ hardly another vehicle. 35mph wandering along a mountain spine up and down gaps. Vistas east and west. Temps were in mid 70s compared to upper 90s in the valley. Windy. Pleasant.
The parkway passes thru Shenandoah NP. My Forever pass admitted me for free as did Appomattox. I needed a camp spot. Again my pas came to play: camping was $7.50. I spent the night @ Loft Mtn XG. temp was 76 @ 7:00AM.
Today i made H-burg dropping down to 1300′ and heat. I made Shenandoah Bike company, Tim’s shop. Only Tim and Thomas were out in Flag for a wedding. I visited w/ Colin. Today starts a bike stage race that is part mtn bike and road bike. Shortly I will drive to today’s stage w/ is a mtn bike time trial and offer help.
100 degrees. No riding today. I am in a local library enjoying air conditioning and great internet speed.
Visited w/ Sue Haywood. last weekend was the Canaan Valley bike festival in Davis, WVA. I didn’t attend because I helped on trail work at Brevard. Sue is still competing. Cannondale is supporting her, she quit Turner as he would not foot her race bills.
My van temp is above 100 degrees. My fridge is keeping temp just above 40 degrees.
Gotta go.
Haven’t planned an exit strategy. Sue said Davis trails are dry. The festival had a Hash event that allowed someone to pull a trailer w/ cold beer. Cool.
Les, regarding mpg: you gotta drive out here to sense the steep, hilly, twisting nature of the roads that one would suspect sap mileage. Consider that I have no time schedule and being an older driver, I just putz along upsetting drivers behind me that are in a hurry. Not having an inside rear view mirror isolates me from their frustration. I drive w/ the skinny pedal and never put my foot into it. 5 cylinder diesel motor.