Day 78: Returns home on 9/11/9

[Jared and Todd]

[Jared's poster for Todd]

Day 78: Final Destination: Yorktown (Virginia)

[Wheel dip in Yorktown]

TRIP COMPLETE !!!

VIRGINIA - Progress Tracking (Click on map to enlarge)

[Map of Virginia]

9/1 - Entered Virginia in morning.
9/1 - Overnight in Damascus, VA
9/2 - Overnight in Wytheville, VA
9/3 - Overnight in Christiansburg, VA
9/4 - Day off in Christiansburg, VA
9/5 - Overnight in Lexington, VA
9/6 - Overnight in Vesuvius, VA
9/7 - Overnight in Afton, VA (Cookie Lady's house)
9/8 - Overnight in Palmyra, VA
9/9 - Overnight in Mineral, VA
9/10 - Overnight in Williamsburg, VA
9/11 - Arrived in Yorktown. Trip Complete !!!! Dipped wheel at 12:00 noon.

Latest Blog Post Additions

8/14 - Day 14: Cambridge to New Meadows (Idaho)
8/8 - Day 13: Halfway, OR to Cambridge (Idaho) Highway Aliens: Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.
8/3 - Sidebar: Day 38: Hoosier Pass (Colorado)
8/2 - Day 12: Baker City to Halfway (Oregon)

Sidebar: Day 38: Hoosier Pass (Colorado)

[Above: Hoosier Pass crest marker]

[ Above: View looking South from Hoosier Pass]

This is the "High Point" of my trip. Elevation-wise, that is! I made it over Hoosier Pass today (elevation 11,542 ft.) which is located on Colorado State Highway 9 between Breckenridge (to the North) and Fairplay (To the South) on the Continental Divide. This pass is the highest point on the TransAmerica Trail between Yorktown, Virginia and Astoria, Oregon.

Day 21: Sidebar: Lolo Pass Summit (Idaho/Montana)

Hi everyone. I just crested Lolo Pass and found that I have an Internet connection at the Visitor Center until it closes, which is in just a few minutes. I haven't had cell service for two days, so apologies for the lack of communication but it was out of my control.

Lolo Pass is in the Bitterroot Range, right on the edge of Idaho and Montana. This is where Lewis and Clark crossed the summit of the Bitterroots in 1805 – but back then it was referred to as the Lolo Trail. Today, it’s called "US 12", and it was belatedly constructed in the 1960’s. Somehow, it took over 150 years to get a decent road over the top.

I'm shooting for Missoula tonight - 42 miles in 3 hours – and downhill, thankfully. I've tent camped the last couple nights, so I'll probably get a hotel tonight - I'm getting stinky. Pheww!

Today, my knee felt the strongest it has since I began this trip. That really helped coming up the pass – I even easily cruised right past a big semi on the way up – well, not really, but it sounds good., doesn't it? Elvis is running strong, and we both are now looking forward to that downward slope on the road tonight.

Hopefully, I’ll get a couple more posts in by tomorrow to catch you up on the last few days of travel.

Thanks to everyone for their strong and continued support!!!

Onward,

Todd

Day 14: Cambridge to New Meadows (Idaho)

[Above: the geometric view from my sleeping bag.]

After a surprisingly peaceful nights rest under the city of Cambridge water tower, I packed my gear and headed to the nearest breakfast joint. In this case, it appeared to be the one and only. Enjoying a monopolistic advantage, I figured high prices and lackadaisical service might be on the menu but that was certainly not the case. However, that didn't stop me from teasing the waitress that 65-cent coffee was outrageous, as in Oregon the highest I paid was 55 cents. She quickly called my bluff and suggested I pedal my butt back to Oregon, since then I’d have 10 cents more to spend on gas when I grow up and buy a car. Ouch!

Wolfing down breakfast, and reeling from a wittier-than-thou waitress, I struck up a conversation with the nicest couple from Arkansas, James and Shirly Parker, who appeared to be fellow bikers, albeit, of the leather clad variety. They were traveling by RV – and their rig included an enclosed motorcycle garage. They explained that whenever the fancy strikes them they'll simply pull over and do a side trip on their bike. A clever plan indeed – I just wish it were mine.

Later, the waitress brought me my breakfast bill, and told me the Parkers had picked up my tab - thanks Jim and Shirley!

[Above: Breakfast with new friends, James and Shirley Parker.]

Today was to be a special day. Originally my expertly crafted plan had me arriving on July 11th in Helena to attend a fundraising event for Jared, hosted at the Green Meadow Country Club. I planned to visit with family, friends, and of course, dignitaries. However, with progress slowed by knee pain and possibly some excessive chit-chat, this plan no longer seemed realistic. I was, after all, still in western Idaho.

As an alternative plan, I enlisted the services of my girlfriend Sonia and my 14-year old son Cooper to meet me along my route, where I would stash Elvis, then we'd drive by car to Helena. Then, and not so conveniently, they would return me a couple days later to resume my journey on my trusty steed, Elvis. It was a greatly appreciated effort, especially since they drove all the way from California! Thank you, Sonia and Cooper!

Sonia, Cooper, and I met, after my daily pedaling duties, in New Meadows, Idaho (pop. 550) where I checked us into the historic Hartland Inn, built in 1911, and owned and operated by Stephen and JoBeth Mehen. The hotel, built by the president of the Pacific Idaho Northern Railroad, is beautiful, and lavishly decorated with antiques and memorabilia.

[Above: Exterior of the historic Hartland Inn.]


[Above: Bed & Breakfast at the Hartland Inn.]

Later, we enjoyed a fantastic steak dinner in the nearby resort town of McCall. Topping off a great night, Cooper and I enjoyed a long soak in the outdoor hot tub under the stars, where we discussed and solved some weighty worldly issues. What a great evening!!!


[Above: Sonia and Buddy, road angels extraordinaire.]