Day 2: Smells Like Dead Possum

72.20 miles (Total: 107.75) Average Speed: 12.7mph Max Speed: 27mph

Fishermen wake me up around 5:30am loading their boats back into the river, I figure I have alot of mileage to cover today so get myself up and washed. I pack my tent and equipment up chew down an energy bar and hit the road by 6am. Its still a little dark so I don my hi-viz jacket and look like a big highlighter pen. On my way out the park one guy in a bowling shirt with a crooked eye comes over and says “Thats a reeeeeal nice biiiceeeeecle”, the virginia accent sounds deep south to me.

Its overcast but really humid again and I soon have to take it off. The first 15-20 miles are fairly easy through wooded roads and light traffic. I encounter 2 dead Possums within a mile or so of each other and as always stopped to take a picture for the obiturary, they stank.

#1
#2

I stopped at a few country stores to top up on Gatorade and chow down on Oatmeal banana bread, which I have become addicted too. A Harley rider pulled up and we jokingly compared disc brakes and average speed, he had already done 100 miles an it was barley past 8am. I came to another section of road where a detour had been put in place, luckily for me I had read about this on another cyclist blog and found the road was only closed for car traffic so I went right past all the signs with my bike.

Love these.

At this stage I had covered around 50 miles, and devoured a burger and corndog at another gas stop (petrol station, I know). The last third of the day was tough partly because I was tired and the fact the roads were now very busy being a Saturday. I had to cross a few interstates which was like running a gauntlet, I almost can’t believe the route passes through Mechanicsville. The roads and area are way too busy, there must be a better way. After clocking 70 miles I was approaching Ashland, I was exhausted but desperate to get a motel for the night and relax. A big motivation for the day was sleeping in a nice bed and having wifi so I could call home to let people know I was safe.

Funny sign

These signs saved me today.

The day had one last challenge, actually finding a motel. I thought Ashland was going to be a one horse town with the usual main street having motels and fast-food joints. What I found was a decent sized busy town with a railway that runs right through it. Huge long trains came past every few minutes I don’t know how they put up with it. I put on my nicest voice and asked a few old people for directions. They pointed me onto England Street which was a big road connecting to the interstate. I could see the light and then saw the signs, motels galore all housed next to each other alongside a Taco Bell, KFC and Long John Silvers. Heaven.

Looooooooooong train

I showered for about half an hour then even took a bath to soothe my muscles before washing my clothes in the bath, the dirt that came off them was incredible but its important to keep things clean to avoid nasty saddle sores. After taking a nap I felt great, tomorrow won’t be as long as I hope to stay at the Mineral Fire Station about 45 miles away. Sleep.

Zonked.
Zonked

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10 responses to “Day 2: Smells Like Dead Possum”

  1. Benjamin Avatar
    Benjamin

    Glad you found a place to stay, keep the updates coming. Haha Mel hated the dead possums, I loved ’em.

  2. Phil Stamp Avatar
    Phil Stamp

    Didnt fancy the possums then randall? you have to keep that calorie intake up.

    all the best lad.
    dico

  3. Nate Dogg Avatar
    Nate Dogg

    Sweet roadkill. Had a Sunday afternoon chill mix session in your honor today. Liking the stats; got to sort out some kinda sweep stake for guessing your max daily mileage, speed etc over the trip.

    Keep on rolling, Baby!

  4. Glen Hutchinson Avatar
    Glen Hutchinson

    Loving the updates ry, tempted to get a bike and book the first flight out, sounds awesome. Take care sonna

  5. keith{still not envious in the slightest] jones. Avatar
    keith{still not envious in the slightest] jones.

    Hiya rye,everything is looking really cool and it looks like the weather is fine.Liked the gory pics of the possums playing dead to avoid contact with humans.Keep up the good work.

  6. Miasmal Smoke & the Yellow Bellied Freaks Avatar
    Miasmal Smoke & the Yellow Bellied Freaks

    Any sign of long john yet?

  7. ryan Avatar
    ryan

    Yes Lewy, I had 2 Baja Fish Taco’s from Long Johns tonight 99 cent each 😛

  8. Dom Avatar
    Dom

    MMM TACO BELL. It’s like a dream! haha

  9. Jack Stod Avatar
    Jack Stod

    Loving the updates anders..

  10. Charlotte Jackson Avatar
    Charlotte Jackson

    Keep it up Ryan! You are doing bloody amazing, very inspirational :)))
    Blog is very entertaining aswell, although i don’t appreciate the road kill pics
    hahah

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