Thursday, June 27, 2013

Illinois




My first morning in Illinois was stunning. I have started getting up early to beat the heat. As the sun was rising the morning dew was turning into mist and rising. The sight of this was enough to tell me that my time in Illinois was going to be good, if a little brief.







Drivers would beep their horns as they passed me by, but this time around it was to wave and show their support, it was an incouraging change. The landscape has openned up considerably since crossing the Ohio River and I now have this new sense of freedom as well as a more defined tan line.









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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Kentucky




Kentucky, where men introduce themselves by their full name. Home of narrow shoulders with rumble strips and angry dogs. I have found a difference in between all the states I have visited so far, but nothing as vast a the one I experienced crossing into Kentucky. There were areas with plenty of No Tresspassing signs which I understood as "I will shoot you".





Roads were long and lonely for most it, with very few people hanging around to talk with. There were some instances when I received abuse from drivers. For the most part people were friendly but as I travelled west I felt that they became a little bit more reserved and needed a bit of push.





 
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Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Virginia (part three)



The last stretch of Virginia was something that was on my mind before I started this trip. From what I gathered it was going to be the hardest part on the road, physically at least.  From Afton the climb started up towards the Blue Ridge Parkway. I expected this to be the toughest section, turns out it was the easiest day in the mountain range. As the days when on the climbs seem to increase in difficulty, I put it down to a decrease in my endurance and an increase in temperature rather than the terrain itself. Every up hill struggle was quickly forgotten once I got to see what views were on offer on the top, followed the fast and breezy down hill ride. As the days went by the landscape continued to leave me in awe.












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Saturday, June 1, 2013

Virginia (part two)



Mineral was the first time I encountered other tourers. I was expecting this during the preceding days, I wasn't sure how I would feel about it after haveing the road to myself for the last couple of weeks. Part of me was looking forward to having the company and another part feared that it would distract me from the task at hand.



Turns out it was the nice change from making myself laugh about past encounters and silly nights out. Since then I have met more riders and we now seem to interweave and met at different points. There is a sense of community on the road now, but  I still enjoy the time I have to myself.











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