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Day 124
By morning I’m sure of it – my feelings for Lisa have changed. I was afraid I’d have to suppress my attraction to her and a little jealousy of her boyfriend, but no. I find myself truly appreciating her as a lovely person I know best through friendship. I wake from a good sleep, not…
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Day 123
Clarkesville, VA to Raleigh, NC 7628 mi The predawn morning is quiet and still but for a few early fishing boats setting out. So much of this journey is simple bliss, what do I write about? The sun and the open road cajole me into extemporaneous song. Beautiful World, Give me your open road, How…
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Day 122
Gladstone, VA to Clarkesville, VA 7555 mi I enjoy the usual rush of pleasure that comes when I start off on a beautiful clear morning. It’s cold though, there’s heavy frost on the grass, and when I cross the river at Gladstone around 8:30 am there’s still ice floating in it. The only thing I…
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Day 121
Bridgewater, VA to Gladstone, VA 7465 mi Linda gets up, makes coffee, and graciously allows me to photograph her in her bathrobe as I’ve forgotten to take any pictures here. I try putting some hot coffee in my insulated water bottle, and discover the extremely pleasant sensation of riding through the cold morning while taking…
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Day 120
I get up and make myself breakfast, as I was instructed. I have cereal, donuts, and a bagel with cream cheese. I feel a little awkward, mostly due to Robert who is too busy to really acknowledge my presence. I’m more at ease around Linda and Jonathan. At Bridgewater College library I pore through old…
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Day 119
Shenandoah NP, VA to Bridgewater, VA 7386 mi God, what a morning! At last, the Appalachians reveal themselves to me. In the frosty cold, my first view west reveals mottled orange and yellow hills, warmed on one side by a blanket of morning sun. The road sings to me, the cold air refreshing me, creating…
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Day 118
Orlean, VA to Shenandoah NP, VA 7312 mi Gorgeous morning. I hardly care where I go, it feels so good to be on the road. Cold from the air, heat from the sun and the work, fairy-tale visions shining in the yellow morning light. I blissfully sail down an anonymous road, but the left brain…
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Day 117
Mt. Vernon, VA to Orlean, VA 7259 mi I wake up to rain, and the now familiar dread of breaking camp in it. It’s never as bad as I think it will be. It’s a strange morning’s ride. I make sure to not make the same mistake that took me to Taco Bell last night.…
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Day 116
Patuxent River St Pk, MD to Mt. Vernon, VA 7195 mi I think my meditating gave me a blast of energy that woke me up. Or maybe it was the thirst. Or the honking ruckus of flying geese echoing through the valley. I watched the 1/4 moon cross the sky. I thought about my relatives’…
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Day 115
Madonna, MD to Patuxent River St Pk, MD $13 :: breakfast, map 61.50 mi :: 5.05 hr :: 36.1 mph :: 12.0 mph :: 7127 mi Heavy rain through the night, but it lets up before morning. A short ride into a small town, I stop to buy a Virginia map, and grin at my…