Day 69-Charlottesville to Front Royal VA

Today was our victory lap, the most challenging terrain we have seen maybe but still a victory lap and it could not have been more perfect. I rode with Jeff and Preston which we have been planning for at least a week now, Jeff just told me we were going to do it with Preston so I was absolutely up for it. Morning started off perfectly, we were up at 5:30 and left lodging a little late because of some road delays but cycled just 4 miles to Whole Foods who was feeding us breakfast which was very filling and delicious plus they gave us a ton of organic energy bars for the ride. While we were waiting around to leave Bott somehow broke his front derailleur off, he was just standing there then rolled his back backward a second and it broke off. He really wanted to ride today so we took it off and taped the cable to his bike and just set the chain in his middle ring and he just went without a front derailleur all day. From Whole Foods the ride began and the first 25 miles were really not bad at all, similar to the last few rides we have had through the woods on small back roads. After that section we get to a turn and see the big Skyline Drive sign on the road and we realize the challenge is about to begin. Jeff has been talking about this ride since practically day 1 and has gotten me really excited about it. We were the second pace line to hit the hills and the 12 miles after that sign were intense, constant climb on a steep grade. Not even half way up we see the first pace line and they yell that Joe (AKA Wombat) broke his chain, I was really bummed that he was going to miss the ride. Finally after the 12 miles we get to the top and I remember that the ride goes through Shenandoah National Park, I had completely forgotten until we saw the park sign at the top of the climb. As soon as we rode through the gates of the park I lite up with even more excitement and wonder and never lost it through the entire 67 miles we were in the park. I loved every hill both up and down, but what really made the ride was not only that it felt like we were on a hike through the wilderness just on bikes but every half mile to mile there was a scenic overlook and the views were jaw dropping every single time. We were so high up we were looking down at the tops of mountains and ridges surrounding us, and they went on all the way to the horizon, we saw lakes and rivers below us, it was absolutely breathtaking. Around mile 50 we came up to a visitor center and I had to run in and look for a sticker to add to my bike because I haven’t added one since Colorado and this is the perfect place for the last one before Washington DC plus the one I found was too good to pass up, it has the quote “The mountains are calling and I must go” by John Muir with an outline of the Shenandoah mountains.
Right before we had stopped we had a dear walk out of the bushes and cross the road right in front of us as we were climbing, then on a downhill section we saw a family of deer in the woods right next to us, the wildlife was everywhere. Just after the visitor center we were headed down a hill and I heard some rustling in the woods and look over expecting deer and was pleasantly surprised to see a small black bear leaning up against a tree looking onto the road, I loved it but no one else had time to see it. 13 miles later at the bottom of one of that very fun downhill section, one of many, we hit lunch. I had almost forgotten about lunch because I was so distracted by the ride. Wiles picked a great spot for lunch too, it was a huge overlook parking lot so we made our sandwiches, grabbed some cookies, chips and an Arnold Palmer and walked over to the brick wall and sat there with the team eating lunch looking out at the gorgeous view, it was a perfect moment and that is when Scott said this was our victory lap and I could not have agreed more. This ride was the culmination of our Journey, no better way to go out than a 106 mile day climbing just over 9000 feet. After that the time just disappeared and the hills felt easier and we were on the final climb busting it to get to the top and hit that last crazy downhill section to take us all the way to town. On the hill we were just getting started when somehow my chain popped off so we coasted to the next overlook and stopped to put it back on, ended up being a great place to stop, the views to the right of the road were the best and this one was perfect.
Even after all that climbing we weren’t too beat and at the end of the hill we got to Matt’s stop who was actually asleep in his chair on the side of the road but it was clearly marked which way to Front Royal so we just made the turn and went for it. In town though, we just barely missed Ryan at his turn because he ducked inside to use the bathroom and we went on for a couple miles before we hit a T in the road with no one marking it so we called Wiles and turned around and found Ryan and road into lodging. I know we have technically two more rides after this I know they will go by so quick so this one really felt like the last hurrah on the bike and it was the last for a lot of things, we won’t be that high again, won’t have as intense of climbs or as long of downhill roads. Today was one of the best days on the bike.
The day kept being amazing after the ride too. Our lunch was sponsored by a guy who owns a Winery nearby called Naked Mountain Winery so we went to his Winery and they had the best pulled pork and fried chicken that we have had all trip and after eating those things so much this trip I never thought I could enjoy them as much as we did today. His winery was amazing and the weather was still perfect to sit outside and enjoy the view while we ate. On our way out a bunch of us bought some shirts from the winery because they were hilarious, you can make a lot of funny shirts when your winery is called Naked Mountain Winery. Mine has their logo and says “Drink Naked” with the name of the winery below it, he gave us a big discount and was very open and generous and invited us all to visit any time we are back in the area.
After dinner we had a team meeting to discuss more details about tomorrow where we have our all team dinner with North and South in Manassas and our last preparations for arrival. Once the logistics things were done we finished the end of the ritual from yesterday be talking about the last handful of guys including myself. It was really moving for me to hear what people had to say about me and how much I helped them on and off the bike and it really made me fully believe that the goals I set in my letter I wrote to myself I really did accomplish and what those guys had to say was the proof I needed for myself to really see that. I pushed people hard on the bike and pulled them when they needed it and slowed down for them when they were struggling. I killed it at friendship visits and made it clear that I was here for the right reasons, to make a difference in the lives of the people we met and I shared that with teammates, sponsors and reporters to help spread our message.

I don’t know what to expect out of the next 30 some hours of the Journey of Hope but I have learned that every second is amazing so I’m looking forward the last few moments I have with everyone this summer.