Stonewalled Jackson lived in Lexington and is buried there.

Lexington Virginia

Riding early towards vesuvious

Strange long necked sheep lama things

Who needs gas to drive when you can cycle across America on jelly beans lol!

I found sherbert lollies like I had as a kid!

Riding along the blue ridge mountains of Virginia! Today was a day of Long steep climbs as I ride up vesuvios mountain and up along the crest of the blue ridge mountains. The climbs were tough but I got up them pretty quick...must have list at least a litre of sweat though...tmi? Oh ok..lol!
The views from the ridge were wonderful...both west down into the shenendoah valley and east.
I stopped more than usual to tAke Pictures and also gasping for water at the top and had a chat with a roadie riding the same climbs today.
Or was then I noticed my computer has tripped over the 4000 mile mark for this ride.
The downhills were steep fast and full of sharp bends...great fun!
I stopped at a peach farm and had cool necterenes picked locally ans peach milkshake...then decided to head for charlottesville...but it was getting way to humid and hot and is already done about 50 miles over and along the mountains and the blue ridge parkway. I found a small store in Whitehall and was told I could camp for free at the community centre. I had soup with veg and pasta and beef and a tub of strawberry icecream and two iced teas.
The day conconcluded with a lovely sunset ...behind the mountains I had just ridden over. I looked back west as the sunset and said to myself...I've ridden 4000+ miles to get here...almost there mate.

...oh man some hillbilly at the campsite just blew up his campfire by throwing a tin of hairspray onto it.....begs the question what a chainsaw wealding gun shootin good ole country boy is doing with hairspray I guess !

Views from the blue ridge parkway down into the shenendoah valley.

Breakfast was taken at gertrudes place...here the walls and ceilings are covered with bikers and hikers names...mine now included.

At the top of vesuvuous I took a short rest to dry off after the climb and watched this little guy . Butterflies are everywhere here and they often fly at me as I ride.

Shots from todays ride up vesuvuous and along the blue ridge parkway in Virginia.

Shinto with the shenendoah valley behind

Looking east from the blue ridge parkway

I've ridden 4000 miles so far!

Where I am camped tonight at Whitehall community centre VirginiA.

Freshly picked peaches from the farm along the route...on a hot day...just the job!

Sunset behind the blue ridge mountains of Virginia tonight. Looking west ..after 4000 miles so far...

This flag was outside a shop with a vineyard around the back.

Peacefull Virginia from my tent tonight

Looking at my shirt I notice my tax disc.ran out yesterday lol!

Christiansburg is a nice small town...i found the cheapest motel i could and hit the sack early. This morning i started riding about 8am and headed out into the roanake valley which proved to be lushously green and pretty. The road wound around and up and down through countryside which us gradually reminding me more and more of England. It is however warm here.
I met a group of four roadies out for a quick ride...they were all interested in the trip and the gear on my bike.
When I got to the city park in troutville I was tempted to push on to Lexington...but my thigh muscles are aching after to many short rides and ice cream...so as I have a lot if time on my hands ill stay here in the park tonight...it has power a place to stay and I can grab a shower over the road in the fire station.

I passed some really nice houses today. One five bedroom place with 45acres had a board up saying for sale from owner $450k. Now given its located in some of the most beautiful countryside I have seen on the transam ride I thought that sounded ok. It even had a horse corral and a stream.
The bug questions are...do I have a spare $450k and what the hell would I do with all that space?....sweet dreams are made of this..lol!

The Virginians are really nice people for the mostpart. They wave say hi and are extremly helpfull.

I rode 47 miles today...I think only day ones ride was shorter. I'm finding it hard still not to keep clocking up 70+ mile days. Lord knows what ill do when I have to stop riding.


Riding in Virginia is a real pleasure.

Chritiansburg this morning

Some shots from my ride today along the roanoke valley in Virginia.

Filling up

I really liked this house.

The Roanoke valley near fort lewis and brushy mountains.

This is the transam cyclist guest book at troutville city park Virginia. All along the route I have been asked by people if I would mind signing their guest books..and some have wanted my photo...foolishly I might add lol!

I think its a great tradition and reading comments from travellers from all over the world is facinating. It also provides a source of news about who is ahead of you on the route and how many days or weeks ahead they are.

Back the saddle again

http://soundcloud.com/andy-mcclelland/rolfs-back-in-the-saddle-again/s-IZxiv

Here us a very cool tune by my friend Andy!

Yeeeehawwww!

I'm on the final section (12) of the transamerica bicycle ride!  Tomorrow morning ill start riding along map 139 ...map 150 is Yorktown. Each map panel covers about 40 miles.