Shinto at gains mill

Beaver dam creak...just a tiny stream...

New cold harbour ...where the two battlefields met.

Gaines mill

Today I spent reliving the civil war battles around richmond...capital of the confederate south.
I left Ashland about 8am and rode out towards the coldharbour battlefields. I didn't go into the centre of Richmond as its a big big town and on. Loaded touring bike it was certain to be no fun.
As I got near the battlefields I started seeing historical marker signs and knew these fields were full of history...if these fields could talk what a mixed up terrifying tale they could tell.

At the cold harbour battlefield visitor centre the heavens opened big time...I took cover under a tree on the first battlefield..here they have canons located along the confederate lines.

I rode through the woods and stopped at the signed telling the tale of the action at each location. I was soaked to the skin, the humidity was tropical and even though my hands were shriveled with being so damp I was immersed in the past. Here the trenches are still in tact, the confederate and union lines were just a few metres apart in places. I stood in a confederate trench and looked over the woods to where the union lines were...I could have thrown a stone onto them.

I took lots of pictures and forgot all about the time...reluctantly I had to move on and find a place to sleep. The cycle camping marked on my map was shut...great...and just then the thunder came back and I was swimming again. I headed to the church here at Willis road. Here I will sleep, much as the confederate soldiers did during the battle.

I found Scott again...he made Yorktown and is riding back to Charlottesville to get a train back home. He is now the only rider I have met going.both ways!

It is still raining outside but tonight I am inside a safe church...on a battlefield in Virginia.

Shinto and perhaps the most unhealthy junkfood dinner yet lol!

Willis church was once a feature of the fierce battles here, a.confederate hang out if you will. Here I am welcome to spend the night and shelter from the thunder storms outside.

Cannons positioned along.the confederate line faceing the woods where the union troops were.

A union trench and a confederate view of the ground the union troops attacked them over

Malvevern hill battlefields around Richmond.

Trent house

So at 6am I wrote this poem...go figure..zzz

If one day you you dare to dream
of places far you've never seen
Don't drive no car, don't hitch or hike,
Just pack your bags and ride your bike.

:)

Just watching the weather Forcast for Virginia...the humidity here seems unusually high for this time of year. The temperature is in the 90s with humidity at 68% ....all I know is that the place is steaming after the downpour just now. Just riding 50m to the gas station store for green tea and pretzels saw me dripping again....yuck. Looks like.no let up until after the weekend either. The lead story locally is a driver who stuck the truck in reverse instead of drive and nearly ended up drowning in her swimming pool...the truck is still in the pool...at least she won't be on the road near me for a while I guess! I just discovered watermelon tea...how they get one of those things in a small bag is beyond me though. When it rains here it really rains...hard. hard enough to hurt when it hits you. Then it stops as suddenly as it started. On the ride today some stoopid ads humanoid let their dachund out on the highway without a leash...it came at me out of the blue and did all it could to decapitate itself in my spokes...he seemed to live in a posh house so I'm not sure why he felt his life wasnt worth living...but anyway just at that moment a truck brushed my left arm...had I swerved to avoid the dam dog I would not be typing this. I wonder if these owners ate as careless with their guns? I hope and suspect not....people of America...pleeeeze keep your dogs off the highway!
...other that I love you all!

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I just thought this sign at the store in bumpass was amusing.

Church quarter...here general stonewall Jackson historically asked for some water....I wonder if there is a similar marker somewhere where he needed the restroom.

Lake Anna Virginia. There is also some kind of nuclear power plant here but I.didn't see it.

Riding along lake Anna this morning

Last night was a hot sticky night on the tent at the firestation in mineral. The big freight trains come within metres of the tent and whistle or whatever it is trains do...very loudly as they approach the crossing. Then there were the usual endless barking dogs from the houses around the town....American dogs seem to bark louder and longer than any other nations canine community I have experienced! Earlier two firefighters had been scratching each others eyes out over who got to drive the best truck or something....that coupled with the extreme humidity and the usual mosquito onslaught led to a long sleep challenged night.
I woke and packed up the tent etc and rode out of town yawning and smiling...after all I'm only a relatively short distance from the coast and achieving my dream of cycling across America.

The day has been humid and damp, it is pretty uncomfortable weather to ride in as everthing is sticky and damp and the humidity stops the sweat from evaporating...instead it drips on an endless river from me...all over Shinto who simply suffers in silence as ever.
Today my objective was a short 45 mile ride to Ashland Virginia...here I would get a motel and wash...the grime of the road seems to stick more in Virginia than any other state so far!
On the way I realized I would need to ride up bumpass after all....but there I met a cool 75 year old guy sitting on the porch watching the world go by...we chatted about bikes and the trip and he had been to England and Scotland...he offered me a place to stay but it was in the wrong place for me. Shame o didn't meet him last night. Guys like this are typical across the states...they are extremely friendly and talkative and hospitable.
I rode on past lake Anna and some place where stonewalled Jackson had asked forwater...an epic historical event it seems and one warranting it'd own historical marker here in the south!
I got to Ashland and went straight to subway...its the only place I can get fresh food...its like a.beacon of light in the darkness of junkfoodhell that dominates much of the America I have seen....which is admittedly predominantly gas station hote de cuisine.
I checked into motel 6 on the advice of the chatty lady at the visitor centre and was informed by the blonde receptionist that I could only use the pool if I wad a good boy tonight....hmm....the room is actually one of the best all trip and at $39 its a good deal given that I'm this far east I suppose.
The lady who wanted me to be a good boy provided maps of the civil war battlefields around Richmond at my request so I can spen an evening planning my visit instead of being good.
Hopefully the weather will perk up again.soon and ill finish this little ride in the sunshine in a few days time.

So happy I don't have to climb up this one.!

Well if you've got it  flaunt it!

Mineral...small mining town...with no mine I can find yet..lol!

Lunch

I set out at about 8am CBS have made out to mineral at 12 noon. The ride was easy enough...but uncomfotably humid and damp.. I'm starting to see occassional inns that look like English country pubs....but I'm still sitting in a diner waiting on my sandwich and soda.

It's very early to stop riding...but the skies are grey and rain is Forcasr. So ad I'm in no rush I will stop here and go ask at the fire stTion if I can sleep there tonight.

The hostel in charlottesville

The hostel in charlottesville

Today is labour day here in the states. Im informed this isn't in fact the one day everybody goes to work but in fact a public holiday. So as its an official excuse to slob out I have decided to ...erm...continue slobbing out here at the hostel I.stead of battling through heat and rain for 60 miles. It's a good excuse and I'm.sticking to it.

I think I'm in danger of getting used to hostel life though...they gave magical things here like a kettle, food, comfy beds and clean showers. The people have stories to tell and ears to listen. There is no tv to maintain a strong defence against the outside world and for now at least the Atlantic seems far enough away to be safe.

I knew I needed a rest but three days in nearly and I'm only just waking up!
I'm looking forward to Richmond and mechanicsville soon. I may stay a few days there as well.

The Forcasr is for thundery weather for a few more days then clearer skies...all I ask is that it doesn't tip down while I'm.riding.

Virginia is being good to me, like all the states have so far in their own unique ways. I am still overwhelmed at the kindness and friendliness of the American people I have met and some whom I wasn't able to meet. Sure there are a few whackos put there but they didn't get in my life..those who did I will not forget.

I've got fresh ripe peaches here...time to eat!

Downtown charlottesville

Charlottesville is a nice town..seems to be full of young university types...the main street and downtown areas are a nice change from the small town gas station stores across America. Here some guy called Thomas Jefferson lived...he was an important 'dood' ..'back in the day' ;)

It's raining very hard and I'm enjoying time off the bike to get some overdue sleep and get washed and wash my gear etc.
I feel I could sleep all week lol!

In the hostel are a couple going to.a wedding dance, a lady on a dance course, a girl checking out this hostel because she is going to set up her own hiker biker hostel, Anna from Sydney who I.rode with a bit in Kentucky and a girl who seems to live here semi.permanently.

The hostel is well organized and clean..And welcoming.

Tomorrow ill ride east again.

So i'M going to Tidy up later.....;)