Who invited Earl, Ralph and the Bear?

Ok, we are doubling up on the BLOG today because we did not get one yesterday.   I would tell you that is because we did not have internet access at Peaks of Otter, our first night resting place.  However, it would have made no difference at all, I was not capable of inputting the update.

We start the beautiful morning from the estate that is the Davis residence.  We depart a little after the targeted time to head to Charlottesville and to start our journey.  When we get there, apparently the remnants of Hurricane Earl decided that he was coming along for the ride.   The wind gust were incredible that day.  Nevertheless we are excited, take our parkway entrance photo and get underway.  

Everyone is feeling good to start the day, except yours truly.  I had not felt well the last couple of days, but nothing serious.   Unfortunately, I from the first pedal stroke, I am sick to my stomach and it only worsens during the ride.  I cannot keep any food or supplements down and have to make repeated stops.  At one point on mile 30 I decide I had enough.  However, my riding mates are just as hard headed as I am and they are determined to wait on me.   The only problem is that I am burning 4000K calories or so and not taking in anything.   Nevertheless, with the assistance of our SAG drivers (my mother and father) and Brian and Kelly, we soldier on.  I want to talk about how glorious this first day was, simply put, I was miserable.

The ride itself is as beautiful as anticipated (photos to come later).  So I am told, I did not look up much of the day.  It is one thing to see the parkway as you zoom by in a car, it is quite another as you slog along on a bicycle. 

I wish I could tell you that we finished the day  on a high as we glide into Peaks of Otter, some 85 miles from the start.  However, that is not to be.   Our finishing climb that day was an unrelenting 13 miles at a 6.5 grade, a gain of over 3000 feet climb.   Halfway up that climb, some strange, merciless bear jumped on our backs get a hitch up the mountain.   When we finished, we had all had enough that day.  No worries, just 6 more days to go.