RockyMount
By
Saturday, September 03, 2005
September 3, 2005
Today was a bit easier day - very flat and another day with a tail wind - a cyclists dream. We didn't leave until 8AM so got to sleep in a bit. The first highlight was passing from Virginia into North Carolina. There was a sign announcing the fact that we had crossed another boundary and that means time for a photo-op.
Since Travis and Mick are North Carolinians, they took the stage first.
The rest of us lined up and Mike took a series of photos with everyone elses camera. Anything to avoid getting into the photo herself.
When it was time to get back on the road, Travis rolled his bike away from the weeds and somehow picked up a vine that became twisted in his bike more and more as he tried to get away. Last night, Mike Munk had been warning us about Kudzu, and we assumed that Travis was about to be swallowed. We were all laughing so hard that we almost forgot to bring out the cameras again. Read about Kudzu on my Great Mississippi River Ride
Shortly after entering North Carolina, I came across a town named for me.
As today was a short day, and Rocky Mount is an intersection with a bunch of motels,we had time to stop in Halifax NC and tour the historical museum. We watched a 15 minute video about the history of the area. I was one of several cyclists who took the opportunity of air conditioning and lights out for a short nap. We rode by the old tavern. You can read more about Halifax history http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/halifax/halifax.htm
One non-cyclist told us that he was raised by an Aunt who never swore but would tell him to go to Halifax. He finally had come to Halifax nearly 70 years later - on his birthday. We didn't have the heart to tell him that his Aunt probaby meant Halifax Nova Scotia.
Our lunch SAG stop today was nothing short of scenic. A parking lot in the town of Enfield NC. Fortunately there were a couple of 18 wheelers parked in the lot to give us a bit of respite from the mid-day sun. Sandy and Bob enjoy another sandwich.
Bob decided to drop off the A-Team today and ride in the back with the fun folks. I think he was surprised that we don't actually ride at 6MPH, we just stop and take in the scenery rather than just ride.
A field of cotton. We started seeing cotton growing in southern Virginia and expect to see it throughout the south. It is not quite harvest season yet. I do have photos on the Mississippi River Tour of cotton harvesting. See the link above,
A few days ago, I took a photo of Tobacco growing. Here the leaves have been stripped from the stalks and are now being cured.
Travis'es wife came to pick him up tonight - he is leaving the tour to go back home. Mick's wife will join us in a few days.
