Bike Virginia

[tulip]

Hi, I'm in the middle of Bike Virginia. This year it's in the southwestern part of the state and into Tennessee. That means lots of climbing! Yesterday's ride was 67 miles of rollers and some serious climbing in the last third or so. But it's so beautiful here! There are 2000 riders this year.

Today I didn't ride because i have to work, but tomorrow, the last day, is 45 miles from Abingdon, Virginia to Bristol TN/VA, where the car is. Then I'm heading to Asheville for some visiting before going back home to Richmond.

The Bike Friday is just fantastic. My legs are getting stronger (they have no choice.)

[emily_in_nc]

Hey cool, tulip!

Glad you are enjoying Bike Virginia. We did it back '03, I think it was. It was HARD but wonderful scenery. Unfortunately I only got to ride three of the five days due to a campylobacter outbreak that hit about 10% of the riders. The CDC even got involved afterwards to figure out what caused it. They decided it was from rainwater that splashed onto some of our water bottles, after being laced with chicken droppings on the road near chicken farms...wild! My DH was happily not affected, but I have rarely been that ill in my LIFE.

I suspect you're faring a lot better!

Emily

[F8th637]

Go tulip!! The ride sounds beautiful but hard! I'm a hill wimp myself.

How not fun, Emily! Hope you are faring better, tulip!

[bike4ever]

emily_in_nc - was that the year it was out of Winchester? If so, I missed day 5 due to that same thing. Very rough using the hot port-a-potties for the runs!

[emily_in_nc]

emily_in_nc - was that the year it was out of Winchester? If so, I missed day 5 due to that same thing. Very rough using the hot port-a-potties for the runs!

Yes, that was it! It hit me the night of day 3. We were doing the hotel option and were staying in an absolutely amazing inn in West Virginia, right over the border. They only had suites left when we booked the trip, so we got two nights in this amazingly posh suite filled with 18th century antiques, a canopy bed, and TWO TVs. We made that our anniversary present to each other.

What an anniversary, though. I spent the entire time running between the bed and bathroom. OMG was I sick. I simply can't imagine using a port-a-potty as sick as I was. I got SO lucky to be staying in a suite with a marble bathroom -- and the best part -- you are going to hate me:

a bidet.

Need I say more? It was the best thing ever under the circumstances!

DH stayed with me on day 4, rode into town to buy pepto-bismol (which didn't help at all), and was able to ride on day 5 to get our car and come back and pick me up.

A guy I knew here who did it made it through all five days before getting hit with the bacteria. He was then sick for a solid MONTH after coming home. I was better within a few days. Campylobacter is an awful, awful bug, but affects everyone differently and for different lengths of time. Sorry you suffered too! It's definitely a bike event I'll NEVER forget!

Emily

[bike4ever]

I got hit with it mid day 4. I did make it back to tent city, but it was terrible trying to set up my tent and run to the port-a-potty. I was quite miserable that night. I ended up not riding day 5 - way too weak. I seem to remember getting over it fairly quickly.

[tulip]

This year was bacteria-free. Great weather, beautiful scenery, friendly people, and hilly hills.