2014-06-27: Day 2 Virginia Backcountry, Mechanicsville to Mineral

Today we transitioned from the area known as the Tidewater into the area of Virginia known as the Piedmont. Nearly the entire day was spent riding through Virginia back country on very rural roads. Very little traffic just miles and miles of rolling terrain. The landscape is mostly wooded with pasture land salted through the area. Appears to be good horse country. Teresa met us at Patrick Henry's house in the country with Subway for lunch.

I have to say after just 145 miles, I feel good about the route that we are following. As billed, it is showing us beautiful terrain and historically significant sites. Traffic is light and the road surfaces are good. The route is well signed and easy to follow.

We are also meeting some interesting folks along the route. We have now meet 3 other TransAmerican riders. We actually meant the first yesterday at Glendale. We spotted each other simultaneous in front of the only source of food for 20 miles, a small old time country store. It was the only business in Glendale. We invited him over for lunch. Turns out his name is Sam and he came to America from Perth, Australia to ride the TransAmerica Bike Route. He's headed west but plans on 40 miles each day and planned to stay in Glendale last night.

We also have meet a woman from Tucson, AZ who is finishing the route heading east soon. She has done the entire country over 4 rides over a period of several years.

Finally when we arrived in Mineral tonight, we meet Eric from San Francisco. Eric was already camping at our planned destination for tonight, the mowed lawn behind the fire department in Mineral, VA. Eric is headed east and started at Pueblo earlier this summer. Sam from Glendale pulled up a bit later and said he thought he would find us in Mineral. All of us had dinner together at a picnic table behind the fire department. PS. It is no accident that we all ended up at the same place. This particular fire department opens up their station to bikers providing showers, a kitchen area for cooking, and nice flat lawn for camping. This is well known to anyone who has done their research on the route.

As we all sat having dinner, and older gentlemen in an even older truck pulled up to greet us and welcome us to Mineral. He seems to be the town ambassador greeting all the bikers that come through town.