MAY 26 (MON) 63.5 MILES  11.1 mph  (mxsp 38.5) 5 hrs 42 min biking time

Up before Armand-leave room at 7:00-Whitney gone.  Go in for bkft-donut is so old & hard-need hammer to break it.  Go past J & W where we had bkft before-old people still there.  Go up hill-find Armand talking to Chuck-another old biker-wants to invite us to his house for coffee.  Go pet his dog in truck & say good bye.  30 m to Paint Bank-hilly but pretty ride-no one on rd.  Armand is waiting at store-going ahead to get car.  I eat pancakes on porch-meet couple from San Antonio-visit grist mill on property.  1:45 min later decide it’s time-slow going-wind in face-gradual uphill-10 mph for 15 m.  Now the 2 m of uphill starts-3-4 mph-stop & rest several times-few cars pass-more motorcycles.  Long downhill-can’t believe I biked this before & didn’t remember how difficult it was.  Rest stop on side of rd-then steeper uphill-walk several times-it’s much easier & faster.  Turn on busy rd to Penbroke-stop at 1st store I see-get Dr. Pepper.  A mirage-Armand is WALKING towards me–saw me from the rd.  WHERE’S THE CAR?  tried to get a ride-exhausted when I got here.  WHERE”S THE CAR & YOUR BIKE?  Blacksburg & bike is at store where we were going to meet-don’t you remember?  YOU KNOW I HAVE NO MEMORY.  Man drives up-Armand asks if he’s going to Blacksburg-said he could take us but had no room for bikes.  That’s OK-my wife will stay w/bikes.  He drives away w/Scott-a married librarian-works at VTech. No cell service here-miracle Armand saw me or I’d still be waiting on the curb-Scott is a bike angel-neither of us could have biked the 25 m-no motel in town. I walk down the street-now I remember the store-ate fried pie.  Armand is back in an hr-so happy to pack up bikes & drive-listen to Charlie Pride.  Only customers at Red Carpet Inn.  Have golf reservations tomorrow at 8:30 & then we will drive until it’s dark.  I’m not sure that we have to do every ride that Jean does-but I’m glad we came.  VA & WVA are beautiful & challenging for bikers like us-Whitney did much better-maybe because he practices.  Rds were good, people were friendly-drivers were fantastic.  We are very grateful to God that we have our health & able to see America by BIKE.  But without Jean doing it-we would still be in Austin playing bridge, tennis & golf.