Day 181 Chesapeake, VA-Kitty Hawk, NC (Helping Hands)

The day started out great. I had about 70 miles to go and all day to do it.

I got to Sandbridge, VA way earlier than expected so I took an extra long lunch on the beach which was glorious. Sometime around 1PM, I decided to carry on and started riding down the coast at a leisurely pace as I had all the time in the world.

Everything changed when I got to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge where one of the myriad forest rangers at the entrance informed me that the pathway through the refuge to Corolla was closed for the season. Now these things happen but when they happen to a cycle tourer it is a bit more demoralizing. Because backtracking sucks and the time it takes to retreat will make for an extra long riding day.

Luckily after the fruitless efforts of trying to appeal to the human component of government I got my first helping hand of the day. At the entrance to the refuge I met Ron and Barb who were out about about riding big wheel bikes. They were sympathetic to my plight and after some time chatting offered to give me a lift back to the main road, which saved my about an hour of riding. After a great conversation and well wishes I was off and running on a new course towards Elizabeth City (I gave up on the Outer Banks and sent an email to my warmshowers host saying I wouldn’t make it).

After about 10 miles I ran into another cyclist (Michael) who rode with me for a while and we talked about a lot of cool things. Michael convinced me that the Outer Banks would still be the best way to go and easy enough as the ferry was only about 10 miles up the road. I took his kind advice and started on my way where I met a wonderful woman who I noticed passed me numerous times throughout the day, she said the same and we laughed about it and proceeded to talk all the way to Currituck, NC.

Getting of the ferry it was starting to get dark so I decided to head for a hotel 10 miles up the road as it was supposed to rain all night. literally abotu 2 blocks from the hotel I get a message from Tom my previously scheduled host asking if I needed any help. I told him where I was and that I was heading to a motel as I was so far away yet and it was getting dark. Tom offered to come pick me up in his truck and drove the 25 miles to get me and once back at his place cooked a wonderful dinner and the night was filled with conversation and stories with him and his wife Linda. Because of his generous helping hand I was able to have a night of camaraderie and fellowship rather than the quiet solitude of the motel, and for that I’m grateful.

I grateful for all the helping hands I have had today as well as all the helping hands this entire journey and before. So thanks to you all for being a part of me!

Much love