Cycling The Globe

Distance: 118.1 km
Ride time: 5:39:32
Average: 20.9 km/h
Max speed: 54.0 km/h
Total: 40012 km

It is quaint countryside cycling out here on the rural roads of Virginia – which lasted until I reached the suburbs of Richmond.

Suddenly I was cycling through some neighborhoods that didn’t seem completely safe. The contrasts are big in America!

After crossing the bridge over the James River I was in downtown Richmond, the old capital of the Confederate States of America. History is big in these parts. Every couple of miles I passed a sign on the road explaining that such and such important historical event took place there. I stopped at most of them and had a look – it’s like reading a book while cycling; I’m learning many new things about the civil war.

After waiting through a typical afternoon thunderstorm in downtown I was on my way north again. I was about to pass an important milestone – the 40000 km mark of this ride!

10000 km was in Kuala Lumpur, 20000 in New Zealand, 30000 in Lima Peru, and now 40000 in Richmond, VA! Where will 50000 be? 🙂

Just as I took my milestone photo I got an email from a local journalist who would like to hear more about the trip. We decided to meet up tomorrow morning. I had though about putting up my tent in the forest, but I figured that if I was going to be in the newspaper tomorrow it might be a good thing with a shower and a good night’s sleep.

I found a reasonably priced motel and settled in for the night. This is amazingly only the 3rd night I have payed for accommodation in the US.