Today is the beginning of the return. I am reversing my steps from last year and cycling from Yorktown, VA to Vancouver, BC via the TransAmerican route and Astoria, OR. call me a fool for retracing the steps, but I know the route, places to stay, and dogs to avoid.
This time I am doing it with four others. First there is Greg, the Canadian from British Columbia and Florida. Next is Bill, our bike mechanic from New Jersey. Third is Andy from Detroit and President of his company and finally is Sue, the Appalachian Trail hiker from Connecticut.
Day zero was Ann driving Sue and myself to Yorktown, VA. I met Sue in Lancaster, PA the day before and she stayed with Ann and myself for the night. But today we were on our way to Yorktown, in the rain and in the car. Just before we got to Yorktown it stopped raining. Our night was going to be at the Grace Episcopal Church. What we did not know is how beautiful the accommodations would be. A brand new building for cyclists and other church functions over looking the York River. It was a great place to stay before we start our ride.
After we looked around and Ann and I said our good byes before Sue and I walked downtown Yorktown and to the visitor center at the National Battlefield, before we met Greg and his wife Heather. We had a great dinner of pub food. Later that evening Bill arrived at the Church to stay as well.
The weather looked crappy for the next day with lots of rain, cool temperatures, and overcast skies for day 1 of the adventure.