We enjoyed a restful night at the Quality Inn with our bikes resting in the room with us then got up for the free hotel breakfast and lunch sandwich making, just like old times. But since they had no peanut butter, we used cream cheese. Because we had re-routed ourselves yesterday just to find the hotel, we faced some back tracking but fortunately discovered a more direct path back to our mapped itinerary, but this involved riding on some very busy rush hour streets and highways with no shoulders til we rejoined the route.

From there traffic thinned a bit and we headed west, our destination the town of Bumpass (seriously) where we once again broke off the proscribed route to find our first Warm Showers hosts of this trip near the town of Ashcake.

All of today we enjoyed clear skies and very little wind but continued to see the results of the deluges they have had around VA with washed out roads and flooded forests and fields. We imagine that mosquitos will be a huge problem in a few weeks.

We passed by the campus of Randolph Macon University and later stopped for lunch at picnic tables next to a country church with a light breeze to rejuvenate us. We did see a few fixer uppers we thought might be good reno projects.

The town of Ashland, VA, where Randolph Macon is located has train tracks running through the center of town, flanked by all the towns nicest homes. We were told that the tracks went in after the houses were built.

We passed some gorgeous horse country, flooded rivers and fields, and historic buildings along the route. Had we stopped at all of the historic markers, we would still be riding.

Somewhere toward the end of the ride, we realized that Maja’s tire was loose in the frame. Who knows how long she’s been riding likes that. But it sure did make a difference to the speed of her cycling once it was fixed.

Not quite reaching Bumpass (sorry, Foley, no photo!) we took a small road to our hosts’ house and trusted Google maps to direct us. That app failed us and took us to another house some 2 miles distant so after contacting Dana, we had to backtrack to their house. Our hosts are incredibly friendly and kept us entertained with stories of bears, washed out culverts, fencing and family lore. After a nice dinner and conversation (they used to live in Cleveland Park) and a quick load of laundry we will rest for a vigorous ride tomorrow, 78 miles and hills!