Day 4 started off with a visit from Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. The Governor has been pushing many Veteran’s benefit programs as Virginia has a large military presence. Gov. Kaine is also a cycling enthusiast and pledged to take part in next year’s event.
The route to Williamsburg again took the riders through some of the greatest roads in Virginia. The 72-mile route had a couple of long climbs, something that the riders have not seen many of.
Williamsburg is part of the Historic Triangle of Virginia, which also includes Jamestown and Yorktown, is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Williamsburg is the original Capitol of Virginia dating back to 1698. Williamsburg was established in 1632. Prior to the arrival of the English colonists at Jamestown in the Colony of Virginia in 1607, the area, which became Williamsburg, was largely wooded.
As the ride went through new Kent Township, hundreds of students came out to greet the riders and hear stories from them. The daily USO rest stop was next door and each of the schools teachers brought their students by to talk with the wounded warriors. They were especially fascinated with Jim Penseyres prosthetic leg. When we were in Texas, the kids came out every day, thanks in no large part to all of the efforts by the American Legion Auxiliary.
The main development was that Scot Moro, the ex-Mercury Cycling Team mechanic rigged up a push bar for Nate Hunt to enable him to get help on the days big climbs. The unintended consequences were that now Nate was like a rocket and instead of coming in behind most of the regular bikes, he was at the front and actually led the group to the finish in Williamsburg.
Tomorrow, we head down the Colonial Parkway on our way to Hampton and Ft. Eustice, home to one of the largest WTU’s will host dinner. In addition, the movie “Brother’s at War” will be shown to a standing room only crowd that will include all of the R2R participants. Thanks to the movie’s creator, Jake Rademacher, for making this possible.
We are only 2 days away from the big concert finish with “American Idol” winner David Cook.