22 May 2012

Glendale to Ashland VA 40 miles  (TransAm 110)

Gina is behind schedule. Her tent is pitched but it’s an F5 tornado in there, her clothes duffel disorganized, her sleeping pad deflated, her pillowcase sans pillow, her wet laundry hanging from the eaves. Why so disheveled at 8:30 pm? Because she got lost earlier today. Yes, Day 3 on the ride and she got lost. She wasn’t alone at least, because she got Wendy lost too.

Just beyond the church, the route turned right. Only Gina didn’t and she took Wendy straight ahead along with her. Nearly 10 chat-filled miles later, upon approach to the Richmond Airport, they realized there was a problem. They weren’t supposed to be anywhere near the airport. In fact, the route was to take them so far away from the airport that the airport wasn’t even on their map. And forget about asking directions from the local truckers. Not that they can’t or won’t provide them, just that they’ll give you truck route directions to where you’re headed, and being about 16 wheels short, this won’t be all that much help. But not to worry. Pickup Truck Tom saved the day, transporting our wayward travelers, bikes and all, back to their starting point. In case anyone was worried about Pickup Truck Tom, and by anyone I mean those of us who watch far too many episodes of Criminal Minds, Gina has spent the past several weeks studying Ashley Judd’s kick-ass CIA moves in her rudely-canceled show Missing so I think Gina could hold her own.

Arriving at the KOA campground about two hours after her fellow TransAmmers meant that Gina had missed the trip to the local grocer. Not for her own personal shopping but for dinner for the entire crew, tonight being her first night on Chef Duty. Her cooking partner and the tour guide shopped for the multi-course meal instead, settling on hamburgers, sautéed vegetables, and two special Dutch salads to add in a little international flavor. (I have no idea what’s in one Dutch salad let alone two but hopefully they included more cheese than raw herring.) Dinner sounded great except for the part where it had to be prepared on camp stoves and picnic tables.

All of this is why Gina is behind schedule and her tent lies in chaos.

Me, well, I’m on no schedule except for the one dictated by my corporate email Inbox. Truthfully, I think I’d rather be tossing herring and gouda in a lovely vinaigrette right now.