TransBallard: Day 16

01 June 2012 Council VA to Lookout KY 43 miles  (TransAm 589) Liquor in the grocery stores. Apparently most Washingtonians have never been in a California supermarket for it’s Top Story today that you can now buy your tequila at the local QFC. It is such big news that it was all the barista at …

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TransBallard: Day 15

31 May 2012 Damascus to Council VA 49 miles  (TransAm 546) The Chicken, our adopted sidekick from Germany, is creeping me out. Somehow he is mobile. Four days ago he was roosting between the milk bottle and the windmill: Now he is at the edge of the fridge, so close that if he weren’t a …

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TransBallard: Day 14

30 May 2012 Damascus VA 0 miles  (TransAm 497) “Emergency situation! Emergency situation!” I am hollering from the shower but like a tree falling in the forest, am I really making any sound with no one around to hear? There is an unwelcome visitor in here with me and we are hastily retreating to opposite …

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TransBallard: Day 13

29 May 2012 Wytheville to Damascus VA 57 miles  (TransAm 497) We might need to re-think this bit about Gina no longer sleeping in the Nursery.  Being the only TransAmmer sleeping downstairs last night, Gina quickly become one of the many TransAmmers sleeping upstairs after getting “totally creeped out” by the “creepy hallway” with the …

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TransBallard: Day 12

28 May 2012 Christianburg to Wytheville VA 54 miles  (TransAm 440) “Not the best day on the TransAm.” A direct quote from Gina, and sadly, it stems from Mike B having taken a terrible spill today, effectively ending his TransAm ride. Thankfully, Mike will be okay – you can read his first-hand account of the …

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TransBallard: Day 11

27 May 2012 Troutville to Christianburg VA 55 miles  (TransAm 386) This is how we keep track of Gina’s whereabouts: No 21st century GPS or iPhone app, no calibration or charging or downloading required, just grab your reading glasses and a brightly colored push pin and voila, you can track her ride like a wave …

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TransBallard: Day 10

26 May 2012 Love/Blue Ridge Parkway to Troutville VA 70 miles  (TransAm 331) Heat. This is the story of late. Gina is on her bike by 7 am, an hour she hasn’t graced with her non-sleeping presence in many a month. Besides employment, few things can get Gina up that early. A great spin instructor …

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TransBallard: Day 9

25 May 2012 Charlottesville to Love/Blue Ridge Parkway VA 46 miles  (TransAm 261) “I can’t believe this Virginia!” Gina’s enthusiasm is bubbling over in the aftermath of today’s ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The cycling in Virginia has been outstanding thus far and our little Gina is enjoying every minute. Today she even soaked …

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TransBallard: Day 8

24 May 2012 Mineral to Charlottesville VA 45 miles  (TransAm 215) Gina loved Marley. Loved him in Czechoslovakian, the first language in which she saw his movie while killing time on a rainy day in Prague. Loved him in English when she read his book cover to cover. And loved him again when she watched …

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TransBallard: Day 7

23 May 2012 Ashland to Mineral VA 60 miles  (TransAm 170) I’m on the Metro bus heading home from a downtown Seattle lunch with former-coworkers-turned-friends when I hear him say “Hey, Gina!” Even more loudly, I hear Gina say “WHUT?” As we know, this is not our little Gina on the bus with me today, …

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