Dag 14 van Emporia (Virginia) naar Battleboro( North-Carolina)

Vandaag hadden we een hele rustige dag. We hoefden maar 59 mijl te fietsen en de hoogtemeters waren ook niet indrukwekkend. Dus was er tijd om wat later op te staan en rustig te ontbijten zodat we rond 8.15 op de fiets zaten.

We vertrokken uit Emporia, waar volgens ons alleen wat tabaksindustrie is, zo rook het er in ieder geval. Verder een beetje armoedige toestand en niets te beleven. Het restaurant gaf ook geen soelaas, wederom geen alcohol in the house. Na het eten vonden we gelukkig een klein supermarktje waar we een fles wijn konden kopen om die tijdens het kijken van een filmpje soldaat te maken. Een vrijdagavond zonder wijn kan gewoon niet.

Dus fris op de fiets richting Battleboro. We zagen veel katoenplantages, gelukkig zonder de slaven, maar je kunt je wel voorstellen hoe het er vroeger uitzag. Zeker na het zien van de film Twelve Years a slave. In Amerika ook een grote hit. We zitten nu in de staten die vroeger tot de zuidelijke staten behoorden en die niet blij waren met het afschaffen van de slavernij. Je ziet dan ook nog veel vlaggen van de vroegere geconfedereerde staten.  Het wordt allemaal wat armer en je ziet steeds meer verlaten huizen. 

Een beperkt aantal mensen is lastig gevallen door honden tijdens de tocht. Jaap was gewapend met een spuitbus Dove Deodorant ipv pepperspray. Hij hoefde hem niet te gebruiken, gelukkig maar want Ciska vond het gebruik van pepperspray nogal dieronvriendelijk.

Met 97,5 km op de teller zitten we nu wederom in de Middle of Nowhere en vanavond weer geen wijntje bij het eten. We hebben dus maar een happy beer hour georganiseerd in de lobby van het hotel. We moesten wel beloven uit plastic bekers te drinken anders mocht het niet. 

Morgen staat de "Century" op de planning, dat wil zeggen 100 mijl fietsen. De langste dagafstand. Dus we houden de bierconsumptie maar een beetje beperkt.    

De overpeinzingen van David op 23-08-2014

Riding in the South can bring new experiences to the rider from the North. Being from the North, I was not aware that the Civil War continues to this day. The Confederate Flag is everywhere on flagpoles, cars license plates. Visiting a restaurant/bar one day, I noticed there were open discussions about Northerners and the clear suggestions they stay in the North and keep their opinions to themselves. I did not participate in the discussion as I promised my wife  I would come home alive from this adventure. This North South Divide is not just in the U.S. It exists in Korea, The Netherlands, Germany, UK, Vietnam, and many other countries. In Virginia it seems like the Civil War was everywhere, as every mile there is another plaque explaining the wonderful achievements of the Confederates, often do to with the poor planning and execution of the Union Generals.
I know the war was about slavery and the view of many Southerners that they do not need to follow the views and rules of the North. I wondered if the Civil War could also be about Hills. The Confederates knew the importance of Hills in a battle, where being at the top of the hill firing down is always the superior position. Maybe the South was jealous of the North as they had all the hills. On the other hand the Northerners were sick of going up and down hills, as well as the dame winters where they could not avoid the cold.  Many of the Northerners were interested in moving South were it was warmer and flat. In fact Florida and the Carolinas became the ideal place for Northerners to retire. Never underestimate the power of the hill!!
You notice other things in Virginia. They grow lots of cotton and tobacco, while Pennsylvania had mostly soy and some corn. Today we also started seeing dogs, which were raised to protect their owner’s home, which of course means scaring the crap out of bikers and hopefully biting a few riders each day. We were given the advice of squirting them with water. This means you need to reach for the water bottle with 1 hand while balancing the bike with the other hand and at exactly the right time squirting the little monster. If I can accomplish this trick I will join the circus. I was only attacked once today and had no fear even though the dog was within 6 inches of my foot. The lack of fear was simple; if he or she gets close they will receive a nice foot in the head. I also believe animals know when you are afraid and they target the weak fearful riders. More information will be coming as we enter North Carolina where it is open season for all dogs to attack riders, especially ones from the North.
Tomorrow is considered a rest day as we will only be going 59 miles. Last time I checked 59 is only 1 mile short of 60 miles. It is about the same distance as from Boston to Cape Cod. Depending on your ability it could take 4-6 hours. A year ago I rode my bike from Charlestown to Scituate, which was 33 miles, which at the time seemed like I climbed Mt. Everest. Thank God for the rest days.