Atlantic Coast Tour
May 3rd - Chippokes Plantation State Park to Little Bay Campground

Today's ride takes us on The Colonial Parkway through Williamsburg. An event ride is taking place so part of our rout is closed to traffic except for bikes. However, this does not last long as the closed portion ends just a few miles after we get on it. A policeman-for-the-day tells us that we cannot continue on the Parkway where we are because there is a tunnel ahead and we are not allowed to ride through it. He tells us to exit, go through the parking lot and catch it on the other side. That turns out to be much easier said than done. We do as instructed, but end up going miles out of our way to find it again.

The Colonial Parkway cuts a swath through thick deciduous forests giving us glimpses of the Chesapeake Bay occasionally. Louie wonders why there are so many parking areas yet no water or restrooms for 13 miles. We see lots of cyclists using the Parkway and wonder what they do. We did not want to traipse into the forest for fear of poison ivy and poison oak or worse yet, snakes.

Finally we see the bridge to highway 17 in the distance. It is a huge toll bridge. Louie is glad to get off of the exposed aggregate surface of the Colonial Parkway. At the toll a sign direct bicycles to pass free of charge. Score another free ride from the tandem!

Highway 17 is four-lane divided highway. Most of the time there is no shoulder and cars whiz past very close to us. Drivers shake their heads like we are crazy for riding there. Areas like these pop up all the time on bike tours. Louie does his best to ride predictably and keep us out of harms way.

The turn off to Highway 3 brings us some relief, but not a lot. The good news is that we have a tail wind. The bad news is we have to pick up our U-Haul a day early because the campground we were supposed to stay at, Greys Point, no longer takes tents. After arriving at the U-Haul Center we find it is already closed for the day. Fortunately Becky had contacted the owner earlier and got his cell number so we could call him if we were late. He agrees to meet us there in half an hour. Louie goes around back and finds a hose that is lying in the sun and hoses himself off with nice hot water and invites Bec to do the same. Later we are told that a neighbor called the owner to tell him that a couple of kids are in back of his place playing with the hose. After the owner arrives, Bec confesses to using the hose and the owner laughs as he tells her about the call from the neighbor.

Becky asks if there are any hotels or campgrounds in the area. The U-Haul guy tells us that the local hotel cost more than it is worth and we would be better off camping. He finds us a campground that is five miles away, and is in eyeshot from his house. Becky says, "You'll probably see your truck there tonight!" He calls the campground to verify that they take tents so we have a home for the night. When Bec asks the owner of Little Bay Campground if she has WiFi she says, "Honey, this here is primitive camping. We have none of that stuff here." She tells us that a big storm is expected tonight so we set up the tent inside the U-haul. Louie says, "You know you are a redneck when you rent a U-haul to be used as an RV!"

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