Tom Flanders World

10/2/19 – Rehoboth Beach

Road the bike to Enterprise in Rehoboth to pick up the rental car. It was hot, but the ride was much easier than last week’s hillfest.

10/3/19 to 10/6/19

Bad stress and depression. Nothing to write.

10/7/19 – Feeling Better

Today, I have words in my head and they made it all the way to my fingers. We are in Virginia.

I’ve driven in most of the states. So it is with some authority when I say that Maryland has the worst drivers in the country.

10/8/19 – Somewhere in Virginia

Two days ago we were in the North. Now everyone is saying y’all. The amount of change in so few miles is startling.

10/9/19 – Lost in VA

My sense of direction was off today. I kept making wrong turns. Not sure why.

We did eventually arrive at the correct campground. A KOA at King’s Dominion amusement park, which is closed for the season. The amusement park, not the campground.

Abigail got to meet an army of Totos. She ran at them, barking. Then got nose to nose with the bravest of the four little dogs. Then they both just kind of wandered off. She’s so viscous.

We’re finally near roads with big wide shoulders so I’m hoping for a good bike ride tomorrow.

Last night I dreamed I was in Worcester, standing on a corner wearing a shark costume. Pat drove up in Dad’s old Chevy Impala wagon and asked me what I was advertising. I didn’t know so I woke up.

Speaking of Dad, my sister Mary found a six-pack of his old favorite cheap beer, Black Label. In his memory I bought myself a six of my favorite cheap beer, Mickey’s. Yes, the one with the picture puzzles under the caps. Yee Haw!

10/10/19 – Bad Hip

It seems I hurt my hip when I tripped over the gas hose yesterday. I wasn’t able to ride my bike because it was pulling on all the wrong muscles. It didn’t hurt that much but I figured I should take it easy. Getting old sucks.

Many more people came to the campground today. Turns out the amusement park is open Friday-Sunday.

10/11/19 – Virginia Beach

We were here late last October but it is much warmer now. It’s a biker weekend so the campground is full of angry old men grasping the ghosts of their youth. Makes we want to join them.

10/12/19 – Virginia Beach Beach

I had a good bike ride this morning. Ten miles.

Then we went out to lunch and to the beach. We took Pat’s scooter. She road up and down the boardwalk while Tonya and I played in the accessible playground. Last year it was cold and we had it to ourselves. This year it was covered in kids.

10/13/19 – The last Sunday

I overheard a conversation while riding today. It seems that Columbus Day is the last day for most of Virginia Beach. Nearly everything seasonal will be shut on Tuesday.

10/14/19 – VB Squished Pennies

We ventured out today in search of squished pennies. This task has become much easier since Pat found a website that lists where the machines are and what designs they provide.

Other than that I got a pile of writing done.

10/15/19 – North Carolina

If the North Carolina Welcome Center wasn’t closed for renovations we would have gone to a different WalMart.

10/16/19 – Cotton Comes to Enfield

We are at a camp on a dinky back road outside Enfield North Carolina. Looking at the road on the map you would not, and I did not, expect much traffic. The trucks are constant, day and night. Something weird is going on around here. Unfortunately the roads are too narrow and busy for bike riding.

The local news suggests it’s the late cotton crop. Seems there aren’t enough people to handle the harvest. Something about immigrants being scared away by ICE raids.

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