As though they were destined to meet, Jeff happened upon Leon sitting on a guardrail between the towns of Hazard and Chavies, KY. The day before, Leon had seen Karen travel the same road with van and trailer in tow. A rig this size an unusual sight on this out of the way country road. Leon grew up near Hazard and says he loves it there. In describing his homeplace, Leon said "All it is, is a bunch of hills."
Joe
The Combs Kentucky Post Office is just a bump in the road housed in a converted storefront. On the day Jeff rode from Vergie to Combs, it became a meeting place for fellow cyclist, Joe, who was traveling east. Joe is 31 and he was fully loaded and self-contained. He lives in Lexington, KY, works in sales, and just decided to take a month long sabbatical from work and see how far he could get on the Trans America Trail.
Perry and Marty
Getting lost in Virginia and Kentucky seems to be a recurring theme. Both Jeff and Karen have had their challenges, with lots of side roads, back roads, mountain roads, poorly marked roads, steep winding roads, and hollers. Meeting great people in parking lots also seems to be a theme. That's how Jeff and Karen met Perry and Marty. On May 16 Jeff was preparing for his ride from Virgie to Combs, KY, and his map directions were unclear from his starting point at the Family Dollar Store parking lot. Perry came to the rescue, reading the map and offering guidance. Perry is a retired school teacher and lifelong resident of Virgie. He retired to take care of his Dad who is now 82. Marty pulled up in a shiny new olive green Jeep Renegade, interested in what was going on. He too offered assistance, insisting that if Jeff wanted to take his picture he had to get out of the car. Marty is 6' 10". A gentle giant! Marty drives a school bus part time and his wife is the breadwinner in the family. The Jeep was hers and Marty said he only gets to drive it if she's asleep when he takes off in the morning. Both Marty and Perry had lots of opinions about life, politics, current events and religion, all of which they offered with humor, perhaps a little regret, and a generous spirit.
Acy, Tookie and Doug
On May 15, Jeff had another ambitious day, riding 40 miles with 5,700 ft. of climbing. Stopping to catch his breath in Elkhorn, KY, he was offered a cold bottle of water and invited to Acy's Tinkering Shop by three gentlemen sitting out front. Acy is the owner and tinkerer. He is 55 years old and has lived in Elkhorn all his life. He was working on everything from lawn mowers to pickup trucks when Jeff happened by. Tookie's name stuck when he was just two or three years old. One day when his Mama put him on the counter, he pointed to a cookie jar and said "Tookie." He is in "sales," peddling his wares at flea markets and thrift stores. Doug said the Lord brought him to Elkhorn and he feels blessed to live there. He has worked in coal all his life.
Nancy, Jacky and Itsy
Mothering takes many forms. Nancy is the grandmother of Jacky. They were out for a Sunday drive with Nancy's dog, Itsy, when they stopped by the Dollar General where Jeff met them in Honaker, VA. Since Jeff was riding on a Sunday, few stores and restaurants are open in this part of Virginia. He decided to give the Dollar General a try in his hunt for food, and ate his first Lunchable ever. He met Nancy and Jacky on their way out of the store. Nancy was born in Haysi and has lived in Copper Ridge, VA for over 30 years.
Harriet
May 13, Mother's Day, and Jeff dedicated the day's ride to his mother, Harriet. Although she never completely understood his cycling obsession, she also never stood in his way. Undoubtedly, she would have shook her head at the ride Jeff did on this day in her honor. Take a look, 54 miles and 6,700 ft. of climbing in the heart of Appalachia's coal country -- Meadowview to Haysi VA. A feat of strength and endurance, all honoring the memory of Mom. Tomorrow, Jeff leaves Virginia behind, with little regret for the unrelenting climbs, and fond memories of the beauty of the area and the great people he met there.
Brian
Every ending has a new beginning. Thus, Jeff returned to the Draper Mercantile and Trading Company on the morning of May 11 to begin anew where he ran out of gas the day before. While preparing his bicycle for the ride, the proprietor stopped by for a chat. Brian and his seven siblings began buying up cabins and other nearby properties until they now own almost the entire town of Draper. They lease the operation of the restaurant at the Mercantile, but run a flower shop and home decor store brimming with unique finds, old and new, right next door. Brian has a short commute, as he lives right across the street where he is trying his hand at raising goats, to give his herding dog something to do.
Charles
At the end of the day's ride, challenged by never ending climbs, wind and an approaching storm, Jeff stopped for lunch at the Draper Mercantile in Draper, VA. While he waited for his order, Jeff listened to live music performed by Charles, a Morgantown, West Virginia native. Charles is a singer/songwriter who plays acoustic guitar and performs around the region.
Jamie
On May 10, Jeff was preparing his bike for the day's ride from Christiansburg, VA, while Karen was restocking the camper with groceries. They were approached by Jamie, a customer service representative from Kroger's Grocery Store. Jamie was very excited about the idea of the ride, and the fact that Karen was driving the "chase" vehicle. Jamie served two tours of duty as an Army Ranger. One of his missions was a refugee rescue operation in Sudan. He shared that the lives of the refugees were dependent on the 16 men in his unit, no one else. Jamie thought Jeff and Karen were "living the American dream."
Patti
Patti is a self proclaimed feminist, liberal, environmentalist from the Bronx, now living in Catawba, VA. Jeff met her on the road, riding her rusty trusty mountain bike. Patti said she bikes the mountains as much as she can, and loves the view of the world from her bike.
Sam, Chris, Michael and Tony
Stopping for lunch at Ranson's Fountain Grill in Buchanan, VA, Jeff’s Waitress, Sam, introduced him to two local residents who were eating at the lunch counter. Chris, age 32, has lived in Buchanan his entire life. His step son works at The Fountain. Michael, age 49, has lived there for many years. During the same lunch break, Jeff opened the door for Tony, who ended up solving a housing issue. Unable to find a place to park the camper the next night, Tony invited Jeff and Karen to park their camper in his yard in the Cloverdale, VA area. Dinner included! Jeff and Karen spent a wonderful evening on the family compound of Tony and Shelley, enjoying a home cooked southern meal. Tony is a sixth generation Virginian and Shelley is a local insurance broker. Plans were made for Tony and Shelley to make a future visit out west.
Jeff and Rachel
And now a word about our rider. Jeff has passed the one week mark and is getting stronger every day. Two weeks of sitting in a car on the way to your starting point is not the most winning strategy, so week one was a grind. Three days of temps over 90 didn’t help either, but Jeff soldiered through. On May 7, Jeff rode a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway with Karen’s niece Rachel. She joined him from her home in Raleigh NC and provided just the youthful energy a man of the ripe old age of 60 needed to complete the task.
Wolf
Part of the joy of travel is finding those unique eating establishments that define a region. Knowing that even cross country cyclists must occasionally take a day off, Jeff sought out Ace Biscuit & Barbeque in Charlottesville. The menu was unique, the food delectable. What really set this restaurant apart was Wolf, the guy taking our order and ringing us up. Wolf had that warm and winning attitude that makes even out-of-towners feel welcome. While in the midst of consuming our Dirty Bisquit and Brisket Bisquit, Wolf stopped by to make sure we had everything we needed, Jeff asked if he could take his photograph and Wolf, the great-great grandson of Gene Autry, consented. On our way out he said Jeff was the first person in 15 years he had allowed to take his photograph.
Shua
Jeff was riding between Mineral and Charlottesville, VA when he saw a sign on a clapboard house "Cyclists Welcome." A woman in an old Chevy stopped, rolled down her window and called out "You should go in there. Those people are very nice." In the front yard, the home sported a wooden schooner with a stairway and viewing platform. On the porch was a bench made with piano keys and strings. Jeff knocked on the door with no answer. He went around back and met Shua, a former resident, now a visitor to this community called Cambria. You won't find Cambria on the Virginia map. It's a small, conscious community within a larger region of similar collectives. Shua, 36, told Jeff that six people live in the home creating a variety of handicrafts that they sell and barter. Shua had returned to the community trying to find some direction and focus in his life.
Jesse and Linda
Jeff set out on this journey across the United States with a desire to connect with people in rural America. After a long, hot day's ride from Charles City to Mechanicsville, VA, he stopped at Carter's Pig Pen in Mechanicsville for a cold iced tea and a plate of Virginia BBQ. While enjoying his lunch on the porch, Jeff met Jesse and Linda, who both grew up in Mechanicsville. They shared, with just a hint of pride, that they were on the verge of celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. They invited us to their home, because they wanted us to see a turquoise picnic table they have in their front yard. Linda was inspired to put the table in their yard after reading the book "The Turquoise Table" by Kristin Schell. The table is a place for them to sit in the evening and actually meet and connect with their neighbors. "After all," Linda said, "we're all on this planet together and we might as well help and get to know each other." We left their beautiful home with a signed copy of the book and gratitude for the gift of meeting this kind and generous couple.
Tim
Day 1/May 1 of Jeff’s ride served up a helping of southern hospitality. The day’s ride ended in Charles City, VA at the Sherwood Forest Plantation, home of President John Tyler. It is the only President's home continuously occupied by family members. At this picturesque southern plantation we met Tim, the groundskeeper. Tim offered advice on where we might find a place to camp for the night and even called ahead to make an unconventional arrangement for our first night’s lodging while on the trail.
He’s Off!
On a beautiful east coast morning, Jeff took to the Colonial Parkway departing Yorktown VA for the start of his quest for the west. He baptized the back tire of his bicycle in the Atlantic and pedaled away.
I’ve Got a Shot at This!
It’s April 30 and the eve of the beginning of Jeff’s Quest for the West. Today in Yorktown VA, Jeff introduced his bicycle to the starting point of the Trans America Bicycle Trail. Standing in front of the Victory Monument celebrating Cornwallis’ surrender and the end of the Revolutionary War, “victory” seems perfect foreshadowing for the fulfillment of Jeff’s life long dream.
I'll be back!
To celebrate the BIG 6-0, Jeff Ross is on a Quest for the West. Yep, he's hitting the road, two-wheel style. From April 14 - July 31, 2018, Jeff will be completing the trip of a lifetime. Dipping his rear wheel in the Atlantic on May 1, he will begin a 4,200 mile journey pedaling back across the United States, with front wheel down in the Pacific around July 31. We hope you'll be cheering for Jeff, tracking his progress, and saving those important photo projects for August. In the meantime, if you have a project that just can't wait, contact Jeff at 775-721-5333. Jeff's studio will be available during this adventure. Call 775-852-1243 to book a studio shoot. We hope you're along for the ride. Jeff will be documenting interesting people he meets along the way and introducing them to you through this blog.
Picture This
You've had a dream since you were 18 years old. You've done lots of bicycle touring in both the U.S. and Europe, but something has been nagging at you. What would it be like to ride your bicycle from coast to coast?
