June 7 – Charles Town, WV to Hancock, MD (81 Miles)

Good morning and greetings from Hancock, MD

This is actually the 9th daily update. Unbeknown to me, Earthlink decided to supress four of my last five email blasts, without letting me know. It’s the same feeling you have when you’re talking with someone by phone and come to learn minutes later you got disconnected and you were talking with yourself. Argh!!!

We traveled 48 miles yesterday for a total of 560 miles since leaving Boston last Monday.

Beautiful West Virginia

The day started out bright and sunny as we left Charles Town, West Virginia and rode through the breathtakingly beautiful WV countryside dotted with periodic reminders of rural America.

One of the many Great Dad Coin presentations today was to Shawn Washington, a U.S. Army veteran and father of four, who was out jogging with Shawn Jr., age four. Another group of dads who were “coined” were the firefighters in the Hedgesville Volunteer Fire Company.

The rain started minutes after departing the fire station and lasted on and off for a couple of hours. Not enough to require the rain gear but plenty wet especially up our backsides.

Since it was a lighter day mileage-wise we had a chance to relax outside the uniquely decorated (chairs everywhere) motel grounds of the Americas Best Value Inn. I had an interesting conversation with the Lovetts, a Georgia couple, doing a six day unsupported bike ride from Pittsburgh to DC with their teenagers and another couple. We also had an enjoyable outdoor dinner across the street at the Potomac River Grill.

If you’re looking for a Father’s Day gift, please consider a Great Dad Coin as well as purchasing a copy of my new book entitled 21st Century Dads: A Father’s Journey To Break The Cycle Of Father Absence, available on Amazon.  As a reminder, all the proceeds go to charity.

We’re off to Frostburg, MD today.

Thanks again. Make it a great day!!!

David

Dinner outside at the Potomac River Grill across the street from the motel.

Our dinner feast in the lobby of the Hampton Inn.

Historic looking log cabin.

Now you know what stuffed jeans turned into flower pots look like. You can’t make this stuff up 🙂

After presenting Tim Lovett with a GDC. He, his wife and 14 & 16 year old kids are riding unsupported for six days from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC with another couple. Notice all the chairs?

Another scenic photo from West Virginia.

My beverage of choice after a day of riding.

Presenting Steve, a father and grandfather, who owns a service station, with a GDC.

After presenting Eddy, Justin, Nick and Andrew, the firefighters in Hedgesville, WV with Great Dad Coins.

Shawn Washington, a father of four and U.S. Army veteran with his four year old son “SJ”