So we've been awful at updating the blog, but all of that is going to change. Until then here is a little catch up on what we've been up to the last 23 days. We left NYC and since then have made it through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and have spent the last 14 days in Virginia and made it all the way to Damascus. Along the way we've eaten everything in site: whoopie pies in Amish country, trout sandwiches for breakfast at a gas station (at least for jeanne), ice cream every chance we get, and lots of peanut butter sandwiches and cliff bars. We've climbed the blue ridge parkway and crept along the VA creeper trail, encountered dogs - and realized why dog spray should be easily accessible (my shoe now has an extra hole in it).

The bikes strike up conversations everywhere we go, and people tend to get a glazed over look when they hear we're heading to Oregon, but everyone has been so nice. We've gotten free nights to stay at the Cookie Lady's and other various bike hostels and town parks along the way, and we're even treated to some amazing asian pears and jam at a William's Orchard right outside of Wytheville.

The biker's we run into going the other direction (who are so close to their final destination) have been full of great information - they are the reason we'll be heading north to st. louise and onto the KD Trail instead of through the rollercoaster ride that is the Missouri transam trail. They've also all still been in high spirits which is good to see after making it that far. Though we keep getting told we're making a late start and we better pick up the pace across kansas if we want to make it through the rockies before we get snowed in. Fingers crossed it will all work out fine. Ok this looks long enough. We'll be adding more pictures to Leah's album later today so look for those, and tomorrow's update will be coming from one of the other two.