Day 13: Mechanicsville, Va to Emporia, Virginia 0 miles, 2500 feet of elevation

I woke up again this morning with a fever and significant chest congestion and coughing.  Were it not for the fact that a number of other riders felt the same way, I think I might have been quarantined to the bumper of one of the vans for the day's route into Emporia.

Today was singularly the hottest day on this tour.  The temperatures hit 102 degrees by the time we arrived mid-afternoon in Emporia.  But it was a dry heat. ;-)

We rode past a number of Civil War battlefields throughout the day, from Peterborough to Cold Harbor to Gaines Mills and the Seven Days Battle.  Some say that if the Union forces had anyone else in charge instead of General McClellan, the war would have ended years sooner.

There were a lot of old groceries, gas stations and other buildings along the route that seem to have gotten lost in some time warp back to the 1930's.  This was the best example of the lot.

Tonight at route wrap, the ride leaders handed out to all riders a new tool for our journey into North Carolina...a dog whistle.  North Carolina is notorious for not having leash laws for dogs.

In years past, we've been lectured about how to handle a charging dog.  We've been told to use our bike pumps or water bottles to ward off an oncoming dog.  In truth, that takes more time than we actually have if the dog's intentions are to inflict damage.  And there is practically no way to outrun a charging dog.  Worse off, the dog may run in front of our bicycles and cause a nasty spill.

I hope I don't have to use this.  But, if I do, I certainly hope it does its job effectively.

As some veteran readers of my first blog up the Mississippi River will remember, Rollie and I were part of a convoy of five or six riders in Missouri, if memory serves me correctly, when a pit bull came charging out of the brush and bit a rider right in front of me.  The rider was out of commission for three days to heal from the dog bite as well as to confirm that the dog wasn't rabid.

More examples of yesteryear.  

The dog whistles we were issued apparently have a major effect on a charging dog.  They've been used on past rides and will cause a dog to stop in it's tracks and turn away.  Although these are not the ultra-high pitched whistles that can only be heard by animals, these whistles were originally used for naval purposes, being able to signal an oncoming ship during a fog.  Whatever the rationale, if they work, we'll use them.

I'm hoping my fever breaks so I can get back to riding tomorrow as we cross into North Carolina, dogs and all.