joeprim

The Peanut Tour this past weekend was great fun. Thursday after setting up camp and registering there was a 25 mile loop ride through cotton, peanut, and soybean fields. Traffic was very light. I grilled some peppers and venison along with a tomato for supper.

Friday was the Lake Gaston loop 81 miles of rolling hills and lake/stream crossings. Of course more cotton fields. I had decided to eat a provided spaghetti dinner. It was good naturally cooked too much, but that is to be expected. They gave out so much even I couldn’t finish it.

Saturday started with a 62 mile loop through more farm country. In the afternoon there was a 13 mile loop ride out to a peanut farm. This is where we learned about the economic difficulties of the peanut farmer and discovered why there were so many cotton fields – farm subsidies. I had never seen the modern peanut diggers and combines. I again grilled supper, but the camp fair was chicken with banana split for desert.

I was content with a 25 mile loop Sunday before packing up and driving home. 206 miles seemed like a good distance. There were some options though there was another 62 mile loop and at the end of Friday’s Lake Gaston Loop there was a 19 mile ride to make it a full century. If I go back next year I’ll try to do a little more.

I stopped at 22 rest stops, I never pass a rest stop. In this case it was definitely the right thing to do as each stop specialized in something. Cucumber pickles, cookies, home made fudge, home made ice cream, the list is almost endless. I couldn’t try everything but at least stopping and talking to the folks manning the stops was one of the high points of the ride.

The traffic was very light. It was windy some of the time but you can’t always ride down hill with a tailwind -. One particular stretch of road had the highest friction of any surfaced road I’ve ever seen and the vibration was wild. It looked like the normal chip and oil, but was much rougher. It followed a glass smooth paved section getting us to guess that it was in preparation for paving.

The oldest register rider was 81 and I met a 7 yr old that road at least tow 25 mile sections. I met a couple from Canada and I was told that there was a woman from Russia.

va_cyclist

Sounds like a lot of fun. So you were camping between days, then? Were you in the same spot each night? What did you do with your gear while you were out riding?

I had this ride on my calendar but work & family took over my weekend. Maybe next year...

joeprim

Sorry I wasn't clear. We stayed at the same campsite all 3 nights so no problem transporting and resetup and take down - I don't care for "housework" even if it is a tent if it can be avoided. I and it seemed like the others too, just left our camp stuff by the tent no one bothered it.

Some time you should come up here and ride it's about an hour north of Green Top.

Joe

Guest

I got your email, but I was a bit preoccupied, and it came too late to do the ride... but maybe next year? It sounded like a lot of fun.

Koffee

SaddleBags

Because of my schedule, I could only do the Sat's metric. Beautiful cotton and corn fields with gently rolling hills and very light traffic. This was my first "Peanut Tour" and was very very impressed with the entire organization.
Saturday's ride featured some tremedous headwinds while riding solo but was rewarded with a tailwind around the halfway point and some smoother pavement. Now I'm glad I got the CF bike on those roads.
Next year (the 28th of the event), I'll plan on doing Fri-Sun rides and camping.