THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604280097
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KAREN JOLLY DAVIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CAPE CHARLES LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
A cold wind sliced off the Bay as bicyclists gathered by the beach in Cape Charles. Susan Allen arrived with her entourage and a couple of bikes strapped to the back of an unmarked police car.
For Allen, the first lady of Virginia, the 14-mile excursion Saturday was one of three heritage trail bike rides she has led in April. She's pushing tourism, Virginia style.
``It's a thrill to be here, not having to wear high heels for a short time,'' Allen said to the helmeted crowd.
About 40 cyclists joined Allen, including members of the county school board, board of supervisors and planning commission, two members of the Cape Charles Town Council, at least one doctor, a bank president, the chairman of the local tourism commission, seniors citizens and a few children.
The Cape Charles rescue squad followed the pack, with a van to pick up the exhausted. But few, if any, riders bailed out. The goal - even after the oh-my-gosh-this-seat-hurts stage - was to finish the course.
That was easier for some than others. Scott Harvard, with his 2-year-old daughter, Katherine, riding in a safety seat, allowed himself the luxury of an occasional complaint.
``I keep hoping this chain will come off so I can jump in the van,'' Harvard said to one of the more athletic riders.
The tour started at the Cape Charles pavilion, winding through town and across the railroad tracks to the harbor, which was filled with commercial fishing boats. Cyclists passed the Coast Guard station and headed out to Route 13. There, the state police blocked traffic until even the stragglers crossed.
Allen led the cyclists through Fairview and out to the Seaside Road. The ride was pure Eastern Shore: fields of buttercups edged with trashy ditches. Emerald wheat stirred by a chilly breeze. Huge Victorian homes, always white, surrounded by the green fuzz of sprouting potatoes. Trailers. Tomatoes. Abandoned houses crumbling under Virginia creeper. Salt air tinged with a whiff of new-plowed dirt and unidentified wildflowers.
It was a good weekend for a ride. The dogwoods and azaleas were in bloom. Clusters of purple wisteria hung from wood lots that the vines had overrun. Homeowners came out onto their lawns to watch the parade of bicycles, waving and taking pictures.
In Seaview, farmer Denard Spady gave a short talk on agriculture on the Eastern Shore. At Steelman's Landing - surrounded by marshes, looking out onto Maggothy Bay - the riders heard a little about the pirates who hid out on Smith and Mockhorn islands.
The tour ended at Kiptopeke State Park, where cyclists were treated to a fried chicken picnic lunch, with sweet potato pie for desert. By then, the sun was shining.
When asked why she would do something like a 14-mile bike ride in Northampton County, Allen said:
``Just for the fun of it.'' ILLUSTRATION: HUY NGUYEN photos/The Virginian-Pilot
Christopher Douglas, 10, above, of Cape Charles, an onlooker, was
doing some cycling himself until his chain came off. Virginia first
lady Susan Allen, below, gets a hand from Linda Crumb as she dons
her helmet. The 14-mile excursion Saturday was one of three heritage
trail bike rides Allen has led in April. She said she headed the
bike outing ``Just for the fun of it.''
by CNB