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Portsmouth VA, 3/26/11
Doing an urban bicycle tour of Portsmouth is a conundrum. While Portsmouth has a wonderful stock of old buildings, the whole place is undeniably depressing. It might have been because of the cold and gray weather that day. Contrary to Hampton Roads lore, Portsmouth is not all ghetto. When I asked Norfolk people about…
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Petersburg VA, 3/19-20, 2011
I did this ride with my pal David. We were to ride inbound to Petersburg from the east, passing the plantation houses along the James River. You can really feel the burden of history here, it almost feels like too much. There are historic signs not only about the Civil War, but of the initial Jamestown settlers,…
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Saxapahaw NC, 2/27/11
The ride to Saxapahaw helped explain some of the cultural diversions that make North Carolina what it is. On this particular Sunday afternoon, I was delayed getting started. With only about three hours to get someplace and back, before dark. I decided to go see friends John and Jackie at their new apartment in Saxapahaw.…
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Greensboro to High Point, 3/5/11
If you want to go by car from I-40 to downtown Greensboro, Lee Street would be a major route; only four miles of divided highway to downtown Greensboro. There are numerous traffic lights. I rode by bike through the four mile stretch that goes past waves of what look to be tract housing from the…