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Bob Barnes, the New York man who’s bicycling to all 50 U.S. state capitals, skilled a shaky arrival within the state of West Virginia as he encountered its folks and extra shut calls on roadways.
But he encountered greater than he anticipated within the place identified for its mountain surroundings and sort inhabitants.
“Folks in West Virginia simply make it very clear that they’re their very own state.”
Barnes has been describing his biking adventures — and in some instances, misadventures — to Fox Information Digital all through his American cross-country bike trip, which he began final August. Learn on for his private triumphs, shut calls and sudden encounters.
‘Dealt with it like a champ’
Between his thirty third capital — Columbia, South Carolina — and his thirty fourth capital of Charleston, Barnes had to return via North Carolina and Virginia, two states he visited on his first “switchback” of the nation.
Bob Barnes, 52, of Syracuse, New York, has been biking to all 50 U.S. state capitals within the span of a yr. On April 8, he arrived at his thirty fourth capital, Charleston, West Virginia.
(Bob Barnes)
Although North Carolina “regarded the identical because it did the primary time I went via,” Barnes informed Fox Information Digital he didn’t actually bear in mind what Virginia was like when he went via it the primary time.
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One of the crucial vivid parts of North Carolina for Barnes was his “crossover” level in Yadkinville, N.C. That time is the one place on Barnes’ journey that can overlap.
“I didn’t anticipate it to be so vivid,” Barnes mentioned. “I simply bear in mind each single little little bit of after I was there the primary time. That was fairly unimaginable.”
“It was an accomplishment as a result of it was 9,000 miles after I used to be there the primary time,” Barnes added.
North Carolina “regarded the identical because it did the primary time I went via,” Barnes informed Fox Information Digital. Barnes’ bicycle is pictured in entrance of a area in North Carolina.
(Bob Barnes)
One of the crucial vivid parts of North Carolina for Barnes was his “crossover” level in Yadkinville, North Carolina. That time is the one place on Barnes’ journey that can overlap.
(Bob Barnes)
Barnes additionally had an enormous win in Virginia, the place he was in a position to pedal all the way in which up Fancy Hole, a steep mountain slope simply north of the North Carolina border.
“I didn’t anticipate it to be so vivid. I simply bear in mind each single little little bit of after I was there the primary time. That was fairly unimaginable.”
“It was a confidence booster for me as a result of my knees had been a bit [creaky] developing via that time,” Barnes mentioned.
“This was the true deal, there’s no turning again, there’s just one means over.”
“However I dealt with it like a champ,” Barnes added. “It actually boosted my confidence as soon as I obtained to the highest.”
Nevertheless, he was escorted to the highest by police as a result of a “involved citizen” had known as 911.
On the prime of Fancy Hole, Barnes mentioned the officer checked his ID and the 2 had a pleasant dialog about how the officer can also be a daily blood donor, as is Barnes.
The biking man from New York has made it a degree to donate blood at any time when he is been in a position to alongside his journey, doing his finest to lift consciousness in regards to the want for this.
A success and one other ‘shut name’
Barnes’ second journey via North Carolina and Virginia wasn’t all nice.
In North Carolina, Barnes’ bicycle trailer was hit by a automotive and in Virginia, he had one other “shut name” with a automotive.
Barnes mentioned that when his trailer was hit, fortuitously it was “only a faucet.”
Whereas he was in Virginia, Barnes mentioned he wasn’t hit however he had one other shut name, much like an incident in Georgia.
Barnes additionally had an enormous win in Virginia, the place he was in a position to pedal all the way in which up Fancy Hole, a steep mountain slope north of the North Carolina border.
(Bob Barnes)
The Virginia incident occurred on a four-lane highway, Barnes mentioned.
“The man had an entire different lane, and he didn’t transfer over,” Barnes mentioned. “I needed to ditch it, once more.”
“It was so shut … after I ditched, they swerved over to the opposite lane, they placed on their brakes, they nearly got here to a cease and so they had been wanting again to see if I used to be OK,” Barnes added. “After which they slowly pulled off.”
Barnes mentioned the motive force didn’t come again to test on him. Fortunately, Barnes was OK.
‘Off to a rocky begin’
As soon as he arrived in West Virginia on April 5, Barnes mentioned he “obtained off to a rocky begin” with the folks of the state.
On his first night time within the Mountain State, Barnes slept in his tent at a relaxation cease. Nevertheless, law enforcement officials woke him up the subsequent morning.
“[People] really known as the police on me to have me eliminated, the staff of the remainder space … with out even chatting with me first,” Barnes mentioned.
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As soon as once more, officers checked Barnes’ ID and allowed him to complete his espresso earlier than he hit the highway once more.
“Day by day it simply appeared like one thing new was coming at me and made me study extra about West Virginia.”
As he continued to pedal via West Virginia and realized extra in regards to the state, Barnes felt higher in regards to the incident.
“They speak brazenly about drug issues in West Virginia and in order that’s the place that entire factor suits in,” Barnes mentioned.
“And I suppose they need to nip it within the bud earlier than it turns into anything.”
Barnes snapped this picture of his bicycle parked in entrance of the capitol constructing in Charleston, West Virginia.
(Bob Barnes)
“By the point I obtained out of West Virginia, every thing was superior and I understood every thing. I really felt privileged that I obtained that have from this angle to undergo West Virginia, as a result of it’s a really distinctive state,” he added.
‘Very clear that they’re their very own state’
A memorable bit of information Barnes realized whereas in West Virginia was how express everybody was in regards to the Mountain State’s id.
“Folks in West Virginia simply make it very clear that they’re their very own state,” he mentioned.
When Barnes made it to Charleston, W.V., he met with West Virginia State Rep. Dana Ferrell, who gave him a tour of the capitol.
(Bob Barnes)
Barnes mentioned that of all of the states he’s been via, he is realized probably the most about West Virginia.
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“It appeared like day by day one thing new was occurring,” Barnes mentioned.
“I didn’t know that West Virginia was so scenic and had all these rivers and streams,” Barnes mentioned.
“It was very completely different than every other state.”
“By the tip, I’ve to say that [West Virginians] are exceedingly good. They’re family-oriented and so they have a robust religion.”
Barnes mentioned there have been additionally loads of historic indicators and markers all through the state, as in a few of the different states he’d biked via.
“Day by day it simply appeared like one thing new was coming at me and made me study extra about West Virginia,” Barnes mentioned.
“I didn’t know that West Virginia was so scenic and had all these rivers and streams,” Barnes mentioned. “It was very completely different than every other state.”
(Bob Barnes)
Barnes additionally realized loads throughout his go to to Charleston, the state’s capital, on April 8, the place he met with West Virginia State Rep. Dana Ferrell.
Barnes mentioned Ferrell gave him a tour of the capitol constructing, together with “locations the general public doesn’t get to see,” Barnes mentioned.
‘I wish to attempt to encourage different folks’
After he visited Charleston, Barnes went on to donate blood for the fourth time on his journey.
One among his Fb followers even met Barnes on the Pink Cross in Liberty, West Virginia, and so they gave blood collectively.
“It was a terrific expertise,” Barnes mentioned. “However that day was a very robust trip after I gave blood.”
After he visited Charleston, Barnes went on to donate blood for the fourth time on his journey.
(Bob Barnes)
Barnes defined that after giving blood, he doesn’t take any time to recuperate and simply continues on his means.
“I don’t discuss it a lot, but it surely will get type of ugly after I pedal after I give blood for the primary few hours,” Barnes mentioned.
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Alongside the way in which, Barnes has been encouraging his Fb followers to donate blood if they will. He mentioned he’s observed that extra of his followers are speaking about donating blood on-line.
“It was a terrific expertise,” Barnes mentioned. “However that day was a very robust trip after I gave blood.”
(Bob Barnes)
“It seems like an achievement,” Barnes mentioned. “I wish to attempt to encourage different folks as a result of … I don’t have loads to present, however I can do that. It doesn’t price me something besides to exit and do it myself and attempt to lead by instance. So it’s a pleasant feeling.”
‘The steepest hills I’ve ever needed to go up’
Although there have been loads of shoulders on the highway for Barnes to trip on, certainly one of his greatest challenges in West Virginia was the “quick, steep hills.”
“West Virginia has the steepest hills I’ve ever needed to go up,” Barnes mentioned. “I couldn’t even pedal up the hills, I needed to stroll. And I had bother strolling.”
Although there have been loads of shoulders on the highway for Barnes to trip on, certainly one of his greatest challenges in West Virginia was the “quick, steep hills.”
(Bob Barnes)
“It was actually, actually that steep,” Barnes added. “It’d sound like I’m exaggerating, however no, they had been steep hills.”
Barnes mentioned that whereas he needed to stroll up hills “loads” in West Virginia, he hadn’t needed to stroll up hills in every other state.
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Regardless of the problem of the hills, Barnes mentioned he did take pleasure in West Virginia’s surroundings.
His favourite place, he mentioned, was the Paint Creek Scenic Path.
“I spent a full day coming down there and it by no means obtained previous,” Barnes mentioned. “Seeing the rapids and the timber and the cliffs … it by no means obtained previous.”
Religion and household
Although he had a tough begin in West Virginia, Bob mentioned he had an general nice expertise within the state.
“By the tip, I’ve to say that [West Virginians] are exceedingly good,” Barnes mentioned. “They’re family-oriented and so they have a robust religion.”
Barnes added that West Virginia is the “most family-oriented state” he’s been via.
Barnes mentioned that whereas he needed to stroll up hills “loads” in West Virginia (together with the hill pictured), he hadn’t needed to stroll up hills in every other state.
(Bob Barnes)
“You see folks, they’re holding palms, they’re sitting down, they’re speaking,” Barnes mentioned.
Barnes mentioned that at any time when he visited a restaurant, “it was stuffed with households on the tables and everyone was pleased and having a great time.”
Subsequent cease: Ohio
After leaving West Virginia, Barnes headed to his thirty fifth capital: Columbus, Ohio.
Keep tuned for extra of his “biking throughout America” adventures!
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Fox Information Digital has been following Barnes’ journey throughout America and detailing it for readers on this distinctive Way of life sequence. To atone for — or take pleasure in as soon as extra — his earlier three journeys earlier than the one described right here, learn extra under:
NY man biking throughout America hits SC, reveals the one spiritual image he’s seen nationwide
NY man biking throughout US reveals ‘shut name’ in Georgia as he reaches 10K-mile mark
NY man biking to all 50 states reaches Florida, loses 30 kilos, evokes others
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