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Bicycle, National Gallery Art Print Rauschenberg,... Buy at AllPosters.com |
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Clement Cycles, c.1897 Art Print Pal Buy at AllPosters.com |
| Fate Brings Bicycle Adventurers to Duck | ||
Summer Memories Art Print Pollera, Daniel Buy at AllPosters.com |
When
David and Laurie Anderson planned their bicycle trip from the comfort
of their home in Frederick Maryland, the town of Duck, North Carolina
was not even on the itinerary. However, fate intervened in the form of
a record breaking heat wave. The road that looked so inviting on a map
in their air conditioned home suddenly became a hot and dangerous place
to be as they bicycled toward home the first week of August, 2006. |
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Their
trip began when the couple arrived by bus in New Bern, North Carolina
and unpacked the bicycles they had brought with them. After visiting Cedar
Island and Ocracoke, they had planned to ride north along route 12 to
Roanoke Island. From there, they expected to ride west on Route 64 to
Williamston, turn north and travel along back roads until reaching their
final destination back in Frederick. The total trip by bicycle was estimated
to be 600 miles. |
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However,
after only 120 miles into the trip, they found themselves struggling through
a record breaking heat wave. As they peddled north along Route 12 near
Avon, North Carolina temperatures became intense. It was here that Laurie,
tired and thirsty, reached for the water bottle mounted to the frame of
her touring bicycle. She was hoping it would provide some relief from
the blanket of heat that radiated from the pavement. However, the next
thing she remembered, she was lying on the pavement with a concerned David
crouched by her side. |
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After
a quick 911 call, Dare County Emergency Services rushed Laurie to Outer
Banks Hospital in Nags Head, about 50 miles to the north with David by
her side. An examination at the hospital revealed Laurie had probably
suffered heat exhaustion and a concussion from the fall. Doctors suggested
she rest for a couple of days before making a decision to continue riding
the bicycle home to Maryland. |
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David
began searching Outer Banks Hotels and Motels for lodging. However, this
is summer and peak season for the area. David was unable to find a vacancy
anywhere in the area. Roger Lieber, a doctor at Outer Banks Hospital and an avid bicyclist became concerned over the couple’s dilemma. He contacted members of the Outer Banks cycling community and told them about David and Laurie. Soon, help arrived from Bruce Ferrier and Tom Holian, both very active in the area’s cycling community. Tom invited David and Laurie to use his home in Duck for as long as they needed it. Bruce volunteered to drive them to Duck. The following day, Bruce drove down to Avon, picked up their bicycles where they had left them in the safe keeping of the Blue Whale convenience store and delivered them to the Duck home. |
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David
and Laurie are not new to adventure. David, a student counselor in Frederick
has bicycled across the United States twice, cycled the northern Pacific
Coast Highway and backpacked throughout the country. Laurie, a teacher,
while not as seasoned in adventure as David, has also hiked and bicycled
throughout the country. The couple said they have experienced the magic of bicycling before in their travels, however the magic they found on the Outer Banks was special. The cyclists they met in the area dropped whatever they were doing to provide needed assistance without hesitation. Laurie plans to rest for several days before deciding whether to continue the trip home by bicycle. She says that regardless of how the journey ends, she will always remember the kindness and friendship they received from the people living on the Outer Banks. |
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