Susan and her travelling companion take shelter from 'the worst rain in 100 years'.
Our green Netjetter Susan has touched down in the US to begin her east-to-west cycle challenge just in time for warnings of flash floods. Here she escapes the rain for long enough to send her first report. You can email Susan with travel tips at susan.netjetter@theguardian.com
The rain is falling hard. There are flash flood warnings for Fairfax County, Virginia. I am typing this in Fairfax County, Virginia. I am drenched, my stuff is drenched, my bike has a puncture and I almost got sucked onto I-95 when I tried to signal left but a Chrysler Voyager had other ideas. If there's a place to feel sorry for yourself it's the grass verge of an American motorway slip road.
I'm going to come clean. I was forced to abandon any thoughts of reaching Culpeper tonight and have sought refuge in a Quality Inn about 20 miles away. It's not green and it's not eco but I have dined on organic produce bought from Whole Foods in D.C. (banana sandwiches and decaf coffee.) Furthermore a tarpaulin has been purchased and tomorrow I venture forth safe in the knowledge that some part, any part of my kit at least will be dry.
D.C. was a bit too grand for me but I give it bonus points for its accommodation of cyclists. There are major trails going through, out of and around the city and I saw lots of people on two wheels. The attitude is a bit more chilled than London's bike speedway so it's actually feasible to sightsee from a saddle without being flattened by people vying for first place at the lights.
I purchased a Jamis Aurora bike which looks quite old school - especially when upturned with back wheel off, laid up with its first puncture of the trip. Hopefully I'll get used to its quirks before the flash floods get me. I got it from City Bikes in a funky part of town called Adams Morgan. It's a cyclists heaven, I could have stayed in there all day but was aware I had to practice turning left. I failed - see above.
Before I left D.C. I found a brand new shop called Future Green on Church Street NW which had everything from soy foam insulation to organic make-up. It had a feel of David taking on Goliath nestled in a back street in the "city of power" so fingers crossed it makes an impact.
I pick up the Transamerica trail at Charlottesville (it starts in Yorktown) in a day or two. Which is good as my maps are currently covered in marshmallow muffin. Mental note to self: don't throw foodstuffs into panniers out of wrapper.
