7th Annaul CBBT Bike/Hike Photos Pg 2

7th Annual Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel

"Family Fun Day" Bike/Hike Photos

The Bike Ride South

There were two parking areas available to bikers at the event: the Rest Area parking lot next to the North Toll Plaza, and the parking area at the Days Inn about 1/4 mile further north. Once the Rest Area lot was full, officers directed people up to the Days Inn lot. Speaking of officers, there were a number of police organizations present and helping with security and traffic control: the CBBT's own police force, Virginia State Police, Northampton County Sheriff's Department, and officers from both the Virginia Beach and Norfolk Police Departments.

The bicycle part of the event featured a ride along the southbound lanes (older Fisherman's Inlet bridge and newer trestle/North Channel bridge) from the North Toll Plaza down to the northernmost man-made island, at the Chesapeake Channel tunnel. One-way distance was about 8.5 miles, for a 17-mile round trip. While the weather was excellent, there was a stiff southeasterly wind all morning, which created a nasty combination headwind/crosswind on the way south (though it made for a useful tailwind on the return trip). As a result, there was a big difference between my times heading down and coming back.

All photos were taken by the webmaster (Adam Froehlig) on October 2, 2004.

Biking South

	As I searched for a parking spot, I passed by this odd-looking bicycle. The owner was apparently well-fit and well-versed in the bike's use...he was starting a second round trip as I finished up my own ride. This was the first of quite a few unique bicycles I saw at the event.
	Starting my trip south. The far right tollbooth was cordoned off to allow the bikers to travel through and get between the CBBT and the parking areas. Once southbound traffic was directed over to the 2-lane/2-way travel in the northbound lanes, it was open-sailing for bicyclists, especially at 7:30am (when I started my ride). Although the event officially began at 8am, they were allowing people on the CBBT early. Also, the 2nd photo and subsequent photos below will show a noticeable increase in northbound traffic between ~7:15am when I got to the parking lot and after 7:30am when I began my ride.
	This curiously-paved pathway runs underneath the north end of the Fisherman's Inlet bridge. Not sure where it goes to.
	Crossing onto and taking a view of Fisherman's Island, which is also a National Wildlife Refuge. If you look closely, you can see the southbound bridge over the North Channel behind the trees in the bottom photo.
	The southbound beginning to the CBBT itself involves the bridge over the North Channel. The reason for the height of the North Channel bridge is to allow smaller non-oceangoing vessels another way to transit across the CBBT. The bridge offers 75 feet of navigable clearance at high water, a good bit higher than the 40 feet of vertical clearance at the Fisherman's Inlet bridge.
	A view of the older northbound span over the North Channel.
	A few CBBT employees and two bike cops were sitting at the top of the North Channel bridge to offer assistance to anyone who needed it. During my ride, I noticed bicycle cops from both Norfolk and Virginia Beach participating in the event and patrolling along the bridge.
	By this time (~7:50am), northbound traffic was noticeably thicker along the CBBT.
	Rounding the curve at the bottom of the North Channel bridge.
	First biker to pass me going the other direction, after I'd already traveled close to 5 miles. Since I started early, there were very few bikers who had started before me...less than two dozen. I managed to pass a few of them before I got to the turnaround. The second photo was the second set of bikers to pass me going the opposite direction.
	An aid station and porta-potty set up in one of the emergency parking areas a couple miles north of the turnaround point.
	This is where the gentleman with the "odd bike" pictured above at the top passed me. He would pass me yet again as he started a second round trip later (photo on my NB bike page).
	Various signage as one approaches the Chesapeake Channel tunnel.
	Almost at the turnaround-point on the northernmost island. The cones provide traffic separation both for the bikes going to the end and also for vehicle traffic going in and out of the tunnel.
	Here we are at the turnaround point, with porta-potties, water and snacks, and a sporting goods display set up. In part because of the wind, it took me 54 minutes to get here, for an average of 9.4 MPH. Considering I made about 6 minutes worth of stops, my actual average would have been about 10.6 MPH.