Day 16 Breaks Interstate park to Hindman

Today was a 'focus day'  as we had 68 miles and 4500 ft of ascent to deal with. With other Rt members of the stop and stare group otherwise engaged I made an early 7 15 start and cycled alone for most of the morning . Despite a misty start the sun came up and we had temperatures back in the high seventies.  We also had to run the gauntlet of 'canine alley' pretty much as soon as we crossed the state line into Kentucky. It wasnt too bad but at one point I was surrounded by a pack of about 8 dogs jumping up onto my rear panniers. I was reluctant to use the pepper spray and instead threw peanuts at them which surprisingly did the trick. Unfortunately we will have this every day for the next few hundred miles.
By lunchtime I hooked up with Kelly and Ellen and we cycled together for the rest of the day. By the time we arrived at Daves place' our overnight camping stop we were pretty knackered after a hard riding day but it was wonderful to be greeted by Dave handing out glasses of ice tea with fresh mint and lemon on arrival and blackberry brandy as a nightcap. Great overnight stop and my first night without the flysheet.

Miles today 69
Total             725

Day 15 Rosedale to Breaks Interstate Park

Another sunny day on the Virginia Riviera. Yesterdays respite from the rain did not last long and we commenced 3 days of tough riding with driving rain and freezing cold temperatures well into lunchtime. Coffee stops were tbin on the ground today but we found a dinky little restaurant in Haysi which refuelled us before the final ascent up to our overnight stop. Ellen was somewhat excited by the discovery of her surname on a street sign but found herself vertically challenged in her attempts to collect it as a souvenir. Today is our last day in Virginia as tomorrow we enter the dangerous dog  state of Kentucky. We have various defence mechanisms at the ready ranging from M & M's to pepper spray and boiled eggs.
The good news is that it might be sunny tomorrow and it might not rain.

Miles today 45
Total           655

Kelly and Jack

Day 14 Damascus to Rosedale

Last night we had torrential rain into the early hours of the morning and when we rose although it was not raing it was COLD VERY COLD like in the low fifties. So setting off in all my 'not expecting to ever have to wear' cold weather gear we had the relatively easy cycle of just 33 miles to Elk Garden Church hostel. However the sting in the tail was an effing great big 4 mile hill at the end which was on a par with anything you might find in the Alps! As usual Ellen demonstrated her 'Canadian Iron Lady' ascending prowess and glided off up said  mountain although she was hampered by cold hands for part of the day.

Miles Today 36
Total             608

Day 13 - layover day in Damuscus

After a lusciously deep and rejuvenating 11 hour sleep, I woke up at 9am to find that I was alone at the campsite - all my fellow cyclists had apparently risen early and had charged into town with the sort of morning energy that is necessary on a riding day, but difficult (for me) to muster up on a layover day.

I enjoyed a healthy breakfast at camp before taking a relaxed & leisurely ride into town, where I met a few of the other bikers at the local coffee shop.  The comfy and warm vibe there encouraged several of us to take over the place until early afternoon. Dolores treated me to a sugary iced cinnamon roll and Ellen, showing impressive patience and computer savvy, helped me post the blue flag thingies on the "track my progress" section of this blog (check it out!).  To thank Ellen for this (and to encourage her to help me out with other things, such as pretending to be me and writing this blog post) I treated her to lunch at the cafe that was recommended to me by Tequila Joe, the grizzled character who was sitting outside the coffeeshop.  Hubert joined us for lunch and we engaged in some lively conversation on several quite random topics.

After lunch I said bye to Hubert and Ellen and embarked on a mission to do some online ordering of supplies (cycling jersey, underpants, and less-hot Adidas hotpants to provide a replacement for the too-hot Adidas hotpants I'm currently carrying).  Once this mission was successfully completed, I rode off to the Tennessee border, a 15 minute ride from Damascus, to see Bareback Rock (photos below), which is an impressive natural landmark that is also known as the world's shortest tunnel. 

I cruised back to camp and ate a dinner of leftover goulash, secured my newly acquired American flag to my bike, refilled our stoves, drank a hot chocolate, and am now preparing to go to bed.  We have several really tough riding days ahead of us, so I am hoping to have morale-boosting dreams of things like having absolutely gargantuan muscles that make me able to cycle the Appalachians effortlessly. 

With luck this soggy and cold weather will have cleared up at least a bit by tomorrow.

Day 12 Wytheville to Damascus

Today was another challenging cycling day with lots of hills and NO RAIN but really COLD in the low fifties. Not what I expected at all. We had a great lunch at a little diner in Stockdale county where we chatted to the local Sheriff who not only allowed us to take photographs but escorted us out of town. Tonight we are staying on a campsite by the river at Damascus which is on the Appalachian trail and full of hikers. After tonights meal we had a surplus of Jill's spicy goulash so Ellen and I had this idea to walk around the campsite and offer it to any hikers we found eating tins of cold soup. I seem to be doing lots of crazy things like this but it sure is a great way to meet real American people. Only a couple of days now before we cross the State line into Kentucky and tomorrow we have a much needed rest day. And Ken you will be happy to know that I have found proper sausages and had a half decent cup of English tea today.

Miles today  61
Total             572

Day 11 Christiansburg to Wytheville

Todays ride was identical to yestetday except that instead of sleeping in a tent we are  sleeping on a tucted pile wilton carpet in the parlour of the Wytheville Presbyterian church. Unfortunately we will need to rise at  a stupidly early hour  as we dont think we're supposed to be here.
Bottom line is tbat after 3 tough days battling the hills and the elements I am absolutely knackered and too tired to blog today. Its only 9pm and most of us are already asleep!
Miles today 54
Total           509