A very big day for cycling the Appalachians for us. Starting at 7:30 from Hazard, KY and arriving at Breaks, VA, just a few miles across the Kentucky state line at 7:30pm.
We started off with clouds this morning which soon turned into full on rain. We ducked under this overpass to apply our rain gear.
Dan from Atlanta was the first west bound rider we crossed paths with. He road up the Atlantic Route including the Outerbanks route we'll be taking. He said it was wonderful. At Kitty Hawk he saw the hang gliders and decided to to take a ride, and loved it. Hmmm, I'd like to hang glide at least once too. Maybe it's in my near future?
The rain let up after about an hour and we had light sprinkles until about 11. At 10:30 we had 26 miles completed so we rewarded ourselves with fresh made sausage, egg, cheese biscuits at a gas station in Mallie. I think the sausage/egg/cheese biscuit is the foundation of the cyclist food pyramid!!🍔
We had some hellacious climbs today. Here John Boy takes a break and hydrates with water. I haven't got him into Powerade yet.
Day later update
I didn't realize how helacious our day was at the time because with no internet I couldn't get the details of our effort. We climbed over 11,000 ft. this day. That is huge!! No wonder we were so tired the next day. 🚵
John crests the top of a steep one, probably over 10% grade. We haven't had to walk yet!!
About 55 miles in and climbing up another steep hill I was getting a little fuzzy minded (more than normal) and as I crawled up the hill the bright open sign on this rough looking building right off of the road caught my eye. I told John I needed a little Powerade or something so I stopped. John was smart enough to hold back a bit. I stepped up on the front porch and Ronnie(R) and Robert (L) stepped out. I looked inside and it for sure wasn't a store but I'm also not sure what it was, except I knew I shouldn't in! I'm still not sure what that "Open" sign meant. Anyway Robert said he had some Powerade and walked to the small building next door and grabbed me a couple out of a small refrigerator for a buck fifty each. We had a nice chat and talked about the coal mines and how tough things had gotten. Nice guys actually. So many folks we would have never, ever spoken too if we weren't riding slowly through the country on a bikes. 🚲
This is the abandoned Clear Branch coal mine, right across the road from Ronnie/Roberts place. Everywhere we've seen much newer mines closed down and idled rail cars on the tracks.
About 58 miles into the day at 3:30 we arrive at Vergie, KY. We haven't eaten or stopped for any rest since our sausage biscuits. I call this "Convenience Cuisine", sitting on the curb at a gas station eating pre-packages salads and sucking down a can of Starbucks to get me through the next 32 miles. We met with lots more people that came and went while we squatted on the curb trying to eat healthy. You never know for sure where or what your next meal will be!!
KY Trooper Sturgill wanted to inspect my bike for Colorado "contraband". 😱
Actually he was a really cool guy and gave us more confidence we could make it to Breaks, VA based on his knowledge of the roads and terrain.
The walk of shame!!! It finally happened, a combination of hugely steep grades and being tired, we had to push our bikes a bit, on and off a couple of times. Ironically it's really not easier to push an 85 pound bike. It's just different muscles for a bit but you still get out of breath and then you try to ride again.
Now we're just a few miles away from the motel at Breaks, but we're still in Kentucky! This was a great overlook of the Russell River in the Breaks Interstate Park. Finally after so many days in Kentucky we're now in Virginia!! We could have stayed at the Baptist Church in Lookout, KY 20 miles back, which we had heard great things about, but I really wanted us to break through into Virginia which gets is back to being just 2 days off of my schedule. We still have 2 flex days to give but I didn't want to let them go yet. We still have some really tough and steep days in Virginia and time for really crappy weather as well. It's best to keep these days in my pocket if possible for a "rainy day" pun intended. 😀
The Gateway Hotel in Breaks. We got in around 7:30. Had we been 30 minute later Ilene would have left for the night not returning until the morning and there would have been no other facilities around, nothing. Clearly Breaks is just a name on the road. Luckily we had a shower and clean beds to sleep in. On the downside no cell service and horrible wifi so I'm writing this blog at 11pm off line and hope to synch sometime tomorrow. For those who read this as part of their morning routine, I'll try to synch as soon as I can.
And this is why you eat healthy when you can. A small store-bait shop across the street (the only other place for miles) supplied us with packaged Italian subs, frozen White Castle cheeseburgers, 2 tins of bean dip and chips and two Bud tallboys. And the ice cream Snickers is my reward for the 90 mile day today before I go to bed. Now we sleep and tomorrow we'll contemplate a 74 mile ride to Damascus, VA.
Scott, and John, I'm amazed reading the detailed account of your journey! What an amazing experience! I can't imagine the exertion of the trip, randomness of what you will encounter next, and where meals and rest will come from. Rich Guard
ReplyDeleteRich,
ReplyDeleteIt's been an amazing experience. Every day something different and totally unknown. Other than our end point, knowing where and when we need to be at the Outerbanks, I find myself living very much in the moment, and slightly forward to the evening and where we'll eat/sleep for the night. It's been a lot of fun too!! I know John is having a blast too.
Thanks for following the blog and commenting. Hope to see you again at the next Pudue Homecoming.
Scott