Day 50-Eight Down, One To Go

Miles Completed Today: 64
Total Miles Completed: 3335
Miles To Go: 465

1. California--Done!
2. Nevada--Toast!
3. Utah--Ain't No Thang!
4. Colorado--Two Passes, So What?
5. Kansas--Puhhlease!
6. Missouri--Say What?
7. Illinois--What Was That?
8. Kentucky--You Call Those Roads?
9. Virginia--You're Next!

The guys are on a mission to Damascus today, Damascus, Va. that is. Both bikes are ailing and Damascus has three bike shops, so hopefully one of them can get the bikes back to ninety or one hundred percent for the final sprint through Virginia. We're in the shop now (3:15 PM) so we'll see what they can do. Most likely, we will stay in the area. A nice area it is--green hills and lots of forest in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Tomorrow the trail heads northeast along the Appalachian Trail.

Day 49-Virginia, The Final State!

Miles Completed Today: 87
Total Miles Completed: 3271
Miles To Go: 529

They can taste it now, the end that is, and Sean & Pat got up early to reach and chip away at the last state, Virginia, which they should reach by the afternoon near Elkhorn City, KY. We'll have an "attitude check", i.e. energy check, once they reach Elkhorn City and decide whether to stay at Breaks Interstate Park just across the border in Va. or to proceed further and knock off a few more miles. Strangely enough, places to stay are getting stark in this area--shades of those long stretches out west.

We are definitely in coal country as mines are everywhere and big trucks constantly roll by full of coal. There's controversy here as some of the mines are just being made by chopping off the tops of mountains to reach the coal instead of "drilling" in for it. Either way though, they are getting it.

Kudzu is also more prevalent in the region, and it's fun to identify the shapes it creates as it takes over the underlying vegetation or structures. Left unchecked, it takes over entire hillsides.

Update: The guys still felt fresh in Elkhorn City, KY, so we rolled on to Council, VA just east of Breaks Interstate Park.

Today's Internet courtesy of the Pike County Public Library in Elkhorn City, KY.
(no wireless, and no USB ports on these old computers, so pictures will come later.)

Day 48-Limping Toward Virginia

Miles Completed Today: 62
Total Miles Completed: 3187
Miles To Go: 613

We found a nice camping spot last night at Buckhorn Lake State Park and had a cool evening for a change. Late at night a stray dog "adopted" us after following Chris around for awhile and getting a handout from Pat. The handout clinched the deal and he stayed around all night and had breakfast with us. We nicknamed him "Scrappy" because that's how he looked. And sure enough, later in the morning after Pat & Sean had left, he chased off a local Boston Terrier that was trying to slide into his/our camp.

Another 11:30 AM start today--the guys just like their sleep too much, so the destination today will be Pippa Passes, KY about 54 miles away, unless they feel like going further. The guys and bikes are getting ragged; Pat's pedal broke yesterday, so he is using one from Chris' mountain bike, and Sean had a flat tire this morning. But onward they go.

Today's Internet courtesy of the Perry County Public Library in Hazard, KY. (Hey, could this be the inspiration for the "Dukes of Hazard"?)

Day 47-Daniel Boone Country

Miles Completed Today: 74
Total Miles Completed: 3125
Miles To Go: 675*
(*According to the maps we have 675 miles to go, so that's why it bumped up 100 miles
from yesterday. The total was supposed to be 3700, but it looks like it will be closer to 3800)

Berea, KY (pronounced buh-ree-uh) is home to Berea College, the first interracial, coeducational college in the South, founded in 1855 on a picturesque 140 acre campus dotted with massive oak trees. Students pay no tuition, but are required to work during the entire four years in the community or at the school. Pat and Sean did not want to leave the setting, but like Daniel Boone, the most famous local, they blazed the trails of eastern Kentucky despite the perils. Instead of bears, Indians, and other hazardous wildlife though, they will battle cars, humidity, craft selling artists, and bicycle chasing dogs.

Hills were spotted on the horizon in the distance this morning, meaning Appalachia is near. Today's route will twist and turn out of Berea on Route 21 and other country roads eventually leading to Buckhorn, KY, seventy-four miles away.

Today's Internet courtesy of Berea College in Berea, KY.

Day 46-It's Not Just An Adventure, It's A Job

Miles Completed Today: 74
Total Miles Completed: 3051
Miles To Go: 649

The lazy, hazy days of Summer continue today, and the air is so thick with humidity you could probably scoop a handful worth and squeeze out a few drops of water. Dew covered the van this morning and made us think it drizzled at night. Visibility is so poor, it's not even possible to see what the weather will be like for more than five minutes. But they persevered and hit the road at 10:40 this morning headed from Springfield, KY to Harrodsburg, KY on Route 152. Harrodsburg was the first established settlement east of the Applachains in 1774. From Harrodsburg they wound through more Bluegrass countryside to Berea, today's destination.

We are in the heart of blugrass country now dotted with lush, green horse farms, tobacco fields, and cool stone fences. Sean's Dad got us a great hotel room in Lexington for the night and we are soaking up the air conditioning, showers, and swimming pool. Thank you!

Day 45-Lincoln Bike Logs

Miles Completed Today: 71
Total Miles Completed: 2977
Miles To Go: 723

Only in Kentucky can you park in the Pilot Truck Stop and wake up next door to "Shag Nasty"! When we opened the van door this morning our neighbor was this fine, custom, Chevy Siverado cruiser. Needless to say, the guys were quite impressed and insisted that we include it in today's photo. "Shag" was sound asleep in the back seat after an obviously late Saturday night of music, so we never got to see him in the morning, but our imaginations will run wild. What a contrast; Amish, horse-drawn carriages in the daylight, and "1988 Texas Ride's" at night!

The trail today curls around central Kentucky from Sonora to Springfield on Routes 84, 61, 470, and about five others passing by Lincoln's birthplace and his early homestead. Yes, Lincoln was born in Kentucky.

Today's Internet (finally) courtesy of Panera Bread in Elizabethtown, KY.

Day 44-The Bluegrass Desert?!

Miles Completed Today: 46
Total Miles Completed: 2906
Miles To Go: 794

The steam bath sleep night was no fun and all the biking gear was soaked in the morning, so we headed to a laundromat to wash and dry everything. (It needed it before the rain anyway, but the SAG never says "no" to laundry runs when the guys ask for them. In fact, they are stongly encouraged daily!) Since the thick humid air continued today, and it was a late start due to the laundry, the guys rode from Rough River to, where else of course, Sonora, KY! It's hard to believe Sonora is in the Blugress region, but that's a new one on us, so from now on when we hear Sonora, we'll have to clarify, "Do you mean the desert or the Bluegrass town?"