Oh my gosh we're in Kentucky!

Leaving Blacksburg, we felt like we were really saying goodbye and finally beginning the journey. Last year, we rode the first 30 miles with the group leaving on the transam from Blacksburg. The same thirty miles felt so much easier this year... thanks to stronger legs, better lungs, and more confidence.

Sixty five miles got us to Wytheville, where we camped with a group of, let's say "middle-aged" folks, who are fellow transammers. We spent the next few days near or with at least some of the group, and were very grateful for the company. They should be an inspiration for all the parents, uncles, aunts, etc who say to do this while we're young! We say "Do it, and keep doing it!"

The next day was, by far, our favorite of the trip so far. Gentle long climbs through the Mt. Rogers area of the Jefferson National Forest led to a few great descents winding along a creek, complete with waterfalls and mountain vistas. The destination was Damascus, just north of the Tennessee border, where we took another day off from the road. A mecca of sorts, it's a friendly town at the intersection of our route and the Appalachian Trail. We enjoyed some exceptionally tasty vegan pizza and good old Highland beer. Ted from St. Louis, a member of the other group, was also there for the day, and we exchanged war stories from the road over beers and coffee.

Leaving Damascus, we were planning for a pretty tough day. It would be eighty miles northwest to Breaks Interstate Park, on the border with Kentucky. Included in those miles were some of the toughest climbs on the whole route, and some of coldest, rainiest, ickiest weather. It sucked. We made it and everything, but it just plain sucked. At the end of the day, we made the tough decision to fork over some money for a motel room, and we have no regrets. We watched from our balcony as the rain continued to pour into the evening, and after waking up in the morning.

Not quite feeling fresh and revived from a night's rest in a real bed, we made it fifty very hot and mountainous miles into Kentucky, and pitched the tent by a church. That was yesterday, and now we're in a library in Hindman Ky, having dodged coal trucks most of the morning and just squeaking inside before a surprise thunderstorm.

A few more days should get us to Berea, and Illinois won't be long after that. My apologies for the blabbing on and on. I'll cut it out and let you look at some photos.