Blessed Beyond Measure

Today may have been one of the most physically demanding days so far.   And today may have been one of the most gratifying days so far.   I biked 66.1 miles today from the Kentucky/Virginia border to Meadowview, VA.   I had planned to bike further but the mountains of Appalachia were physically exhausting.   I’m not calling them hills anymore – they challenge me more than the mountains of the western states so I’m calling them mountains. Within the first hour of biking today, I climbed over 1,500 feet.   Total elevation climbed today was 6,480 feet today, marking the second time I have exceeded 6,000 feet (first time was two days ago).   This also marks the sixth day in a row I have climbed more than 5,000 feet.   When we started this journey I thought the western mountains were challenging.   Back then some of the climbs would be in the range of 500 to 2,500 feet.      But the steepness was mild compared to now (usually in the 4% to 7% range and rarely above 8%).   Also, once we

Today’s bike ride of 74.6 miles started in Emmalena, KY and ended at the Kentucky/Virginia border.   That makes nine states completed and one state to go.   Can’t believe this journey is down to the last state.   I feel like the end is in sight.   But I may be getting a little ahead of myself as Virginia is a long state: there are still over 550 miles to go. The day was once again defined by perfect weather:   high 80’s, moderate humidity, and little wind.   Sunshine all day. The hills were challenging today.   They are still steep and they are getting higher.   I consider today one of the more challenging days so far.   A couple hills had elevation grades as high as 14% and they are bigger than the previous days.   There may have been a few less hills, but the ones that were there took a lot out of me.   I had to stop for a periodic breather part way up on a couple of them.   Also, I think my legs were a little fatigued from yesterday’s record climbing. And there were dog

Another perfect weather day: temp in 70’s, low humidity, and little wind.   Sunshine all day.   I biked 79.1 miles from just east of McKee, KY to Emmalena, KY. Dogs were my concern today, and appropriately so.   It started out rough.   I had not gone two miles down the road this morning and I came upon a dog.   He was in a fenced in yard.   I breathe a sigh of relief.   As I ride by, he slowly gets up, slowly walks to the gate.   At that point I realize the gate is open and at that point he charges me.   I didn’t have enough momentum to out run him.   I tried yelling at him to stop.   Finally I fired the pepper spray in his direction.   Didn’t hit him directly (that is my last resort), but enough to get him to stop. Not more than another four miles down the road two large black lab-looking dogs snuck out from behind a house and came at me as I passed.   Again, I did not have the momentum to out run them.   I tried to shout them down, but they wouldn’t let up.   Finally a coupl

Remember yesterday when I said it was another perfect day.   Today was not so perfect.    Not bad – just not perfect.   Stressful, is what I would call today.   The weather was perfect again, but a few other things took some shine off the day.   Three things to be exact: navigation, dogs, and traffic. The day started with great roads, similar to yesterday.   Unlike yesterday there were a lot of twists and turns, and my map directions leave much to be desired at times.   I didn’t get lost, but at times I was stopping every couple miles to double check and triple check where I was.   Just to make sure.   Not a big deal, but it really slows me down and takes a little fun out of the day. Then there are the dogs.   I have not mentioned it yet in my blog, but I have been dreading this part of Kentucky.   When we meet other bikers coming from the east one of the most often repeated complaints is the dogs on this part of the route.   The same dog bit three TransAm bike racers last wee

I know, I keep repeating myself.   Yes, today was another perfect day.   Temp in the mid 70’s and low humidity.   There was a slight breeze, but it was to my back most of the time. The majority of the roads I biked today were narrow two lane roads with no shoulder.   But traffic was limited, so biking the roads was very peaceful.   And they were as picturesque as any roads I have traveled thus far.   Winding roads surrounded by trees and pastures.   There were hills.   In fact today I climbed well over 5,000 feet again.   But they are gentle hills.   Before I started this journey, when I would envision the roads I would bike, today was what I would visualize.   Limited and courteous traffic, good biking surfaces, low stress.   There have been many perfect days on this journey, but today was about as perfect as it gets. Great weather and great roads makes for great biking conditions.   Add the fact Jill is here to help me, keeping me fueled and on course, and the biking part be

Another perfect day of weather – low 80’s, low humidity, sunshine all day, and a slight wind - mostly to my back.   I biked 85.5 miles from Glenville, KY to White Mills, KY.   The roads were in good condition, mostly shoulderless, but with mostly light traffic. I was little upset with myself over the course of the day.   I had a relatively short day yesterday and prior to that, two days off.   I should have a lot of energy, but most of the day I felt just a little more fatigued than I could account for.   Upon reviewing the day’s statistics, I felt much better about everything.   Over the course of the day I had climbed a gross elevation of 5,290 feet, just a couple feet short of my record day.   No wonder I felt so tired at the end of the day.   I knew the hills were longer and more frequent than yesterday, but I did not realize to that degree. Speaking of hills, there were quite a few of them and they were long.   Most were not very steep so they did not wind me.   Much.   A

Jill and I spent yesterday and this morning driving back down to Marion, KY.   After 3,000 miles of the camaraderie of biking with Brian and Bruce’s phenomenal support, Jill is supporting me the rest of the way, assuring I get from motel to motel as I close out the last 1,000 miles.   After all this time of being away from home I am excited to experience the remainder of this journey with Jill. By the time I retrieved my bike and gear and got back to my starting point it was 2:30 this afternoon.   However after two days off I had a lot of pent-up energy, and despite the late start I was able to bike 63.3 miles today, starting in Marion, KY and finishing the day in Glenville, KY.   It felt great to be back on the bike and riding the roads of Kentucky.   As happy as I was to be back the time off definitely allowed the body some needed recovery.   Thanks to my rested body, my excitement to be back on the bike, and knowing the day would be short, I may have pushed a little harder than