Day 62 – Another Day of Fun

By Mark Heggestad
Today’s bike ride from Meadowview, VA to Wytheville, VA was 73.0 miles.  It was a near repeat of yesterday.  Some of the most beautiful scenery thus far.  No dog encounters.  Steep challenging hills.  And threatening weather.

There was a stretch of this morning’s bike ride (U.S. Highway 58 from Damascus, VA to Konnarock, VA) that rivaled the breathtaking scenery of yesterday.  The landscape is hilly with lush deep green vegetation and trees.  I biked along a fast flowing creek through this entire segment and ended with a climb to over 3,700 feet, which will be the highest elevation I reach east of the Mississippi.  While in this area I crisscrossed the Appalachian Trail and numerous other hiking trails several times.  If you enjoy hiking I think you would be highly rewarded if visiting this area.  There also seems to be quite an industry for mountain biking.

As I ascended the mountain the traffic was relatively light except every three or four minutes a large white van pulling a trailer with about a dozen mountain bikes would pass me.  Although I was focused on the scenery, I couldn’t help but notice the comings-and-goings of these similar looking vans and trailers. Somewhere toward the top it dawned on me: the white vans passing me and going up the hill were filled with people and the trailers loaded with mountain bikes.  The white vans coming down the hill were empty – no people, no mountain bikes.  Apparently there is a business of ferrying mountain bikers to the top of the hill so they can ride the trails down the hill.  Fun, I’m sure, but it also occurred to me that as exciting as that descent would be, they are missing out on so much.  While going up the mountain one moves at a slower pace and absorbs the constant beauty of the landscape and the serenity of nature.  Not to mention the joy of the challenge and the satisfaction that comes with achieving another summit.  The “one-way” mountain bikers are missing out.

When I was climbing one of the hills today I was surprised at how difficult it was.  The harder it got the more I began to fret.  I have climbed steeper and longer hills without this much effort.  And what is more disconcerting, I have more challenging hills yet to climb.  If this one is giving me this much trouble what will happen on the harder hills?  I finally glanced at my gears and realized I was mistakenly in twelfth gear as opposed to first gear.  This has never happened to me until yesterday, and now it has happened two days in a row.  It is a relief to realize I am not in as bad shape as I thought.  I gradually shift into a lower gear.  Now that I have zapped myself of energy grinding away in a higher gear, I do not get quite the relief I had hoped for, but it is definitely easier.  I continue on up the hill smiling to myself.  Actually, laughing at myself.  I can’t think of many activities where I work this hard, make a mistake, and then have so much fun.

The weather forecast called for rain today and dark clouds surrounded me all day.  Once again, Jill stayed close with the pick-up, rarely more than ten miles away.  She would wait a little ahead or a little behind, using the time to enjoy the beautiful scenery.  I got misted on a few times, but the one time it started to rain Jill was there within minutes.  When out in the middle of nowhere threatening weather is always a concern.  It is so nice to have one less thing to worry about.  Jill’s support makes it all so easy. 

Scenery From Today's Ride





Roads Biked Today








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