Day 64 – Somewhere Between The Appalachians and The Blue Ridge

By Mark Heggestad
Today I biked 74.8 miles from Catawba, VA to about eight miles southwest of Vesuvius, VA.  It was scenic, but ultimately it was a bike ride between the Appalachian Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains.  I lost sight of the Appalachians yesterday, and today as the day went on I began to make out the Blue Ridge Mountains ahead of me.

Today’s ride had a little bit of everything.  I went through some larger towns (Lexington) and at times the roads I biked paralleled busy and noisy Interstates, so that got a little old.  But at other times, I found myself on quiet, peaceful country roads filled with beautiful landscape.  I biked flat areas and I biked a good amount of hills.  I saw forests, pasture land, fields, streams, and rivers.  When the day was done, I stopped in the middle of nowhere along the side of the road.  There was a very peaceful little creek I waited by and when Jill picked me up we spent some time soaking in the picturesque setting.  On the way back to the hotel we saw hot air balloons and hang gliders out over the Blue Ridge Mountains.  I made a mental note to put that on my list of things to do.

I had one little adrenaline rush today.  It was the end of the day, about a mile left. I was going slightly downhill at a little under twenty miles-per-hour, and I was spending more time looking at the creek to my right than the road.  All of a sudden I saw fast movement to my left, and out of the trees a deer ran across the road in front of me.  I would guess she was not more than ten feet in front of me when we crossed paths.  I can now tell you from first hand experience, it is just as startling when a deer jumps in front of you while riding a bike as it is while driving a car.

If all goes as planned, tomorrow I will ascend, bike through, and descend the Blue Ridge Mountains; the last mountain range of my journey.  I have been told by some passing bikers that this may be the biggest challenge of the journey.  I will ascend close to 2,500 feet with some of the steepest grades thus far.  I have also been told by some passing bikers that these are the most scenic mountains on the journey.  All I know is that the Blue Ridge Mountains are the last mountain range on this journey.  So I intend to savor them with all that I have!


Scenery from today.  I start to see The Blue Ridge Mountains in the background.

More Blue Ridge Mountains in the background.

Scenery from today.

One of the roads biked today

For a good portion of the day I biked along side a railroad track.
I finally gave in to the urge to take a picture of it.

Jill and I enjoy the scenery at the spot I ended today's bike ride.






Comments

  1. UnknownJuly 4, 2017 at 1:01 PM

    Love the pics! Especially the one of Jill with the reflection in the water!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Blessed Beyond MeasureJuly 4, 2017 at 9:28 PM

      Thanks Julie. I thought of you when biking the Appalachians a couple days ago. As I was riding down a steep mountain with switchbacks I saw four Harleys coming toward me up the switchbacks. A woman on the back of the last Harley was holding her cell phone up in the air. I assume she was taking a video as they went rumbling by.

      Delete
  2. UnknownJuly 5, 2017 at 8:36 AM

    Awesome. I'd love to do the Appalachians on the bike! (HD Bike that is - I'd never be able to do what you've accomplished!)

    ReplyDelete

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