Hi again! Little foot here. Been awhile for a blog post from me. Sasq is a blogging champ and I'm, well, lazy.
I'll try and pick it up where she left off and fill you in on the last few days. After our google maps failure and cycling an extra 10 miles on an already hilly day, we finally pulled into our campsite at Breaks Interstate Park at 10 pm. It was pitch black and the campground was packed! We ended up throwing down our tent on a lovely gravel spot and falling into bed. Exhausted & hungry we didn't waste much time unpacking. Per usual, we were hoping to get an early start but long days and late nights usually make early AM's impossible for us. When we did finally manage to get up Sunday morn, half the campground had already cleared out. Before we even had a chance to pack up the tent mother nature started spitting on us. We hustled as quickly as possible to get all our geared packed up before the rain really started in. Lugging bags loaded with wet gear is less than desirable. Sure enough, 10 mins later, the sky opened up and dumped buckets. We sought shelter in the ladies room and checked the weather report--100% chance of rain with a chance of rain… for the next 8 hours and then it would drop down to 80% for the rest of the night. We waited by the bathrooms for about an hour and a half hoping for the rain to let up a bit so we could cycle the 1.5 miles to the park lodge & book a hotel room. This was our first hotel splurge of our trip and seemed the only option. It was that or cycle for 8 hours in the pouring rain. So, we sucked it up, booked our room, swiped our cards… and then the sun came out. And it stayed out. And it didn't rain all night either. So we learned yet another (expensive) lesson. We will always lose the weather gamble. And the weather can drastically change in a matter of minutes. Needless to say, we weren't wicked happy bout taking a rest day. Or missing a great day of riding weather. Or the fact that we were staying an extra day in VA, literally 3 miles from the KY border. We ended up doing a little bit of planning, a lot of grumbling, and a bit of tv watching. We of course stayed up too late and once again didn't get out the door as early as we would have liked. But we were happy to be leaving VA… although a bit apprehensive about biking through KY. We haven't exactly heard great things, especially about eastern KY and the dogs.
Shortly after crossing the border we met another pair cycling across the country. Chris & Gary are Brits cycling from VA to SF.
They were also planning on staying in Hindman at the cyclist lodging so we played a nice game of cat and mouse with them all day--they would pass us, stop & take a break, & then pass us again. Later on in the day we met a pair of brothers who are also cycling from VA to SF. Seems to be a popular route! And what a route through eastern Kentucky it is! Apprehensively we left the hills of VA behind and traded them in for, wait for it… more hills! And dogs. With little other choice, we pedaled on, armed with nothing more than mace & pepper spray & the knowledge of fellow bicycle tourists being bitten by the wild dogs of KY (true story--2 were bit). sasq was the first to test out her new protection when she was chased after by a pack of 4 unfriendly looking dogs. Apparently her mace did the trick because moments later when I rode past they didn't even leave the driveway.
okay. Getting late. Taking time out & will finish the rest of the post tomorrow. Otherwise, it'll be another slow morning departure for us.
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