Sunday was a shortish ride from Kremmling to Breckenridge, 58 miles and about 2,500 ft of a climb. Almost a quarter of it was on a cycle path. Particularly between Silverthorne and Breckenridge it was mobbed with cyclists. My first cycle mob on this trip (probably had to do with Labour Day).
On Sunday I met Philip, walking East to West, also pulling his possessions behind him in a cart. He seems to dedicate his trip to mental health. Him and Jonas were crossing paths later, going in opposite directions, and it would have been interesting at their meeting, to be a fly on the wall of their meeting.
After the climbs in the Rockies, the flats of Kansas, now I am getting used to the 'undulating' Missouri hills. Actually steep up and steep down. So far, I was only twice running out of gears when the gradient became too much and I had to get off the bike and push.
I have mentioned smells before, and I must say I liked the smell of Western Kentucky, the fields, the woods, the meadows. Cycling along means you are very aware of this sensory aspect and it adds a lot the the experience of the trip.
On Tuesday it was Hindman, KY to Elkhorn City, KY. The route definitely took me through Kentucky backwoods country. Steep roads up and down narrow hollers with wooded hills on either side, little traffic, and if there was any, everybody was very considerate. You will also see in one of the photos a collapsed verge.
Today, Thursday, was bike maintenance time, writing up the blog and chilling out. I went over the bike, tightening all the bolts, oiling the chain and gear cables and checking everything, including the tyres. Looking at it, I thought, what an amazing machine: it has already taken me over 3,700 miles, over rough roads and potholes, up steep hills and mountains
Overnight from Friday to Saturday there was some heavy rain.
Virginia is definitely kinder to cyclists then Kentucky with no steep hills to climb the last 3 or 4 days. Today, Monday, it was a 57 mile ride to Lexington, VA. I am again staying in a motel because there a very few campsites and no City Parks or churches where you can stay or put up your tent. Very different from the Midwest.
The plan for Friday was to take a detour through Richmond and stay at the Wills Church in Glendale, VA, just on the other side of town. Anyway, when I called them, they informed me that their well pump was broken, so no water. This meant making last minute alternative arrangements.
Sunday was the last leg of my TransAmerican cycle, 75 miles from Richmond, VA to Yorktown, VA. 40 miles of it was on the Virginia Capital Trail, the longest cycle path I have been on so far.