Meadowview, VA

Today's 73 mile ride crossed over another arm of the Appalachians. The weather was cloudy to sunny with one brief shower and 10-15 mph headwinds. We seem to be in a consistent pattern of a rain threat every day. The route headed west for 25 miles through rolling country before ascending two separate 1000' climbs in the Mt. Rodgers National Recreation area to a maximum elevation of 3700'. The climbs were very manageable, several miles at a relative low grade. We passed under the mountain to the east. For those who are into high points, Mt Rodgers is the highest point in VA at 5729' according to the map. Sally and I climbed it once upon a time. The Appalachian Trail crosses here, and while we were stopped at the trail crossing, right on cue a through hiker emerged for a chat. He was from Australia and hiking solo. A man of few words when asked if he was going to Maine he wisely said he was going to the next shelter. After lunch at the "top", there was a glorious 15 mile descent to Damascus on a windy road with good pavement through the forest with a rushing stream on the side. Damascus is the junction of the TransAm bike trail, the Appalachian Trail, and the Virginia Creeper, a local long distance biking trail. Sally was able to get out and ride two separate times to enjoy the country side. Today marks one week and my odometer shows 508 miles, so a good start.

There is an adendum to the 5/26 post. Sally came across another couple doing the same thing as we are only west to east. They started in April in Huntington Beach, CA. Their blog is http://www.meezan-thecrossing.blogspot.com/.