Small town America may have its problems, but the sense of community remains strong – certainly in Howardstown. It’s also noisy, but that’s not down to the people, but the birds – one of the most lively dawn choruses I’ve heard in years, rivalling the frog chorus the night before. By the time we’d packed…
Appalachians
Forts of Pendleton – Berea KY to Harrodsburg KY
What a difference a day makes! When morning comes, Berea has survived the storm relatively unscathed and the skies have cleared. It means, as ever, we have to move on. It’s a strange feeling since it’s likely we may not see any of our new found cycling friends for a while, or perhaps ever again….
Boone and Bust – Booneville KY to Berea KY
‘Did you hear the ‘yip-yip’ of that coyote last night?’ was the question being asked over loaded hash browns, egg biscuits and coffee at the Hometown Cafe this morning. That, and who got elected as what in the town’s elections. I think that once us cyclists had gone and the excitement of the results had…
Pie Bombs, Grizzlies and Goose Burrito – Hindman KY to Booneville KY
In the Appalachians Old King Coal still rules, although his reign is under threat. You only need to look in the valleys to see the impact a decline in mining brings. But huge trains still rumble through local towns with trucks full of the black gold, while coal lorries thunder up the roads to more…
Into the Valleys of the Dogs. Lookout KY to Hindman KY
Today we left Lookout and headed into the valleys of the dogs. Kentucky has a reputation for mean ones with a taste for passing cyclists and we were all a little apprehensive, particularly after John took a call from a fellow TransAmerican further up the trail who had problems with them around Hindman, our destination….
Lord of the (chain) Rings. Damascus VA to Council VA
Let’s get this out in the open right from the start. We’ve clearly underestimated the physical challenge of cycling the TransAmerican. The Appalachians are a major hurdle, the largest chain of mountains east of the Mississippi extending from Canada, all the way to Alabama. We’ve been cycling through them for well over a week now…
Making Friends (and enemies) on the road to Damascus. Fort Chiswell VA to Damascus VA
Today had it all, rain, wind, hail, a sudden dog attack and finally camping down in a town packed with Appalachian hikers. After being holed up yesterday peering out the window at the rain from our motel room at Fort Chiswell, Terry was keen to get going as early as possible this morning. I’m not quite…
Go Yell it on the Mountain! Afton VA to Lexington VA
It’s Terry’s better half, Liz’s birthday today and he was determined to yell it from the mountain. So it was a good job our task today was to climb the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and search for the lonesome pine in the pale moonshine etc. It wasn’t quite night-time when we left the Cookie…
Job Vacancy: Trip Morale Officer. Charlottesville VA to Afton VA
By Terry Even after last night’s Subway and sugar fest we were still slightly peckish this morning, so we took full advantage of the hotel breakfast before setting off … to buy more food. Then historic Charlottesville beckoned for a quick look-see and a coffee in wonderful Mother’s Day sunshine. It was an interesting place…
A sprinkling of Trail Magic….. Yorktown VA to Glendale VA
Have you ever heard of Trail Magic? Nope nor had we – but by nightfall we’d know exactly what it meant – and it has already sprinkled its dust on the bestbybike duo. The day didn’t start as planned. We made the classic mistake of leaving late – and after a few hundred yards we’d…