Day 25- Gadsden, AL to Guntersville, AL

The temp and winds this morning were brutal. It was hard to convince myself to get on the bike. My husband's aunt lives in Huntsville, where I was riding too and offered to pick me up.

I couldn't resist that offer, so I offered to meet her half-way, getting in about 40 miles. The hills were so slow, fighting the wind all the way.

We took the next day to go to the Botanical Gardens, Butterfly Pavillion and Monte Sano Park.

Who knew Alabama was so hilly.

Botanical Gardens with Aunt Cheryl

Botanical Gardens

Nice to see these billboards. Anyone can still donate

Monte Sano Park

As I type, I'm debating on whether or not to ride on tomorrow with Hurricane Sandy brewing. There's a wind advisory.

Day 24- Rockmart, GA to Gadsden, AL

 I packed up my stuff and left the campground and rode about 4 miles to get breakfast. It was going to be another hot one today. I could tell that I left the railroad bed, because it was still in use, after I got out of Cobb Country, Georgia.

My ride was made much more pleasant by meeting and riding about 30 miles with a man named Stan who rides this trail almost everyday. We had great conversation about everything. I think he's the first Southerner I've met who believes in gun control. I likes to watch the deer.

I stopped at the Alabama line, where the Silver Comet trail becomes the Chief Ladiga trail.

He told me to stop at the Eubanks Center in Piedmont, AL which is a welcome center for cyclists passing through. I started telling one of the employees where I was riding from and he asked me where specifically in NH I was riding from. I told him that I lived near the Canadian border and he asked me if I had ever heard of Colebrook. HAHA. It was awesome.

I once again tried to contact some of the local churches to put me up and nobody bit. I went to a hotel.

See that section on the sign for grits. I'm in the South now. 

Day 23- Atlanta, GA to Rockmart, GA

Once again got up late cause my hosts were up late. I said farewell to the puppies and off I went.

I went about 15 miles (not exactly sure, cyclometer stopped working) to get to the Silver Comet bike trail, an awesome 75 mile trail is Georgia (another 25 in Alabama) which was converted from an old railroad bed. After crossing the chaos and poor pavement of Atlanta, this was heaven.

It was nice to see, as a parks & rec person, so many different people using this space for so many different things. It was well maintained, had good signage and most people seemed to respect it

I camped at a little campground off the trail, first time camping on the trip. Its finally warm enough to camp. Did I mention to all of you in Colebrook, NH that its 80 degree and sunny here? Down to 60 at night. Beautiful. I'm eating ice cream regularly now.

I will cross into Alabama in the morning and start making my way to Tupelo, MS where I will meet up with some riders there and ride part of the Natchez Trace Parkway. I have a few days in between though. Total as of today is 1,466 miles!

Day 22- Athens, GA to Atlanta, GA

Athens and Atlanta are both big cycling towns, mostly by hipsters. Today I got up late because my hosts were up late and I slept in the living room.

I had only gone 20 miles or so and got a flat. It was a little piece of wire. I replaced it with a new tube and instantly flatted again. I think I accidentally knicked it with the knife in my multitool. Putting the tire back on the wheel was being problematic and a very nice woman named Marie helped me as an extra set of hands.

I had texted a bunch of people the night before to host me in Atlanta. One had called me and invited me to go to bike polo. Exactly what it sounds like. It was getting late and I still had 8 miles to go and didn't want to negotiate traffic in the dark. So I called him and he picked me up, took me to my host's house and brought me to bike polo. It was cool. So no pictures. My phone was dead.

My hosts also had the cutest puppies.

Day 21- Anderson, SC to Athens, GA

Steve started today's ride with me. We went to the Georgia/South Carolina before we parted ways. It's so nice to have someone ride with you, even part of he way.

Steve by the Savannah River

Beautiful

Me

I took this one because I couldn't get one yesterday

That peach could you use new color

The rest of today's miles were convoluted. The GPS took me all over the place. It also tried to take me on two dirt roads. 

Lonesome Dove Road (Also one of my favorite movies)

While trying to navigate all these back country roads, I had a pack of 6 dogs chase me. I'll tell you chihuahuas can really run. They're vicious. I was able to outrun them, but it wasn't fun. I got to Athens  at dark, My host tonight is a bike mechanic. Bonus. There isn't anything really wrong with my bike though. Hopefully, it stays that way. To date, I've biked 1,346 miles. 

Day 20- Spartanburg, SC to Anderson, SC

Today was a nice ride. Went on some low-traffic roads again. Topography is getting flatter which is nice. I also noticed the dirt is much sandier. It's starting to feel like the South.

It was abundantly obvious to me that I was in he South today when I heard a commercial that said "When you buy a new car from us, you get your choice of a shotgun or rifle plus a free concealed weapons permit class. Also, get a free day pass to the new shooting range when you come in to test drive. This is how we show support for the Constitution and your 2nd Amendment rights." No joke!


The best part of today was my hosts. Steve and Jeanne were awesome. They have a home on a great little lake. 

Steve has Parkinson's Disease and has pedaled across the U.S. twice while raising money for the Davis Phinney Foundation (who was the first American to win a stage of the Tour de France before being diagnosed with Parkinson's. Check out his trip diary. Steve Quam's Pedal for Parkinson's 

Me and Steve

Day 19- Montreat, NC to Spartanburg, SC

You may have noticed that the stopping point for the previous day is not the same as the starting point for today. I was going to have Lauren drive me back to the exact same spot, as is usually my custom. But I looked at the mileage and it was actually 2 miles further to my destination starting from her campus. So I thought I'd save her the time and gas and start in Montreat.

This morning started out freezing. Lauren showed me around her campus and her outdoor education classrooms. Lauren joined me for the first part of my 80 mile day.

My sister Lauren and I on the Black Mountain Bike Path

Burb (her newest nickname)

The awesome view

10 miles of all downhill. It was glorious.

The next 70 miles were pretty good too. Almost all flat. My Google Maps took me on some awesome back roads with almost no cars. The only lame part was that there was no "Welcome to South Carolina" sign. I'm assuming it was supposed to be here one these posts below.

Welcome to South Carolina?

I stayed the evening with an awesome couple originally from Wisconsin. Their dog was awesome too. 

Day 18- Clemmons, NC to Conover, NC & Rest Day

Today started out with a huge wonderful breakfast from my host, Kathleen. Plus a packed lunch to boot. Today was no exception to Virginia, all hills and headwinds. I had somebeautiful views though. Here's a few from the road.

Not sure what kind of field this is, but it's beautiful

The coolest looking cows I've seen all trip. I had to stop.

 

My sister, Lauren, picked me up in Conover, NC and we had dinner together and camped out at her friend's house. We got up early and headed to the summer camp she worked at two summers ago so she could help facilitate the high ropes course for a retreat group. I helped too ;)

Lauren, the belayer

Everett Street, Bryson City

Awesome Bike Shop!

 

We fell in love with Everett Street, being Everetts and all.

Day 17- Martinsville, VA to Clemmons, NC

I started early today, but it was cold, so I hid out at a restaurant and waited for it to warm up a little more. I finally crossed into North Carolina and over the 1,000 mile mark for this trip. Today was a little flatter. Tomorrow I'm meeting up with my sister Lauren.

It looked like it was going to rain today and started to spit, but held out! 

Day 16- Roanoke, VA to Martinsville, VA

I got a late start to the day, because the previous night was spent sleeping in the rental car and needless to say, I didn't sleep well. This day was full of hills, again. You know how the Eskimos have 21 classifications of snow, well I think I'll have at least that many for hills when I get done.

I tried to find the Blue Ridge Parkway to ride a little bit of it, but I went on a super hilly 8 mile wild parkway chase. Anyway, I abandoned the search and rode the main route to Martinsburg.

I stayed with Andy and Laura and their baby. We had pizza! Their extra bedroom was awesome and even had cable. I watch the Crossfit Championships, something to think about when I'm done this challenge. 

Day 15- Lexington, VA to Roanoke, VA

I got a small rental car, a Fiat, and was able to fit my bike into it for transport to the bike shop. When I got to the shop, the mechanic told me he wasn't too sure about the back wheel.



After getting my bike back fresh from the shop, another spoke broke at mile 12. Learning from last time, I just rode on it. I brought it up East Coasters in Lexington and they replaced my wheel. I also took off the aero bars I wasn't using.

After getting my wheel replaced, I stayed with Rob and Lisa and they were the coolest. They took me to the Roanoke Star, the largest manmade star in the world, apparently. And we got homemade ice cream.

Day 14- Mt. Crawford, VA to Lexington, VA

I called a bike shop and asked if he knew anyone willing to host me because there were no Warmshowers hosts in that area. He suggested I call the local churches, so I did. The Lutheran church in Lexington offered to put me up at the local hotel. Very generous of them.
I noticed my back wheel was wobbly and investigated to find a broken spoke. I called Jonathon to see how critical it was. He didn't answer. So I called Chris from my night in Shippensburg and he said I should put the replacement spoke on.
Amidst my tinkering a cyclist in his 50s, an engineer, pulled up and asked if he could help. What a relief.
After too much time, we had it all fixed and ready to go and released my back brake.
I pulled up to the hotel way after dark.


After dealing with the wheel.


Thank you emergency spoke.