Mood:  a-ok

One disadvantage to not having the extreme heat during the day (the last couple of days have had highs of 80 degrees) is that the nights are a bit cooler.  This is not a problem if one has a sleeping bag.  I, however, had sent my sleeping bag home when I was in Boulder, and intended to sleep in one or two sleeping bag liners.  I'm sure that would have been sufficient on a normal summer evening.  On a chillier one like last night, it was insufficient.  I awoke and put on my long sleeved shirt;  then my trousers;  then heavy socks.  It was an uncomfortable sleep, but it was sleep, and I would need all I could get for today.

I am getting excited about seeing my mother, hopefully tomorrow, now that the reality is that I am close.  To see her I only had to cross the Blue Ridge Mountains, but I knew from experience that crossing the mountains might present a very difficult challenge.  The route I was taking was supposed to be the best, in terms of least difficulty, according to several people, but I've learned to not to be too trusting of other people's opinions regarding road difficulty.

The convenience store had a section in which I could sit down and eat breakfast.  Several men were having a discussion on world and local affairs, but one of them greeted me when I sat down and asked where I was riding to.  This was a great oportunity to confirm the route I'd been told to take.  All the men agreed that it was an excellent route.  I confirmed which road I was planning on taking out of town, and they agreed that the road was the correct one.  (Last night, the servor at Subway had told me not to take that road, saying it was the wrong one.  I thought she was wrong, and decided to check in the morning with someone else.)

It was a little chilly, and I wore my STP jacket. the sun had risen but all of the rays were blocked by the hills and mountains to the east.  I set off towards Boone.  It was going to be 44 miles, not a long distance, but would feel longer if it was difficult with too much climbing.

I was pleased that the road was following a stream, always a good sign.  As long as it did that the grade of steepness would not be bad.  In re-checking the map, I realized that I would be entering Tennessee from Virginia, and would be there for a while before entering North Carolina.  After several miles, I was in Tennessee.  An hour went by and I was still following the stream.  This was a good route!  It was climbing since leaving Damascus, but at a gradual grade.  It was just enough of a grade to demand a little extra effort if I wanted to remain in the middle chain ring (If I shifted to the lower chain ring, I would sacrifice 2-3 mph, but it would have been an easier cadence.). 

As I wound through the mountains, always gradually climbing, the sun kept rising.  It finally got high enough to be on me directly.  It felt good.  The jacket wasn't needed for the rest of the day. 

My fears about the road into Mountain City being a hilly and steep were unfounded.  The town sat on the same stream that I had been following out of Damascus.  This would be a good time for some food.  A sandwich fit the bill.

Later in the morning I finally saw a big hill.  I had entered an open valley with lots of homes and businesses.  When I reached the bottom of the hill, there was a sign that said "Welcome to North Carolina"!  I had made it!  (There are a number stickers on my bike that say "North Carolina or Bust".)  Before entering the state, which meant climbing the hill, I pulled into a cafe, since I was hungry.  (but not until I took a picture of my bicycle leaning against the North Carolina sign)

From here to Boone it was hilly, and bit more of a challenge, but not a difficult one.  The biggest problem was the narrowness of the roads, combined with an increasing amount of traffic, but no shoulder to the road.   On one steep hill, in particular, I was going slow, about 4 mph, and the traffic behind me started to accumulate.  There was too much oncoming traffic for cars to safely pass, so I pulled into a driveway and waited for the traffic to clear before pulling out again.  I did this 7-9 times up that one hill.  Cars and bicycles need to co-exist, and with all of the courtesies that cars and trucks have extended me, pulling over to let travel flow better was the least I could do in return. 

Boone!  I'm in Boone!  It's still early in the afternoon.  You know, I could probably make it to Wilkesboro.  It's only 30 miles away.  As I weigh this proposition, I decided to stay in Boone for the day.  I had no idea how much more climbing would be involved in getting over the Blue Ridge Mountains, and, since I wanted to go directly to see my mother in her nursing home, I knew that she would want to be looking her best, and a surprise would not allow that. 

Can you believe it?  I'll be in Wilkesboro tomorrow!  Visiting my brother and sister-in-law, and seeing my mother, were both key objectives for this journey.  Once in Wilkesboro, I would only be three riding days to Raleigh.  Of course I would stay in Wilkesboro, and visit for a few days before departing.

Tomorrow I will leave mid-morning.  One of the men at breakfast this morning had said "If you can survive getting into Boone, the road widens, and the rest will be easy."  So far he had been correct.  Let's see if he continues to be.  Probably.

Will McMahan