MAY 25 (SUN) 65 MILES  10.7 MPH (MXsp 35 mph) 6 hr biking time (8:00-4:00)

Bed at 11:30-up at 3:30 am to go to bathrm down the hall.  Armand is dressed-don’t want to get up.  Look at clock-it’s 6:00 am-he thought it was 7:00-gets back in bed w/biking clothes on.  Go down to bkfast at 7:45-Whit is gone.  Eat waffles-leave at 8:00.  Street is empty-climb to leave.  1st 45 miles are wonderful-one of our most scenic rides ever!  I LOVE BIKING AGAIN.  Covered w/trees-river most of the way-perfect weather.  Have rd to myself-Armand is out of sight-as usual.  He stops at Mt Grove 1 store-found a new friend-Rick.  Store has no bathrm-invites us to his house down a dirt rd.  Has a really friendly dog-Mollie.  Biked same route I crashed on in KY-mentioned all the trash along the rd.  KY was disgusting w/litter along rd.  Tells us we have climb ahead & gravel rd.  Stop at Lake Moomaw for pictures.  Also stop in little park-area big for kayaks.  Go up big hill-decide to turn around & go on rd.  Now I’m getting tired-have to walk bike a couple of times-neck is killing me.  Getting close-stop for sandwich.  See trail-meet Sue from San Antonio-Ed bikes up.  Leads us into town & to motel the back way.  Quality Inn-newly remodeled-4 pillows-nicest motel yet-only 2 cars in lot.  Bike to Applebees.  Plan for tomorrow-I will bike to Penbroke-Armand bikes to Blacksburg (90 miles)-get Rendezvous-comes back & picks me up.  No internet-too tired-go to bed early-will try to bike 1 more day!

MAY 24 (SAT) 54 MILES  11.4 MPH  4:45 min Riding Time (7:30-5:00)

Hurt all over-do not want to ride on trail.  Whit & Armand ready at 7:00-we leave @ 7:30.  Whit goes ahead-will buy train tickets-train leaves at 11:00.  25 m-hope we get there in time.  See some runners on trail-perfect place to train.  Decide to time myself for a mile-5:30 sec.  People run a 4min mile.  Then Armand says-the top marathoners can run that pace or faster for 26 miles!  Now I go even slower & look for bench to rest.  Finally get to Cass at 10:30-Whit has our tickets but is going back.  Buy a box lunch-eat it before train takes off.  Absolutely amazing to think of what it took to build the railroad in the mts-cut trees all day for $1.50 per day.  Who would be physically capable to do that today?  I’m whining about biking on a beautiful trail.  Train did switch backs-stopped at location where lumber was cut.  Went back to Cass-Armand fell asleep sitting up.  Went to museum & watched interesting video on what life was like back then.  Now want to find truck to take me back.  Armand says we can take rd but it’s 5 m longer-not a problem.  What a joy to be back on asphalt & going over 15 mph-downhill at 30.  Rd has no shoulder, very little traffic-is very scenic except we don’t have the river.  Feel like a biker again.  Back to the Inn-Whit has had a nap.  They map rap-we don’t want any more trails.  Walk to same restaurant-visit ducks.  Finally able to finish this-Armand is sleeping.  Not sure what tomorrow will hold.