Got up this morning feeling pretty good—lot’s better than the previous three days. We headed out about 6:40am toward the mountains that are known to be the toughest and steepest climbs on the entire route, climbing Afton mountain to the Blue Ridge Parkway. About 20 miles in we stopped at a little country store and met a lot of nice locals—one of those stores out in the middle of nowhere that has a table up front where the locals sit and talk. I bought some Gatorade, a plumb and orange. I was still feeling good and was able to eat them. We left the store and had some good climbs then stopped by a Market — I think it was in Crozet. There we met a young couple who got married a week ago then set off on this trip as their honeymoon. They were pulling these carts behind their bikes and had their dog in one of them—a 45 pound dog. Their goal was to get to the Cookie Ladies house about half way up Afton mountain. We talked for a while then they set off—I got a GoPro of them when we passed them after leaving the market—will post when I have a better connection.
Well, after that turn-off, the climb up to the Blue Ridge Parkway was an absolute killer…we climbed grades that had to be 12% or better and they just kept going. Every time I would see the bend at the top I was hoping it would level out, but it would just curve in the other direction and keep going up. By the time I got to the Parkway I was toast and feeling sick again. I am drinking a lot, so it’s not that I’m not hydrated—I must just have some kind of stomach bug. We are all three concerned about the young couple—I just don’t see how they are going to make it up that mountain pulling their dog—my hat is off to them.
Once we were on the Parkway, I thought things would get better and maybe my stomach would settle down, but no—we still had over 1,300 more feet to climb to get to the peak at 3,200 feet. We did 50 miles today and I would do a 150 miler back home everyday of the week and twice on Sunday before I would do that climb again. For any TransAm person who may be reading this blog, everything they say about the Afton climb is true—don’t underestimate it.
We got to the Parkway visitors center and Stephen and Rob were there waiting for me…I was dragging up the rear pretty good. Bought some cold water at the center—helped a little but not much. Got to the campground in Love where we are staying for the night—we decided to split the cost of a cabin for tonight instead of pitching a tent. I think we got here about 3:30….I bought some Gatorade and two Turkey and Cheese sandwiches—haven’t been able to eat them yet, but have them in the refrigerator for later tonight or tomorrow.
Tomorrow we have another 800’ or so of climbing immediately and then we go down the other side toward Vesuvius…it’s a monster drop. I’ve seen YouTube videos of a road cyclist hitting 60mph going down that—I’ll be keeping it under 40.
I may decide to just stay here and take a day off tomorrow to try and hydrate and eat. If I can get some food in me and get over this nausea, these mountains would be good pain—right now they’re just sick pain.
Got a lot of nice pics to post, but no internet and only a spotatic one-bar on my phone, so will try to pot pics tomorrow or when I get better service.
To all my family and friends—don’t worry about me…I’m a tough old man and I’ll push through this—I can’t stay sick forever 🙂