Today we headed for Breaks, Virginia, right on the border of Kentucky. The reason for not going further is because at Breaks we can camp, and the only other option after that is a motel in Elkhorn City, KY or camping in Hindman, KY which is way too far for us to bike in one day (we are slow and in steep mountainous terrain). Besides, Breaks is supposed to be a nice interstate park so they must have nice campgrounds.
In the morning we met another biker named Scott from Anywhere USA. Nice guy. He stopped at the park in the morning while we were packing up because he saw our bikes. He left about 10 to 15 minutes before we did. When we left we almost caught up to him; we saw him in the distance. I decided to bike fast and catch up with him just for fun, but when I got close I started thinking what I would say when I caught him: "Hey, I caught up to you even though you left before us! You must be slow as hell! Well, I have to wait for my friends now. See you later!" So I slowed down and waited for the group.
Climbing the steep hill out of 
Aaron inside the convenience store. No, he never takes off his helmet.
We stopped at a convenience store and asked the lady if there were any grocery stores on the way to Breaks. She said absolutely not, so we bought a Hunt Brothers pizza (surprisingly delicious) and some ramen and canned corn for the campsite later. Outside, some random hillbilly gave us free firecrackers for the 4th of July. Score.
Upon leaving the convenience store we immediately passed a grocery store. A few miles later, we passed another. And another. And another. I would say she lied to us for her own financial gain, but she didn't own the store. She was a new employee. Maybe she's an idiot, but the grocery store was practically next door. Damn country bumpkins.
We've decided that the Blue Ridge Parkway is overrated. People speak of it as if it were the most horrific part of the trip. They single it out so much that we thought it was by far the worst part, so we thought that the rest of the Appalachians would be relative cake. Not true. NOT TRUE. In fact, the only really bad part of the Blue Ridge is getting up there. But there have been hills - neigh, mountains - which have been just as bad or worse, and they have been plentiful. Note to future bikers: mentally prepare yourself for steep mountains from Afton, VA all the way through Eastern Kentucky.
Upon leaving the convenience store we immediately passed a grocery store. A few miles later, we passed another. And another. And another. I would say she lied to us for her own financial gain, but she didn't own the store. She was a new employee. Maybe she's an idiot, but the grocery store was practically next door. Damn country bumpkins.
We've decided that the Blue Ridge Parkway is overrated. People speak of it as if it were the most horrific part of the trip. They single it out so much that we thought it was by far the worst part, so we thought that the rest of the Appalachians would be relative cake. Not true. NOT TRUE. In fact, the only really bad part of the Blue Ridge is getting up there. But there have been hills - neigh, mountains - which have been just as bad or worse, and they have been plentiful. Note to future bikers: mentally prepare yourself for steep mountains from Afton, VA all the way through Eastern Kentucky.
Beautiful Breaks Interstate Park: 
Camping in the drizzling rain.At Breaks we signed the bicycle logbook that Virginia uses to help determine how many people use Route 76, the Trans-America bike route which we are taking and which Virginia has graciously posted signs for all across the state. If people continue to use it regularly they will keep the signs up-to-date and, who knows, maybe even put in wider shoulders on some roads at some point. That last part is just wishful thinking on my part though.
Scott stopped at Breaks too and joined us at our campsite, where were set up our tents and sat in the rain for a while. Not ideal camping but at least we were able to build a fire. Aaron is a former Eagle scout. Or maybe a Webelow.
Scott stopped at Breaks too and joined us at our campsite, where were set up our tents and sat in the rain for a while. Not ideal camping but at least we were able to build a fire. Aaron is a former Eagle scout. Or maybe a Webelow.
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