Breaks to Pippa Passes
61 miles
5 hours and 29 minutes in the saddle
35.1 mph max speed
11.1 mph average speed
weather: usual hot and sunny and westerly (head)winds
This morning we enjoyed breakfast and spectacular views across Breaks canyon veiled in early morning mist.
Two words can sum up today's ride: hills and dogs. We have entered Kentucky and as expected there are more dogs here than in Virginia. There are not many stray dogs, but leash laws are not enforced. Consequently, owners leave their dogs to roam around their property and to chase unsuspecting cyclists down the road or up the hill, as the case may be. Today we used our pepper spray for the first time. Unfortunately Stephen was downwind and we know for a fact that pepper spray works well on humans and husbands in particular.
The hills in Kentucky are no less steep than those in Virginia. A pickup truck driver took pity on us today as we were labouring up a steep and winding hill. He offered to take us and our bikes on the back of his truck. We accepted without hesitation. The lift saved us lots of time and energy.
Today we have been cycling through coal mining country. Coal mining companies used to own the land, the houses that workers lived in and even the schools. When the mines needed fewer people to work for them either because automation or decline in business it left entire communities devastated. We have seen a lot of poverty today and it makes us feel conscious of how fortunate we are.
The mountain scenery is spectacular.
Tonight we are staying at Pippa Passes bike hostel that was used for the original TransAm bike ride in 1976. It redefines the word basic and we are convinced that some of the dust in our dorm is original 1976 dust. Yuck! We have been sharing the dorm with a couple of dutch cyclists who are doing the TransAm route to Kansas before they head back to the Netherlands.
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