Sterling to Larned - 50 miles

Today we arrived in Larned after a 50 miler which involved one long straight road with no services or water stops. Fifty miles felt like a lifetime. The views were very pretty but after you've seen 5 minutes then you've seen it all and for me this is hard because there is nothing to distract you, except the pain in your behind!

Yesterday afternoon's little visit to the town library in Sterling was interesting-we were treated like some minor celebrities and asked if we could speak to some local kids in the library about our trip. It was lovely, Robin sat nodding whilst I entertained the kids with stories from the TransAm! They were so cute and so interested in what we were doing! We had a lovely swim in the local pool, which seems to be routine for us these days for two main reasons; to cool down and to get a shower! In the evening they had a little concert in the park - just to prove we were in small town USA, the post mistress (we had tried to by airmail stamps earlier and she had to look it up in a book - such is the tourist demand) was there selling raffle tickets and the gas station guy was there playing tuba. Turns out the town is famous for turtle racing on 4th July - shame we wont be there.

Except for the local corn silo drier sounding like a jet engine when the world is otherwise quiet, a grain train shunting, and the park sprinkler system drenching us (no joke - Robin managed to stamp/plastic bag one but then got soaked by a pincer movement from another) we got a good night sleep. Waking in the morning, it was a mere 85 degrees - somewhat chilly!

Tonight we are staying in a church and the pastor loaned us his car so that we could avoid the 5 mile extra bike ride to the Museum of the 'Sante Fe Trail'. Five miles doesn't sound a lot when you you're cycling over 4000 but every moment off the saddle helps towards rebuilding the skin and bones around my behind area! Did you know that only Great Plain Indians wore feather headdresses? Tepees were only used after Westerners had traded guns with the Indians and they gave up farming for nomadic buffalo hunting?

Only a couple of days before a rest day and then, Colorado!

Kansas - Chanute to Eureka to Sterling

We left Chanute Kansas early passing through the small deserted streets, heading into fields dotted with oil wells. Our route passed beautiful green pastures and the cross wind momentarily becomes tailwind and we actually overtake Kath, Dennis and Jerry - Luc hitting a respectable 24 mph. Steadily Kansas becomes emptier but the roads just keep on going, straight.

We passed through Toronto, a small typical ghost town - aside from the post office and a struggling grocery, the only motion on main street is dust blowing up at the weatherbeatern empty shop fronts as the cracked flaking paint gives a clue of a former baker and barber. Many of the more beautiful old houses looked abandoned - what must it be like to grow up here - isolation or traquility? - what will the future hold?

We continued to Lizard Lips Cafe - the shack in the middle of nowhere appeared like a mirage in the hazy heat. We escaped the 93 F heat, had pie and picked up the obligatory little plastic lizard souvenir.

We entered the Flint Hills region, open prarie grassland, apparently the largest unploughed grassland in the world dotted with cows fattening up in the summer as part of a cycle rotation (they spend winter in Western Kansas eating all the corn grown there). The road swept off into the horizon and open vistas fell away either side. And then we encountered the cyclist arch-enemy - HEADWIND. This basically is like riding uphill but never reaching the down. Just a little prelude for tomorrow.


Eureka's town park was an oasis, neat and green. After much discussion (on the path of the sun/shade), we set up our tent under a tree and cooled off in the town pool. To escape the heat, we went over to the bar to watch USA get beaten by Ghana (we were the only ones watching!). We lay in our tent and tried in vain not to melt away in the heat.

The next day the wind had shifted - a stiff headwind and it was hard enough to stand still. We struggled along the almost dead flat roads of the Blue Stem pastures, passing all the cattle farms - herds packed tightly around watering holes - You had to "mooo" every-so-often to prompt a mass of blank stares (and once a stampede). Cycling here is strange. One stretch of 38 miles of "nothing" was particularly memorable for being unmemorable, if you see what I mean. Telegraph poles, mounds of gravel, an oil well, a cow all become features of interest. Initially I counted down the miles (79 of them) but then I found Luc had two skills I never knew - playing I-spy (I know, aren't we...!) and singing in the style of a Munchkin. It was a long day.

Whenever you think you have it bad, something makes you realise someone has it twice as bad. We met a guy who is WALKING the route. Started in April, sleeps wherever and hopes to finish in October. His kit bag is the same size as our day sack. Mad.

Today, powered by last-night's delicious stir fry (if I do say so myself) we reached Sterling and tomorrow our 58 miles is completely without services - the largest stretch of "nothing" we have. We're almost halfway across the USA and halftime. As we were fighting with our tent in 90 degree heat and screaming at the mosquitoes taking advantage of our vulnerability today, Kath said to Luc..."half way through the race is always the toughest and then the champions come in at the end". That made us feel better. Lets hope they do.

For your viewing pleasure, we've got a little map of our progress...

View Bike America Coast2Coast - TransAm - the story in a larger map

and our rough route...

View Bike America Coast2Coast - TransAm - the plan in a larger map

Pittsburg to Chanute, KS

Our rest day in Pittsburg was short lived as always and distrupted by a 60 mile cycle today to Chanute. I think I stayed in pretty much the same gears the whole way as it was flat, flat, flat for the first time ever. About time too!! Roads in Kansas are like on a grid so its very difficult to get lost, but I'm sure Hugh could give it a good go!!! He actually turned up a few hours later than everyone else yesterday after taking a detour!!

We are staying at a church with air conditioning (great!) but with no showers (not so great when you've just finished a 60 mmiler in the heat!). So after an hour of trying to find a shower somewhere in Chanute, and Hugh spending about half hour on the phone to the local police station trying to pursuade them to let us use thier shower, only to be told that they do not have a shower at the station, we, (Kath, Hugh and I) came to the conclusion that people in Chanute just don't shower. Hugh offered to make a donation to the police station so that they could put it towards getting a shower for their officers (never mind the fact that they don't need one, they just shower before they come to work!)! The fire stations are usually pretty good and we have stayed at them before but Chanute Fir Station would not allow us to use their shower. How dissapointed we were. Again, desperate, Hugh offered to put down a $125 deposit for any damages caused!!! Thats probably why they weren't keen on us using their shower. Exactly what were we planning on doing in there???

Anyway, after another search for a shower and an hour long chat with a pastor in another church, Gerry Sharp (who told us the history of his musical family and background and called himself G Sharp (get it?),we discovered that there was a swimming pool just a couple of blocks away, with showers!!!! So now we are nicely showered up having had fun in the pool too!!!

Tonight, we are planning to head to the bar of a hotel on the same street as the church we are staying at (after a nap and for a coke!) and have also been invited by Pastor Gerry Sharp to the church for a sing song and a strum! Lets go crazy!!!

Ashgrove to Pittsburg, Kansas

Today is our rest day in Pittsburg, KS. We arrived at our lovely air conditioned motel for 2 nights after a 73 mile (half hilly, half flat with big winds) cycle to get here. We crossed the border from Missouri into Kansas about 4 miles before entering our destination, Pittsburg, so havn't had a chance to see much of Kansas yet.



This morning we went to the one and only bike shop in Pittsburg to find that they had completely almost run out of stock due to another large group of cyclists coming through. I thought this explanation sounded a little strange as they would have had to have bought the entire shop!! Anyway, we did manage to get 2 more water bottles and holders for our bikes as looking at the Kansas maps, it appears that some days there may be up to 50 miles without any water stops (Kansas is vast and desolate apparently!)



A group of us then decided to check out the outdoor store for some camping fans (since we cannot sleep in our tents at night!) and to our great surprise they were giving a free lunch cooked on some BBQ grills they were trying to sell - lucky for us it was lunch time and we were hungry so burgers and hotdogs all round it was!! We didn't tell them that we were travelling across the country on bikes so the chances of us actually purchasing one of this BBQ's was ZERO. They didn't have any fans by the way so we will continue to be cooked alive until our next rest day which won't be until we are in Colorado!

Off for a swim now (in the lovely Econolodge motel pool) and then to the cinema to see Toy Story 3! This is becoming a bit of a habit on rest days as you may have gathered as the cinema is one of the few places you can hide out that has air conditioning and the chances of dropping dead is the heat is therefore reduced greatly!

Missouri Photos

Beer tasting!


Ready for another day in the office, leaving Al's Place in Farmington, IL


Jeff, Hugh and Luc leaving Eminence, IL






Roads getting straighter, flatter and hotter, just before Kansas!

Marshfield to Ashgrove, (Missouri)

Today we arrived in a town called Ash Grove, Missouri after a very hot 50 mile ride preceeded by a very hot night camping at Marshfield city park (and also some drunken hollering from some locals and a train that honked and honked at about 2am). Luckily for us, we are staying in a small air conditioned cabin tonight at Ash Grove City Park - it means you get no sleep from all the snoring but I would much rather that than no sleep because you are being cooked alive in your tent!

This town is very pleasant and we have just spent the afternoon in the city park swimming pool, Robin reading his book in the shade and me trying to even out my tan - biking is not the best activity to do for a lovely even shade. I currently look as though I am wearing a pair of stockings and have strange markings on my back (due to the straps on my top). Generally my left side is darker than my right and my hands look like I'm wearing one of those Michael Jackson Gloves!

The route today was still hilly (actually 'hilly' does not do the Ozarks justice!) and I was exhausted after 10 miles let alone 50! However, it was very beautiful (as Robin kept pointing out as I am puffing up the hills!).

Tomorrow will see us crossing the border from Missouri into Kansas (our fifth state), how exciting! We are also half way through the entire trip tomorrow (days wise) so its definately feeling like theres no way back! We've been informed that most of Kansas is very flat, however, other passing cyclists we have met coming from the West complain about this as there is no relief from peddalling and there can be a horrendous headwind. Also, it will continue to be very hot and there is not much shade as Kansas mainly consists of corn and sunflower fields (or so I'm told). We also have to be on the look out for tornados (like in the 'Wizard of Oz'!) I think that cyclists are never happy! I am looking forward to seeing the famous fields of sunflowers and singing 'somewhere over the rainbow' as we pedal through and we will let you know what Kansas is really like in a couple of days! Our first stop in Kansas is Pittsburg where we will have a rest day so we'll update our blog then. Bye for now x

Horrendous hills, heat and humidity of the Ozark Mountains!

Well folks, we've arrived into Marshfield, Missouri today and managed to fight our way into a library to get internet access. This first involved asking directions from the only person foolish enough to brave the heat with us (who also was one of the many around this small town who feel the need to use their Second Amendment - the right to bear arms - frankly the place feels as dangerous as Cowbridge on a Saturday morning!). Second, we had to give photographic identification and a funny handshake to get onto a computer (needless to say, Luc hadn't any ID and so, for a change it is I, Robin typing!).

For the past few days it has been HOT and we have been melting but for the relief of air conditioning in motels for the last two nights. For any of you weather buffs out there, there has been a heat advisory weather warning with the funny/scary wording...

DANGEROUSLY HIGH HEAT INDEX VALUES BETWEEN 100 AND 105 DEGREES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

A HEAT ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE IT FEEL LIKE IT IS 100 DEGREES OR GREATER FOR FOUR OR MORE CONSECUTIVE DAYS. PEOPLE IN THE ADVISORY AREA ARE ADVISED TO AVOID PROLONGED WORK IN THE SUN...(no mention of cycling though!) OR IN POORLY VENTILATED AREAS. ALSO...KEEP PLENTY OF LIQUIDS ON HAND (or bike) AND TRY TO STAY IN AN AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENT. (joke!)
MANY PEOPLE AVOID USING AIR CONDITIONING BECAUSE OF THE COST. IN TIMES OF EXTREME HEAT AND HUMIDITY...THIS CAN BE A FATAL MISTAKE! (agree - hence the group discussed and agreed to use our group kitty to fund staying in a motel!).

Aside from the heat (which makes even sitting an effort), the area has become beautiful rolling countryside after some short but very sharp mountainous roads in the Ozarks. We have crossed countless rugged river canyons with crystal clear waters - the relief of jumping off and swimming in the cool rivers is amazing. We have experienced the awesome power of nature - no, not the fact that the oldest mountain range was once under the sea... no, the power of the skunk. Frankly this small mammal deserves respect - one campground we stayed in recently stank so much of the thing that you constantly walked around checking what you had stood in!



For a break from cycling we have been doing other things aside from swimming. First we climbed up a fire tower - picture a power pylon but with a small garden shed stuck on the top for some poor sole to sit in and presumably spot fires in. Well, we were able to climb up this precarious thing and see the mountainous hills from a totally different angle. Strangely, from several hundred feet up, the forest seems to go on forever and the horizon seemed completely flat. Another alternative was running - although in the heat this didn't really result in much!

Anyway our library is shutting and the computer is flashing. Expect an update soon. Fingers crossed for rain/coolness!

Illinois Photos

Endless straight roads!


Free pie always tastes better! Lots of places along the route have got guestbooks for cyclists and take photos like this shop in Goreville, IL




Ever want to visit a Diner - Mary Lou's Carbondale highly recommended - waitress gave everyone a nickname by the time it came to ordering!




Onto the Mississippi Levees


Crossing the Mississippi at Chester, IL

Illinois to Missouri

Yesterday's ride was mainly flat (the flattest day yet!), however the traffic was horrendous and not too friendly to cyclists, resulting in one member of our group, Joyce, being clipped by a coal truck. Needless to say, she was very shaken up and made the decicion this morning to go home. Joyce says that she's been thinking about doing this for some time and this experience was the last straw for her. We wish her well and will miss her dearly-the group will not be the same without her but she is happy that she'll be seeing her husband and her pets again! Remember Joyce, please come visit us in Wales sometime!

Last night we stayed at a campsite (well, more like field in the middle of a residential area with little grass to pitch your tent) in Chester, Illinois, official home of Popeye the sailor man! The town has a museum and statues of all the characters around the place-very amusing!

Today brought much excitement as we crossed the Mississippi River into the state of Moussouri. As the bridge road is so narrow we had to cycle 2 abreast with the van escorting is behind to keep cars/trucks/general traffic out of the way so they won't kill us! It was really nice to go across as a group but there was a general feeling of loss amongst us as Joyce has left to return home. However, the road goes on and so does the pedaling on onwards we will go!! We are in Moussouri. Illinois dissapeared so quickly! And incase you havn't picked up on my vibes yet, let me just clarify, AMERICA IS NOT FLAT. In fact, it is nothing but hilss and mountains. We have today entered the Ozark mountains-hills, hills, hills again. Actually, they never really stopped (apparently, Illinois is flat, except for the part that we went through!). Anyway, thats my moaning out the way again!



Today was a lovely day though, the weather cooled, although we did get caught in another thunder storm! It either seems to thunder storm or is 100 degrees! Ten miles from our destination, we stopped at an air conditioned brewery (Me, Robin, Dawn, John and Hugh) and sampled 8 different beers (I don't even like beer but it was fab to do something other than cycling and it seemed to go down quite well!) Maybe a little too well as those last ten miles felt like 40!!! We have heard lots of horror stories about the state of Moussouri from other cyclists; mainly to do with the hills and the traffic but today wasn't so bad. We've done worse hills! I'll be sorry I said that probably-I don't know what tomorrow will bring!

A compelation of our best photos - Kentucky

Welcome to Kentucky!


Kentucky roads and coal trucks




Camping at Boonville, KY


Our group together at Berea, KY


Wet weather at Hindman, KY


Wet weather geared!


Amish Farming near Sonora, KY




Early morning mist in Kentucky


Crossing the timezone into Central Time


Storms brewing near McDaniels


At Utica, we stayed at the fire station!

From Harrodsburg-Carbondale (Kentucky to Illinois)!

We haven't been able to post for 7 days (since Harrodsburg) unfortunately due to a lack of internet and also a lack of energy, as we have had some excruciatingly hot weather which drains every inch of you!

Since 8th June we have been through Bardstown, Whitemills, Utica, Marion, then over by ferry (Ohio river) into our third state, Illinois to stay at Dixon Springs, followed by Carbondale where we are today (our rest day). We have cycled in the past 7 days 398.5 miles.

From Harrodsburg to Bardstown
We woke to a strangely darkened sky and by 6.30am the heavens opened and a massive thunder storm rolled into town. The pavements turned to rivers and the roads deserted. We donned our water proofs (to the amusement of all!)and as the intensity eased we made a go of it. It's timing was good in many ways, our room had become a sorry site with a puddle forming where our sleeping bags had been moments earlier in the plush YMCA accommodation! Our navigation continued to succeed, spotting the many unmarked roads etc, saving a doubtful Mike from missing a turn (he ended up asking a confused local where Fenwick was and the response was 'well, its right here'). The sun broke through and off came our rain gear, only for it to downpour moments later and soak us through. It was horrible, Luc couldn't see the road thanks to fogged up glasses and dripping jacket hood! To make things worse we were overtaken by a fully loaded self contained fellow traveller!

We've met many cyclists on the same journey as us, some fly by and others we overtake but all have intersting stories and characters. For example the Heinles family of 5
aged 11 upwards travelling on tandems and recumbants (see below)...

Fortunately the rain cleared for us to set up our tent in the 'My Old Kentucky'state park in Bardstown and after a group sing song of Happy birthday to Louise (which we'd been practising for days!), Luc set about going shopping for that nights dinner whcih she was supposed to be cooking with Clive but things got switched and cooked with Kath (Austrailian). The night was hot and our tent proved to be akin to an insulated oven - do you open eveything up and be eaten to death or slowly be cooked alive??

Our group shares cooking, with us each pairing up to shop/cook for the team. Everyone has made a real effort to prepare tasty and nutritious meals - so much so that I think that we may have been actually putting on weight! Shopping US-style is very entertaining - fresh vegetables are kept fresh by a random water mist squirting out of the shelves every few minutes! The one thing I cannot 'act natural' with is when you come to pay and there is no option but stand like a lemon whilst some poor assistant packs everything into the classic paper bags!

The next few days until we reached Carbondale for our rest day were very long and tiring, mainly due to the heat. More dogs but soon we would be out of Kentucky (land of nasty dogs!). We had reached Amish country - a distinctive Christian community known for simple living, plain dress, and reluctance to adopt modern convenience. The roads now had the marks of their horse and traps and the fields ploughed by hand. We spotted a cart stall selling aprons - Robin's request to photo them (in his best English polite acent) was met with a scowl (turned out that the dozen riders ahead of us had all stopped beforehand!). It really was strange to pass fields with the dust being thrown up as a man worked the land - reminding us that there were even more hot and tiring ways to spend your days than on a bike, just!

Excitement - we met with a friend of Dawn and John's called Ken whom was part of the original 1976 TransAm self contained cycle. As he treated us all to dinner at a town called Glendale (10 or so miles from our campsite), he relayed stories of past-they didn't have the bikes we did in 1976! Or the cycle shorts!!

Crossing the timezone - 11th June
We left camp early, hoping to get as many miles in as possible before it got too hot. Progress was delayed after a stop at a little convenience store (we were greeted with the offer of a free popsicle and the demand to sign the visitors' book but a grey haired man who looked so pleased to see us. We then zoomed down into a gorge Rough River - looking as flat as a mill pond - and up again into Breckingridge County. Blink and you'd miss the county sign, its overgrown and leaning against someone's outbuilding. No fanfare, no line, no nothing. But with that, we crossed into Central Time - queue photos and watch changing!

We passed Jeff and Hugh repairing a flat tyre and broken spoke... And then came the rain. Vast black billowing clouds on the horizon with tonnes of lighting. Coats on and we plodded in with intrepedation. Nothing happened. Then the downpour, a grey veil slowly advancing and dretching all in its path. We took shelter in a boat repair shop. Conversation with the owner generally comprised him turning to his wife and saying "whaaaatt diii theeeeyyre saayyy?". Oh well!

Over the next few days the temperature has been hovering above 100 degrees. We continued to try to get going by 6 and finish as soon as possible but with high mileages (84 and then 70 miles) sometimes there was nothing we could do but take it steady over the self-propelled rollercoaster terrain of Western Kentucky.

Crossing the Ohio river into Illinois 13th June
We set off as early as possible to avoid the heat. The day would involve a river crossing. 12 miles in, a few steep short hills and we reach the Ohio River and into Illinois. There was some kind of bike ralley so queues of harly davidson's lined the ferry. We later heard that one of the self supported guys that we'd been bumping into regularly along the route, swam the Ohio River and drifted half mile down stream due to the strong current, having to walk back up to meet up with everyone else off the ferry and collect his bike! He said that he wouldn't be trying the Mississipi!!

Kentucky had been a state of contrasts - poverty, beer shacks, $100,000 coal trucks in front of $10,000 trailer homes, empty grocery stores and friendly folks - not to mention the signs of the bible belt - everywhere a church or an evangelical gas station!

Carbondale-rest day!
Relaxed, had a lie in and watched a film at the cinema. I have been dying to watch sex and the city 2 and this is the first town we have come to on a rest day with a cinema. Convinced Robin by tempting him by the air conditioning. It's 100 faranheit outside and cannot walk 100 yards without sweating and having to change clothes again! Went for dinner at a Thai restaurant and had 2 glasses of wine (really spoiling myself!!-I will only make it worse to start again tomorrow!!).

Here's the latest installment of where we have been...

Number crunching update...

We've so far ridden 840 miles which is equal to Land's End to John O'Groats... but it's less than a fifth of our total!

Acording to the MapmyRide, our Section 11 involved 4.85km of climbs (which is apparently the same height as a mountain called Johnston Peak in Africa!) - #climbs#climbs#climbs#climbs#climbs

Berea to Harrodsburg 47 miles

Just arrived in Harrodsburg, Kentucky after a very pleasant 47 miler today. Hills are beginging to lessen now as we are coming out of the Appalachians. Toady was the easiest day weve had in a long time! About time too! Staying in a YMCA place tonight. Weve just walked 2 miles for a shower and now need another one after the 2 mile walk back, its hot and sticky! America just doesn't do pedestrians! I think you are right Mike, from now on the bikes come everywhere with us!

There were not so many dogs today, although I think we may have been just lucky as lots of others said that they had some problems with the dogs today.

Highlight of the day (yes it involves Hugh)- he got a new bike yesterday. I think this must be the first time that someone has had to actually buy a new bike on the trip!! Its a lovely Alluminium Giant which Hugh is very pleased with and was very much looking forward to his ride today. We set out with gusto this morning after having had a much needed rest yesterday and 3 miles down the road we had a dilemma.

Drama of the day (yes it involves Hugh)- he got a puncture in his new bike tire!

We left Berea with Hugh enjoying his shiny new bike (after his original Carbon fibre super bike was beaten by the Kentucky hills!). The air was fresh the sky was blue but already the sun was beating down and then lucky old Hugh got a problem (again!). A quick fumble and out came the spare inner tube. Hugh was the proud owner of the first flat of the trip, and it wouldn't be the last for him as he has had 4 further flats this week! All we could hear from the side of the road was hugh saying repeatedly 'absolutely unbelievable'. I'm starting to think it might be us, as something always happens when he's cycling with us! Anyway, all is well now just got a little delayed this morning!

The terrain has dramatically changed to steady rolling countryside so instead of miles of up and miles of down, we have far more short, steeper ones to climb. We stopped at a gas station for Lunch and Hugh got out his tin of sardines which always gives much amusement/aroma!!! He has an amazing ability to ellicit infomation, managing to get a full life story from a passser by asking if we'd seen her lost dog! By the way, we hadn't but if we had, we would have probably sprayed it with pepper spray or used the Dazar (a contraption which sends out high pitched noises to scare off dogs, although we believe most dogs may be deaf and for those who arn't, it just attracts them!!)

Harrodsburg- stayed at a YMCA (behind the art deco fascade, there was a single toilet, a gym hot and humid enough to poach an egg, a dodgy hospital type smell in the sleepeing quarters and a 2 mile walk to the shower (literally-it was in a gym building on the out skirts of town!)

Exiting news-Luc is cooking tomrrow night with Clive (our resident Kiwi!) so thinking we might do a BBQ!! Well Clive will do a BBQ! Yes this is my life now, worring about nasty dogs, whether I'm going to get a shower and cooking!!!

Tomorrow we cycle 50 miles to White mills (I think!).

Check out this fantastic article on Eastern Kentucky - written by a girl who stayed in the same place as us in Hindham, KT.

Berea - Rest day!!

Today is rest day number 2! Although it has only been 5 days since our last rest day, this one felt much more needed. We have spent the last 5 days cycling through miles and miles of steep and rolling hills. Some people love it but for me the downhill is just as tiring as the up as I get so scared I have to break hard and my hands, arms and thumbs are so sore afterwards(I end up going down the hills slower than I go on the flat!!)

Well apparently after yesterday where it rained all day and we got absolutuely soaked, we are mainly out of the Appalachian Mountains and so the gradient should be easing off when we get back on the road tomorrow. Hopefully as it looks as though we have a few very long days coming up.



We are currently in a college town called Berea. We had a nice lie in this morning and then strolled into town (about a mile from our Motel). Almost all the group decided to ditch the camping last night and tonight seeing as its our rest day (and everyone would like to be properly rested!) and the fact that they gave more thunder storms and tornado alerts for last night. So another night in a bed tonight Yay!!



Not sure where we are going tomorrow or how many miles away that destination will be as I have resorted to 'finding out on the day'! Best way I think.

Here's the latest installment of where we have been...

Welcome to Kentucky!

We have today crossed the border from Virginia to Kentucky!!!!

Last night we stayed in Breaks Interstate Park - basically forested hills with a masive canyon running through the middle of it. Stunning views...

However, what a couple of days we have had. In a nut shell; nasty dogs that gnarl at your feet, big coal trucks giving you inches of room, and loads of hills. We are still climbing the Appalachian Mountains.

First, last night get caught in mega-thunder-monsoon-storm, then get back to a floating/collapsed tent and sopping bags.

Second, sodding dogs chasing us every other house (despite ultrasonic sound thing and pepper spray).

Third, 68.5 miles of hills, hills and more hills and then more thunder. This has been the hardest day so far and we have today unfortunately been down 2 riders for various reasons. Mike did his back in last night lifting up a toilet seat (well done Mike!!)and has sensibly taken a ride in the van today to recover. He's hoping to be back on the road again with us tomorrow, Lets hope.

Then there's the traffic... Because they are paid by the the ton of coal delivered, rather than an hourly wage, the truck drivers will often drive as fast as they can, sometimes causing serious accidents.

And around mile 48 me and Rob bumped into Hugh and Phil standing on the side of the road in the middle of a thunder storm. Hugh's bike is unfortunately a write off (he has managed to 'irrepairably break' the frame of his bike). Full carbon not such a good idea after all then Hugh!! So after attempting to call the van from all of our phones and discovering that there was no network in the area, Hugh went to knock on some random woman's door to ask to use the land line. I must highlight to you at this point that Hugh is dressed like an astronaunt and has been for the entire trip-he covers every piece of skin so not to get any sun burn. Very sensible idea but to the horror of the poor woman answering the door. Imagine opening the door in the middle of a thunder storm being confronted by someone whom resembles an astronaunt telling you that his bike is broken???!!!! Hmmm, I'm not sure I would believe him! Thinking that we could do no more other than get back to camp as quickly as possible to send the van we went on our way, leaving poor hugh with his bike on end in the thunder storm. Well, he must have charmed that woman as 10 miles down the road, we hear a hollering coming from a truck, and who is inside but Hugh being driven by a rotund blonde with the bike in the back!!! That brightened up my day!!!

We arrived at a camp ground which is also a B&B around 4pm and after pitching our tent in the rain which is still wet from last nights storm, are now being given fresh towels, hot showers and ice cream by the host after a hard day!!

I hope tomorrow brings more luck x

PS in case you haven't guessed, techie issues with uploading our pictures mean that all the ones on our blog are from the tinternet... !

Rosedale to Breaks, VA

We found another library along the route! We are at Haysi, a very small town about 7 miles away from our destination today-Breaks. Last night we stayed at another church which apparently 'went out of business' recently, but they still allowed us to stay. After I had had set up our sleeping mats and bags on the plush red carpet near the alter, Robin was concerned that we should not be sleeping there and shouls probably set up in one of the little grotty rooms upstairs filled with dirt and spiders. My reply was 'I am sleeping here, you crack on!'. Well, a few minutes later 10 more people joined us on the alter!!

It was mine and Robin's turn to cook last night. It seemed to go down well- Chilli Con carne and Rice with a lovely side salad and Banannas and custard for after! Phew, don't have to do that again for another week.

Today we have a relatively short day, just 42 miles but the route is still very hilly and apparently does not stop until we get to Illinois so I shouls just stop moaning about it! We apparently have another 7 mile climb coming before we reach our camp for tonight - Breaks Interstate park, where I've been told there is a visitor centre where we can be presented with a pin for biking the whole distance of Virginia. Sounds good but have another 9 states still to go!

We have been bumping into alot of cyclists along the route. This time of year is full of people doing the TransAm, lots unsupported. Last night we met 2 lads, one of which was from the UK. They stayed at the church with us and we were also invited them to eat mine and Robin's delicious meal, which they appreciated as did not have any food with them. We are quite priviledged having a van with us, I cannot imagine doing it without, it is hard enough already!

Anyway better be going as we need to climb that hill!!

If you fancy a peek at fellow members of our group photos and thoughts...

- Jeff's http://manismyasssore.blogspot.com/
- John and Dawn's http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/6886