June 3, 2002
7 min. read
This post is part of the Trans-Am series.
I actually got up a little late at just before 8. There was heavy overcast, so I thought it was actually earlier, till I looked at a clock. I was kicking myself, because I just laid there for a while, when I could have been going. New rule, if there is light enough to see, get up. :)
I went to the local Pharmacy for some sunscreen. I am getting low on my sunscreen and didn’t want to run out. I picked up the best they had to offer that was supposed to be waterproof and all that, but it is JUNK! It’s effectiveness goes away after an hour or two of my heavy sweat and it is useless. Hopefully I can pick up some decent stuff tomorrow morning.
Due to the shopping and such in the morning, I didn’t get out of Wytheville till after 10. I had a pretty decent climbing ride into Rural Retreat and stopped to get some food after 11. I had a grilled chicken sub and some water. There were more rolling hills later on that were far enough apart to make you work to climb up each one. By the time I got to Sugar Grove, I was worried about making my destination of Damascus. I was looking at the GPS and only seeing 25 or 30 miles of the almost 60 I wanted today. I had been climbing at 4-6 mph all day, it seemed like. Surely something would have to change to speed me up.
The change was the wrong direction. I climbed at 4 mph for over 4 miles, with 6 mph for 2 miles before that. When you add heat and direct sun to that, what you come up with isn’t fun. At this rate, I wouldn’t get to Damascus until way after dark, if my body held out. The book said that there was over 3000 climbing feet today, but I kept thinking I had done that much already. Hwy 16 finally turned southeast into Troutdale with a nice downhill. Of course, I had to sit for about 4 minutes waiting for the single lane road to get open. Some crews were cutting trees or something and a bicycle didn’t get important enough until 3 trucks showed up.
The ride out of Troutdale to Konnarock was flat to climbing, and my time worries continued. I stopped along a stream, because I thought I saw something. As I slowly got back to that spot on foot with my camera, the cotton mouth snake slid off it’s rock into the current. It was cool to see how he drifted down stream until he hit some rocks, then supported himself against the current as he raised his head out. I was able to get a few pictures of him with his head poking out of the water.
I pulled into Konnarock at around 6. I figured the worst case was getting into Damascus after dark, using my headlights, so I kept on. I really wanted to stay a night at “The Place”, a hostel run by the Damascus United Methodist Church. Damascus is a town in a unique location. It is where the Trans-American trail crossed the Appalachian Trail (among others). People say you can usually find an interesting mix of people to talk to.
Heading out of Konnarock, I started up some seriously switchbacked climbs. The climbs weren’t terribly steep, as I was able to push my 4th gear from the lowest this late in the day. There were very little sight lines, however. I rode most of the time in my rear view mirror ready to get off the road if someone was taking the roads way too fast behind me. The traffic was light and I didn’t have any problems.
I had climbed to the highest point on the trail so far, a little before I dropped into Troutdale, at 3,700 feet. (Considering my < 2,300 ft elevation last night, you can see that I was telling the truth about climbing for literally hours.)
After some more climbing, I finally hit the downhill into Damascus. This was better than a shower after a long sweaty ride. OK, not better but almost as good as a shower. There were some more serious switchbacks, and I had to hit the brakes quite a bit. I wish the downhill was a little less steep, so I could enjoy the scenery. There was a swift moving little stream next to the road, almost the entire way down. After turning a corner I heard some waterfalls, so I stopped the bike as fast as I could and grabbed the camera. I had to walk about 100 feet back up the hill, but got some pictures of the many waterfalls. It was a great way to end the day.
I pulled into Damascus and headed to “The Place”. I was greeted with all the crew from last night’s camping group. All who had left before me and all who probably rode faster than me on the climbs. I’m the turtle in that old “Turtle and the Hare”. Except I’m not hoping to win, just finish in the time I have. : )
My moving time on the bike for today is 6 hours and 40 minutes, with an 8.7 mph average. That is much better than I expected. It took over 9 and 1⁄2 hours between start and stop today. So far this is my longest day with just under 60 miles and over 3000 feet climbing.
I have some serious climbing to do tomorrow, in and out of many river valleys. If all goes well during the next two days, I will be at the Kentucky border on Wednesday night. After all that climbing today, I’m over 300 feet lower than last night. I guess that is progress for you. I no longer was excited about that long downhill into town.
I had two horn uses today. Both were people who came right up behind me, and waited patiently for the traffic to pass, then held down their horn for several seconds before pulling up next to me to add on a snide comment. I didn’t hear either of them, because they were drowned out with my 120 decibel air horn. Then I always smile and wave, like I assume it is some back country greeting. I always love when I time it right so the sound starts just when the passenger is opening his mouth to yell whatever they are going to yell. The way their eyes bug out a little from surprise is kinda cool. Just trying to greet you in the language you know.
I also had a few dog races. One was during a section of downhill and the little dog really couldn’t keep up. I actually used the brakes a few times to make it sporting. Another time also on a downhill, the dog came almost next to me but was running along the ditch. His eyes were on me until he hit the high grass at the end of his yard and he went from 25 to 0 in a few seconds. The other dogs I ran into when not able to out run them were taken care of with a stern “Home” or “No”, while pointing to their home. Many, God bless their owners, had fully fenced in yards.
Damascus, VA
Tent Site: 36 deg 38.023 min N, 81 deg 47.240 min W, elev 1930 ft.
Part 20 of 48 in the Trans-Am series.
Series Start | Day 14 - Newbern to Wytheville | Day 16 - Damascus to Rosedale