West Virginia

Lexington, VA was a wonderful lay over after our grueling trek along the Blue Ridge Parkway. As we were rolling out of town the left morning, I specifically remember looking at my friend Aaron and uttering in between painful pedal strokes, "Can't we just go get coffee instead of biking today?" The answer was "NO" of course and I continued to ride alone, which is a rarity, along VA-39 which follows the snaking Maury River. Stunning, absolutely stunning. With gentle rolling hills and beautiful scenery, I remember making a specific note to come back and re-ride VA-39 in the future.

However, I didn't know what that day was to hold.

After lunch, I continued to mosy along VA-39 again and I immediately noticed the rode start to incline upwards and continue that way for some time. After countless bends and 3 miles of cycling up a mountain, I reached the first of three mountain passes for that day.

The next two passes were completed with a group of friends. It's truly amazing to see the way in which the Appalachians are able to bond a group of people that had only met a week prior. I always viewed cycling as an individual sport, but the amount of teamwork that goes into to suffering through a mountain pass is extraordinary.

We entered into West Virginia, having completed our first entire state, we celebrated with pictures at the border.

West Virginia's motto is "Wild and Wonderful".... and boy is it.

Our first night in Marlinton, WV was spent at a farmhouse a few miles outside of town. Every image that you could possibly have of rural WV was realized in this farmhouse that Maggie was kind enough to open up to us. No neighbors leads to the opportunity to shoot shotguns at tin cans. Did I mention that we had to bike up a five mile mountain just to reach fresh spring water? Ohhh.... this trip is one large cultural lesson across America.

WV was about mountains, and we completed them. WV was about seeing some of the realest rural poverty in the nation, and it left us with lasting images and stories of the challenges that exist in our own nation.

I'm happy to be in OHIO(!!!!!) and to be able to have dinner with Brittany. Where did I find such a great girlfriend? Tomorrow is our second build day here in Cincinnati. More drywall? You never know.

Updates with pictures SOON!

Dave