Steve's TransAm Adventure

Last night an animal (which we later learned was a bear) banged on the front door of our cabin and really startled Steve H, who was sleeping in the Living Room.   The irony was that Steve H had left his bear spray on his bike, which was parked on the front porch.   Unfortunately Steve H’s stomach distress finally got the best of him and he decided to take a rest day at the cabin.  It was hard leaving him behind, but better that he get well before continuing.   As we left the cabin it was foggy and drizzling.  There wasn’t much visibility on the way down the BRP.  At times there would be a partial clearing in the clouds, but most of the time I couldn’t see very far at all . The route follows the BRP for awhile, and then turns west and drops precipitously down off the ridge to the valley below.  The road was wet so my rim brakes did not work very well.  I had to ride the brakes continuously.  My hands got so tired I had to stop a couple times to let the rest and relieve the cramping.

You will notice that the average speed has steadily declined and the max grades have increased.   This was the big day that all three of us had dreaded...the big climb up Afton Mtn to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  I was surprised at the amount of up-and-down climbing we did before we even got to the base of Afton Mtn.  The route took some back roads where you gained elevation, and then just lost it again.  At the general store at Afton Mtn we met Tucker and Val who are doing the TransAm Westbound on mtn bikes pulling two trailers, one with their dog Butters!   They were newly weds....what a honeymoon!   They were very friendly and we enjoyed their company, but we were not placing very good odds on them making it to Astoria. The ride up to the BRP was grueling.  I just put my head down and pedaled, one foot over the next.  I was so focused I rode right past the Cookie Lady’s house and never saw it!     Once on the BRP the climbing did not stop.   The road follows the ridge over peaks and