We had a fun group at the Cookie Lady’s house last night. Phil, Masha, and 4-year-old Brooke arrived in the late afternoon. Daddy Phil is pulling Brooke in her trailer. Momma Masha is carrying a huge load of gear too. They were quite fun people. Australian Phil has great taste in music; he’s a Neil Finn fan.
I slept poorly but the price was right. Greg left for the east at sun up. I headed west at 7:15.
The first two miles were straight up Afton Mountain Mountain to Rockfish Gap where Skyline Drive meets the Blue Ridge Parkway.
I stopped to take a picture of The Mule at the sign pointing south for the BRP and north for Slyline.
After a mile of climbing I was tired and went to post the picture. I deleted it instead. Derp.
There were plenty of sights to photograph though. This section of the BRP had two big climbs: one to 3,000 feet another to 3,200 feet. I felt like I was out west climbing in the Rockies without the thin air. In between the two high points I descended to 2,600 feet.
Anyway I rode 27 miles on the BRP before descending on a steep and windy mountain road to Vesuvius. The road looked incredibly like the road over Deepwater Mountain between my in-laws childhood homes in West Virginia.
It was raining during the climb to 3,200 feet and the descent to Vesuvius so I put on my jacket. The cool air and raindrops were welcome relief from the hard work going up and the hot braking surfaces going down.
I did stop twice on the descent to let my rims cool down. The first time I’m sure I was close to a heat-induced blowout. These v-brakes are infinitely better than the cantilever brakes I used to have on The Mule.
The road from Vesuvius to Lexington was mostly flat but for a hill near the start and a couple of tough climbs near the end.
I’m at a Warmshowers house just east of Lexington. Dirk and Crissy have a chill golden retriever named Roxy.
Tomorrow I’m shooting for a hostel in the Appalachian Trail in Troutville.
Miles today: 49
Tour miles: 447
A Few Spokes Shy of a Wheel 
Yep, it’s a bit of climbing along there!! I’ve done that part of the route. I had a good lunch at the Palm Cafe in Lexington. 🙂
Amazing, and what fun meeting more people along the way at the infamous cookie ladies house.
Infamous? Hah hah. She’s regarded as a saint among bike tourists
LOL it would appear I have been misusing the word infamous my entire life. Now is as good a time as any to discover the right definition.
My comment should have said “the highly spoken of” cookie ladies house. 🤣
You will forever be known as as Infamous Brittany
Nicely done! And you braved the BRP on a weekend, no less.