Day 11 Hindman to Buckhorn

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Mileage 46.54     Total Miles  642.86     Daily Avg  58.44 miles
Avg Speed 12.9 mph     Max 34.7 mph  Alt gain 3343 ft

Waited for weather to clear before leaving hotel in Hazard.  Began riding at 10 am from Hindman along small country roads, mostly going downhill .  After 5 miles we turned onto Rt 80 west which is a major highway for 7 miles. This was nerve racking riding. The road had a wide shoulder with a rumble strip close to the white line.  Beyond the rumble strip the surface was covered with rocks, gravel and coal chips.  A flat tire just waiting to happen while we straddled the white line.  Traffic, including the Kentucky coal trucks, zipped by at max speed and volume.

We turned off Rt 80 and onto more sedate roadways heading toward Buckhorn.  As we approached Buckhorn we could see lightening on the horizon.  We stopped at a store to wait for the lightening to pass.  Deciding the storms were continually blowing through we decided to call Joey and have him pick up up on the road from Buckhorn to Booneville.  We started out on one last climb for the day, figuring we would meet Joey somewhere after the summit.  Half up the climb Kelly's chain broke and lodged in her rear derailleur, snapping it all the way off.  Joey showed up 5 minutes later and we made a 2 hour, 100 mile detour to Danville Bike Shop, in Danville, KY.  Ernest, the shop owner, stayed open late and did emergency surgery on Kelly's bike.  Only in a small town would you receive such friendly and accommodating service. He recommend the "Beer Engine" for Joey and I as we waited for the repairs to be completed.  This city has only recently become "wet" as they refer to it. Thanks to the city council for the foresight.  We had a wonderful time talking with the local residents over a homecrafted beer.

Tonight we are staying in Berea and will backtrack to Buckhorn and complete the ride to Berea.  Reaching Berea is a great relief because it is the end of the Kentucky mountains. 

Is this suppose to look like this?

This is why you have a sag vehicle