47.95 miles Total miles 480.91 Daily Avg 60.12
Avg speed 14.3 Max speed 36.5 mph Alt climb 3320 ft
Rode along Route 11 south toward Meadowview. As I approached Meadowview I was struck by the severe tornado damage received earlier in May. Brick houses were torn apart, all the trees were gone or damaged and the structures still standing were without roofs. It is amazing this area did not qualify for federal disaster funding.
After Meadowview I finally turned west on Route 80 toward the dreaded Hayters Gap and a 4 mile uphill climb with many switchbacks. The climb was a challenge but not as difficult as I had read. The climb was not as steep as Crabtree from the first day, but there were no flats or short downhill to give a break. Constant uphill climb at 7-9% incline. The four miles took about 25 minutes to complete. From the summit it was a 6 mile ride to Elk Garden Methodist Church were we spent the night.
The Elk Garden Methodist Church leaves the back door unlocked and welcomes cyclist to spend the night. When we arrived after a quick trip to Abingdon for lunch there were 4 cross country cyclists, already settled in for the night. They are known as "3 Guys and a Girl" Leo, Ken, Wayne and Sandy, retired GE locomotive employees from Erie, PA . We had a wonderful time sitting under a picnic pavilion talking about cycling, our past work lives and life itself. Later in the evening two young med students cycling to St. Louis stopped to spend the night. We are extremely grateful to the the Elk Garden Methodist Church for the use of their facilities and floor space to spend the night.
Trees and roofs missing after tornado
Top of Hayters Gap
Our route across Virginia
Picture does not do justice how steep this climb up
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