Transamerica Bicycle Trail
Original, daily documentation provided by @tannerwooddell on instagram.
Day 1 | Miles 0-40
I am nursing a sprained MCL. I am not yet ready to ride 4,300 miles on a near-severe injury. I am taking a bus back to Portland to spend another three weeks with friends before another attempt. Because of my knee injury, I am not feeling very inspired. I did not post since I knew I’d be stopping indefinitely. To be continued.
March 23, 2022
Astoria - Manzanita OR
June 14, 2022
Manzanita - Cape Lookout State Park OR
Day 2 | Miles 40-82
Back on the bike! I’ve picked up where I left off in Manzanita Oregon. I’m testing the waters to see how my knee holds up. 37 miles today. Knee pain began around 15 miles in but is in far better condition than last time. See how it feels in the morning!
June 15, 2022
Cape Lookout State Park - Rose Lodge OR
Day 3 | Miles 82-122
June 16, 2022
Day 4 | Miles 122-166
Rose Lodge - Monmouth OR
June 17, 2022
Day 5 | Miles 166-184
Short, easy, rainy day today. I met @munirzarea in Manzanita and we’ve been riding together for the past few days. We are staying the night at his house in Corvallis tonight. Went to a local coffee shop, adventure store, and bike shop in Corvallis! Also made my first Chipotle order for the trip.
Monmouth - Corvallis OR
June 18, 2022
Day 6 | Miles 184-227
I had my first flat on the trip. Then I had my second flat of the trip. After @munirzarea and I had a combined total of four flats already, we felt it was necessary to take a trip to the REI in Eugene Oregon. Aside from spare tubes, I got new, top-of-the-line continental tires to get me across the country. Tonight I am camping on a Bocce court outside the McKenzie Orchard Bed and Breakfast. The host has been amazing and all accommodations are free to us, including breakfast tomorrow morning!
Corvallis - Eugene OR
June 19, 2022
Day 7 | Miles 227-271
Most of our ride today was through areas affected by the forest fires a couple of years ago. We encountered lots of rebuilding communities. We also reached 1000 feet of elevation, which is only the introduction to our climb tomorrow. Tonight, @munirzarea and I are camping at Delta Campground in Willamette National Forest. The campground has been closed since the fires, so we are dispersed camping.
Eugene - Blue River OR
June 20, 2022
Day 8 | Miles 271-317
Today, @munirzarea and I climbed McKenzie Pass. The climb took about five hours (riding time) to summit. Then, we spent the next 30 minutes descending: a well-earned reward. Tonight, we are sleeping in Deschutes National Forest, only a ten-minute walk from the nearest grocery store in Sisters, Oregon. Also, go follow Gilbert’s new account to see the friend he made on today's journey!
Blue River - Sisters OR
June 21, 2022
Day 9 | Miles 317-363
Between yesterday and today, there has been a drastic change in climate. The cold rain has been replaced by toasty sunshine. The air is dryer and the greenery is overgrown by brown, dusty soil. It’s been really awesome to slowly see the landscapes change, even in just one day of cycling.
Sisters - Prineville OR
June 22, 2022
Day 10 | Miles 363-441
Longer day today, a couple of great climbs, and the excitement of knowing what goes up must come down. Very dry and sunny where we have been. Doing what I can to keep from burning.
Prineville - Dayville OR
June 23, 2022
Day 11 | Miles 441-494
A lot of farm fields in view today. Not until the ten miles after Prairie City did things get a little more interesting. Ben, who we met yesterday got a broken spoke and had to retreat back to Prairie City to get it fixed tomorrow. Munir and I continued on up to Dixie Summit to spend the night in Willowa-Whitman National Forest.
Dayville - Prairie City OR
June 24, 2022
Day 12 | Miles 494-551
Finished in Baker City today which concludes section 2 of the Transamerica trail. Most of the day was spent cycling through Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. I will be taking a day off the bike tomorrow to allow my muscles to recover.
Prairie City - Baker City OR
June 26, 2022
Day 13 | Miles 551-621
Heat wave coming through. About 90 degrees today. Left Baker City at 7 this morning and got most miles out of the way when it was cool. Camping at Copperfield park in Osbow OR. tonight.
Baker City - Oxbow OR
June 27, 2022
Day 14 | Miles 621-682
Welcome to Idaho! We covered over 600 miles through Oregon and have finally made it through an entire state! High temp of 99 but we still made it through 4500 feet of climbing today. Super excited for cooler temps ahead.
Oxbow OR - Council ID
June 28, 2022
Day 15 | Miles 682-741
Clouds! We saw clouds today! Got breezy throughout the day. Fortunately, we were rolling with the wind this afternoon. Not to mention the last 20 miles downhill to camp. We left Council, Idaho this morning and will be camping tonight along the Salmon River just outside of Riggins, Idaho.
Council - Riggins ID
June 29, 2022
Day 16 | Miles 741-812
This has to be my favorite day so far. Although we totaled 80 miles and over 5,000 feet of climbing, some of the vistas made it all worth it. Our main descent was also a blast! The road was curvy, smooth, and empty of cars. The views were spectacular, and there was no wind against us. The same can be said for the climb up old highway 95, which had plenty of switch-back turns. We're spending tonight camping in Kooskia City Park.
Riggins - Kooskia ID
June 30, 2022
Day 17 | Miles 812-900
Today’s ride was entirely in Clearwater National Forest. As the name suggests, where the water isn’t white, it is exceptionally transparent. The scenery from morning to night was much the same, but the people are what make the river special. We saw rafters, kayakers, and even surfers! Who knew you could surf in Idaho? We had a long day of riding. 90 miles of a gradual uphill slope eventually catches up to your muscles. One more day until we’re in Missoula!
Kooskia - Lochsa Lodge ID
July 01, 2022
Day 18 | Miles 900-945
Welcome to Montana! Two states through. Today we biked from Lochsa Lodge, over Lolo Pass, across the border, and into Missoula. Today concludes section 3 of 12 of the Transamerica Trail. Tomorrow will be a rest day in Missoula. We will be back on the road on Sunday!
Lochsa Lodge ID - Missoula MT
July 03, 2022
Day 19 | Miles 1,012-1,090
What an interesting day we had. Ten miles after leaving Missoula, I realized I had left my dirty, cleaning rag in Missoula. I’m certain it’ll be replaced by a roadside find. We stopped for lunch in a park in Hamilton MT. Shortly after, we hid from a windy thunderstorm before leaving Hamilton. On and off showers enhanced the beautiful scenery but drastic temperature changes made it difficult to stay comfortable during the ride. Tonight we are camping in Bitterroot National Forest.
*Last note, the miles have jumped since the previous post. Before today, I had been counting miles based on the Transamerica route as planned. Starting today, I am counting our actual distance ridden.
Missoula - Spring Gulch MT
July 04, 2022
Day 20 | Miles 1,090-1,132
Cut our ride short today. We decided to stop in Wisdom, Montana to get groceries tomorrow morning before heading to Dillon, MT. This area of Montana has the most mosquitoes I’ve ever encountered in one place, we were even getting bit while riding. Since we had extra time this evening, Munir and I went to the bar at Fettys and each ordered a beer and split an appetizer of Cowboy Bites (fried cheese balls). A lovely couple sitting next to us was interested in our trip and chatted with us while we ate. Then they secretly paid our bill and left before we had a chance to thank them. So thank you to the Montana couple who paid our bill tonight.
Spring Gulch - Wisdom MT
July 05, 2022
Day 21 | Miles 1,132-1,199
Cold, cold morning. Left later than usual but still made good progress. A couple of good, short climbs with fast, lengthy descents. Left Wisdom, passed through Jackson, and finished in Dillon. Dillon has an awesome bicycle/hiker campground we are staying at tonight.
Wisdom - Dillon MT
July 06, 2022
Day 22 | Miles 1,199-1,268
Another gorgeous day. Fortunate to not get rained on. Spent most of the morning in the saddle, quickly tackling miles. Most of the day was spent on MT 287 which isn’t an ideal route for cyclists to share with vehicles @adventurecycling It does take us through Nevada City and Virginia City which is packed with historical artifacts. Slowed our pace in the afternoon to explore the old towns and eat handmade ice cream. Spending the night with Warmshowers hosts Rachel and Mike who are the coolest outdoor enthusiasts. They’ve been amazing hosts ensuring we are comfortable, but more importantly, leaving us well-fed.
Dillon - Ennis MT
July 07, 2022
Day 23 | Miles 1,268-1,340
Headwind to start the day and headwind to end it. Beautiful ride once we evaded the morning drizzle in Ennis. Rode along the Madison River and saw dozens of fly fishers. Stopped by Earthquake Lake visitor center and continued around Hebgen Lake before finishing in West Yellowstone today. @munirzarea and I are ahead of schedule and plan to spend two full days (off the bike) exploring Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. We are spending the next three nights with Munir’s parents at their timeshare in West Yellowstone.
Ennis - West Yellowstone MT
July 8/9, 2022
Rest Days
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks WY
July 10, 2022
Day 24 | Miles 1,340-1,412
Today’s ride was quite odd. @munirzarea and I cut the SW corner of Yellowstone National Park. Aside from stopping briefly at a few overlooks and again at Old Faithful, we rode straight through. During our rest days, we visited multiple bucket list destinations via car. Therefore, we could speed through the busy roads on our bikes, and focus on wildlife today. Interestingly enough, we only saw two bison swimming across the river (which was exciting), and one elk crossing the road. Tonight, we are at a campground in Teton National Forest. Heading toward Grand Teton National Park, we are hopeful for more wildlife (and maybe a Grizzly sighting).
West Yellowstone MT - Sheffield Creek Campground, Teton National Forest WY
July 11, 2022
Day 25 | Miles 1,412-1,493
The Teton Range is beautiful. Downhill warning signs are a cyclist’s favorite road sign. AND GRIZZLIES ARE SO COOL!!! We saw Mama Bear and two cubs, AND lived to tell the tale! We climbed the second-tallest pass on the Trans America bike trail. The first is yet to come. Every pass has yielded a different climate on the flip side. The air instantly went dry on this one. Spending the night in a cyclist-only church hostel.
Sheffield Creek Campground - Dubois WY
July 12, 2022
Day 26 | Miles 1,493-1,569
Always wear your helmet when riding your dinosaur! Passed by the National Museum of Military Vehicles and toured their outdoor lot. We also experienced the best pavement of the tour and the worst pavement of the tour. Tonight, we are camping in Lander, WY. In my opinion, Lander is one of the most welcoming towns on the trail thus far. We stopped by the outdoor store (but mostly a bike shop) called Gannis Peak Sports. They immediately noticed we were traveling and offered us an ice cream sandwich, and beer on tap while we shopped. Their customer service is excellent! Then we continued to the city park where it’s free to camp. The diversity on the campground is wonderful. People are camping in tents and RVs and all share the same interest in each other’s whereabouts.
Dubois - Lander WY
July 13, 2022
Day 27 | Miles 1,569-1,628
I think I’ve become accustomed to high heat and no trees. The thought of biking in full sun was intimidating in central Oregon, but it was a great introduction to Wyoming. Definitely sure to bring lots of water, especially with the lengthy distances between towns. As we closed on our destination today, we passed a solar car race/tour! Tonight, we are staying in a cycling hostel in Jeffrey City.
Lander - Jeffrey City WY
July 14, 2022
Day 28 | Miles 1,628-1,709
Section 5 of 12 is complete! We had another hot, dry day. Nothing other than a single convenience store between Jeffery City and Rawlins, WY. Munir and I were originally going to stop in Rawlins but decided an extra 7.5 miles out of the way was worth the free campsite we are at tonight. We’ve observed the winds of Wyoming and their indecisive patterns for the better or worse. Even more annoying, we’ve experienced swarms of mosquitoes despite the dry climate. Section 6 begins tomorrow!
Jeffrey City - Sinclair WY
July 15, 2022
Day 29 | Miles 1,709-1,822
Today was the first day I set off alone since meeting Munir. We both have plans once we get to Pueblo, CO. only I am accelerating my journey there as he is delaying his. This was my first century of the trip. All day I could see rain in front, behind, and next to me. I could also see blue sky. By some stroke of luck, I did not get wet at all. If I had left any sooner or later than I did, I without a doubt would have been rained on, hard. And what a beautiful sky to end the day. I got to share this sunset experience with seven other lovely tourists heading west. We are all camping in Walden.
Sinclair WY - Walden CO
July 16, 2022
Day 30 | Miles 1,822-1,899
Beautiful riding through the mountains today. I really wish I could avoid the headwind like I’ve been avoiding rain. The entire day, despite a 90-degree turn in the route, was spent with wind in my face. But yet again, I evaded ominous weather during the ride. Regrettably didn’t put on sunscreen because it was mostly cloudy, but this sun is sneaky.
Walden - Kremmling CO
July 17, 2022
Day 31 | Miles 1,899-1,958
Gorgeous day in the Rockies. No rain anywhere to be seen. Woke up with dense fog. Got a flat less than a mile after leaving the park. That totals three for the trip. I am very happy with these tires. The rear tire is overdue and will be replaced in Denver with the same type. They’ve lasted over 1,500 miles with absolutely no issues until now which I’m quite pleased about. The last sixteen miles of today’s ride were on a beautiful bike trail between Silverthorne and Breckinridge. Spending the night at a Warmshower in Breckinridge.
Kremmling - Breckenridge CO
July 18, 2022
Day 32 | Miles 1,958-2,073
Another long day and a whirlwind of emotion. Began with a climb over Hoosier Pass, the tallest point of the trail. Then a thrilling descent down toward Alma. There was a busy, fifteen-mile stretch with no shoulder which was quite scary. After that, I was met with downhill after downhill, not to mention the constant tailwind. Then the rain finally got me. Only a five-minute downpour but enough to soak me. Fortunately, the dry air and bicycle breeze dried me off quickly afterward. Visited Royal Gorge. It’s $32 to walk the bridge so I said the heck with that, turned around, and found my own viewpoint. I lubed my chain this evening and noticed a missing screw for the chainrings. This is probably the culprit to a couple of minor issues I’ve noticed. My final destination today was Florence. Immediately got weird vibes from the city when I went on my grocery run. Then observed more strange behavior at the park through the late evening. And now I’m in my tent with a surprise visit from the sprinklers. Goodnight.
Breckenridge - Florence CO
July 19, 2022
Day 33 | Miles 2,073-2,109
Beautiful weather this morning! Woke up to more sprinklers, which wasn’t much of a bother. In fact, the sprinklers may have helped clean some of the bird poop off my tent. That’s right; I parked under the wrong tree last night. The unfortunate circumstances continued when my front tire went flat 4 miles after leaving town. After a successful fix and making great headway, my rear tire went flat seven miles from Pueblo. Only having patches left, I was forced to patch an old tube and limp to Pueblo. Only two miles later, my rear tire went flat again. I intended to meet @darius_m13 in Pueblo today. Instead, he met me five miles outside of town since I was no longer in a groove. Fear not, I’m still having the time of my life. (Almost) Finishing section 6, I am now halfway through the Transamerica trail! I am taking a couple of weeks’ break to visit @darius_m13 and @maurer_mad in Denver. @alexa_olic118 is also visiting. Can’t ask for a better group of people to enjoy a laid-back halfway celebration.
Florence - Pueblo CO
August 01, 2022
Day 34 | Miles 2,109-2,225
And the journey continues! Darius dropped me off just outside of Pueblo, where he picked me up two weeks ago. I set off at 10 AM. A later start time meant hot temperatures almost immediately. Ran into a headwind with 70 miles to go. The wind died off 60 miles later. I struggled to find fresh food today because of a lack of stores after leaving Pueblo and definitely felt the effects mid-ride, especially with the heat. However, I am grateful for the smooth, and solitary roads today. Camping in Eads tonight.
Pueblo - Eads CO
August 02, 2022
Day 35 | Miles 2,225-2,352
Oh, Kansas how deceiving you are. Visible water towers are further than they appear. Lack of elevation leads to high winds, ultimately resulting in more effort seemingly 70% of the time. All the while I keep racking more miles. The upper 90s and 100 degrees later this week have me considering waking up much earlier to catch the cool morning breeze. The heat here has been the most brutal aspect of the tour so far.
Eads CO - Dighton KS
August 03, 2022
Day 36 | Miles 2,352-2,471
It was either 50 miles or 120 today. No camping areas in between. However, I called the mayor of Hudson to check about camping in the town park. To my surprise, they host cyclists in the community hall instead. That was an easy sell for me to do another century. The heat was more tolerable as there was some cloud cover today. The wind came in strong toward the evening, part of which I rode with, the other part against. Super excited to see trees again! Have I mentioned I like trees?
Dighton - Hudson KS
August 04, 2022
Day 37 | Miles 2,471-2,527
I planned today’s ride to act somewhat as a rest day. Fifty miles instead of another century. I would meet my Warmshowers host around noon, make lunch, and then relax the rest of the afternoon. This was before I knew I’d be fighting a persistent seventeen mph headwind. Fortunately, I wasn’t racing against time since I had all day. However, the intense headwind was more physically taxing and mentally challenging than I’d been hoping for. I finally made it to my Warmshower in Hutchinson at three o’clock, with plenty of time to shower, rest, and catch up on calories.
Hudson - Hutchinson KS
August 05, 2022
Day 38 | Miles 2,527-2,639
Today’s ride was such a whirlwind. I started off feeling great. I was in a groove. I was eating plenty of calories and drinking an insane amount of water. I felt like I finally cracked the code. I finished a forty-mile stretch of no services and went to fill my water to find out the convenience store was closed. The forty-mile miler became an eighty-mile length of no services. I was running out of water in the hottest part of the day. Also, the trees disappeared again. On a road with sparse traffic, I pulled to the side to catch some shade. The next car stopped to ask how things were going. I asked if they had water. Turned out they owned land with a city-water spigot a mere 100 yards behind me. An invitation to all the water I need and a hillbilly shower later, I was moving again… against the wind.
P.S. The people of Kansas have been amazing. Not only have I met some of the most kind people here, but they’re also home to the most considerate drivers I’ve observed on the trail. Maybe it has to do with congestion or lack thereof, but a large percentage of drivers leave a notable amount of space for us bikers. Thank you residents of Kansas!
Hutchinson - Eureka KS
August 06, 2022
Day 39 | Miles 2,639-2,746
Let the adventure begin. Today marks the first day of the trip that I’ve had what could be a serious mechanical issue. At some point this morning, my rear derailleur turned sour. I stopped a couple of times to try and fix it, resulting only in frustration and lost time. Limit screws are set, the derailleur hanger is straight, and the derailleur is moving properly out of tension. I tinkered with the cable and frayed the end. Unfortunately, I am unable to shift through all my gears. Fortunately, I can shift through half of them. I reset the cable to a tolerable location and continued on my ride. Only running into high heat afterward, I was happy (enough) with the performance of my drivetrain. 320 miles to the next bike shop. I’m holding my breath.
Hutchinson - Girard KS
August 07, 2022
Day 40 | Miles 2,746-2,861
Missouri!! Gearing was good enough for another century. I lacked my lowest gear today so I grinded up hills a little harder than usual. @munirzarea informed me the hills get steeper as I get into the Ozarks. Therefore, I’ve micro-adjusted my derailleur so I can access my low gear tomorrow! Stopped at the infamous Cooky’s Cafe in Golden City, MO, and ate a piece of Butterscotch pie. Had a close encounter with a dog after stopping to take a photo. Fortunately, the dog and I both made it out alive and well.
Girard KS - Fair Grove MO
August 08, 2022
Day 41 | Miles 2,861-2,983
I thought it’d be partly cloudy with a chance of rain. A perfectly sunny sky this morning masked what was to come. I certainly felt like a storm chaser this afternoon; or rather a storm chasee. I got sprinkled on once while it was pouring in every direction around me. Somehow managing to miss the heavy rain (again), I instead became drenched in sweat. The wet roads created intense, humid air. A lot of steep climbing and speedy descents. Tomorrow will present even more of a challenge.
Fair Grove - Eminence MO
August 09, 2022
Day 42 | Miles 2,983-3,069
Such a roller coaster of a day. I got up early knowing the bike shop in Farmington closes at 6pm and does not open again until Thursday. Fifteen miles into my route…the shifting cable snaps! No wonder I’ve been having issues. I felt helpless for a second, then quickly got to work on a solution. I fixed the derailleur to my lowest gear because I was tackling the ultra steep Ozarks. I only had two gears for the next 75 miles. What you don’t see in todays photos is the five hours of rain (hence the clammy hands). It honestly made for a nice change to the baking sun I’ve had recently. Then finally, around 4 pm (earlier than expected), I made it to the shop! They fixed the bike very quickly and got me back on my way!
Eminence - Farmington MO
August 10, 2022
Day 43 | Miles 3,069-3,172
Welcome to Illinois! Beautiful weather and scenery today. Started overcast and eventually became partly cloudy. The temperature was a great change from the previous week of heat. Rode some compact-gravel, remote farm roads today which makes me super excited for future bike packing excursions on my new gravel bike (what??). Ending the day at a beautiful campground next to the lake. Should be a quiet, restful sleep tonight.
Farmington MO - Little Grassy Campground IL
August 11, 2022
Day 44 | Miles 3,172-3,262
The steep, rolling hills seemed like a good idea after spending time in the Great Plains of Kansas. For a while they were a blast! But it’s at this point when I’m starting to miss the climbs of the west. Climbing for hours to descend for miles just doesn’t compare to this human powered roller coaster I’m riding through. Still having a great time, but my legs are certainly feeling the burn. This could also be a result of putting in 100 miles days every day. Oops. Definitely feeling like I’m back home. Kentucky is where I ride most. The lush trees have returned to block the wind and sun! One thing that’s new to me is these grasshoppers. They’ve got much better aim than the ones out west.
Little Grassy Campground IL - Marion KY
August 12, 2022
Day 45 | Miles 3,262-3,357
Another tough day. The farm fields are fun and pretty to ride through, but lack trees to block the headwind. I’m starting to feel like everything I praise in my posts goes against me the next day. It’s like the game changers are hearing me and messing with my tour. I love headwinds! Staying at a church that Munir recommended I go to. The pastor treated me to local pizza. Update on Munir’s status, he is in Virginia and charging to the end of the trail to finish on time for his life commitments. Therefore, we will not be reuniting on this trip.
Marion - Fordsville KY
August 13, 2022
Day 46 | Miles 3,357-3,475
Long day in the saddle, plus last time change! Finally in Eastern time zone. Felt really good today. Could definitely feel muscle fatigue after later stops. Highlight of my day was near the 110 mile mark. A little child poked his small head out of a pickup truck and cheered “hello”! I also have to add, I’m quite surprised by the courtesy of these Kentucky drivers so far. I was looking a post ride drink to pair with dinner and stumbled across Ale 8! This find has made me feel quite close to home.
Fordsville - Springfield KY
August 14, 2022
Day 47 | Miles 3,475-3,563
Another gorgeous sunrise. Great weather for riding. Although, Midday rain added undesirable humidity. Somehow I managed to lose the avocado I was going to have with my dinner. And to make matters worse, I got myself excited for an evening beer to find out I’m in a dry county. On to more exciting news, I am finally getting into climbing the Appalachian mountains! As I slowly approached my campsite tonight, a young dog welcomed me here. I have no idea who the owner of this dog is but if he’s not claimed soon, I’m hauling him to the coast and taking him home (jokes of course… ha ha). He’s been one of the more friendly dog encounters I’ve had in Kentucky.
Springfield - Big Hill KY
August 15, 2022
Day 48 | Miles 3,563-3,652
Todays ride was full of excitement. Finally getting to the mountains, introducing steep climbs and curving descents. Also getting into Eastern Kentucky territory where recent flooding destroyed infrastructure. Encountered two bridges which had been swept away in the floods. Successfully traversed around the first. I had to detour the second on real roads as there were only cliffs to the left and right of the fallen bridge (not pictured).
Big Hill - Hazard KY
August 16, 2022
Day 49 | Miles 3,652-3,750
Amongst the devastation of the Kentucky flooding, I was fortunate to get through with no detours. It was eye opening to see the destruction the flooding did. I was able to talk to some locals who have been affected. The surprisingly seem to be in high spirits. It’s amazing what can be achieved when communities work together. Moving on, I planned to end my day in Elkhorn city. With spare daylight left and loads of climbing tomorrow, I decided to continue another 15 miles this evening. This happened to be a good decision (so far) because I got a glimpse of a black bear! But only a glimpse before a car scared it off :(. Tonight I am at a gazebo in what I assume to be a city park. Let’s just say I’m about half certain I’m allowed to be here. In my opinion, it’s better than trying to hide away. Regardless, I will most likely have nightmares of dogs chasing me.
Big Hill KY- Haysi VA
August 17, 2022
Day 50 | Miles 3,750-3,835
Took a gamble and stuck to the trail despite road closure signs. A few miles of climbing later, the road workers were only letting cyclists through. What resulted was a beautiful, freshly surfaced, curvy descent with no traffic. Definitely the highlight of today. Ending the day in Jefferson National Forest. I found a nice, quiet, dispersed campsite off a side road. Excited to be camping in the true wilderness tonight.
Haysi - Jefferson National Forest VA
August 18, 2022
Day 51 | Miles 3,835-3,958
Woke up this morning, taking my time making breakfast and in no hurry to leave. The dew dropping from the trees sounded like rain, encouraging me to remain in my tent for longer. The beauty of a trip like this is I’m not forced to know where my next accommodation will be. I clocked in a lot of morning, downhill miles. When it came time to look for a place to sleep, I realized I was in between camping areas. There was a long stretch between inexpensive overnight accommodations that I neglected to research. The other option was a pricy bed and breakfast. So today became my latest finish, the only thing keeping me going was I new where I was staying; a welcoming hostel in Catawba.
Jefferson National Forest - Catawba VA
August 19, 2022
Day 52 | Miles 3,958-4,041
The more I attempt to disperse camp in National Forests, the more frustrated I’ve become by the public lands. It was not until ten miles into the forest that I finally broke free from private property, allowing myself to actually access the forest. All said and done, I found a nice spot closer to the finish line, meaning less miles tomorrow. Plus, after finding a site, dispersed camping is the best camping.
Catawba - Vesuvius VA
August 21, 2022
Day 54 | Miles 4,090-4,167
I headed back to @rockfishgapoutfitters in Waynesboro to close the 30 mile gap between where I left off and Charlottesville. The backtracking was made more worthwhile by riding through the Blue Ridge Tunnel. This spooky scenery was unlike any other section of the trail. Definitely a great experience to discover. After that, it rained hard most of the day. My rain gear worked like a charm (except my feet still got soaked).
White Hall - Palmyra VA
August 22, 2022
Day 55 | Miles 4,167-4,254
Woke up early to cover almost 90 miles. Only one mile after leaving Palmyra, I broke a spoke. My Warmshowers host, Don, was on call all day. I’m grateful he was ready to get me if need be. I continued slow and steady with the broken spoke. Throughout the day, I was sure to keep Don updated with my whereabouts. As I entered Richmond, Don surprised me with a roadside pickup. Beforehand, while I was riding, Don had contacted a local bike shop to see if they could get me in to replace a spoke and true my wheel. He had picked me up so we would get there at a reasonable time. When we arrived, the mechanic discovered not only was the spoke broken, but the wheel was cracked . I am beyond grateful for the mechanics @pedalpowerrva for getting me in and out quickly. Fortunately, they had a replacement wheel ready and available.
Palmyra - Richmond VA
August 23, 2022
Day 56 | Miles 4,254-4,336
This trip couldn’t have ended better. Don made me a delicious homemade breakfast before he rode with me out of Richmond. He joined me for my first 38 miles then treated me to lunch in Charles City. After riding the next 30 miles alone, my host tonight (Wayde) met me on Colonial Parkway to ride with me to the end. Something you should know about Wayde; he was traveling the West coast three months ago when he saw me riding. Upon realizing I was going to Yorktown (near his hometown Gloucester), he gave me his phone number and told me to call him when I’m close. He and his wife Anita treated me to dinner tonight before showing me my home for the next couple nights.
Richmond - Yorktown VA
