Blacksburg, VA to Wytheville, VA – 70 Miles
Woke up today a little groggy and with soar legs. Possibly from the ~400 ft climb up Harding Rd to get into Blacksburg at the end of the day yesterday. Although we are off of the Blue Ride Parkway our elevation climbed the last two days (5133 ft and 5100 ft) has rivaled the first day up into the Blue Ridge (5400 ft). But instead of going up and staying up, it’s been constant hill after hill. I think today my body had finally started to feel it.
Made some quick oatmeal for breakfast and before I knew it Don was whipping up coffee and egg / vegan sausage sandwiches for us to take on the road. Max and I packed up and grabbed some last minute resupply items. Max had such a good time and was inspired by how Don and Cassie talked about the charity he decided to start riding to raise money for MS as well.
Don and Cassie rode with us into town. They took us around Virginia Tech Univeristy’s campus pointing out various landmarks. We went to the farmers market to grab some fresh food for the road and snap some photos.
They rode with us a bit farther on the trail towards Christiansburg then peeled off to head back and work on the new trailer for the supported tour starting at the end of the month. Thanks again for everything guys! It was so great to finally meet you!
it was nice that we didn’t have to back track to get back on the Trans Am and there was bike path all the way to Christiansburg. Once we got there we got a bit turned around though, and it took some time to get back on the route and in our groove.
The beginning of the ride was good, but a bit slow and since we got somewhat of a late start it heated up real quick. Max seemed to be crushing it and I could barely keep up.
We passed through Radford, over the New River, Max Meadows, and finished in Wytheville. In one of the towns there was an old restored court house – the first one in Pulaski County I guess. There was a wooden structure next to it with a sign above it that said The Old Gallows, meaning they used to hang people there I suppose.
Imagining a trial right next too where they might then take the person to be hung, if found guilty, seemed somewhat barbaric. It made me wonder what things we do today that will be looked back upon in 100 years and thought to be possibly barbaric.
We continued on for a bit until the route was blocked because they were moving a transformer. It was moving at less than 5 mph because it was so heavy (anywhere from 470k – 600k lbs – different construction workers gave us different numbers, but they were all very excited to be moving something so heavy). After talking to the Sheriff who was follow, and explaining that we didn’t really know any other way around he told us to go ahead, but to make sure the movers knew we were coming. We walked our bikes by and were on our way again.
After that I started to push myself through the hills by taking my mind off my burning muscles. Instead of continuing to think as I had since the beginning of the day that I was soar and tired I told myself that it was just another hill.
Eventually pushing through and embracing the burn almost felt good. Just like so many things in life all it took was changing the thoughts in my head and suddenly everything became some much easier. Even though the afternoon was possibly the hottest part of the day I crushed the last 15 miles and before I knew it we were in Wytheville.
We both ate a large pizza to ourselves from Papa Johns then found a park in town called Emily Brown Park where they let cyclists riding Route 76 set up their tents. It’s right in the middle of town and its free – pretty cool! Now I’m lying in my hammock next to a babbling brook getting ready for a good nights sleep. Goodnight!
you are in Moonshine country. be careful!