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Day 57 - August 3 - Hindman, KY to Breaks Interstate Park, VA - 71 miles

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The mountains in eastern Kentucky proved to be some of the most challenging climbs of the whole trip. Our 10th and final state.  Notice how this sign was used for target practice. Breaks Interstate Park, on the Kentucky-Virginia border, features the largest canyon east of the Mississippi.

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This gorge in Breaks was carved by the Russell Fork River. Much of the route in Virginia is marked with signs like this. Western Virginia Appalachians offered more challenging climbs.

 
The mountains in eastern Kentucky have proven to be the toughest we've climbed during the whole trip.  They are gut bustin', lung burnin', and leg crampin'.  Once you get to the top there is a 3 second break and then you're holding onto the brakes for dear life trying to keep from being killed as you fly down the narrow, twisting path on the other side.  Nothing we rode over west of the Mississippi compares to these.  We find them even harder than the dreaded Ozarks.  Today we had to climb 4 of these "hills".  No need to go to an amusement park, just ride your bicycle over the Appalachian Mountains.

We met Dave at the bottom of one of these hair raising down hills who was just starting his cross country trip.  We envied him in light of all the wonderful experiences he had ahead of him and the fact that ours would soon be over.  After wishing each other good luck we continued our "exciting" adventure.

Today was another study in the poverty of this part of our nation.  Almost everyone lives in a mobile home or a house that is in desperate need of repair.  There are a few well cared for homes, but as a rule most are run down, junked up, and falling apart.  The roadside trash has also increased dramatically.  It is sad to see the beauty of this area scarred by the remains people leave behind.  There doesn't even seem to be an attempt to clean any of it up; most of it looks like it's been there for years.  The area is a testimony that the government assistance programs are not giving these people the incentive to better themselves or their surroundings.

We stopped in Elkhorn City and tried to check into the Moore Motel, but the owner would only allow 2 people to a room.  That meant we'd have to pay $60 for a dump.  We didn't want to have to ride up the mountain to Breaks Interstate Park, especially after Mr. Moore told us it was 6 steep miles to get there and the rooms were $70 each, but we weren't going to give into his demands.  We pressed on.

The hill turned out to be a piece of cake, 3 easy miles; the Gateway Motel was 10 times better than down the hill.  Our room was beautiful, it only cost $48, they gave us fresh peaches and there was a restaurant and grocery store across the street.  We knew we made the right decision!

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