I finnaly got a chance to set up the hammock they gave me back at Twin
Oaks. Very relaxing.

I made it to Breaks, VA. 44.3 miles and more insane mountains. 12
bucks to camp tonight but I'll get a shower.

It was only 32.8 miles, but more climbing. I got the United Methodist
Church Hostel at about 3. It was more of a church that left its door
open than a hostel. I only so one guy pop in for a minute other than
that I had my run of the place. I laid on a swinging bench outside and
read slapstick by Vonnegut cover to cover. Good day.

Larry on the far right helps run "the place" he also has a free long
distance phone on his porch. And Joe in the middle is a biker/hiker
who has done the whole transam and knew larry from other rides through
Damascus. The greatest dudes.

Donation based.

I haven’t had service for a day or so and I still don’t. But, everything has been great. I’m at a library in Hayters Gap, VA.

From Wytheville to Damascus (57.3 miles)the grades were not as steep as they’d been. So although I did alot of climbing I would get to these points were I could coast at 20 mph for like 5-10 miles. Real nice. And the scenery has been great with a stream that followed the route down the mountain with little waterfalls.

Damascus is amazing. As I rolled into town, I get called in off the road by this dude Larry. Larry turns out to be just about the greatest guy you’d ever meet and loves helping out people biking and hiking. (Speaking of hiking, I’ve been running into tons of hikers on the Appalachian Trail, some doing the whole thing Georgia to Maine.) So it turns out Larry new Joe (A guy I met two days ago biking through) and was actually putting Joe up for the night.

So Joe and Larry showed me to “The Place”, a donation run hostel for bikers and hikers, then we all went and ate free at a church dinner. It was great hanging out and in the morning I met back up with them and Larry made breakfast. Really great people, I still can’t get over how hospitable everyone’s been. I’ll post some photos once I get service.

That's snow on the side of the road. I'm on another mountain.

These are horses.