81 miles (130 km) – Total so far: 259 miles (417 km)
Knowing today was going to be a long day with a moderate amount of vertical climbs into the foothills I got an early start. 10.5 hours later, I want to smack that snotty little twerp that used the words “moderate” and “foothills” to describe what I was about to experience.
The day started rolling and pleasant. Nice and cool. I was rolling about 20 minutes before the sun popped up. As the glowing ball of fusion started to crest over some trees behind me I took a quick shot. A little later on, I was enjoying the gently rolling hills, and their attendant cows, dogs, horses, alpacas and sheep. During this little jaunt I realized that the previously challenging uphills were starting to get easier. Part of it is weight, but my legs are definitely adapting. I even got to see Monticello via a cool little bike path they have there.
In Charlottesville, I was tempted to stop, but found that I didn’t really want to be around so many people (You know, the big city and all). I made the best of it and grabbed some great food. Speaking of which, here’s what I ate today:
2 apples
1 bottled frappuchino
1 ice coffee
8 liters of water
3 cliff bars
1 hammer bar
1 roast beef sandwich
1 bag of chips
1 whole box of kraft mac & cheese dinner
1 power bar
1 package of bright orange cheese crackers.
1 piece of banana bread
2 bananas
1 tomato
That’s something like 5,000 calories. I’m still hungry. That’s because the next 30 miles turned into a grueling test of willpower as I climbed hill after hill. “Hill” is probably an understatement, but given what tomorrow looks like, I’m reluctant to say mountain.
At one point I came across this mountain stream. Clearly I dunked my head in.
I’m now in Afton and going to crash early because tomorrow is about 4,000 ft of vertical to get over the pass. Yikes.