Where’s Kman

Damascus, Va. to Breaks, Va.
78 miles
15.1 average mph
Hwy 91
Road 803
Hwy 80
This the second day in the mountains. The longest climb was Hayter’s Gap at Clinch Mtn. Blair, you would like this one because you go over the gap and go down the other side without having to turn around.
I meet 3 other groups of cross country riders today and all 20 of them are camping at the same place I am. I guess this is because I am now on the official Trans America bike route and will be for part of the day tomorrow but then will deviate from the official route until I am in the western states. Before today I had not met any other Trans Am riders. The Breaks is named for a gorge carved by a small river running through Pine Mountain and has been called the Grand Canyon of the South.

I found out that everyone who hikes the Appalachian Trail has a trail name. An alter ego or persona – like Crazyhorse, Bigfoot, or the Dude. I guess my road name would be Kman.

Traphill, NC to Damascus, Va.
70 miles
14.1 average mph

Oklahoma Rd.

Hwy 21

Hwy 93

Hwy 58
This was my first day in the mountains and there was a lot of beautiful scenery. Rode past Mt. Rogers which is the highest point in Virginia but decided not to hike to the top which would be a detour or five miles up an incredibly steep looking road and then a seven mile hike. Staying at a hostel tonight in Damascus and I think it was a good decision because there is another thunderstorm comming and I can hear the rain starting to come down on the tin porch roof. Damascus is Trail Town USA with the Appalachian Trail (hiking) the Trans America Trail (touring bike) and the Virginia Creeper Trail (mountain bike) all going through town.