If not today, then tomorrow, or both

It's been a while since my last update and a lot has happened since. So let me give ya'll a guick summary of the past two weeks since leaving Asheville.
Disclaimer: If you think bicycle touring is all sunny days of fun in the sun, are about to take your first tour, or don't like rants please skip the following paragraph.

Out of Asheville: Cloudy skies, killer hill, good thing my legs are fresh, gosh I'm tired, sweating, tired, a bit sore, another hill, bit of end of day rain. Another day, continue hills, downpour, soggy clothing, more rain, more hills. Next day: dense fog, no riding, more rain, bit of sun, more rain. Next day: Cloudy, another detour, no sympathy about trials, downpour, busy traffic into Boone. Next seven days: Rain, more rain, climb, another climb, gosh dern another climb, my legs are so sore, another climb, okay now they are really sore and tire, more rain, when will the sun shine? why can't my legs work? My mileage sucks! More rain, bit of sun followed by more rain and hills. Did I mention the rain, climbs, and my sore legs? Gosh I'm hungry! Another cookie. More climbs and rain....continue for 2 weeks total.

Okay, sorry about that, but that's how I was feeling, thinking, and for the most part experiencing. So what follows is what else took place, besides rain, climbs, sore legs, and hunger. The detour out of Asheville was beautiful and traffic was really light on almost all parts. I really enjoyed the peace and quiet and mountain scenery after the social affairs of the city. After a night camped along a rising creek, with some strange vibes, it was more peace and quiet along mountain backroads. That night I reached the Blue Ridge Parkway and spent the following day waiting out the weather, only wandering outside the tent during a few hours of sunshine. The third day out I actually got to cycle the Blue Ridge. It was nice and enjoyable. I spent the afternoon wandering around Linnville Falls. I was in a rush, I don't know why, so I sat and gazed upon the beauty. I hiked all the viewpoints and watched a Black Racer snake climb a tree and climb into a mice next. One mouse dropped over 20 feet to escape the snake's belly. Then I rode off and found a camping place. I also discovered that most of the pkwy campgrounds don't open until mid-May, this would be a mostly positive aspect.

The next day was an odd set of occurences. It involved rain and more road detours. I descended into Boone, which I was thinking of visiting, but decided not too. Now I had too. I wan't out of the rain and off the bike, through with things. After little sympathy from local bike shops a local gave me a place to stay. Then I saw some folks from the Pkwy, who had just moved from California, a trip that took me 4 months, they did it in 5 days. I happened to look very much like the guy's brother. We had a wonderful dinner party! The young man working at the grocery store had cycled the Trans-Am route 2 years ago. Gosh this was weird and Boone is a nice town! I road out of Boone refreshed and with bags of food the following day.

On Sunday I passed into Virginia, my 10th state, and at the Blue Ridge Music Center got sunny skies and a wonderful small concert from the local musicians. Then I headed North, enjoying Mabry Mill, rested a bit at Roanoke, saw my first bicycle tourist since Florida along the James River, after a grand descent... after a long climb. Ben and I shared a campsite and compared notes on the roads ahead, me heading North, he South. It was good and talking with another cyclist was just what my lagging morale needed. Began seeing some Appalachian Trail thru-hikers as the trail crosses the Pkwy, passed out cookies to folks who walk a long ways. Two days later at the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway (a good sense of relief, but also a touch of sadness) I descended into Waynesboro for more groceries and a library. Discovered a great shoe cobbler who fixed the failed velcro on my cycling shoes. I also got Appalachian Trail insight, sound advise, and saw a priceless Wright Brothers' made wheelchair. Am very tired, sored, and disgusted of rain.

I spent three days in Shenandoah along the Skyline Drive. With it's national park status and the weekend it was a bit busy, but it gets much busier. Saw a black bear, did laundry, and showered. Felt very good and lifted my spirits. On May 16th, my birthday, I ended up riding my bike. I took a nice hike to a backcountry falls and wandered around. Ate more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. A thunderstorm knocked out power at Lewis Mountain so I couldn't buy my birthday meal. Ended up talking with two AT hikers who are tired of walking and the rain. Could not call my best friend in Colorado and that really sucked. We traded woes and then headed on. I decided to head to Big Meadows and got bacon, beer, and eggs. Then the rain got up with me once again. Soaked I set up my tent in the solitute of the forest. Got as dry as possible, wetted my whistle with beer, enjoyed bacon and egg tortillas.

The next day rain threatened. I saw a mother and cubs near Elkwallow. Discovered an AT hut, but suprisingly no hikers. Cleaned things up a bit, read the hut logbook, and camped out. The next day I left the Park and road into Front Royal. I road towards Leesburg and discovered the beautiful Virginia countryside. Lots of farms, horse plantations, and more traffic, even on the backroads. Fortunately I picked up the Washington and Old Dominion rail trail into Leesburg. It was a nice town and I found a Safeway, but no jumbo cookies of my dreams. Hung out at the library until my Mom arrived from Michigan. Then we headed for a nice hotel...and so the journey continues.