Scenes from todays ride to Damascus virginia

Riding today in Virginia...wow...although I knew inside I would do this its still a

Strange feeling to actually be here in the final state of my tour. But what a wonderful state it is so far. The mountains here are a joy to ride in...lots of steep climbs through dense forest. It is very humid but strangely not to hot. The trees are alive with birds ands all kinds of insects...it sounds like a tropical rain forest!

The downhills are fast and have sharp switchback turns...my brakes are wearing thin...time to change pads.

They have sheep here...mostly all I've seen across America is cows. Some of the trees are dropping their leaves..I wonder if this is the first sign of fall here?

As I rode today I felt mixed feelings...happy that I am riding in such beautiful surroundings, sad that my trip.is almost done, thinking of life back in the UK...some good..some not...but there are people I want to hug.

Damascus is a lovely small town in the hills here. The church has a biker hostel and I have a bed for the night. Around the corner is the bar where tonight I can recommend the special..pasta..bolognaise sauce...salad...yummy!

People in the town are welcoming...within two minutes of riding into town I had an offer of a free bed in somebodies house...then two guys on motorbikes stopped to say hi and recommended this bar to eat in...I followed their advice and it was good.

Once again..good things are happening on this ride...I make my own luck..take may own decisions and live with them...they have always been the right ones for me.

I try to catch the essence of the rides with the pictures and videos on facebook. But really it'd about the wind in my face, the smells, the people, the freedom and the feel of the bike under me. I can't catch that on camera.

I just don't want this ride to end. But I'm young enough to do this again or a similar ride. But its not over yet...I still have some big climbs and a state to cross....and a lot more smiling to do!

Virginia

Mickey mouse pancakes for breakfast on Kentucky this morning.

Virginia..wow..I actually made it to the tenth and final state I'm riding across! I crossed the state line this morning after several more climbs here in the mountains. The views from the top of the climbs were pretty amazing and the downhill runs were great fun...steep fast and sharp bends .

Tonight I'm in a small town called council in the park. After a short 45 miles mostly climbing I got to the park and was warned about bears having been in the park in the last few days..also cayottees.

Hmmm...now I know why I carried the bear spray all the way from Yellowstone lol!

Earlier in the day is had breakfast at a diner and the lady who served breakfast had such a good sense of fun ...$150...no way...ha ha! Mickey mouse pancakes for breakfast...cool!

Although today was the shortest ride of the tour so far I think, it was beautiful and although the climbs here are steep I'm loving doing them.

I have a feeling Virginia will be another good state for me...as they all have been.

Bloody hell...I'm in Virginia !!  :)