And tonights five star de luxe accomodation is here in wytheville Virginia....I can almost smell the atlantic from here lol!

Scenes from todays ride to whyteville Virginia

So now I'm wondering of this will get me up the mountain in the morning or not....oooops.

Scenes from the ride from Damascus to wytheville Virginia today

After a day off the bike I'm still.tired....lol...but I forced myself out of my sleeping bag to do battle with the Virginian hills once again...its a tough job but someone has to.do it. The map elevation profile showed huge climbs coming out of

Damascus....in the event I cruised up them and was over them thinking they were just foothills before the real climbs came...erm...but they didn't!

Instead I was speeding along good roads, mostly flat or downhill with a nice tailwind. I.had thought is just stop at the next hostel but I was there so quickly that I had ridden a few miles past it before I noticed!

So I headed to wytheville  a mere 58 miles away to the city park. Along the way I got a subway for lunch and just sat back in the saddle and enjoyed the ride...one of the few this trip with the wind behind me.

At this pace I am only a week tops from the coast...I have to decide what to do next...as I can't re book my flight like I had hoped.

I'm so tempted to just uturn around and ride back again....I feel free and happy here...but unfortunatly bank accounts I'm my name arnt bottomless pits of cash. I will have a word with god in a church along the way and see if he can fix that for me.

I seem to attract Insects on this trip...mosquitos and chiggers...bloody things..

The morning rides are a lot colder now...buy it hearts up to perfect riding conditions for the rest of the day.

It won't be long before I start map section 12 of the transam...the last map!!

So many people on this trip have told me they wish they could do what I am doing...with the exception of one guy who was disabled I couldn't see a single reason why any of them can't do it...I think it'd a mental battle much more than a physical battle. There are moments when I just have to push on through anything that comes my way...the best way to do that is to simply accept what has to be done and get the hell on with doing it....just keep peddalling no matter what happens....through all kinds of weather, mountains, poor drivers.....and above all else...stop for nothing except ice cream.

On a tour like this there is always something to do..
Something new to see, people to talk to, I never get bored. I wonder about life again without touring....it has its plus points for sure...but living on the bike like this beats it hands down...especially here in the USA.
....the policeman just came to open the restrooms for me and wished me a pleasant nights rest in the park here..how cool is that...bet plod back home wouldn't do that.

Larry arrived at Damascus today...its good to see him again!