Josh/Bike/2014

Made it. A lot I would change if I do it again. Wouldn't change a thing about this trip. Signing off, thanks for reading my lazily written posts. Josh/

Ok I lied. Celebration ales. Never too far from home thanks to @sierranevada #nikkiandjoshdoamerica #craftbeer (at Yorktown Waterfront Pub)

This is the last #nikkiandjoshdoamerica post. Thanks for following. And go America.

Victory. #nikkiandjoshdoamerica #acatransam #bikeacrossamerica Can I get a hell yea? (at Yorktown Monument)

I just climbed Blue Ridge (last climb of the trip, maybe one of the hardest) in 41 minutes, no breaks, a lot of sweat. The mental high of this climb was nice, makes me wonder what finishing this trip is going to be like. #nikkiandjoshdoamerica #acatransam #bikeacrossamerica

Than 300 miles left.

My jam. #nikkiandjoshdoamerica (at near Natural Bridge. VA)

Morning! #nikkiandjoshdoamerica #acatransam #transam2014 #bikeacrossamerica

It's nice having #route76 marked by these signs since entering Virginia. 90 mile day comes to an end here. #acatransam #nikkiandjoshdoamerica #bikeacrossamerica (at Town of Christiansburg, VA)

The mother of all cheese steaks. No really that's what it is called. Somewhere in Demascus, Va. #nikkiandjoshdoamerica

Last night (July 10th) we got to raid a churches kitchen again! I tried opening a can of pasta and stabbed myself in the finger... Kinda sucked. Riding to that church kinda sucked too, we were on a very busy freeway packed with coal trucks and angry commuters. It made for a very stressful evening. I was stoked to finally end that day... Today (July 11th) we have been on the road for exactly two months. I'm laying in a bunk in some small town Virginia. We all had an amazing ride today, we even got up early! Looking at the elevation profile we expected a tough day. Thinking that the climbing was going to be brutal I just cruised all day. We rolled over a climb that was supposed to floor us, Hayters Gap, like it was nothing. The descent was one of the most fun rides I have ever had. It wasn't exactly fast, average of 25 to 35 mph, but the turns were smooth and quick. Around noon we got to the small town of Demascus, the Appalachian Trail runs right through it so it's kind of a hikers and cyclists Mecca. I had to spot by the bike shop and get new brakes since my rear ones were fried. Took a good minute to get those replaced but once I did I was stoked. Damn, we then headed next door to an awesome restaurant and I picked up a local pint of beer and a massive... Massive... Philly cheese steak named 'the mother of all cheesesteaks'. It was golden. The best cheesesteak I have ever had in my life. Leaving Demascus we noticed a rail to trail route and decided to get off the pavement for a while. Rail to trail are old railroad routes that have since been retired and converted to packed gravel trails. Since they were made for trains the grades were less step as the roads, it was nice. We stayed on the trail for about 11 miles. The bummer part is I have never seen so many horrible cyclist in my life than I did on that trail. Children jetting in front of you, adults doing the same. I swear I almost hit multiple people just straight lining my bike. I know I kinda sound like a turd saying that but I wish you could have been there. After we got back on the road it was just one short climb to were we rest now. A church that offers a bunk house. We met a AT hiker here, super nice guy out here living the dream himself. All four of us got a ride down to the local market, about 4 miles down the road, it was super small. I ended up getting a glass bottled Dr.pepper and some more junk food. After hanging out there for far two long, chatting it up with the nice owner, we hitched a ride back to the hostel. Of course we had to grab a few hard ciders before we left though. Spent the rest of the evening telling stories of our travels. Hats off to all thru hikers. Then it was showers, food and bed... Best showers of the trip, and we don't really know why. 450 miles left... Wow.

Full speed ahead. #nikkiandjoshdoamerica

I can't believe we are in Virginia. The final stretch! We still have some big mountains to get over, but we are slaying them! I'll try to post post a little more tonight.

Woo? #nikkiandjoshdoamerica

Tour de kittens. #nikkiandjoshdoamerica