#theoverlap

Mt. Mitchell & the Blue Ridge Parkway

On Monday 6/13 Scott Brandon and I rode 66 miles with 7,300 feet of climbing. The trip was well worth it; we stayed in a great Air B&B that Brandon found, started the day with coffee and breakfast at Battle Cat Coffee Bar, and made our way to the Folk art Center to start our ascent. 

We unloaded packed our jersey pockets full of snacks and saddled up. The turn out of the Folk Art Center parking lot was down hill and the only down hill we would see for a few miles. In less than three miles we had already reached our first thousand feet of climbing. Even our first water stop was a misleading extra few hundred feet of climbing. 

The climbs were long and taken easy, knowing there was always more to go. Every small decent along the way up was a refreshing break from the continuing climbs   We stopped to snack, stretch, and enjoy the views along the way.  The overlooks got better and better the higher we got and eventually we could see our final climb. We reached the top had a Coke, some M&M’s, and spoke to some people that passed us on the way up.

All that climbing was over (mostly) and the reward began. I have little to say about the decent. It was over before we knew it and i don’t have single picture. A max speed of 48 mph and the three of us spread by our gearing. Brandon and i chased Scott down the parkway. As we passed the sign for the Folk art Center we through up our hands as if we had won a race it just felt right. 

all and all it was a great time i cant wait to do it again 

-Garret T-

also Scott’s tire blew out a few minutes after the ride ended ha.