Nick and Dale's Great Adventure: North Carolina Edition

Leaving Tennessee required climbing Roan Mountain and we spent the bulk of the day doing just that!  We stopped at the Davis Girls Peach Shed and Shirley picked us a few ripe peaches to eat.  I figured it's her shed and she knows peaches.   We chatted with her and later with a man I believe was her husband.  Both were very interested in the trip and offered us a rest on the rocking chairs on the porch.  Dale and I figured we might not get up if we sit too long so off we went.   The Appalachian Trail crosses Roan Mountain.  Although there was no sign, the white blazes gave it away.  Just another reminder that we were getting closer to home.  Elk River would be our next stop and, thankfully, my last flat tire.  I changed out both the tire and tube with new that I had been carrying, just waiting for the right occasion.  It was a relatively short ride (51 miles) but still a long day (8 hours).  

Boone, NC is a nice town and home to Appalachian State.  Penn State fans may remember a few years ago when  Appalachian State put up a good fight requiring OT for PSU to win.  From Boone, we headed towards Jonesville, NC.  Of course, there was some uphill as we rode toward and under the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Now the beautiful scenery included a sign that we were waiting for...downhill next 4.5 miles.  Nothing like a few twisties and some speed, I believe we smiled the entire time.  The downhill seemed to extend a little farther although the grade gradually became less.  It was great!   I was gifted with some trail magic along the way when the cashier at the convenience store bought my Gatorade for me after hearing the story.  I wanted to pay and her coworker said "We just appreciate ya!"  We stopped just outside of Jonesville in Yadkin Valley. 

We headed towards Greensboro for what would be a 74 mile day ending on the eastern side.  Unfortunately, amenities in the area were limited to a truck stop Wendy's for dinner.   The hotel pool was closed (which was not surprising any longer) and, of course, it was a long, hot day.  The crops in the fields have changed again, vineyards and tobacco.  From Greensboro, the next stop would be near Oxford.   The roads were tree lined giving us some shade and a bit of relief from the heat!  We passed through the campus of Elon University. 

I seem to be distracted by the upcoming end of the ride.  Then again, we have been riding everyday for 10 days.  The road and scene seems to change very little.  Much like our routine of wake up, get ready, bike, shower, eat, sleep and repeat.  We passed through Littleton, NC and took a break.  As I sat there, the main street looked like many we had passed before.  There was more life on this street though compared to some of the small towns along Route 66.  We would stop in Weldon for our last night in North Carolina.