Tuesday 14th May

Yesterday I cycled 55 miles to Davenport, which included 2 very stiff climbs. On the way to the first of these I passed two guys who are cycling the route with a support van. Result- at the top I got given a tuna sandwich and a banana from their support driver. Support driver (Sorry, cannot remember your name), came from Motherwell and since coming to the States has lost 40lbs and lowered his cholesterol and blood sugar! - if you know Motherwell, that says it all.

                                                     

          Ended up camping behind a filling station at Davenport on the way down from the second climb, along with another cyclist (who works in a psychiatric unit). It was exceptionally cold and tents were covered in frost in the morning. I have only cycled 12 miles and am outside the library in Haysi. This is a very friendly small place: writing is slow going as I have to talk to everyone going in! However, the sun is out and I am warming up. Am making this a very short/rest day and only aiming for another 15 miles to the Breaks Interstate Park, before entering Kentucky tomorrow.
       Past couple of days have been real red neck country- everyone drives pickup trucks, plays country music, and folks are just real friendly!

     Did travel on one main road for a couple of miles yesterday, I saw 1 dead badger, 1 dead fox, sadly a dead turtle (looked like a tortoise), a dead black thing with a fluffy tail which was large. And this is for my niece India.... a lot of dead grey squirrels which when dead look horribly like large rats - its the tails when the fur goes!