Total distance: 497.30 miles
Average speed: 9.4 miles/hr
Time on bike: 4 hrs and 43 min
After yesterday's surprise mountains we decided to treat ourselves to a late morning! We slept in until 7am and didn't get on the road until 9:45ish (we took our time packing up)!!! Since it wasn't such a hot day and we weren't planning to cycle so many miles we didn't regret our extra sleep time at all!
This morning was a little terrifying. We were cycling on a winding road, something we are used too, but it was also a high traffic road. BUT, not just any traffic... TRUCKS!!! I mean big 18 wheelers, dump trucks, service trucks, any truck you can think of... it passed us! If I was a little boy, I would have been in truck heaven. Since I am not a little boy but a grown cyclist instead, I was not in truck heaven, more like truck hell!! BUT, these trucks also decided that they were way too cool to move over to the other side of the road for cyclists, I mean really, who has time for that, right?
Unfortunately, we were on this road for many miles! Joe may have said a few choice swear words and I definitely cried for my mommy on multiple occasions (I'm not lying). Although I yelled at the top of my lungs "we're gunna die!" many times today, we in fact, did NOT become road-side pizzas! That's a success if I do say so myself!
After a stressful morning and a hot afternoon sun, we took refuge in an air conditioned library during the hottest part of the day. To our luck it started thunder storming about 20 minutes after we walked in. We had forgotten to check the weather this morning but we had great timing none the less!
We planned to stay the night at a Baptist Church and when we arrived we were surprised and delighted to find about 40 people on a missions trip from Georgia! We walked in to one of the greatest welcomes ever and were excited when they offered us food!!! Before I continue the story I have to write a little side note:
For those of you who know me I have been a vegetarian for the last 5 1/2 years (because I just didn't like the taste of meat anymore) BUT the one thing I missed was chicken fingers. Well... guess what was for dinner... yes, it was chicken fingers. I was hungry and was offered chicken fingers and I ate them!!! They were so delicious and I don't regret my decision for a moment. Now I don't think there is actually a word for a person who doesn't eat meat, eats fish, and chicken fingers, so I believe a contest is in order. I need to know what I am!!!!! Please come up with a word to describe what kind of vegetarian I am! Please send all submissions via e-mail ([email protected]) and I will come up with an appropriate prize!!!
AND back to my story. The mission team from Georgia was SOOOO friendly! They were very interested in our trip and asked a bunch of questions that we were happy to answer! They were staying in Lookout, KY for the weekend to run a Vacation Bible School for the local kids!! We all stayed in the Church gymnasium and the running joke of the night was that when Mary and Joseph came there WAS room in the gym... bhahahaha get it? instead of the inn.... Church humor, love it!
We had such a good time hanging out with the group from Georgia and they made us feel so welcome! We only got one picture of them on our camera but if any of you are reading this right now send us all your pictures and we will put them on our blog!!! We miss you guys already and we feel so blessed to have met you! You brightened up our day and although you came to Lookout to help the local kids I want you to know that you also made a lasting impression on two cyclists. Your enthusiasm, energy, and prayer will help us get through the toughest times on our trip!! Thank you so much!!!
Mary and Joe
PS Mom, I'm still alive.