Climbing Made Easier

I woke up yesterday morning ready to climb into the Appalachian Mountains.  I got a great breakfast at The Coffee Pot restaurant, right next to the RV park, and headed towards my climb.  As I headed upward, climbing was just as unpleasant as I remembered from my trip 2 years ago when we rode through Colorado and Wyoming.  As I continued to climb, it felt like things were getting worse.  I haven't done any real climbing on a bike in the last 2 years, so I just chalked it up to either not remembering how bad it can be, or just being out of shape.  I came around a curve and it appeared as though the percent grade decreased, but I was still cranking really hard to get up.  I hate to stop mid-climb (I'd prefer to make it to the top, then rest before enjoying the ride down) but I got to the point were I just couldn't go any further.  Upon dismounting from my bicycle, I realized that my rear tire must have developed a slow leak a while back, because now it was completely flat (at this point, I can hear my former cycling companion, Dustin, muttering "dumbass" under his breath).  It had to have happened very slowly, or I would have noticed. Anyway, I proceeded to replace the tube, re-inflate the tire, and continue on my way.  It's amazing what a difference a tire full of air can make!  And, yes Dustin, I did feel like a bit of a dumbass.

After making it to the top of that climb (about 1/3 of a mile later), I was officially in North Carolina.  It was mostly just rolling terrain after that.  I pedaled through a few small towns, but the one that stuck out was Hendersonville, NC.  They had a neat downtown area that kind of made me want to stop, but I knew that stopping just meant more time in the sun later.  I kept on going until I got to Asheville, NC.  I pulled off at a Starbucks to see if they had wireless internet access.  They do, but only if you have AT&T.  They will have regular wi-fi in July.  Until then, I'll keep looking for McDonald's.  At this particular coffee shop I got to talk to a man (unfortunately I don't remember his name) that had been a hiker back in the good ole days.  He hiked (in sections) from Florida to Nova Scotia, including the Appalachian Trail. He pointed out a bike shop across the way, so I hung out there for a bit.  One of the employees was preparing for a tour from the Atlantic to the Pacific, so she asked me all kinds of questions about gear and whatnot.  Another employee was very helpful in discussing which way I should head when I leave town to get to Tennessee.

After leaving the bike shop, I rode further into Asheville and found a McDonald's.  This particular McDonald's was having issues with their wireless.  I was trying to figure out where to stay that night, so long story short, I found out there were 2 Mennonite churches in town, so I called one (Mennonite Fellowship of Asheville), the interim pastor answered, fed me supper and found a home for me for the next two nights.  I had been interested in taking a day off here, and it has been great.  Larry and Jane have been two of the best hosts I person could ask for, and I'm not just saying that because of all the fresh peaches they fed me.  Their home has been a comfortable place to rest my weary bones and to wash some laundry somewhere other than in the shower with me.  Larry gave me a mini tour of town while we were out running some errands this afternoon.  Asheville passes my "Could I live here?" test.  They've got good bike shops, cars that are used to seeing bicycles on the road, and a little Mennonite contingency that would welcome some strange guy on a bike in, not just for one night, but a second as well.  Well done, Asheville.

Tomorrow I'm off towards Greeneville, TN.  Could be another rough one.  I'll be looking back at my tires a lot more this time.