Happy Thanksgiving from Asheville

Left the lovely community of Boone NC November 23 in a light drizzle that gradually progressed to a cold rain as i climbed back onto the Blue Ridge Parkway regaining it in about 25 miles. As i started out the $29/night Boone trail Motel was looking mighty inviting for one more night but i knew the pattern was clearing . . . the next day. After about 50 miles i was done, hands frozen into handlebar claws, really damp, and i knew Asheville was within 60 miles so i stopped at Crab Tree Gardens to camp. When i pulled in a guy stood along a fence line with a rifle who obviously just walked out of the campground - granted there are a lot of deer in the campgrounds (saw a 10 pointer that i could have brained with a rock) but i was pretty damn sure it was not legal. However, he was just as casual as could be talking on his cell to his wife lamenting the 8 pointer he missed. I was pleased to see him off and went into the campground to find the rangers cabin because they have a deep porch to camp on. Twenty minutes later two ranger vehicles drive into the campground and i approach them because i figure they are going to see me anyhow and i wanted to mention the hunter . . . well someone had already called them about a guy with a rifle and a bike on the parkway. Suspicious law men with high powered weapons make me nervous especially if they think i am the guy with a gun! But we established i was just a guy on a bike, i helped out with a vehicle description, established that he was just hunting, and not a crazy shooter on the parkway on a cold damp late November day. Also, found out camping is illegal . . . oops figured but pled ignorance and they were nice enough to leave me be after running my license.
I chowed, read, and fell asleep in the moonlight to a cacophony of coyotes that sounded like they were on the porch with me - they are eerie. The next day dawned bright and beautiful. I got my climbing legs on for the final bit of parkway into Asheville that rolled along between 3500' and nearly 6000' - passing Mt. Mitchell (6684) highest point east of the Mississippi. The valley below was hidden in a dense sea of fog that made be glad to be high for a change. The only problem was i had only a half bottle of water, a bag of coconut caramel tips(3 tips/180 calories!), and two tangerines for the day but, luckily, i found a spring popping out the hill side to wash down all that sugary fatty coconut caramel goodness. Long story short i am in Asheville after a rockin' 15 mile descent off the Blue Ridge, staying with a good friend, Ian Baldwin, surrounded by a bunch of left and right coasters, and i gotta go get ready to eat turkey.

I think i am getting warmed up to this endeavor after 17 days out, and pedalling a little over 800 miles with 5 rest days.