Day 85: Kingsport, TN

Day 85

August 9, 2015

Miles: 58

Morristown to Kingsport

I was awakened this morning by the sound of Di typing away on the computer and was shocked to see it was already 8am.  We've been trying to be on the road by 8am, so this didn't bode well for us getting in early.  Di was on the computer because she was trying to find the best route to Kingsport and she had been at it for over two hours.  Di let me sleep while she was being a cartographer.  Thank goodness she is the map person and not me because I don't have the patience for that sort of thing and would probably say, "Forget the map.  Just follow me, I know how to get there." Of course, we would undoubtedly get lost and have to ride twice as many miles as necessary to reach our destination. So, thank goodness Di is the map queen.

We had breakfast downstairs at the Hampton Inn despite the Waffle House being only two buildings away.  Speaking of the Waffle House, for those needing their curiosity sated: I did have the hash browns and they were great, and that mystery meat that looked like some dried up human organ was actually ham (which I tasted but could not eat).  We ate breakfast at the Hampton Inn to save time, but I must admit the free breakfast at the Hamptom is not too bad, but its no Waffle House.

Di at breakfast (that's pizza from last night on my plate)

We were on the road at little after 9:30am, which isn't too bad for getting up so late. Di had planned a course for us that would take us through the countryside for the first part of the ride before we returned to busier roads for the second part.

How bucolic!

How pastoral!

How bovine!

There were no flat stretches of road today, only ups and downs. The climbs were all less than a mile and the scenery was mostly pleasant, so we were very happy with the ride.

A sharp looking bicyclist!

We stopped a number of times to get Gatorade and a variety of snacks.  I have succumbed to all those exhortations to consume more food, so now I try to eat everything in sight.

Oreos make a great snack!

When we weren't stopped we continued to see scenes like these:

How tranquil!

How inviting!

Another horse picture for Dine

The supple shoots do sprout, trees create redoubts

A rider on the road, her smile will ease the load

Around 1pm we stopped to have some lunch at Oh Henry's. I ordered second breakfast and Di ordered a chicken sandwich, which she said was disappointing.  Sometimes I'm happy I don't have a very discerning palate.  Actually, most times I am.

Di can't bear to look at her food

My meal (Di said those were frozen potatoes, I said it doesn't matter, they will soon just taste like ketchup)

Di outside Oh Henry's

Shortly after we left Oh Henry's, we found ourselves on Rt. 11W.  This road is a four lane divided highway, but it has a bike lane.  So even though it was a very busy road, it was an extremely safe one.  Again, we stopped at a few places to grab drinks and snacks.  It was hot again today with temperatures in the mid-nineties, so even when there weren't service stations or shops, we had to stop to take a break and keep hydrated.

Di taking a break in the back of a church (notice those hills in the back - we climbed them!)

We arrived at our hotel at 5:30, which isn't so bad given our late start.  Tomorrow we head for Damascus, VA and we will be back on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail.