The night before I went to bed with a relieved feeling that I did not have to get up early and get right on the bike. We stayed in Cloudland Canyon State Park and is one of the most beautiful places that any person could imagine. My family took the opportunity to hike to a near waterfall and enjoyed just being together. Not every person in our family has been biking each day so each of us were experienced different stages of fatigue. One with shaking legs and others with the desire to be finished and voiced that desire on each of the 574 steps that we climbed. It is fantastic to know that God has given us all things to enjoy and this was truly enjoyable (the scenery, not the climb). We came back for lunch and enjoyed the last meal with my sister and her kids and my brother and his family. We said goodbye to them shortly after lunch and were soon brought back to Menlo, GA. Refer to yesterday to why we needed to start here.
I have been racking my brain (it takes a while to even find it) how to put in perspective to all of you who are reading, the hill that we climbed today. Technically - We climbed 1586 ft. up in less than 3 miles. This means about 500 ft per mile. This further means a 10% grade. This would be like riding to the top of the Sears tower. It seems like it is straight up but it is only slightly slanted. Hope this helps. In easy words - IT IS THE STEEPEST HILL I HAVE EVERY BIKED UP!!!
It took us about 20 minutes to climb to the three miles. We usually go 1 mile in 3.5 minutes. We finally got to the top and were ready to take on the rest of the 28 miles. They seemed like a breeze compared to the first three. It took us just over 2 hours and it was nice to get back and rest for the remainder of the day. Truly a restful day!
6 comments:
Love the pic of dad climbing over the train! I know how long those train stops can take. Keep keeping on.
We are enjoying following along on your ride and are keeping you (and families) in prayer. It is exciting to "ride" along with you each day and share in your experience. May God continue to keep you safe and we will continue to lift you up in prayer.
God's Blessings with every pedal of the wheel.
Thought you might like to see this site of another biker going across America.
www.mattacrossamerica.com
I am another cross country biker . . . but heading in the opposite direction (WA to ME). What a coincidence that on mile 23 of my first day I lost a tube as well . . . it must be some sort of initiation from the cycling gods.
Hope you have a great journey. KRSD (Keep the Ruber Side Down).
Matt
www.mattacrossamerica.com
Greetings from northwest Georgia! We met at Cloudland Canyon. I was one of the four 'cyclists' you and your father talked to Saturday. Anyway, keep smiling in those pictures so I can convince my wife that such a trip is a good idea. Oh, yeah, I guess you had better show the support staff having a great time as well. I'll keep you guys in my prayers.
Keep it up!
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