Biking Across the Piedmont: Part 1

I don't even know how to begin to describe how grateful I am for the generosity and openness of perfect strangers on this trip. I am in Walnut Cove, NC at the public library, and this morning I had my first gorgeous view of mountains! Blue and rounded, like I remember them fondly from the not-too-distant past. The bicycling is getting hillier by the day, to my infinite glee.

I had to skip the trail-hiking sections north of Greensboro, and bicycle around them for now. Another puzzle piece to figure out later on.

I have been winding around the countryside, taking the most circuitous route, and out-cycling those ferocious country dogs (bikers seem to incite chasing, I have learned). So far, I have avoided high fructose corn syrup on this leg of the trip (thanks in part to a long visit to Emily's Cookie Mix Shoppe, and a heart-warming talk with his its vivacious proprietor). I am working on my soo-uuuuthern accent. I slept next to that fish last night.

For any of you involved with the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, I will definitely be coming to the annual meeting in Greensboro this weekend and look forward to meeting you all!

Total MST miles: 258.5 (154.1 foot, 103.4 bike)
Total trip miles: 352.2 (187.8 foot, 164.4 bike)