Duffield, VA.  1:00 PM.  We had a great start this morning:  a delicious breakfast prepared by Frances, who I should say again is a wonderful cook.  We left a little before 9, because we thought we could time it between 2 bands of rain.  We missed the first one, but we got caught by the second.  So, we're in the lobby of a hotel in Duffield, the Travel Inn, and the great folks here let us use the internet to check the radar.

This morning, it was 50 degrees for about 5 minutes.  We dipped into a holler right outside Jonesborough and the temp dropped by 15 degrees.  Without the sun, it has been CHILLY.

There have been several sprints today:  Missy took the first 2, but then I got 3--including the much coveted VA state line.  But she pulled even at Gate City.  Still, I got the next county, and I've got 7 to her 6.

The Clinch Mountains and Clinch River are beautiful.  Missy has spent a LOT of time up here doing mussel (not muscle) and fish research, so she knows her way around.

It's 16 miles to our destination, and we've got to be there by 3, so we need to leave here by 2.  Let's hope the rain lets up.

Appalachia, VA.  5:48 PM.  So here we are at the Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards office, and they all talked to us and signed the petition and sent a separate letter, too.  This isa  great organization, in a beautiful place.  Too bad it's being sold down the tracks.  The rain never let up after the stop in Duffield.  After we were fully wet, we hung out in the hotel lobby long enough to get chilled, and there was going to be no getting back on the bike in the downpour.  So, we loaded up in the car and lopped off the last 16 miles of the day's ride.  Now, we've been in our chammies for far too long, and we're ready for some Mexican food--Appalachian style.

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