Rusty Crank Coast to Coast Bicycle Tour across the USA on the ACA TransAM Route

TransAm Day #8 June 2, 2018 Wytheville, VA - Damascus, VA 62 Miles Ride Time 5:07 Hours Tour Total 519 Miles details at: https://cyclemeter.com/4b2d99e24f1383f2/Cycle-20180602-0822-80136 I feel like a parasite now whenever I walk into a restaurant. The first thing I look for is an outlet to sink my prongs into. Many followers have asked how I’m keeping my phone charged. I’ve got a power pack. It’s a tricky challenge keeping my phone, GPS, power pack, and lights charged. This morning, under the drippy kitchen sink alongside the brooms and mop bucket my hungry devices jostled for ports like piglets clinging to their mama’s teets. Thank you Grayson’s restaurant in Wytheville! I hope my friendly waitress enjoys her beach vacation next week. The last hill riding out of Wytheville was ridiculous steep, Steve got off his bike and walked it. He had met his match. He later said that it was too early in the morning for such a steep climb. While chugging up it I noticed blooming poppie...

TransAm Day #9 June 3, 2018 Damascus, VA - Breaks, VA 78 Miles Ride Time 6:27 Hours Tour Total 596 Miles details at: https://cyclemeter.com/4b2d99e24f1383f2/Cycle-20180603-0733-68741 The Rusty Crank had a bit too much lubrication last night in Damascus and was feeling the affects this morning. Steve G started stirring in his tent at 5:30 and it was time to get up. No pack yoga this morning. I had breakfast in the hostel with about a dozen hikers doing the Appalachian Trail. I met and talked to Sister Sticks, who is doing the whole thing, south to north. She told me that she has cell phone service through Walmart which is a conglomerate of different phone providers. Steve H and I have ATT. Steve G has Verizon. ATT, for example, doesn’t work in Damascus. Verizon didn’t work in another place we visited. Redundancy is important out here on the road. There was a scale in the hostel for hikers to weight their gear. I decided to hop on to check my bodyweight. WTF I came in at 210....