Sep 7 More Skyline and Bicycle Nostalgia

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/102270159

  We were concerned last night as we made plans for today.  We faced a long ride with numerous climbs that was 20 miles longer than yesterday with no housing or campsites in the latter part until we left the park. Plus there was a high possibility of rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon and rain during the night. So this left us wondering what to do and what we could do. It did seem to be less rigorous as when we checked elevation charts it had about 80% of climb as the day before, and where we stayed last night was at the highest point on Skyline Drive. After trying to decipher weather with a poor data connection, we decided to go for it.   

  Similar to yesterday, at first we were in the clouds and could not see the valleys at the overlooks.  It was good enough visibility for vehicles to see us well but not much beyond that. In the afternoon, there was haze/humidity but we could see the valleys quite well.

We didn't see any bears during our time in the park, though.

    

  We chatted with some motorcyclists from Michigan and Ohio at an overlook and they were amazed by what we are doing.  

   Tonight we are staying at the house that used to be run by the legendary "Cookie Lady." Back in 1976, when people decided to ride bicycles across the USA to celebrate the Bicentennial, she started handing out water and cookies to the bicyclists riding the route which passed right in front of her house.  Later on when her uncle died, she made the lower level of his house a couple doors away into a place where bicyclists could stay.  Many (hundreds? thousands?) of cyclists have had some cookies or stayed at this home. The walls are covered with notes and postcards and memorabilia  from cyclists from all over the world and newspaper and magazine articles about her.

 She died about 10 years ago, but bicyclists have been keeping the house going by donations.  We are sharing this housing with a man from Massachusetts and a woman from Washington State who are close to our age.  She has traveled extensively by bicycle over the years. He kayaks, builds kayaks, and has hiked the whole Appalachian Trail.  She met him when she was hiking most of it and they seemed to travel at the same speed.  Since then they have become platonic adventure companions as her husband doesn't like to travel.  She challenged him to try bicycling across the whole country.   She said about the house, "I've never stayed in a museum before!"