Bells Run, KY to Clay, KY – 65mi, 12mph, +1805 ft probably more (forgot to start strava)

Friends. If you don’t believe in God let me show you his healing power. I know without a doubt that he has healed me so I can spread this news coast to coast. 5 years ago I wasn’t walking. I was in a trauma center with no guarantees. BUT I knew the great healer. It’s been hard to accept that I am a miracle. BUT I am HIS miracle. This is HIS story in my life. What an incredible day. I got to see my amazing hubby. Bill Walters amd my beautiful momma. As always they brought us lots of surprises. Gosh I miss them. I miss everyone back home. I got my 65 in today. Forgot to start Strava again. The hills are flattening a bit. Average over 12 mph for the first time since the coast. NO rain. Should I repeat that. NO rain. Lots of dead snakes again. What’s up with that? Hotel tonight. 28 miles from my drop site. We met Mike. Our 2nd east bound cyclist. He left Oregon April 11th. Get this. Illinois is only 28 miles away!!!!!! Gonna get that state in the morning! click “read more” for photos

Meeting Creek, KY to Bells Run, Ky – 06/08/21 -62mi, 11.4mph, +3286 ft elevation gain

Today dished out many challenges. But none that God didn’t handle. We started our morning delayed because our camper jacks wouldn’t go up. God answered and boom they went up 1 hour and many phone calls later. The sprinkler system was in full working order today. I sat out many rains and one storm front. In fact I waited so long for one front that my Strava timed out and doesn’t show all of my miles. That’s ok because I KNOW how many we earned today. Saw my first dead copperhead snake. The cicadas are deafening. But surprisingly no white tail deer in KY. We stopped at a road side Amish stand. A bakery that really wasn’t open. I picked up a flower for my momma tomorrow when she comes with Bill for her birthday. Sooo Shhhhh. I can hardly wait to surprise her. I’m loving every challenge. click Read More for some photos

Bardstown, KY to Meeting Creek, KY – 64mi, 11.1 mph, +3543 elevation gain

We started our day getting The Silver Bullet 2 new front shoes and an alignment. The men at the tire shop were incredible and our mechanic Chris is also a walking miracle. The Appalachians were rough on The Silver Bullet.

My day started again with some rain. Please pray that God turns off the sprinkler system. Later in the day we had a stray shower that I stopped for a couple of minutes and waited out.

McCleary, KY to Bardstown, KY – 73.62 mi, 10.6 mph, +4966 ft elevation gain

Fantastic day. Sad day. I had to let Jen go home. . What a blessing to have her here. We gutted our 20 miles in the rain to start. I tried to outrun a storm. I was flying. But to no avail so I rode again in the rain. I’m finishing the rest of the Sycamore ice cream tonight as a reward. Looking forward to bringing Kristy Massey on board Tuesday and seeing my family Wednesday. The mountains are leveling into some fun and some not so fun rollers. If you bike you understand. I got a little off course today and had to use mapquest directions. I got on an insanely busy road and did not like those 19.5 miles. Once again Jocelynn is a rock star. She cheers me up hills, schedules mandatory fluid consumption, schedules sun screen applications and keeps my head in my shoulders. She is the heart of this trip.

Privett, KY to McCreary, KY – 53.11 mi, 10 mph, +3726 ft elevation gain

What an awesome day. We have the absolute best friends. Kathy Snyder, Theresa Blackburn, and Andrea Snyder you made our day. Your support, signs, and love mean the world. I struggle a bit with a late start and some lower miles BUT I am 53 closer to the west coast!!! The hills are changing a bit into pretty abrupt rollers. We had 15% and 18% grades. Black Beauty said she preferred to walk!. I ran into 3 of my cross country friends in Berea and Jen was able to meet them too. Jen rode all 53 with me today. She is now called “Da Hill Slayer Jen”. She was a beast. click read more for photos

Dwarf, KY to Privett, KY – 72 mi, 9.8mph, +6668 ft elevation gain

Incredible day. For many many MANY reasons. First ALL glory, honor and praise to God. 72 hilly miles today. Jen rode the first 30 and last 12ish miles. Made it amazing. She says wicked hills/mountains. My husband, Bill,and my momma came. Oh my goodness. It was the absolute best seeing them. They brought me a surprise. Look through the pictures to see if you can figure out what it was. Might just be my biggest elevation change too 6,668. That’s no joke. Met some awesome folks. But I didn’t see any of my cross country friends. I think I’m in front of them now. Perfect weather. click “read more” for photos

Dwarf, KY near Hazard, KY – Zero Day- first day off

It looks like Jen, Jocelynn and I will be taking a zero day(rest day) today. there’s no way around it due to severe storms. I will also be meeting up with Bill, my mom and friends from church tomorrow somewhere along the path heading towards Berea, KY. So today it’s going through cabinets, reorganizing, playing some card games maybe and looking over the route, and planning where to stay the next few nights. I still don’t have good service to post anything, so Kristy is doing it for me.

Pikeville, KY to Dwarf, KY near Hazard, KY – 57 mi, 10mph, +3,583ft elevation gain

Updated with map. For those of you who are following Donita Walters and her cross country journey, she finished her first state yesterday! VA is in the books! Today she rode 57 miles and is almost to Hazard, KY. It rained most of the day. Her good friend, Jen, met her for her last 13 miles of the day and brought better weather. She is now happier than a hot hog in a cool puddle of mud because she is going to have a riding buddy for the next few days. She will post tomorrow when she has better service.The map has different colors for each day she rode. She is currently on day 10.

Rosedale, VA to Pikeville, KY – 67 mi, 9.4 mph, +5,364 elevation gain

Virginia kicked my bum leaving and KY dished out the most treacherous road we have yet to see. One lane… no where to pass. The road was even washed out in a part. I practiced the technique of “ walk -a- bike for close to 4 miles. AND most was down. Jocelynn was a rock star driving our rig in these conditions. At one point a car full of people stopped and handed me $2 and told me to get a drink. I was so humbled because it honestly could have been their only $2. This brought tears to my eyes. I rode some of the poorest parts of our country today. Tomorrow is a new day. Praise God. We are staying at Breaks Interstate Park. So so so rugged. My legs are also beaten up. My stats are in the photos. Big miles again despite the conditions.

Sugar Grove, VA to Rosedale, VA – 69 miles, 10.4 mph, +5232 ft elevation gain

My favorite day by far. It started cool and then warmed up. I traveled almost 30 miles in Mount Rogers National Recreation area. I crossed the Appalachian Trail Head twice. I rode some crazy mountain hills as always but I had a mountain stream most of the day. Some beautiful cascades and waterfalls too. My last 20 miles were through Hayters Gap ( yes that’s spelled correctly). It was intense for both Jocelynn and myself. At times it was a one lane road and impassable. Met another new friend. Mike. Cycled off and on with the 9 others heading west. It’s like the “great migration” of cyclists heading west. My prayer warriors keep on keeping on because God was answering them one after another today. Some dangerous downhills. I am still pinching myself that this is truly happening. This country is so beautiful. On Wednesday my friend Jen Ortman (Facebookless) Todd Ortman. Is joining me through Sunday. Bill and my momma are coming Friday. I can hardly wait. And hopefully Kristy Kimball Massey will be with me soon. Let the adventures begin. Total miles:69.16Elevation gain. 5216 ( some was insanely hard) But I only practiced “walk a bike” once. click “read more” to see a few photos