Stage 8 - Berea KY, 93mi (150km)

Today would have been the last day in these mountains, but again the weather forecast had announced scattered thunderstorms and rain. I found a bypass around by taking Hwy 80 for 40mi towards Manchester where I turned into Rt 421, which brought me back into the original trail in McKee and then to Berea. I rode a total of 93mi, which took me 9 hrs to ride - it was hopefully the last rainy day for the next days to come. Riding on Hwy 80 was very exhausting and a mental killer. At mile 30 I had my first flat tyre so after all and finally I was glad to turn right into Manchester and to follow Rt. 421 towards Berea. 

Bone Tavern Hotel in Berea

I quickly stopped in Manchester to call the Boone Tavern Hotel in Berea to let them know that I was going to make it. They were very kind and helpful and offered me a cyclist discount of $ 20. 






Once I reached McKee after that was more or less the end of the big climbing. A tremendous 2mi (3 km), 6 percent descent on a good wide shoulder took me to the village of Big Hill and the turnoff to Berea. 









At the turnoff I caught up with Greg from NYC and we cycled the last 5mi together to Berea. I am not sure, whether we are going to meet again but I wish him good luck for the rest of his trip.
 



There has been a steady reduction in the average level of affluence as I have moved from the D.C. area to the South and then into the interior. The narrow mountain valleys of the Appalachians are obviously poor. There are some attractive houses but many people live in trailers or poorly maintained shacks. I was told that unemployment is high and drug misuse common. And in Kentucky burglary and raid has become a big issue too. The economy is not flourishing although this does not seem like once entering the city limits of Berea. It was a long and demanding day again and tomorrow I will likely take it easy, which means sleeping a bit longer, having a nice continental breakfast and then only riding to Harrodsburg (50mi). My route is covered by 12 map sections and I have planned 6-8 weeks to ride it. At the end of my first week, I have completed the second map section and cycled 750mi (1’200 km) in total. I am making very satisfactory progress even though I am going to take the next two days a bit easier.